The old woman stared at Emily skeptically for a long moment before finally exhaling in a dramatic fashion and answering.
"Well... if it is what you say you want, then I shall of course oblige. But," she paused again and smiled, "don't say I didn't warn you."
Emily was a bit taken aback by this, but wasn't ready to turn back now. Besides, this was just a long shot, she thought. This old woman probably isn't even for real, but what did she have to lose?
"Yes, I'm sure this is what I want. And don't worry, I've thought it all through." She said with as much confidence as she could muster.
"As you wish. Follow me, dear."
And with that, the old woman took Emily by the hand and led her to a dark corner of the shop past musty old shelves filled with various odd vials, books, and talismans. Finally they stopped by a window where a single, unassuming, small potted flower rested all by itself on a window sill.
"Excuse me," said the woman as she reached past Emily to open a cabinet draw and pull out a pair of gloves which she quickly put on. She then extracted a pair of scissors and ever so carefully clipped off one of the flower blossoms and put it in a ziplock bag. "Here you go! That will be Fifty dollars."
Emily tentatively took the bag from the old woman's hand.
"Ok... So, um, what do I do with this?" Emily asked confused as she walked back to the front with the woman while pulling the cash from her pocket. She handed it to the woman, who quickly deposited it in her ancient looking cash register.
There was a mischievous gleam in the woman's eye as she once again gave that disconcerting smile.
"Don't worry. When the time comes, you'll know. Just know this... make sure nobody else touches the flower but you. And one more thing..."
"What's that?"
"No returns."