things up. But for now, let’s get through these online orders.”
The day passed quickly. Kira had always known her mother’s galleries were successful, but she hadn’t realized just how busy they actually were, particularly with their online orders. Kira estimated that a good seventy percent of the sales they’d made that day were from the online shop alone.
“You can head off now, if you’d like. I’ll close up,” Morgan said mid-afternoon. She paused and stretched her arms over her head, then shook out the long hair that tumbled over her shoulders.
“You’re sure? I can stay.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m going to meet Niamh for dinner.”
“Is she home then? Tell her hi for me and to call me.”
“I will, at that. She’s home from college for a bit.” Niamh, Morgan’s daughter, was finishing out her last year at university. Kira could only imagine what she would do in the world, for Morgan’s daughter was brilliant, boisterous, and full of magick. It would be fun to watch her make her mark.
“Great. I’ll catch up with her soon enough then.” Kira waved goodbye and pounded up the stairs to her studio. There was just enough daylight left that she could hike out to visit Fergal and see if she could get any more photos for Instagram, and maybe drive the area a bit and see if she could locate this construction.
Switching out her patent leather boots for her hiking boots, Kira grabbed her coat and her camera, and shoved a few cereal bars and a water bottle into her pack. She picked up her keys, and in moments she was navigating the twisty road that hugged the cliffs along the water. She loved this drive, even if it was slower and more inconvenient than the straight road that shot over the hills.
Sometimes the slower path offered opportunities for moments of inspiration or beauty.
Chapter 7
Kira bypassed Gracie’s cottage, following a dirt road that wound further into the hills, so as to get closer to the starting point for her hike. Yesterday, she’d taken the time to wander about, but with the waning light it was important that she get to Fergal’s little pond quickly to see if she could get any good images for her new Instagram account. Plus, she just wanted to check on him. A cussing otter was something she had not expected to come across, and his cheekiness pleased her mightily.
Getting out of the car, Kira wound a scarf around her neck and zipped her jacket against the sharp needles of cold hammered against her by the wind. Up in the hills it was much colder than in the village, but Kira, having walked these hills her whole life, was prepared for the change in temperature. It wasn’t uncommon for the weather to switch from sunshine to rain and back again in minutes, and today was just such a day. Grateful that the clouds had yet to open up and it was just cold she was dealing with, Kira trudged up the dirt path, skirting the boulders easily.
Kira reached the pond quickly, and let out a little sigh of contentment. The cliff walls that rose behind the pond blocked a large portion of the wind, creating a zen-like oasis of mossy green ground and still mountain waters. Pleased to see a ripple move across the pond, Kira immediately crouched and brought the camera at her neck to her eye, firing off a round of shots as the otter floated across the water like he didn’t have a care in the world. When he reached the edge of the pond, he paused and tilted his head at her.
Friend.
“Hi, Fergal. I came back to see you.”
Friend.
“Yes, I’m your friend. I brought you something.” Kira opened a little baggie of fresh fish she’d snagged from Morgan’s lunch.
Food.
“Yes, food.”
The otter scampered over to her and grabbed the fish from her hands before moving a careful distance away. Kira relaxed into position, comfortable in her crouch; she was used to angling her body in weird ways to get the shot she wanted. She took round after round of photos, knowing she’d have plenty to choose from for her account later.
Shite! Man!
Kira jumped up and whirled around as Fergal dropped his food and dived into the pond.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare him. He seemed quite friendly.”
Kira paused as she recognized Brogan. He must have already been out on the land, as Kira hadn’t passed any other cars on her way here. Brogan smiled as he made