The Joy Springs Market was only open on weekends, and if you didn’t get there right when the gates opened, there was a good chance the shops would be out of stock when you finally arrived. I headed straight for the egg guy first because he was always out of duck eggs if I got here even half an hour past opening time.
March, my egg guy, was an odd bird. He wore mismatched clothing, old sandals that had looked like they were on their last legs for at least the past three years, and a pristine Rolex. His hair was sandy blond and pushed back with a brightly colored bandana, and he had a perpetual California surfer tan. His teeth were blinding white, and when he smiled, it reminded me of Ross on that episode when he bleached his teeth and they glowed under UV light.
“Hey March,” I greeted.
“Heya Evie!” He reached into his cooler. “Two dozen today?”
He set them on the fold-out table separating us, and I picked them up and put them in my basket.
“Yup. You got anything else I might be interested in?”
March looked shifty on a good day, but today he made an odd little slouching motion and held up a finger. Intrigued in spite of myself, I leaned over the table to see what he was doing. He hissed and waved at me to get back.
I held up both hands and leaned back, curious but not willing to risk his wrath. March was always a little weird. Not unstable, but poking the bear seemed unwise.
Shuffling noises came from the bag that he dug in, and when he straightened, he held a small box.
I looked at him. “What is it?”
“Something special,” he promised. “You interested?”
Why was he acting so weird? “Err. Sure?”
March set the box down and carefully opened it. “I know you have the magic,” he whispered. “So you’re the only one who should have this.”
I froze. The Joy Springs Market was not a magical market. We had one, but it only came once a month, and it was a process to get into. This market was for humans only. An awkward laugh escaped me. “Okay, March. I’ll bite. What is it?”
Once he opened the box, he slid it across the table. I peered inside and sucked in a gasp. “Where did you get this?” I asked urgently as I shut the flaps of the box.
“A nest in a magical land.” March waved his hand around and giggled. “A gift to the lovely flower lady.”
“A gift?”
“Free for Evie lady. Take it, take it.” He giggled again.
I hurriedly took the box and put it in my basket, then tugged the scarf tied around my purse off and secured the box so it wouldn’t move around too much. “Are you sure? I can pay you, March.”
He waved a hand. “No. Gift for flower lady.”
I took out the money for the duck eggs and shoved it into his hands. “Then I thank you, March. And I’m glad you only showed this to me. Have you told anyone else about it?”
March put his index finger over his lips and made a shhh noise. “Magic is secret, Evie.”
Yes, yes, it is. Oh March. I reached over and touched his hand. “Do you have any flowers for me today?”
He nodded eagerly and motioned for me to go to his truck. A quick sweep of the crowd revealed nothing amiss, so I stepped around the table and headed back with him.
March had tons of plants, but not a lot of money for nutrients or fertilizers. When I first started visiting, he noticed my presence boosted his plants, something no one else wouldhave put together. After the first couple of visits, he brought even more plants and asked me to touch them.
I sensed nothing magical in March, but he had an odd gift for seeing things, magical things, and I hoped it wouldn’t one day bite him in the ass.
March pointed to the back of his truck. I peered over and laughed at the dozens of potted plants reaching toward me. “Did you bring all of them today?”
He grinned. “They’re hungry.” His smile faltered. “But so am I.”
My heart squeezed. “Well, how about I juice them up really good for you?”
March’s face lit up. “Will you? For how long?”
