“I’d love to. Thank you.” Spritzing her wrist, Phinny inhaled. “I’ve never smelled anything so wonderful in my life.” Bins of gorgeously wrapped bars of soap, glass jars of lotion, and various other toiletries lined both sides of the tent. “I want one of everything.”
“I’m so happy to hear that. Thank you.”
“Do you live here in town?” Phinny asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“You know, I sell a few locally-grown products at a farm stand I run, and if you’d like, I’d be happy to give your products some shelf space. We’d split the profits. I’m only in town one more week, but if you make up some business cards to go with it, it might give you some additional exposure. Honestly, you’re really onto something here. It’s the loveliest scent ever.”
Before the woman could answer, an extremely well-built man entered from a flap at the back of the tent. He had a baby strapped to his broad chest and a little girl snugged to his hip. “Makes sense the loveliest woman would create the loveliest scent.” He kissed the woman’s cheek. Then, he noticed Declan, and that rugged face cracked into a grin. “Heard you were in town. What kind of trouble you getting’ into these days?”
“Not nearly enough.”
“Same, man. Same. But that’s what happens when you take on the ball and chain.” He gave his wife an adoring look.
“He was the last of four brothers to get married,” the parfumier said. “He only put a ring on my finger because he didn’t want to be left out.” She held up her diamond.
Grinning, the man stuck out his hand. “Brodie Bowie, and this is my bride, Rosie.”
“So nice to meet you both. I’m Seraphina Crutchley, but please call me Phinny.” A bell rang in the center of her chest. For the first time in her life, her last name didn’t sound right. Worse, it didn’t feel right.
She loved the man who’d raised her. She did. But Kurt’s my dad.
And I’m a Grevers.
“Good to meet you.” Brodie grew solemn. “I’m sorry for your loss. Kurt was a good man.”
“Thank you,” she said. “Did you know him well?”
“I didn’t, no. But he was one of the investors for Owl Hoot. It’s the original Calamity settlement that my brothers and I turned into a living museum. He had a great respect for history.”
“So, I’m learning. I’m going to the Reliquary Museum to see what they’ve got on the Grevers family.” The rightness of her impromptu decision made her break into a smile. “I’ve got a lot to learn about my family.”
“You are?” Declan seemed happily surprised.
She nodded, and when their gazes locked it was like sunshine pouring down on her, warming her all the way down to her bones.
The daughter on Brodie’s hip cupped her little hand and whispered in his ear. “All right, I promised my little princess one of those.” He zeroed in on Phinny’s churro.
“Never thought I’d see the day, man,” Declan said with a smile. “The Bowie brothers, married with kids.”
“Please, Daddy?” His little girl kissed his cheek. “I’m so hungry.”
“What can I tell you?” Brodie wore a huge grin. “It’s torture. Pure torture.”
Rosie playfully swatted him. “Go feed your child before she starves to death.”
Brodie started out of the tent. “Save yourself,” he called over his shoulder. “Stay single.”
Rosie laughed, then turned back to them. “I would love to sell some of my products at your farm stand. Thank you for the offer.” After they exchanged contact information, another group entered the tent. “Please excuse me.” She headed off to greet them.
“They’re an adorable family.” Phinny sniffed a bar of soap.
“You like it?”
“I love it.” But she couldn’t afford it. “Let’s see what else I can stock in my budding little store.” She looped her finger through his belt buckle and dragged him out of the tent. “This is so much fun.” The next stall over sold gorgeously crafted furniture. “Are you kidding me?” She ran a hand across the glossy finish. Intricate inlaid designs told stories. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Behind a card table stood a tall, white-haired older gentleman in threadbare jeans and boots so worn they had a hole in the toe. Phinny waited for him to finish his transaction with an older couple. Once they left the tent, he pressed a red Sold sticker to a dresser.
“Your work is stunning.”
The man gave her grunt of acknowledgment.
He seemed rude, but he might just be shy. “Do you sell in stores?”
“Nope.”
Okay, so, not shy then. Just crotchety. Well, money was obviously tight for him. It was hard to earn a living as a creator, but if there was one thing Phinny was good at, it was her people skills. Maybe she could help him make some connections. “Have you tried?”
Instead of answering, he wove through the crush of furniture and headed out the flap at the back of the tent.
She glanced around. “He’s trying to move too much product in one day.” She checked to see if Declan agreed. “Plus, with that attitude, he’d be better off in his garage making furniture and letting someone else sell for him.”
“Maybe he doesn’t care if he sells.”
“He wouldn’t be here if he didn’t need the money.”
The white flap lifted, and the man backed into the booth hauling a credenza. His muscles strained, and the T-shirt pulled tight across his shoulders. Declan raced forward. “Let me help you with that.”
But the man shook his head and carried the table to the front.
Phinny took in the beautifully depicted scene of a cabin in the mountains, a man sitting around a campfire, and the massive forest surrounding him. “This is astonishing craftsmanship. You’re so talented.” She smiled. “Hello, I’m Phinny, and this is Declan.”
“Lachlan.” He disappeared back through the flap.
She smoothed a hand across an exquisite depiction of an elk crossing a river. “His work is too good to go unnoticed, and he clearly can’t sell it himself. We should help him.”
“Not sure how. We don’t have connections in the furniture world. Besides, you’re only here another week.”
“True, but he obviously needs income. I should ask Glori to come have a look at this stuff. Or…” She gazed up at him. “What if we put together a pop-up store for him in town?”
“And by we, you mean you?”
“I’m not a businesswoman by any means, but I think I can pull together a venue, make some flyers, and at least try to get him some customers.” For the first time in days, she thought of the Lumley Foundation. They hadn’t gotten back to her, and she didn’t know what that meant. Were they so horrified by her suggestion that they’d dismissed it outright?
Her future might be up in the air, but she knew she’d rather be running the auction than serving pie and mash in the diner. Why did I think it was a good idea to study the Classics?
“Hey.” Declan touched her arm. “What’re you thinking?”