Page 14 of Clearly Charmed

Not really. But Aster, she was a burst of golden light after forty days of cloud cover and deserved to be serenaded in a loud and very off-key way.

While we sang, Aster did a little dance. When we came to the final line of the song, she did an extra shimmy before throwing herself into our arms. We held on to the hug for a few extra beats like we always did before Lia broke away. Five seconds was her limit for human touch.

Elena gave us all a clap and then winked at Aster. ‘Saved a chocolate croissant for you. Should I put a candle in it?’

‘Yes, please.’ Aster beamed.

Once Elena left, Aster focused on me. ‘I forgive you for leaving last night before I got there, but I do need the details on what happened. Grandmother Clo said something about a handsome guy and an injured dog?’

Lia snickered at the ‘handsome guy’ comment.

As I told Aster about the pot brownie incident, she tapped her long nails, painted a shade of eggplant, against the counter. Tilted her head at me if she was seeing something none of the rest of us could. She huffed out a breath, swapped a hesitant look with Lia I did not like.

God, I hope she didn’t sense the stench of regret from my encounter with Bryce this morning. Or even worse, the heat I’d felt when he’d kissed me last night, or the ache that stirred in my chest when he’d pulled away.

‘Dani, you do need to talk to Mo again,’ Aster started, and I sagged in relief. ‘Sending a stranger to our grandmother’s house without any warning is all kinds of wrong.’

I gave Lia the side-eye.

‘What? It came up last night after you took off. We both agree Mo is getting out of hand.’ She blew a wayward curl off her forehead. ‘Whenever business gets slow in the tavern, all these tales about the “magic in Harvest Moon” and the witchy McGuire sisters come out.’ Her laugh was caustic. ‘It needs to stop because it messes with all of our lives.’

She and Aster swapped another weighted look.

‘Okay,’ I said, swinging a finger between the two of them. ‘What else are you keeping from me?’

‘Tell her, Ast,’ Lia urged.

‘A few people have come into the Blossom lately under the guise that they want flowers, but then they get all weird. Ask what color I see in them. Demand I find their exact match so they can be with the love of their lives.’

‘And the last weirdo?’ Lia pressed.

Aster nervously twirled a lock of hair around her finger. ‘He mentioned, well, asked sort of forcefully, if I could be his match. Which is both creepy and ridiculous, because most people know I can see everyone’s color except my own. A flaw in the design, so to speak,’ she said bitterly.

I grabbed the edge of the counter to stay steady. Tourists had always been weird around us, but I drew the line at people who invaded our space and acted like complete weirdos.

‘What did you do?’ I said.

‘Dalton was in the shop keeping me company. He chased the guy out, and the loser never came back.’

‘Aster,’ I said on an unsteady breath. ‘Your best friend also has a business to run. He can’t always be there to protect you.’

She waved away my worry. ‘Dalton has enough staff to sling pizzas. And you know so much more good than bad comes from what happens when I help people.’

When Aster was four, she started drawing vivid pictures of family and friends. Their outlines were always in very specific colors. Orange for me. Dark green for Lia. Belladonna a deep, nearly blackish purple. Grandmother Clo, a complete counter to her daughter, was a shade of honey yellow. When it came to drawing herself, Aster only used a white crayon, because for some odd reason her gift didn’t pertain to herself, which, even though she brushed it off, bothered her.

Belladonna noticed her artistic gifts and quizzed her about it. Grew uptight when she questioned Aster about what she saw, felt, when she met new people. Our pediatrician had a name for it – synesthesia. Belladonna argued he was wrong. That Aster was only highly sensitive and creative. An empath who sensed people’s worries and fears. Connected with their vulnerability.

‘This is the reason why that reporter coming here is bad, Dani. We’ve already got issues in our own lives just from the whispers,’ Lia said. ‘Imagine what a hellscape this place will become if Harvest Moon gets put in the spotlight again!’

‘Again?’ Aster said with a questioning look.

Lia ignored her, snatching her paper off the counter and pretending to read. When she got in a mood like this, it was hard to reason with her.

‘Sterling roses are supposed to be delivered today for Mayvis Turner and Jacob Orlow’s wedding this weekend,’ Aster squeaked out. She always got uncomfortable when Lia went sullen.

‘That sounds pretty. Are they having a lot of guests?’ I said.

‘Only close family and friends.’ She waited for Lia to add something, but she remained concrete stiff on her stool.