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“Your timing is perfect. I was just about to have some afternoon tea while my cakes were in the oven. Can I pour some for you?”

Dan nodded.

They sat. She poured. “There’s lavender shortbread too,” Granny pointed at a small plate covered with a plaid tea towel.

Above them, in the chestnut tree, something rustled.

“The squirrels have been gossiping about your place all morning,” Luna said, handing him a cup. “They are excited for the opening.”

“I told them I’d look into acorn ale,” Dan said.

Luna set her cup down and looked at him. “Oh… Dan. You’ve gone and done it now. You’ll need to water it down. The last thing you want on opening night is a drunken scurry.” She shook her head, resigned. “They get into everything when they’re in their cups. Last Midsummer they redecorated the apothecary window boxes at two in the morning. Stinkweed everywhere. Lucretia was not amused.”

As if in response, something small and hard bounced off Dan’s shoulder. He looked up. In the nearest elm, a squirrel in a yellow embroidered frock waved shyly at him, before scampering off.

“Naturally they’re pleased as punch about your lending library,” Luna said. “The color-coding concept has already gone round the whole scurry.”

“What? I’m not doing color-coded shelving!” Dan said. It hadn’t yet been an hour since Fidelito’s visit. He pinched his forehead between his thumb and forefingers.

“Shh…” Luna patted his arm and blew on her tea. “It will be fine, Danny boy. Just let them have their moment.”

Dan sipped his tea. The side stoop was narrow and the small chairs were close together. He felt large and awkward, his elbows colliding with his knees. He broke off a tiny piece of shortbread for courage, before asking the question.

“I need some help, Granny,” he said.

Granny Luna’s eyes flashed brighter than caught kindling at these words.

“Help, you say? What with? More mirrors? Some sconces? I think the place could do with more artwork and signage. And wouldn’t it be lovely if the barware could be cut crystal from Ireland, Danny? Nothing like sipping your whiskey in a real crystal glass…”

“With the seating, Granny. Just the seating. I barely have enough for some used folding chairs. I’d like something better and I’m afraid I just don’t have the money for it.” Dan stared down at his feet, mumbling.

Luna said nothing for a moment. She looked into her cup. Then she said, “All right. Get whatever you like, I can cover it.”

Just like that.

“Are you sure?” Dan asked.

“There’s a woman here in Primrose Court,” she said, “who does upholstery. She knows where to get good chairs, and she owes me a favor.” Granny Luna paused. Her breathing was coming in short, sharp bursts and Dan could tell she was struggling not to show her excitement. “And, you know, I can handle the sconces as well. It wouldn’t be any bother.”

“The sconces?” Dan mused.

“Some good ambient lighting is essential, Dan. It makes everything all warm and cozy. You want The Wildernest to feel like somewhere people want to stay, no?”

Dan blinked at her.

“Plus, there needs to be at least a few plants,” she said. “Nothing excessive. Just something living to go with the sconces. I’ve got quite a few more plants than I have places for around here. You’d be doing me a favor!”

Dan ran through the usual list of objections in his mind. It wasn’t necessary, he didn’t really need that much help, he’d manage. He bit his lip to keep from saying them. When he dared to look up at Granny Luna, she was giving off a buzzy yellow light. She had a tear in one eye.

“Just don’t get too carried away,” he cautioned.

“Of course not! I will be the very vision of self-restraint.” Luna agreed to his terms with dismissive glee, although it was obvious she intended to interpret said terms very generously.

Next, she reached into her apron pocket and set the silvery envelope on the table between them.

Dan looked at it, noticing the embossed seals again.

“I thought you might be a little more open to taking this back now. This money wasn’t from me, Danny,” Granny Luna said. “And it wasn’t from Will, either.”