WHO: Natalie, her son Daniel (NPC), and her familiar Shadow (NPC), and OPEN WHAT: Working to distraction WHERE: The Green Grocer Farmstand WHEN: Saturday mid-morning
Once more, Natalie looked up at the sky, gauging it for rain, as she set out another bushel of blackberries. It was the midst of the ripe season for the berries, and they were going fast. She'd rather not have them get soaked. Still, as always, she had no talent for weather predicting. Perhaps she needed to hire an air elemental. As one of earth, she could tell when a crop was just right for harvesting, but simple rain was beyond her.
Back inside, she could hear Daniel holding forth with some of her employees, recounting his week at school with great relish. With her hands deep in berries, she allowed herself a small smile. Although the cloudy day matched her poor mood, she always felt joy listening to her son. If anything good had come from her failed marriage, it was him.
Still, she hadn't seen her son's father in a little while, and the kidnappings of those teenagers, albeit resolved well, made her nervous. She prayed no one else knew of Spence's secret job, hunting down blood for his supernatural clients. Had he been involved there? As usual, every time she thought of that, she wondered if, in time, he would have sought her blood as well. Elemental blood...how much did it go for in his world?
Shuddering, Natalie shoved the thought away. She had hardened her heart to any ideas like that long ago, but they could never be completely banished. Inevitable feelings of betrayal, hurt, and even jealousy could bring a prick of pain. How did he convince those others to give up their blood, after all? She was sure it wasn't all violence. No, there were other ways, ones that kept her awake at night sometimes.
With a deep sigh, she finished settling the produce and put the empty crate on the ground. It was a brief lull, midmorning, between the early shoppers and those stopping for a treat on the way home from other events. After lunch, they'd get one more rush. She knew the schedule of those who came to the Grocer as well as her own. Her middle name should have been Predictable, she always thought. But there was comfort in predictable, still. For now, she stretched, her arms high over her head, trying to work a kink out of her lower back. As she did, a small black cat wound its way around her ankles.