Chapter 1 Sneak Peek
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Charles Bingley is making me crazy.
Autumn in Austen Heights smelled like cinnamon and would have been a perfect place to spend cozy evenings with Charles Bingley. If only he hadn’t up and left a few weeks ago.
I closed the squeaky wrought-iron gate to the cottage apartment that my sister, Lizzy, and I shared with our friend Charlotte. Lizzy walked several yards ahead of me, leaves crunching beneath her leather boots.
When I caught up with her, she continued our conversation without missing a beat. “I’m not sure I understand the problem, Jane. Just call him, or text, or something.”
I rubbed my temples. “Being single is getting old, but he left. If he wanted to be with me, he wouldn’t have done that.”
We walked through town toward Cupid’s Confections—the half-bakery, half-house we’d grown up in. Bright orange and red foliage littered the streets with vibrant colors, and my misty breath was visible in the chilly air. I rubbed my gloved fingers together to keep them warm.
“It’s the only way to know for sure.” Lizzy gave me an exasperated shrug.
“I’m not sure why you’re so worried about this, Lizzy. Plus, you heard what his sister said about girls in Austen Heights chasing him for his money. She was referring to me,” I said.
“But she’s wrong…” Lizzy raised her palms.
“How would Charles know that with the way Mom went on about his wealth?” I sighed. “The Halloween party was a disaster. You know that’s the last time I spoke with him, right?”
Lizzy rolled her eyes in a sideways glance. “I don’t know why Mom was even there.”
I frowned. “If only I’d known he was going to jet out of town the next day.”
Lizzy’s cheeks were pink in the chilly air. “Our family scared him off.”
Thinking about the whole thing made my stomach turn.
“If only I could go back in time.” I stepped toward the curb.
But Lizzy grabbed my arm and pulled me back onto the sidewalk just in time for old Mrs. Bates to whiz past us on her marigold yellow bicycle.
She’d enchanted it to move as fast as a motorcycle, which couldn’t be safe for someone who looked close to ninety and refused to wear a helmet.
“Didn’t see you there, girls.” She waved over her shoulder. “I’ll leave the porch light on for you. Tell your father happy birthday.”
“You need to pay attention.” Lizzy shook her head, nodding to the elderly fae woman, who was already out of earshot. “If I have that kind of energy at her age, I’ll know I did something right.”
I watched Mrs. Bates, with her wisps of white hair pulled into a bun atop her head, disappear down the road. “Even for fae, she’s lucky to be so healthy.”
“It’s not luck. If you want something to happen, make it happen,” Lizzy said.
“When did you become so wise?” I smiled and nudged my younger sister. She didn’t need to hear my internal debate about whether simply wanting something justifies its pursuit. It didn’t, in my opinion.
“For example, if you want a relationship with Charles, tell him how you feel. I bet he’ll come running back to Austen Heights.
And if he doesn’t, Lydia’s happy to mix up a potent love potion for you,” Lizzy joked.
Neither of us was comfortable messing with people, even though Mom had no scruples whatsoever.
I shuddered. “Love potion, good heavens…”
“Just call him.”
“We’ll see. I need to focus on finding more photography jobs right now.
The studio has been pretty slow lately. I figured I’d go visit Aunt Penny and see if I can pick up anything in the city.
” I didn’t have the heart to tell Lizzy I’d been thinking about moving out of Austen Heights altogether.
But knowing myself, I probably wouldn’t.
As the oldest sister, it seemed like my job to always be around, be reliable, and keep everyone placated and unified.
Every time I’d made up my mind to leave, something came up to make me stay.
I’d told no one how much I dreamed of traveling, shooting photos all around the world, maybe teaching in a third-world country, making a difference, and really living. Instead, I tried to make as much meaning as I could of my life in Austen Heights.
The November sun hung low in the sky, leaving us enveloped in amber light. Lizzy pulled her jacket tighter around her body. She squinted as the setting sunlight hit her long, dark eyelashes. Cool, blue shadows stretched across the ground as the day ended.
The chance of building the life I wanted in Austen Heights seemed to slip away like the last rays of sunlight.
“You could sell photos to the newspaper…maybe.” Lizzy was trying to be kind, but we both knew the Sanditon Chronicle already had a photographer.
“I’ll figure something out.” I smiled at my sister. She didn’t need to solve my problems, and dwelling on them would only burden her.
We’d made it to Main Street and the entrance of our parents’ place.
The sky blue and navy storefront with its intricate woodwork, potted flowers, and glowing picture windows always made for a charming scene.
We walked around to the back and opened the door leading to the living area.
Immediately, the scents of the cedar rafters, fresh herbs, wildflowers, nutmeg, vanilla, and homemade bread engulfed us.
The scent of our childhoods. We’d always be at home there.
Mom stood in the entry with her dark blonde curls pulled into a claw clip at the nape of her neck. “It’s a good thing you two arrived. Kitty and Lydia are insisting on decorating the cake, and we haven’t even set the table yet.”
As the eldest daughter, soothing my mother’s nerves had become ingrained into my soul. “I bet they’ll do a great job with his cake. How’s Dad?”
Over the past several months, Dad’s health had declined due to Moonrot. Though the baffling disease was somehow related to magic, no one, fae or otherwise, was closer to finding a cure.
“He’s resting his eyes for a minute. I’ll wake him up when everything is ready.” She shrugged like it was normal for Dad to be sleeping at six o’clock on a Tuesday evening.
“We’ll get the table set,” Lizzy bee-lined past Mom to the dining table, which was connected to the family room in one big open area.
Mom scowled.
They weren't on the greatest of terms since Mom attempted to push Lizzy into a relationship with Pastor Collins. As usual, I found myself in the mediator role, trying to keep our family from self-implosion.
“Don’t worry. It's going to be a lovely evening. Dad’s going to enjoy his birthday. We prepared a special surprise for him.” I kissed Mom’s cheek and hugged her.
After we finished setting the table, Lizzy plopped down on the sofa and pulled a notebook from her bag to work on some article or another. Somehow, she tuned out the commotion in the rest of the house. I couldn’t do that so easily.
Mom, Lydia, and Kitty bickered in the kitchen, and I fought the instinct to rush in, help everyone relax, and solve all their problems. My goal was to stop doing things like that so they could learn to get along on their own, because otherwise I’d need to stay in Austen Heights forever.
I bit my tongue and stayed in the living room, pacing back and forth, and wringing my hands.
“Jane, you’re making me dizzy.” Lizzy looked up from her notebook and pulled out her phone to text someone. “They’re fine. I promise.”
Something clattered to the kitchen floor.
“Would it be selfish of me to go away for a few days?” I wouldn’t go for too long.
Next week, Mom would need help to prepare Thanksgiving pies, and after that families would start coming into the studio for Christmas photos.
But, if I could just get away for this week.
“The bakery should be pretty slow this week.”
Our family was only half fae, and we each had one well-developed gift.
Mine was empathy. As an empath, I knew how everyone felt.
All. The. Time. My parents’ lives were up in the air with Dad’s illness, and my sisters had their own stuff to figure out.
Moving away to chase my dreams would place a burden on everyone.
“Just do it. Aunt Penny always loves it when you visit.”
“We’ll see if it’s even worth my time—freelance jobs are so hit and miss.” I dropped onto the sofa next to my sister and pulled out my phone to see if the city had any short-term photography work.
I started my search with New York City, photography/photographer, events.
There weren’t as many as I’d hoped.
“I found one,” Lizzy said. She showed me her phone screen. “Haven Corporation needs a temporary photographer for their technology convention at the Grand Lakes Hotel in New York City. It’s this week, so they’d need you right away.”
I looked over the job description. It was just for a day or two, photos of some social events and launch presentations. Easy enough.
“It pays a lot. Might as well apply.” So I searched for the specifics of the job on my phone. But something else came up.
Haven Corporation’s event photographer killed in an accident. Foul play suspected.
A chill ran down my spine.
“That’s ominous,” I muttered as I read over the details. I wasn’t sure what Haven Corporation was, but I’d heard the name before. “You probably didn’t see this when you read the job listing. The previous photographer was murdered.”
I handed my phone to Lizzy.
“Wow. Does it say what happened?”
“Not much to say…it happened…yesterday. Kind of scary. Wait, she wasn’t even at work when it happened. It wasn’t related to her job. They suspect an ex-boyfriend. That’s a relief. There are risks in any city, I suppose. Would you take it?”
“Yes. If it wasn’t related to her job, I would.” Of course, she would. My sister wasn’t reckless really, maybe just brave, or highly determined.
I pulled in a breath and sent my resume and portfolio to their contact person. “I’m trying to remember where I’ve heard the name Haven Corporation recently.”
“No idea.” Lizzy shrugged.
“Well, I’m going to keep looking in case this one doesn’t work out.”