“People can be so judgy, can’t they? I think the rest of the shop owners are up their own arses, if you ask me, just because they’re in a fancy city centre location.”

Mack smiled. “And yet working class Sharkeys own the land beneath their feet.”

They were interrupted by a knock at the shop door. It was Sandra from Sweet Surprise.

Mack put Dexter on the floor and went over to open the door. “Come in.”

“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Sandra said.

“Nah. We’re finished for the day. Sandra, this is Liam, my friend and the other barber here.”

“Nice to meet you, Liam. Flo wanted me to bring these over to you both, to thank you for yesterday.”

“She didn’t need to do that. If ever me or Liam can help in any way, we will.”

Liam agreed. “Aye, of course we will.”

“Well, I’m almost always with Flora at the busy times, but I had a hospital appointment yesterday, and when the schoolkids arrive, there’s always a few chancers causing trouble.” Sandra handed Mack the beautifully packaged jars of sweets and dog treats.

“Fizz bombs and treats for you, Dex. That’s really kind of her.”

Sandra then handed a package to Liam. “Flora wasn’t sure what your favourite sweet would be, but she thought you might like these.”

Liam looked in the package and said, “Yes! Yellow-bellied snakes. Aww, man, that takes me back to being a wee boy. Tell Flora that was a great choice, and thanks.”

“Yeah, this is great. She didn’t have to do that.”

“Flora felt she did, and it’s not often she reaches out to people, if you know what I mean,” Sandra said.

It was more than shyness that Flora was troubled with—Mack was sure of that. Sandra was trying to tell her that making connections with others wasn’t normal for Flora, and her experience with the other shopkeepers was testament to that.

Mack hadn’t even spoken to Flora properly yet, but she already felt protective, just as she had the night they first met. She wanted to know Flora but didn’t want to push it. This was a first step for Flora, in response to Mack’s note, and if she wanted to know more of the puzzle that was Flora, she’d need to take it slow and carefully.

Her first instinct was to go next door and thank Flora herself, have a chat and get to know her, but she resisted. Instead, she waited until closing time. They shut early today, since they had no more clients, and after the shutters were down and Liam walked away, she walked next door and looked through the sweet shop window.