Epilogue
SPARROW BLACKBURNE
Six months later
By spring, the two were nearly inseparable. Winter had been spent snuggling in front of roaring fires, cuddled up with books and Bramble. Sparrow hardly recognized her life by the time the first blooms of the new year sprouted—her pretty purple-haired witch had transformed everything she touched.
Fern had been invited to all the Blackburne holiday festivities.
Her parents had taken a shine to her straightaway.
More than that, they adored Bramble with his dramatic mannerisms. As her girlfriend readied the bookstore for an abundant spring, Sparrow sat with her knees tucked under her on the green velvet couch beside the fireplace inside Petals & Pages Bookstore.
She would never grow bored of watching her cottage witch bring seeds to life in a matter of minutes. For all that Sparrow’s magic was stronger and more versatile, she couldn’t get over the pure magic of Fern’s talents.
“How’s it going, little witch?” Sparrow asked, turning to get a better look at her.
When those hazel eyes met hers, Fern smiled. “Good! I think most of these will be in full bloom by the end of the week.”
“That’s amazing,” replied Sparrow. “How are you feeling? Are you tired?”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Fern hurried to reply.
The slightest tremble in her hands gave her away, though. Using so much magic in such a short time tended to wear her out. Today, Fern planted all of the new spring bulbs for the displays across the bookstore.
“How about a nice warm rose petal raspberry tea?” Sparrow asked.
Her little witch’s face lit up at the suggestion. “And a slice of lemon cake?”
“Of course, darling,” Sparrow chuckled.
With a quick kiss to Fern’s forehead, she slipped out the door. The short walk to Enchantresso would have been more pleasant if she had remembered to put on her coat, but Sparrow figured the hot drinks would remedy that shortly.
Inside the tea and coffee shop, she glanced over the new spring menu. Her girlfriend got exactly the same thing each time, only changing her order by the seasonal menu choices. Sparrow, on the other hand, hesitated between a couple of newer choices and her standard favorite.
“The usual for Fern, dear?” asked Goldie from behind the counter.
“Yes, please,” she nodded quickly.
“What about you?” Goldie tilted her head to the side, waiting for her answer.
Sparrow cast one last glance at the menu board. “Can I get a large hot vanilla cardamom latte?”
“Sure thing!” said the shop owner as she punched the order into the register then slipped away to the coffee machine.
While she waited, Sparrow took a seat at the little table by the front window, just as they had all those months ago on their first date.
Townspeople passed by the shop, hurrying to their next stop, steps clacking on the cobbled stones.
Only a year ago, she had not known the quiet joy of people-watching from this cozy little place.
In the six months since she had started dating Fern Appleton, she had learned a lot about their cozy little town.
Pumpkin Hollow had always been home, of course, but she had rarely felt as if she truly belonged anywhere in particular.
Mostly she had existed on the fringe of Lark’s social circle and popularity, slipping back into the shadows after they finished college.
But her pretty purple-haired witch knew absolutely everyone in town personally.
Her friendly, thoughtful nature endeared her to practically all of Pumpkin Hollow’s residents.
Even if they rarely visited the bookstore, they asked after Fern’s parents down in Florida and told her how lovely the latest batch of flowers out front looked.
Sparrow still struggled to understand how to behave in such small, casual conversations.
She had avoided such things as much as possible before Fern and could no longer afford to do so.
That was how she had learned that Victor, the owner of the diner beside the bookstore, was a single father who had recently begun dating the woman who made their funnel cakes.
The owner of the tea shop, Goldie, had recently reconciled with an ex-boyfriend who appeared to be making plans to stick around their little town.
And the witch who ran the haunted bed and breakfast, Evie Hawthorne, had been fake dating the handsome shifter detective who had visited Pumpkin Hollow that fall.
“I’ve got your flour and sugar, dearest,” called Lucian as he barged in the back door of the shop, calling out loudly to Goldie.
“Oh, good!” she giggled. “Here you are, Sparrow. Give your girl all our love!”
As Sparrow slipped out the front door, she could hear the two speaking in a low whisper.
She caught a glimpse of Lucian kissing Goldie as she tucked her hands around the two steaming coffee cups and headed back to Petals & Pages Bookstore.
Their happiness radiated off them, and she found that “love is in the air” was truly tangible for the first time.
Another set of footsteps echoed against the cobblestones as she registered the presence of her twin sister, Lark, to her right. “Did you get me anything?”
The ginger-haired witch looked entirely in her element in the early spring weather, burrowed deep into a long tan coat and a thick orange sweater. Her brown plaid pants and matching hat, tucked under her ears to keep out the wind, were such a classic Lark ensemble that she nearly laughed.
“As a matter of fact, I did.” Sparrow gestured with her elbow to the paper bag of pastries tucked under her arm.
“However did you know?” Lark gasped, feigning delighted surprise.
“Dream witch,” Sparrow said with a playful roll of her eyes. “And twin senses.”
Her sister hummed happily. “Perhaps my twin senses were tingling as well. Or I just knew you were picking up treats!”
“You always do know.” Sparrow shook her head as Lark snatched the bag of baked goods and held open the door to the bookstore.
“Fern, darling! We’re back,” sang Lark in her musical, clear voice.
From the bookshelf nearest the door, a deeper voice replied. “Ah, good, my favorite gossip partner has returned.”
“Bramble, really,” Fern muttered, her hands cupped over a pot of dirt. “What a silly cat you are.”
“Don’t spoil my fun, witchling of mine,” Bramble said just before he leaped from the bookshelf onto Lark’s shoulder.
“Oof!” her twin cried, startled but not displeased.
Being the talking cat’s favorite companion had been the highlight of Lark’s year, honestly.
Sparrow could tell in the way her eyes twinkled as the two immediately tucked themselves onto the velvet couch.
Her sister set out the pastries on a glass dish that sat on the low table, launching into a story about the resident moth man she had recently met.
It took only a few minutes for Fern to finish her current task, and then the two of them joined her familiar and Lark by the fire. A matching emerald velvet loveseat had become their spot, the perfect size for Fern to snuggle up against Sparrow as they chatted with their family.
With her soft purple curls tucked into Sparrow’s shoulder and their fingers entwined, she felt more at peace than she could ever remember.
Every so often, her sister’s knowing green eyes would meet hers, and the thought would strike her clear as day: she’s your person.
Sparrow simply nodded, a small smile twitching at the corner of her lips.
Spring brought new life, new opportunities, and new experiences for all of them.
The warmer days would arrive in a few weeks, and then her pretty little witch would begin wearing those floral sundresses that Sparrow hadn’t gotten to properly appreciate on her when they had first begun crossing paths.
“Could I get a slice of the almond coffee cake?” Fern asked, stretching her arm toward the little tray of treats ineffectually.
With a chuckle, Sparrow leaned forward to snag one for her. “There you are, my little witch. A sweet treat for my sweetheart.”
She settled back into her seat, wrapping one arm around the witch who held her heart, and tried her best to pay attention to whatever nonsense her sister and Bramble were on about this time.
It didn’t really matter, so long as she sat here on this couch with this witch, and the best company she could ask for.