Epilogue #2
“I’m sorry,” she sputtered out, her cheeks burning. “I’m just… I want you to get plenty of rest for tomorrow. Because, I just…”
I sighed. ”Rowena. I promise, I’m not going to get nervous and shift when we get to Boston. Melanie truly believes I have enough control to manage this trip, and even if something does happen, I’ll have that knit hat on so my ears don’t show.”
I was somewhat frustrated by her concerns, but I also understood them.
It had only been two months since I’d even learned I was an empath, let alone being taught how to control my powers.
But it had been almost two weeks since my last accidental shift, and I’d only had two total in the past month. I could do this.
I just needed to reassure her.
“Besides,” I continued. “I don’t think I’ll be that nervous. I’m excited , Rowena. This is our first big trip together, and my first time ever leaving Maine! We’ve going to have so much fun!”
Rowena smiled and squeezed my hand, though I could still see the traces of anxiety on her face.
“The café is going to be fine,” I reassured her. “Wisteria Grove can manage with it being closed for two weeks. You pour your heart and soul into that place six days a week. If anyone needs a vacation, sweetheart, it’s you.”
Now Rowena’s smile was brighter, and the tension on her face was replaced with excitement.
“The hotel is supposed to have an indoor pool,” Rowena commented. “And a hot tub.”
I laughed at her sudden optimism. “And a breakfast buffet! Gods, I’ve never seen a skyscraper before. And there’s so many people in Boston…”
“Nettie,” Rowena scolded, but this time she was laughing. “Remember what we said. No getting nervous.”
“Oh, right,” I chuckled. “Well… I guess we should be heading home. Like you said, we need sleep. And it’s freezing out here.”
It was freezing. Literally. It was twenty-eight degrees, and there were several inches of fresh snow crunching under our boots.
“You know, for our walk home…” I noted slyly as we trudged through the snow. “…wolf fur is a lot warmer than human skin.”
Rowena shot me a suspicious glare.
“You want to shift, don’t you?”
“Aw… c’mon,” I pleaded. “Plus, we’ll get to your cottage a lot faster on four paws.”
Rowena bit her lip, contemplating my request for a moment.
“Fine,” she declared. “Race you.”
“Oh? A challenge?” I adjusted my cloak and crouched down, like a runner waiting for the starting flag. “You’re on.”
“Three… two…” Rowena counted, in the same ready position as I was.
“One… go!”
We both dove into our wolf forms, clumsily getting our four legs beneath us and taking off at a hard, lengthy gallop. We were both competitive, and wolves loved nothing more than to race each other. But I was also just enjoying the chance to stretch my legs and feel the fresh snow under my paws.
I loved my life as a witch in Wisteria Grove.
But my wolf form still always felt like freedom.
We ran and ran, our hearts pounding and our blood pumping, all the way back to Rowena’s cottage. My favorite place, where we would spend the night wrapped in each other’s arms.
And the best part?
I made it to the front door first.
As usual, I won the race.
The following morning, we awoke shortly after sunrise, untangled ourselves from each other’s arms, and meticulously triple-checked the contents of our pre-packed suitcases.
My mother knocked on Rowena’s door not long after we woke, and she spent the next half hour asking if I had packed my hairbrush, my wallet, enough warm clothes, and about thirty other things.
I could feel the motherly concern radiating from her smiling face, but I also felt the irritating prickle of wanting to tell her I was a fully grown adult, and yes I know how to pack my belongings for a two-week trip.
Though in reality, I didn’t. This was my first time leaving Maine. Hell, this was my first time leaving Mount Desert Island.
And a few months earlier, I had never even left Hollenboro.
It was amazing how things had changed.
Especially learning my mother was alive.
It had been two full months since her reappearance, and I was finally starting to comprehend that she was real.
That she wasn’t a ghost, nor was I stuck in a very long dream.
She really was here , laughing with my father, hugging my sisters, and telling me how much I meant to her.
And after all of our therapy sessions, I was really starting to believe it. Between my father and Rowena’s beliefs, I was still confused on what forgiveness really meant. But I knew if it meant moving on, I was ready. My mother was here now, and I wanted to revel in every moment.
Especially after fifteen years apart.
My father and sisters arrived just as we hauled our suitcases to the front door.
My sisters squeezed me so tight that my ribs were sore, and my father’s sweet, cheerful goodbye nearly brought tears to my eyes.
My entire life, I’d never been able to leave my home island.
Now, he was sending me out into the world with a smile on his face.
They had a ferry to catch back to Hollenboro, so it was just me, Rowena, and my mother headed to the café for a quick breakfast. Technically, we could’ve eaten at the cottage, but Rowena wanted to do a final inspection of the café before we left.
That place was her baby, and I knew how hard it was for her to leave it.
My mother settled by the fireplace with a cup of coffee, and Rowena set her teapot on the hot plate while Mavro happily munched on his charcoal.
We offered for the elementals to come with us to Boston, especially since humans couldn’t see them.
But Fritzi was happy on Mount Katahdin, and Mavro insisted on keeping an eye on the café while we were gone.
In reality, that meant him napping by the fireplace and helping himself to as much charcoal as he pleased, but I didn’t say anything.
That left Aria, who happily agreed to come. Elementals couldn’t speak, but I could sense she’d never strayed far beyond her woodland home and was just as eager to see the world as I was.
“It’s a good thing you chose me, then,” I giggled as she nuzzled my shoulder. Since she was so small, she would be easy to travel with. The chest pocket of my dress had practically become her mobile home.
Just as I was about to head into the back kitchen, ready to venture out to Mount Katahdin to grab the leftovers from the party, there was a knock at the front door.
“Surprise!” the trio shouted as soon as Rowena opened the door. It was Nina, Willow, and Mabel, each bundled up in their winter clothes and carrying a cloth-covered basket.
“We wanted to say goodbye before you left,” Mabel explained as the three witches walked inside and set the goods on the counter. “And bring you some breakfast.”
Willow lifted the cloth off one of the baskets, and Rowena and I gasped.
Inside were a variety of pastries, from scones and croissants to muffins, bear claws, and even a whole French baguette with jam and butter.
“Where did you get these?” Rowena asked. I was wondering the same thing – as far as I was aware, we were the only bakery in Wisteria Grove.
“We slipped away to Bar Harbor and found a bakery there,” Nina grinned. “Figured you’d want someone else to bake you sweets for a change.”
“You guys are amazing!” I exclaimed, clapping my hands together. “Thank you so much!”
“But, uh, guys…” Rowena interrupted as she lifted the cloth on one of the other baskets. “Blueberry pie isn’t exactly a breakfast food.”
Willow raised a devious eyebrow. “Fine, you don’t get any then.”
“Hey now, let’s not rush to conclusions. I just–”
“Rowena,” Willow laughed. “Relax. Besides, you two are officially on vacation. You can eat whatever you want.” She lifted the pie from the basket and set it behind the counter. “Including pie for breakfast. Speaking of which, do you guys have a knife?”
Ten minutes later, the five of us were gathered around one of the café tables, eagerly diving into our less-than-healthy breakfast. My mother remained by the fireplace, reading a book as she sipped her coffee, but she did help herself to a croissant.
I knew she wanted to give me and my friends some “girl time”.
And now, they truly were my friends. And Rowena’s, too.
In the weeks following the Halloween incident, the witches of Wisteria Grove stopped giving her the cold shoulder.
After all, she’d helped save the town as much as I did.
There were still plenty of less cordial witches that were still unhappy about our presence, but that number was dwindling every day.
We were no longer just outcast werewolves.
We were heroes. Valuable members of the community.
And for the first time in years, people were dining in The Lone Wolf Café again.
It was no longer merely a place to pick up pastries and tea – it was a community space where chatter and gossip were exchanged over blueberry scones and cups of Earl Grey tea.
It was a beautiful experience, spending my days weaving through the tables of chatting patrons, serving them piping hot pastries fresh out of the oven.
The café was far more exciting this way.
We’d even had to bring in more tables and chairs to accommodate everyone.
We were happy. Well… mostly. There was still one thing I knew bothered Rowena. I saw it in her eyes every time she played with the beads of her tourmaline necklace.
Juniper. Her attitude hadn’t changed since Halloween.
If anything, she’d become even more distant.
She often had Mabel or Nina pick up her migraine-relieving tea orders, which meant Rowena and I rarely saw her.
And the few times Juniper was here, she shut down all of Rowena’s attempts at conversation.
She was always in and out – never spending even a second seated at one of the chairs in the café.