Chapter 20
I strolled into the Puffin Muffin.
Jean knew I was coming (of course) and leaped up from the table to wrap me in a big hug.
“You are wonderful,” she said close to my ear, tightening the hug. “You are the best ever. I owe you one of every delicious thing Hogan can bake.”
“Well, I’m not going to say no to an offer like that! How are you?”
It had been a full twenty-four hours plus since they’d arrested Aggie. True to their word, the police had gotten a confession out of her, though it sounded more like Aggie had insisted on telling her side of the story, murders and all.
Aggie had decided that because she had power, because she was unique, that she was above the law. She had even tried to talk Delaney into seeing things her way.
Delaney had immediately told her she was not above the law and that she was going to be prosecuted to the full extent of both the mortal and supernatural laws.
Apparently Vandre was a part of the process too.
Not that I was thinking about him much. (A lot.)
“I’m good. Better.” Jean tugged me toward the table where Yancy was waiting for us. “My doom-twinges came back online. Right after the storm and hubbub at the diner.”
“Oh, that’s terrific,” I said. “How about you, Yancy? Can you see again?”
He had a large coffee and cinnamon bun in front of him and looked like he’d just come back from vacation.
Jean sat in front of a half-eaten slice of cake and had arranged one of each of the items Hogan was offering fresh today on the table for me.
I laughed at all the treats and started with a drink of coffee.
“I can see,” Yancy said. “Sight fully restored. Thank you for that. I’m afraid I wasn’t really in my right mind. Being blind, even for a short while, really shook my foundations.”
“Big life changes do that.” I picked a random pastry and took a bite. “Oh, my sweet stars. You both better help me eat all this.”
“Hogan can bring you a box,” Jean said. “You can take it home. Or share it with someone later.”
“Good idea. I’m meeting up with Dusi and Jules.”
She pointed her fork at me. “So. It was Aggie after all?”
“Yes. She confessed. She was also blocking the futures, making sure none of us could see them clearly so we wouldn’t catch on to what she was doing.”
“How did you get around that?” Yancy asked. “If you couldn’t see the future, how did you figure out it was her?”
“Well, her pointing a gun at me was my first big clue.” I laughed at his startled expression. “No, I don’t mean it like that. I had wondered if it was her, but there were other people who seemed more likely to hate Hugo and Kenny. I didn’t put two and two together until it was almost too late.”
“Did you use your sight to figure it out in the end?” Jean leaned back, sipping her chai.
“Yes. But not to see the future.”
They both stilled, waiting.
“I looked into the past. I picked one I thought would help and leaned on it with everything I had to make sure it became true.”
Jean tipped her head back and laughed. “That is brilliant! I’ve never heard of that. All this seer stuff is always about the future. No one looks at the past.”
“Nicely done.” Yancy lifted his cup. “To seeing the truth, no matter when it may be!”
“I’ll drink to that,” Jean tapped her cup to his.
I raised mine too. “To friends. We’ve been through bad times, let’s continue in the good times.”
“To friends,” they repeated.
We clinked again, then I got down to the business of telling them every detail they wanted to hear.
* * *
“It was the bear,” Jules said. “Well, I’ll be.”
“Have you seen it?” Dusi asked. “Pandora’s box?”
We were sitting on the back deck of the Rookery. The view of the ocean was stunning, afternoon sun taking its time to meander toward the edge of the world.
“No. Delaney pulled it out of the bear somewhere safe. She told me it was definitely Pandora’s box, though. She wouldn’t tell me what she was going to do with it, but I don’t want to know. I’m sure she’ll put it somewhere safer than buried under a publicly rented storage unit.”
“Hear, hear,” Jules agreed.
“Good,” Dusi said. “I hope it is locked away forever.”
I nodded. “Also, fun news. Buzz agreed to let me become co-owner of the Blue Owl!”
“What?” Jules laughed. “That’s wonderful. If I can help in any way let me know. I’ve waited tables a few times in my life.”
“I could cover your yarn shop when you need it,” Dusi said. “I have time.”
“I will take you both up on that,” I said.
“Buzz and I will need to go over the expenses to see if we can hire more people, but with Aggie gone, and me covering the cooking part time, I think it’s going to be a busy couple of months until we get enough hands on deck to really get the Blue Owl running smoothly. ”
“Thank you,” Jules said. “I thought for sure you were going to tell me you could handle it all on your own.”
I laughed. “Sounds like me. Like the old me. But friends look out for each other and make each other stronger.”
“Yes, we do.” Dusi held her hand out for me and I took it. “Friends,” she said.
I squeezed her hand and took Jules’ hand. “Friends,” I agreed.
Jules grinned. “I know we can get a lot done on our own,” she said, “but Ordinary better look out for what we are going to get done together!”
I laughed and didn’t have to look into any future or past to know how right she was.
* * *
“It is not often I give praise.” Bertie’s voice was strong, larger than you’d expect out of such a petite person.
Of course, the acoustics of the stage helped her voice carry.
As did her being a Valkyrie. “And yet this charity drive was the best we have ever seen. We absolutely trounced Tillamook and Waldport.”
The room filled with cheers.
“Of course,” she went on, “that means it was good for all of the towns since the boxes were distributed to as many people as wanted one.
“I will thank our community businesses later today, but I called you all here to thank you. Every one of you who stepped up for your neighbors.
“You have made not only our town and two other towns better places, you have changed the lives of so many children. You have given of your time and of your heart. Well done, Ordinarians!”
This time the applause and cheers thundered.
But Bertie had that look in her eye.
“And while you enjoy the pizza and desserts I brought in for this event, I will turn your attention to the signup sheet for volunteers for our upcoming festival. I expect to see many familiar faces at our next meeting.”
It was an invitation, yes, but we also knew it was a little bit of a threat.
Okay, a big bit.
I giggled and took my place in line with the other people, most of whom were smiling. I could think of worse things to do in the future.
Another festival or charity drive or heck, solving a murder if it happened along, sounded pretty good to me.
It was just after dark by the time I slipped away from the pizza party that was still going strong. Someone had found a karaoke machine and stage lights.
I was feeling good. Things had been hard the last few days, but I’d made it through, using my brain and abilities to make the world better.
There was a whole new life for me to build at the Blue Owl, a whole new joy to explore with my yarn shop.
Both businesses were ways I could reach out and help my neighbors. Even if it was nothing more than filling a cup of coffee before they knew they needed it, or holding a class to share the joy that a couple knitting needles and yarn could bring into their lives.
And my friends had more than shown how much they liked this life we were all building together, side-by-side.
Power was one thing, and seeing the future wasn’t something I would ever take for granted. As often as I could, I would use that gift to help others.
But just being alive and being myself and making my life a happy place for me, for my cat, for my friends, was more satisfying than I’d ever imagined.
I unlocked my car and got in.
Futures kindled and flashed:
Vandre knocking on the passenger window and ducking into my car
Me telling him to leave
Me telling him to stay
I didn’t have to wait long.
Vandre bent and knocked on the passenger window. “Piper?”
No right choice, no wrong choice. I just needed to make a choice.
I nodded.
He opened the door and got into the car. “We need to talk.”
I got a little tingle of chills. I’d seen this, way back at the beginning, I’d seen him say and do exactly that.
“Hello to you too,” I said.
He grinned and ran his palm over his hair messing up the already messy locks. “Sorry. How are you?”
“I’m happy. I really don’t want this conversation to change that.”
“Fair. Let’s see what I can do then. Ah!” He snapped his fingers. “I have good news.”
“Good news?”
“Yes. The charges against Aggie mean she won’t be allowed near Ordinary for the rest of her life and that includes the Blue Owl. Well, it includes the entire west coast, but I thought you’d be mostly interested in the Ordinary-Blue Owl part.”
“That is good news.” I was relieved that I’d never have to deal with her again, but even more relieved that Jean, Yancy, Buzz, and all the people I loved wouldn’t have to deal with her, either.
“This may be good news,” he said. “I’ll let you be the judge.” He looked out the window, and I wasn’t sure if he was worried or embarrassed.
“You might be seeing more of me. I’ve been brought on as a consultant with the Ordinary police.”
“Oh.” My heart beat faster. Not bad news as far as my heart was concerned. But I tried to play it cool. “Consulting for magical crimes?”
“Yes. Especially if they are committed by supernaturals outside Ordinary.”
“Wow.”
“Is that a good wow or a bad wow?”
I smiled. “A good wow. I think a good wow.”
He relaxed, then slowly tensed up again. He tipped his head down and looked up at me, every inch a rumpled, irresistible rogue.
Futures glowed like fire:
Him, standing on my doorstep,
leaning toward me,
hand on my cheek,
as if to kiss me…
“I don’t suppose you’d let me take you out for a drink tonight?” His voice was adventure, and chance, and somehow also comfort and laughter.
“I know we started off on a bad foot. Let me make it up to you?”
He was giving me that teasing smile, but his eyes were clear and earnest.
I didn’t have to see the futures to know what my answer would be.
Didn’t need any special power to know what my heart wanted.
It was time to take another chance.
“Yes,” I said. “I’d like that.”
* * *
Thank you for reading!