Nothing ever seemed to work well for Millie's hair. It didn't have curls or waves, it rarely shined, nor was it an enviable color like Calla's. With the sturdy stem of the flower holding it back, the young witch felt nearly good enough to twirl. That would have dislodged the flowers Zin had so carefully nestled in her book, though, so Millie just dipped her head agreeably at the suggestion.

She closed her book, poking in the flowers that wanted to stubbornly defy the natural boundaries of the pages. Closing Black Beauty, knowing that she had added one more beautiful thing inside, made the thrill of satisfaction bloom inside her as well. "Then I think you should read it," the young witch told her cousin, taking note of Zinnia's similar beliefs in the power of romance. Millie turned her smile on her cousin, her bright eyes brimming at the thought of Zinnia marrying someone she loved. "Oh, Zin, you absolutely deserve your soulmate!"

Zinnia had never talked about love around her, or marriage. Millie had been so little when her sister married, she barely remembered much of the circumstances or ceremony. Did Dorothea love her husband like Beauty and Ginger? It was a question she couldn't answer, and couldn't begin to fathom for herself. Stepping behind Zinnia on their way back to the stove in the shop, the young witch wondered about her cousin's prospects.

That's what they were called, as Millie heard when her parents talked about her brother; prospects.

Millie decided to ask Zinnia about her prospects when they sat down to take tea. She pressed the book to her chest, breathing in the scent of flowers to aid her thoughts of romance. The tea would complete the aroma, and Millie could hardly wait. Her feet barely gave Zinnia an inch to clear before the young witch was right behind her, excitement leaving her giddy for the cup of tea. "I can nearly smell the tea already."

She took another breath, and it was as if her magic filled in the rest for her. Or was it simply anticipation?

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