Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Six
C heers, witches!” Callie whooped. “Our girl’s getting married for real!”
Sirena held her flute filled with sparkling apple cider against her sisters’ and cousin’s matching glasses. They sat together in the private back booth in Mimi’s Diner behind the gauzy curtain. Their table was covered with two platters filled with delicious finger foods, two bottles of apple cider, and, of course, wedding planning materials. One entire half of the table was scattered with wedding binders, papers, and a folded mood board that Callie kept shooing Lucy away from seeing just yet. Ursula kept fidgeting with her elbow-length gloves, which seemed super out of place with her long-sleeve T-shirt, open sweater, and jeggings.
Sirena clinked her glass with theirs, but her mind was elsewhere.
A week had passed since Sirena had brunch with Gus, Diane, and Ms. Anais Dearworth. It was a nice meal, but Sirena had felt guilty for not cooking for Gus and his family. She knew she was born to be in the kitchen, but her confidence was shaken by so many unknown factors.
She still didn’t know if she had gotten the job at Lighthouse. Her wrist was healing but it itched so much under the half cast. Due to her injury, Sirena had been moved out of the kitchen and worked the register at Night Sky. Beckett avoided her for the most part and was on permanent trash duty. She recorded her cookbook ideas and notes on her phone during her break. Sirena had thought she was doing great with her cooking spark and attempted to make breakfast this morning. When she tried to boil an egg, it exploded.
A sudden commotion pulled Sirena out of her memory. Ursula cried out as her still-full glass nearly slipped out of her hands due to the silky fabric of her gloves.
Callie pulled the binders out of harm’s way. “Take off those weird gloves!”
Ursula held the glass to her chest and lifted her chin. “My opera gloves are cool!”
“If you spill a drop on my binders, I’m billing you for supplies.”
“No, it completes my outfit,” Ursula drawled.
“When was the last time you went to the opera?!” Callie yelled.
Lucy shot Sirena a look that said Please say something . It was time for the maid of honor to step in and get everyone to act right.
Sirena said, “Focus up, witches! Let’s get this wedding party together.”
Callie and Ursula murmured apologies.
Sirena raised her chin. “Callie, show us what you’ve got.”
Callie opened the folded board to reveal pictures, fabric swatches, and a color palette. They all let out impressed gasps. “We’re going to give you glamour, sparkle, and a whole lot of love! The theme of your New Year’s Eve wedding will be ‘Midnight Kisses, Champagne Wishes’!” Callie spoke with an animated flourish. “Our bride will be draped in confetti and shimmer to ring in the new year with her new hubby. Bridesmaids will be dressed in the color of fresh champagne, bright and fizzy. The groom and groomsmen will wear bow ties with a hint of shine. Decorations will be starlight and star themed.”
“Whoa. I’m loving this entire board,” Lucy said in awe. “Callie, I knew you were good, but you’re freaking ah-mazing.”
Sirena and Ursula echoed Lucy’s compliments.
A proud blush covered Callie’s cheeks. “Thanks, sis. I’m just happy you’re hiring me instead of my competitor. I swear those elves are making bank. I lost my wedding contract with Gigi to them and—” She cut herself off. “Forget it. Let’s focus on you and your day.”
“Can we get this done in two months?” Lucy bit her bottom lip.
“Yes,” Callie said without a hint of doubt. “We have the venue, which is the biggest issue. Hey, Si. Can we confirm with Gus that the historical society is still available?”
“He’s holding the day for us,” Sirena said.
Callie opened her binder. She held up a printed-out spreadsheet. “We’ve got a deadline and a tight budget. We need to know how much he’s charging to rent the space and pay the fee as soon as possible.”
“I’ll text him,” Sirena promised.
Callie gave a thumbs-up. She turned to Lucy. “Now, you never gave me an answer about the mirror balls. I have a hookup with a party witch who can give us a discount.”
While her sisters and cousin chattered about whether mirrors were good luck at a wedding, Sirena retreated into her thoughts once more. It had been a few days since she’d spoken to Gus, but she had texted him instead in between writing her cookbook notes and her Night Sky shifts. Sirena felt his caring and sweetness come through in his texts. He asked if she had taken a break and whether she’d gotten something to eat or drink. Gus also sent her updates on Cinder, including pictures of the cat lounging in the middle of his bed. The last picture he sent to her was lock-screen worthy: a selfie of Gus nuzzling Cinder, who seemed bored by Gus’s affection. Sirena tried to hold back an “Aw,” but failed.
She was never bored when she was in his arms.
Sirena refocused on the vision board, studying the pictures of models dancing and celebrating the new year with confetti and party favors. This wedding was going to be fabulous. Sirena touched the swatches of gold glitter, silver chrome, and black silk. The fabric was cool under her fingers. This entire board screamed luxe, Jersey style. Callie must have spent a fortune.
“How did you get all this stuff?” Sirena inquired.
Callie gave them a tight grin. “Don’t worry about it. I’m focusing on my new clients, Lucy and Alex. Your wedding will be chic and filled with glamorous love. How do you feel about mirror balls on cupcakes?”
“I’ve never thought about it.” Lucy tapped her chin.
“I’m a fan!” Ursula said. The glass slid against her glove, sloshing the champagne over the rim and forcing her to clutch it to her chest.
“That’s it! You’re paying for a new binder,” Callie snapped.
“Bill me.” Ursula stuck out her tongue like a little kid.
Lucy put her drink down. She eyed Ursula’s left hand with a skeptical eye.
“Is there something you want to show us?”
They all turned to their cousin, whose eyes darted back and forth around the booth.
Ursula’s mouth twisted wryly. “Hmm… I don’t think so.” She took a long sip of her drink and avoided direct eye contact with everyone at the table. Sirena joined Lucy and studied Ursula’s left glove, which appeared a little bumpy. Like there was something ring-shaped hidden underneath it.
“We’re already celebrating,” Lucy coaxed sweetly. “Spill it, cuz.”
Ursula huffed. She deposited the now empty glass on the table.
“I was going to wait to tell you, but—” Ursula slid off her gloves and tossed them on her lap. She held out her left hand, showing off a sparkly engagement ring. It was a deep red garnet stone that caught the light like a little flame.
“Xavier asked me to marry him,” she said.
Lucy let out a yell of delight worthy of a warrior princess. A few diners turned their heads in their direction.
Callie sputtered. “When? How?!”
Ursula giggled. Sirena blinked. Did she just giggle?
“It was so adorable, y’all. He asked me on Halloween! The ring was in the candy basket, and then he waited for me to reach into it.” Ursula sighed. “It’s the best treat ever.”
Lucy clapped her hands. “Why didn’t you say anything!?”
Ursula studied her ring, tenderness in her gaze. “We’re here for Lucy. I wanted to wait my turn to celebrate.” She glanced up at them, her eyes filled with love and absolute joy.
“I’ve waited this long for this type of love. I can hold on a little longer to have my time.”
Sirena blinked away happy tears. Callie cooed.
Lucy took Ursula by the hands. “We get to go dress shopping together.”
A slow smile bloomed over Ursula’s face. “That sounds wonderful. We’re thinking about having a spring wedding in the Grove Gardens.”
Callie pulled out her pocket planner. “Great. My schedule’s going to be booked and blessed for the next six months. Is there anything else you want to tell us that we need to plan for?”
Ursula made a face. “Um… I’m thinking of running for mayor.”
“Excuse me, what?” Lucy gasped.
“Mayor Walker wants to retire, and the Grove needs a leader who loves and understands this place. I’m going to run and see what happens.”
“I better get used to calling you Madame Mayor,” Callie said.
“Look at us,” Lucy said, her voice filled with pride.
“All of our wishes are coming true. Nana would be so proud of us.”
Those words cut Sirena right to the bone. She let out a cry that tore through her body. All she ever wanted was to take care of her family and make them proud. How was she going to do that when she couldn’t even boil an egg? The tears flowed, and she couldn’t stop crying. She felt Callie rubbing her back in a circular motion, Ursula took her hand, and Lucy slid out of the booth and knelt by Sirena’s side.
“Talk to us,” Lucy demanded.
Enough was enough. Sirena had to tell them what was on her heart and unburden herself.
“I made another wish,” Sirena said carefully.
She noticed Lucy, Callie, and Ursula exchange shocked looks with one another.
“Why? When? How?” Ursula asked rapidly.
Sirena took in a calming breath, then let out everything in her heart. “I couldn’t cook well after everything that happened with Helena. I felt blocked. I tried to work through it, but I ended up making everything worse. I messed up my interview with Lighthouse and… I failed the first time. So, on Halloween, I used the wish tea in the pantry, and it took me back in time.”
“What did you wish for?” Lucy asked.
Sirena met their stares. “I wanted a second chance.”
“Wish tea? We have wish tea?!” Ursula exclaimed. “Why haven’t we used it before?”
Lucy clicked her teeth. “I found the recipe this summer. It took me a while to get all the right herbs. I guess the tea worked its magic.”
“Literally,” Callie quipped. “I knew something felt off this entire time. Start from the beginning, and don’t stop until you’re done.”
Ursula signaled to the waitress. “We’re going to need more mozzarella sticks.”
Sirena briefly summarized what happened in October and the time loop.
October gave her a glimpse of what she could have if she just stayed still for a moment. If she allowed herself to stop and have fun. If she took time to become a student of her magic, rather than going through the motions.
Lucy threw up her hands in dismay.
“Hold up. Didn’t you interview at Lighthouse, like, two weeks ago?”
Sirena licked her lips; a stray tear ran down her cheek. “I haven’t heard from them. Since the interview, I haven’t been able to cook. I’m so nervous I made an egg explode—again. I feel like my magic’s stuck.”
“Okay, let’s get you unstuck,” Callie said.
“Let’s brew up some tea and wish again,” Ursula offered.
Panic sparked her nerves. “I’m done with wishing. I didn’t punch a clown or mess up my interview. I’m better off than I’ve been in a long time. I’m grateful for what I have. I’ll figure out how to fix my cooking spark, again.”
Even as Sirena said the words, a sense of deep weariness descended upon her shoulders. How many times was she going to keep doing this same dance?
Rule seventy: Kitchen witches fix themselves.
Her head ached trying to remember if that one was rule seventy or seventeen. Sirena couldn’t keep living by the many, many rules she learned from Nana. Maybe it was time to bend them. She’d let Gus into her kitchen, and it enabled her to recall a precious recipe. Maybe it was time to make a new list of rules that allowed Sirena to forge a new path for her kitchen witchery.
She could honor the past but not be burdened with it.
Lucy’s words were strong, unshakable. “You helped Alex and me, you helped all of us, and we want to help you. We’re not going to wish again; we’re going to help you get your spark back, for good. I think it’s time you invited us into the kitchen.”
Sirena picked up a napkin and wiped away her tears. “We haven’t cooked together since we were kids.”
“Well, that’s a sign that we need to jump in and help,” Lucy said.
Ursula piped up. “One for all, all for one. Let us help.”
“Yeah!” Callie said gently. “Let us be there for you.”
Sirena looked at her sisters and cousin, her throat tight with emotion. “I mean, what would you want to cook?”
Ursula cheered. She pulled out her phone and clicked open what appeared to be her email. “I saw a recipe for a fall vegetable soup that sounds wonderful. It’s butternut season.”
Callie’s eyes widened. “Can we get crusty bread? I’m making a shopping list!”
“I’ve always wanted to host a soup party,” Sirena ruminated.
“Say less. Let’s get started,” Lucy said cheerfully.
Ursula started listing the ingredients out loud. Callie pulled out a piece of paper from her purse and scribbled them down in a list. Lucy searched the weekly circular for the local supermarket on her phone. They worked together, throwing out suggestions and making plans to go to the supermarket after they finished their food. Sirena smiled; her chest burned with sheer love for her family. They were dropping everything to help Sirena, and she let them help. No one came around and revoked her metaphorical witchy card.
Sirena thought of her first new rule.
A kitchen witch will recognize the magic and love that their family brings into their life.