Elle said, “I’m so sorry! Let me help you!” She limped inside.

Adam was torn. Elle or Rune? Who needed him most?

“Go on.” Rune closed her eyes again. “I’m not going to die this time.”

“Make sure you don’t.” Adam stood and walked into the store.

Because Angelica Lindholm owned the Gothic General Store, it was spotless and well organized, with the original textured wooden floors, log-cabin walls and an open vaulted ceiling. Rows of shelves held an ample grocery section, a selection of vacation clothes and logo sweatshirts, and a gourmet prepared-food aisle.

Tamalyn stood over the pile of clothes and hangers she had dropped, staring at Elle, color fluctuating in her face.

With difficulty, Elle knelt to pick up hangers. “I wanted to shop the clothes, anyway. Now I can look at them one by one.”

From deeper inside the store, Adam heard Angelica ask, “Tamalyn, what happened?” She came around the corner carrying two giant Cheery Freeze cups fitted with lids and straws. With a glance, she took in the mess. “How did you—”

Elle looked up at her. “Hello. Wow, I do recognize you. Angelica Lindholm! This town is full of celebrities. I’m Elle.”

As if her hands had lost their strength, Angelica let loose both cups. They hit the floor flat on their bottoms. The force of the frozen fluids broke the seal on the plastic tops. Frozen red beverages rose like geysers to splatter Angelica’s white slacks and the hem of her short apron.

Even though the liquid must have been frigid, Angelica didn’t react. She stared at Elle as if she’d seen a ghost. Then, as if coming out of a trance, she exclaimed, “How clumsy of me. I’m not usually so...clumsy.”

“Mrs. Lindholm, you—” Tamalyn wrung her hands. “We’ve got Cheery Freeze everywhere!”

“It’s a well-known law that if a frozen beverage is dropped, no matter how distant the far wall, it will reach it,” Angelica said, pale yet composed. “It’s my mess. I’ll deal with it. You pick up the clothes. Our customer should not be doing that while you stand immobile. Make sure to put aside any of the stained clothes.”

Tamalyn nodded jerkily.

Angelica knelt and picked up the cups. “I’ll clean up this mess first.” She smiled toward Elle. “We’re not usually so discombobulated. I’ve cleaned the Cheery Freeze machine, and these are cups for Tamalyn and for Madame Rune, who is not well. If you and Adam would like a beverage, there’s plenty left. On the house!”

Adam noted she never quite looked at Elle again. He helped Elle to her feet. “She needs a new shirt. And we need to pick up a few extras for dinner.” Remembering, he recited, “No tarragon, no coconut.”

“A Cheery Freeze would be delightful. I always loved them, but I... I don’t think I’ve had one for years.”