Every saint has a bee in his halo.

[jamie_kincaid]

[Friday, March 12th (Day 285)]
[The Apothecary]
[Past lunch, not yet dinner]

My favorite meal is cooking away at home and hopefully Molly remembered to include the sweetbread.  I wanted to be done and back before dinnertime and if I finish here quickly, I might make it.  I look at my list again and I can't imagine why Molly'd ask for so much.

Angelica

Comments

[tess_thiess]

I smile up at Jamie Kincaid as he walks in hummin' a bit 'a somethin'. "Afternoon miss," he says with a grin. "Afternoon, Jamie," I reply.

Dunt know the Kincaid's that well, though we do a bit 'a trade, since everyone knows they've got the best honey 'round here. There was some talk a while back that Jamie might be family, 'cause Ma noticed the way he has with bees, but nothin' ever came 'v it.

"Mind helping me with my list?" he asks. "My sister expects me to come home with all of it, you see."

I wipe the juice 'a the roots I was slicin' off on my apron and stand up. "Sure, no problem. I can just bet Molly'd be mad 'f you got somethin' wrong," I tell him as I come 'round the counter. "Can I see your list?"

[jamie_kincaid]

"Afternoon, Jamie," and she smiles at me, jogging my memory about who she is. She's Billy and Mary Thiess' older sister, Tess. Heard some about her from both of them, all good, and I didn't know she worked at the apothecary before now. Well, that settles it. I need to get into town more.

Molly probably knows her well but better late than never for me and I smile before asking for help with my list. She replies, "Sure, no problem. I can just bet Molly'd be mad 'f you got somethin' wrong. Can I see your list?"

I laugh. "Thanks. It sounds like you know her." I hand Molly's list as she comes around the counter, adding, "And lavender buds." My palm twinges and I say, "I burned my hand the other day and ran out of my remedy. I guess I'll add that too."

If I remember right, Tess is only a few years younger than me. Prettier too and I say, "I saw Billy and Mary the other day and they mentioned you. Said you were happy and looked happy themselves."

[tess_thiess]

He laughs easily, not like the guys in my family, and it's easy t'smile back at him. "Thanks. It sounds like you know her." I nod. "Yeah, though your sister's temper ain't exactly a secret." I look through the list. "I have some mostly-fresh ginger and willow-bark, most 'a the rest dried whole, but I've only got Angelica roots and no dandelion."

"And lavender buds,". he adds. "I burned my hand the other day and ran out of my remedy. I guess I'll add that too." I raise an eyebrow. "You know you can put honey on burns, right? Does a good job 'a stoppin' infection with those. I've got some lavendar extract, 'f that'll do."

I start goin' through jars, though I'll need t'go in the back for a couple 'a things. "I saw Billy and Mary the other day," he says casually "and they mentioned you." My back tenses as he continues "Said you were happy and looked happy themselves.""I doubt that very much, Mr. Kincaid," I tell him stiffly, "bein' as Pa's said none 'a them 'r t'see me 'n John. I've hardly seen Billy nor Mary since Christmas, and

[jamie_kincaid]

"Yeah, though your sister's temper ain't exactly a secret." I shrug, smiling and she looks over list, commenting on the items.

"I'll take whatever you have and I'll let her know about the dandelions. Can't be helped." I mention my burn and she mentions something I already know. Pleasantly, I say, "Normally, I'd use that but these burns are different. They take longer to head and have been getting infected quickly. Not sure why but I'll try the extract. Maybe it'll help."

I must be the most oblivious person because I don't notice how Tess stiffens when I start talking about Billy and Mary. She's very clear though when she says, "I doubt that very much, Mr. Kincaid, bein' as Pa's said none 'a them 'r t'see me 'n John. I've hardly seen Billy nor Mary since Christmas, and neither has my brother."

Not since Christmas? I feel bad for rubbing her feelings raw without knowing her situation. I'm about to apologize when she adds, "I am happy, though, 'n 'f you see 'em again you can tell 'em that I am quite happy, me 'n Kate both."