I convince Mattis to go with me to work the next day. He’s hesitant at first, even though he’s curious about the apothecary, but I convince him with promises of the best carrot herbal tea in existence—“Carrot tea, Hannes?? I’ve never heard of it.”—and by reminding him that his family knows where he is now, so he doesn’t have to hide.
Besides, I’d rather not have to wait until tonight to talk to him about what happened with his mom yesterday. After I promise to drive him back to the house on my lunch break if he’s uncomfortable, he accepts.
His worries are unfounded; he adores the apothecary at first sight and bounces around the place, eager to learn everything about everything.
“My God,” Margot says to him, “you have more questions than Hannes. I didn’t think that was possible.”
“Oh, s
