Free Death Drops by Chrystle Fiedler

was time to cut city ties. First, I called William Cohen, my boss at the holistic medical center, and explained that I wasn’t coming back. I also talked to Dr. Richmond-Safer in Arizona. Fortunately, both were very understanding about my change in life plans. Next, I e-mailed my editor, Katy Bloom, at Nature’s Remedy magazine in New York, and within an hour, she’d replied, sending her condolences and giving her okay for me to continue to write my blog and any articles I wanted to contribute and send them in via e-mail. I’d done this from L.A., too, so there was no big change there. She did remind me that she needed four new question-and-answer pieces by next week, though, if at all possible.
    As far as my living situation went, I was staying with my ex before I’d come out to Aunt Claire’s, so I didn’t have anapartment to vacate, just a few things to have shipped when I had time.
    Okay, no job, no apartment, no L.A. Although I’d wanted to leave and this move felt right, suddenly I felt very alone. Buck up, Willow, it’s only going to get harder, I reminded myself.
    But could I somehow make the move easier on myself? I thought about the business and the building. The third floor housed Aunt Claire’s bedroom, another bedroom where I had been staying, and two other rooms that were currently empty. If I could rent the two rooms to natural-health practitioners, it would not only draw more business to Nature’s Way; it would help pay bills until the will was probated. I quickly ran through my mental Rolodex of people I knew who might be willing to pull up stakes and come out here to practice.
    It didn’t take long for me to think of my roommate from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine. Allie Daniels, a certified massage therapist, was a small-town girl from Bennington, Vermont, now living in New York and who, like me, was always complaining about living in the city. We’d stayed in touch after graduation, and although she was doing well, I knew she longed for a simpler life. I immediately called her and explained the situation. Within forty-five minutes, not only was she on board but she’d suggested asking her friend Hector, an acupuncturist, to come in on the plan as well. I was thrilled with the suggestion.
    The only fly in the ointment? I was worried about bringing them into this unsafe situation, and I told her so. She quickly reminded me that she had trained with me in self-defense. She also told me that Hector had a black belt in karate and had served in the marines when he was younger. After a fellow officer was killed by friendly fire, he turned to Buddhist teachings.
    I blew out a breath. Having Hector here would make us all safer.
    Next, I needed a new assistant. I went into the store and watched Merrily set up for lunch, nursing her cut hand. She had enthusiasm, was positive, and clearly had cared about Aunt Claire. I made a split-second decision and walked over to her. “Merrily, can I ask you a question?”
    She put down a place setting and smiled up at me. “Sure, ask me anything.”
    “It’s obvious that Janice and I can’t work together. Would you like to be my new assistant? You can still work in the store and café.”
    She thought about it and smiled. “For Claire?”
    I looked around at the store and café, her life’s work. I knew I was doing the right thing, staying here. “For Claire,” I said, and smiled back.
    After Merrily and I went over what her duties would be, namely helping me with all aspects of the business, she went back to the café and continued setting up for lunch. As for me, I felt the grief encroaching again. So I closed the office door and gave myself over to it. Ten minutes later, I’d cried myself out.
    When I’d finished, I decided to tackle the Q&A’s my editor had asked for. To sharpen my attention before I got started, I fetched a bottle of distilled water from the store and added it to Aunt Claire’s aromatherapy diffuser. As I scanned her