Falling out, friendship and felony

ON SALE NOW!

Home and Spring Flowers is a heartfelt tale by new author Gregory Goode. Detailing a young boy’s struggle with social acceptance and familial pressure, it is a tale of triumph over adversity that everyone going through a difficult time should read. A true manifesto for hope in the face of despair.

FEATURED IN THE WESTERLAND LADIES BOOK CLUB FOR SPRING!

Reviews:

An absolute tearjerker I couldn’t put down, it’s the only book I own!-Man in Cave Reviews!

This is like the best book I’ve ever like read, and if you don’t like it, then you’re a homophobic, racist misogynist! -FairyPaganWitch420.

Too many gay dudes, not enough lesbians. Ban this book -True Westerland Patriot Daily.

Remember to pick up your copy at Riverstone’s today while stocks last.

(Only one copy per customer, please direct complaints to Karen in the mailroom. T&Cs apply.)

***

“Gods, it made a book club list! How could you do this to me, Dorian?”

“I’m right here, you know.”

“Yes, and I’m yelling at you! A book club! For Housewives!”

“Don’t be sexist Gregory. You wanted to be an author, you did it, now here we are. You can’t control what happens now.”

“The only reason…” Gregory paused. He had been thinking about the events at the bookshop for weeks now. What did it mean? Did they mean it? And most importantly, what the hell is he supposed to be?

“If you say the only reason your book is selling is because of our little escapade at Riverstones, I swear I’ll turn you into a toad. A brightly coloured sparkly toad!”

While he appreciated the Wizard’s brand of eccentric humour now more than ever. Gregory could not escape the fact that, in his own head, this is how it was. If he hadn’t met Dorian, he would still be a scared, awkward nobody. Granted, he still was still exactly that, but now it was different, now he felt…

Special

“Dorian…” Gregory tried to force out the word, but it felt like sandpaper on his tongue “Can I? That is to say, will you? I mean, can we?”

“What’s going on? Isn’t it a bit early to play twenty questions? Is this a writing exercise?”

Dorian became flustered. He was trying to fight off his usual sarcastic anger, but he was feeling disrespected. He should be used to being ignored by now, it was true, but for it to happen with them or all people, he couldn’t help the anger.

“Please be serious for five bloody minutes!”

“I am serious! See? I’m wearing my serious Wizard hat.”

Gregory did not say another word. His face burned white hot. With a door slam so loud, it even scared the one who slammed it, Gregory was gone.

***

Mrs. Greenbottle was pissed.

As much as she loved all her regulars, she didn't figure that it was in her job description to go chasing after lovesick customers. That stupid bloody wizard was so caught up in being a person for everybody that they couldn't realize that right then, they needed to be there for one person.

Now she's here, in the rain and trailing through the mud, In her dressing gown. She was grateful though that, through the bad things that happened to her that day, at least she was not alone.

“Darling, look at you! You look like a face peeling advertisement gone wrong!” Gwen gave a heavy sigh. She thought it would be a good idea to bring a piece of the tree with her for protection, she thought the tree was magical, she thought it might keep her safe, but no. Apparently, disconnected from the rest of the tree this tiny branch was useless. Oh well, at least it provided entertaining conversation.

“Shut it, tree, don’t make me get out my axe.” She spat on the ground for emphasis. “I can’t leave Gregory out there. What kind of bar owner would I be if I did that?”

“Girl, technically you work in a bar. Anyway, why do you keep sticking up for this guy, anyway? He’s a pompous asshole! So rude too! None of the customers like him and worse! He wears a bowtie. Like, hello, fifty years ago just wrote you a letter, and it wants its fashion back!”

Gwen came to a sudden stop. She was very much by now used to the tree’s sarcasm, but something in how it spoke and also the situation made her furious. It couldn't understand but she also knew it would do little to explain. She felt like she needed to get something off her chest, however.

“Have you ever been in love?” She asked nobody in particular. Gwen hated this feeling, the rising anger that would bring forth all her feelings, everything she keeps hidden away. The memories, the adrenaline, the pain. She hated when everything came back. She became the person who would be ready to kill in a moment, not to harm you understand, but to protect. She needed to protect her friends, but she couldn't, not everyone. She couldn't protect her.

Mirabelle…

“You know I haven’t,” the Tree said indignantly. “What does it matter if I haven’t?”

She threw the tiny branch to the floor. “Then you couldn’t understand! When you love someone, when you really love them, you would do anything for them! Anything! You would climb mountains, wade through forest and you’d kill bloody demons!”

“I’m sorry, my dear. This is about Mirabelle, isn’t it? It’s true I don’t understand, I wasn’t around then and, well, you don’t talk about it… I’ll do better. It’s a really hard thing to grasp when your species’ way of mating is just, you know, swaying all sexy.”

She couldn't help but laugh at that. Understanding is difficult, even more so when you're of a different species. The Tree has probably been around much longer than her and knows things she does not. It has been a companion to her, the only loyal companion since Mirabelle… Since Mirabelle left.

“I get it, I really do. Gregory is difficult. He always has been, but just as I have loved and you have swayed, he deserves a chance, too. He's one of our most loyal customers, believe it or not, and to be honest, he deserves every little of happiness he gets, even if he's too scared to admit that he deserves it right now. So maybe get off his back a little?

She was expecting a witty reply or retort like always, yet there was a prolonged silence followed by a whispered, “… Gwen.”

She slowly looked down at the floor. That's when she noticed it.

Gregory's crumpled bow tie.

A wave of panic hit her. They weren't too far out. The path was just down there. If she ran back, it would literally have taken her two minutes. How could he have run into trouble here?

She did just that and on returning to the path she saw, just off to the side, a building. A building that was unnatural. A bright white marble building with golden trim. Above the door was a plaque that featured a set of scales with a cross in the background. The Church of One God. Gwen knew that the white specs radiating from the building meant that it was placed there by magical means.

She wasted no time.

Walking over to the door and kicking it down, she saw in a tiny room and unconscious Gregory and a rather smartly dressed blonde woman.

“Oh hello, Mrs. Greenbottle I presume?”