Chapter 3

Before the plan could go forward, there were a few things I still had to arrange, so nothing could go wrong.

The day David left, I placed a video call to him.

Before I connected, I set the jar of liquor on the table in front of me.

"Honey, is this liquor really as good as you say?"

"Of course. I had to beg an old master healer just to get it."

"How much did it cost?"

"Don't worry about the money, sweetheart. For you, I'd spend everything I have."

"You're so good to me." I ran my hand along the jar. "If only you'd told me you were bringing this home. I took some antibiotics, so I can't touch alcohol for another couple of days."

I leaned over the mouth of the jar and sniffed. "The smell is pretty strong, though. You're sure it hasn't gone bad?"

David laughed. "How could it? That's the healer's own secret recipe. A strong smell is normal."

David and I talked for a long time. I even brought up the past, testing whether any conscience was left in him to stir.

He always found the right angle to slip back in, reminding me to drink the medicinal liquor he'd prepared.

After we hung up, I set the jar in the liquor cabinet.

I studied it for a long while, and only once I was certain the placement was perfect did I start reaching out to David's family, inviting them over by video call.

"Mom, Dad, I'm really sorry about the other day. I've been thinking, and I feel we should sit down and talk this through."

After inviting David's parents, I video-called his sister.

"Arlene Armstrong, I wasn't feeling well the other day, so I didn't really hear you out about your business idea. Come over to the house today and let's talk about it face to face."

Once I'd told Arlene, I contacted the most special guest of all.

Ruth Welch. Arlene's own sister-in-law.

The younger sister of Arlene's husband, and the woman David called his beloved.

"Ruth, my husband mentions you all the time. He says you love painting too. Your brother is married to David's sister, so we're practically family."

"I hear your brother wants to go into business with you. Come over to my place and we'll talk it over together."

Once I'd told everyone, I looked at that jar of liquor.