I said goodbye to Misty and headed out the bookshop's back door, picking up the flagstone path that connected the shops of Village Square. As I walked, I couldn't help but pick up on the town's cozy atmosphere. All around me, locals greeted one another and offered the same warm smiles to visitors as they opened their shop doors or passed one another on the sidewalk. Bright-colored orange and red leaves floated down from the trees as a soft breeze rippled through the air. And when the direction was just right, you could smell the wood smoke filter across the lake from the campground. Fall could be hit or miss down south, but this year's proved to be unseasonably cooler. It was a welcome respite from the sweltering summer heat. I tucked my long cable-knit blue sweater across my body and folded my arms across my chest to keep it closed.
"Morning, where you off to?" My aunt's best friend, Clemmie, hollered from her tea shop. She was out front sweeping the leaves off of her porch.
"Headed to see Roger about some flowers," I hollered back.
"Woo-ee! Does this mean you're getting married?"
I smiled and shook my head. It was no secret that Vance and I were engaged, but we hadn't set a date for the wedding. "No, not yet. I need some new plants or flowers for the front of the inn." I motioned with my head toward the general direction of Mystic Inn.
Clemmie waved my comment away with one hand while the other hand held onto the broomstick. "Tell Mayor Parrish you don't have time for her nonsense." Clemmie knew exactly where the suggestion had come from.
"Maybe next time," I added over my shoulder as I picked up my pace. The town had several events planned for the bicentennial celebration. Tonight was a parade. It ended at the high school where there'd be a bonfire and an outdoor carnival. Tomorrow night was the formal gala where Silverlake was going to unveil our famous sapphire that gave our town its magical protection. Finally, the town would come together on Sunday for a chili cook-off and picnic. Mayor Parrish had wanted something fancier, but her constituents won out in the end, and she was forced to concede. Vance was adamant he would win, as were Clemmie, Mr. McCormick, and my friend Luke, the candy maker. In fact, everyone I knew who was entering thought they had the best chili recipe. I was happy I wasn't judging the contest. I'd much rather be a taste tester.
I walked through the flower shop's front door and was immediately greeted by the overpowering sweet scent of fresh-cut flowers mixed with something spicier. Identifying the exact scent was quickly forgotten when I took in the dozens of centerpieces filling every available counter space in Roger's small shop. The centerpieces weren't large. You could easily carry them with two hands. But they were striking. In the center was a rich black orchid with bold red centers. Pops of orange, red, and yellow from additional flowers played off one another, creating a magical fall centerpiece all housed in a shallow glass base. I mindlessly walked over to the centerpieces and took a closer look, completely entranced with their beauty.
"Roger, these are gorgeous," I said over my shoulder as he came out from the back with more of the orchids. "The mayor must love them."
"You would think so, but she asked that I make them taller." Roger sighed as if that was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Taller? I wouldn't change a thing. I hate when people make centerpieces so tall that it's impossible to talk across the table. These are the perfect height, and they look amazing. You are so talented."
"Thank you, Angelica. After today, it's nice to hear someone say so."
"Don't feel too bad. Mayor Parrish critiqued the inn as well. That's why I'm here. Do you have any idea of what I could put in the front plant boxes to give the inn a bit of a fall face-lift? And I'm thinking it better not be mums, or who knows what Mayor Parrish might do."
"She didn't threaten you with an engorgement charm, did she?" Roger asked.
"She threatened you?"
"Not me, but the centerpieces. I'm thinking about waiting until later tomorrow to deliver them when she's too busy fussing about something else to give me too much grief."
"That's not a bad plan." I’d probably wait until the last minute to deliver them too.
"Now, about your flower boxes. I have some smaller arrangements in the refrigerator I put together for the hospital. I designed them to grow in the basket, but what I think you should do, is go pay a visit to Mike McCormick."
I knew Mr. McCormick very well. He was one of Silverlake's most active town council members, and his daughter Molly and I had gone to school together. He was a great guy, and he also happened to own the town's greenhouse. "I stopped by his place the other day, and he has some great coneflower plants. Beautiful colors with pink, yellow, and orange. It would liven up the inn better than anything I have."
"That's a great idea. Maybe I'll take a quick drive out there and see what I can find."
"Good luck. If you need anything else, I'll be here working." Roger took in all the centerpieces he had completed. His weariness seemed to indicate he couldn't wait for tomorrow's gala to be over.
I turned around to leave when the shop's door opened, and in walked Cassidy Piper. She had recently opened a homeopathic store in town after our beloved healer, Constantine, had decided to retire to the mountains of North Carolina with her sister.
"Hello Angelica, how are you doing?" Cassidy asked.
"Good, and you?"
"Can't complain. Well, I suppose I could with how slow business has been, but I'm hopeful things will pick up once word of my remedies gets around."
"And I'm sure it will. That tonic of yours straightened my arthritis out right away." Roger flexed his fingers to show how easily he could open and close his palm.
"I'm so happy to hear that." Cassidy turned to Roger with a smile on her face.
"Now, what can I do for you?" Roger asked.
"I was getting ready to put in a flower order from my distributor and thought I'd check in with you and see if maybe you wanted to split shipping together?"
"That's not a bad idea," Roger replied.
I waved goodbye to the duo and let them continue their business while seeing myself out the door.