Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Cryptids United in Delightful Dating and Love Encouragement (CUDDLE) Forum
SuperShySasquatch: I may not be on this forum as regularly going forward, everyone. I’ll still check in when I can, but I wanted to give you all a heads-up.
IPutTheBrahInChupacabra: Aw, man, we’re going to miss you. But we get it, you’ve found your true love and this forum has served its purpose.
YetiOrNotHereICome: I, for one, would love updates on how things are going with you and your beau. After all, you are a source of inspiration to us all amidst our lovelorn struggles.
NessieNeedsLoveToo: Agreed. Be sure to come back and share your wisdom with us whenever you can. Some of us need all the help we can get.
MerMagicMan: Not gonna lie, I’m low-key jealous but also seriously happy for you. Send some of your lucky love mojo our way!
LoungeSingerLizardMan: Parting is the sweetest sorrow and all that jazz. Best of luck to you and your true love. Don’t be a stranger!
SuperShySasquatch: Keep the dream alive, friends. I thought I was a hopeless case when it came to love, but the universe saw fit to reward me for not giving up. If love can find me, I know it can find all of you too.
Harvest Festival Closing Day…
Hal
The final day of the Harvest Festival is a busy one.
While Skylar was able to take Saturday off to spend with me—and what a memorable day it was—he and Akram have reopened the salon for their joint business venture due to popular demand.
I’m thrilled his salon is already a success but a little sad we can’t enjoy the last day of the festival together.
Skylar has sworn up and down that in the future, apart from special events like this, he won’t work weekends. After all, we need to safeguard our precious couple time together, he informs me.
So, while he’s busy cutting hair and making important connections with town residents, I end up helping out with last-minute details at different events happening around town.
I even pop in on our resident nudist gnome colony, who have cleaned up their act since sobering up and learning that the mushrooms they’d been foraging were getting them high.
They all look abashed when they give me a sincere apology, and from what I can gather, Sylvia’s reprimands are still keeping them out of any more trouble.
By the time early evening rolls around, I’m tired and eager to meet up with Skylar again. He texts me to let me know that he’ll find me at the closing ceremony, and I head down to the same park where we had our doggy playdate with Waffles and Elvira.
Today, I’ve been working solo while Angelica is graciously hellhound-sitting for us in exchange for some filet mignon.
I knew it was going to be a little too hectic for me to bring Elvira with me everywhere, so I was going to arrange for a neighbor to come over and watch her, but Angelica offered.
When we both looked a bit skeptical—Angelica had made her attitude toward hellhounds very clear—she informed us that it was not exactly out of the kindness of her heart.
She simply wants to keep the house quiet while Rowan is deep in a healing sleep, and figures she is better equipped to keep Elvira out of trouble.
I do not doubt it.
From what Angelica explained to me and Skylar when she came down alone this morning, Rowan’s healing sleep is comparable to an unconscious magical trance in which Rowan draws energy from the ley line to fuel healing powers in his body that can then speed up his recovery.
I don’t really understand how it works, and I’m really hoping that it’s not the haywire aspect of the magic that’s filling him up, but it’s clear he needs this after whatever he went through on his last case and the quick fixes he performed across town over this last week.
Although Rowan said he’d be fine with twelve hours, Angelica is clearly of a mind to ensure that he get at least the twenty-four she had prescribed. Fortunately, Elvira seemed content to let the bossy familiar be in charge for the day.
When I arrive at the park, I see another portable stage erected in the center of the green, this one decorated with a huge banner commemorating this year’s festival.
It’s hard to believe everything is coming to an end already.
It’s been a whirlwind three days, but then again, it always is.
This time, however, it’s been markedly more special to me because I’ve been able to share it with Skylar.
He’s already got me excited for next year, and I can’t wait to work on the planning committee with him again.
He’s going to have so many brilliant ideas about how we can make next year’s festival even greater.
As I join the gathering crowd, Baxter climbs the steps onto the stage, decked out in his official uniform, and stands in front of the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the Closing Ceremony of this year’s Harvest Festival,” he announces.
Frowning, I look around, scanning the audience for Skylar. I don’t want him to miss any of this but I’m growing concerned because I still haven’t spotted him anywhere.
Folks clap and whistle in response, and Baxter raises a hand to quiet them.
“First and foremost, I want to thank my colleagues on the festival planning committee. They’ve put in countless hours and boatloads of energy to make sure we delivered another stellar event for everyone in Mystic Hollow to enjoy.
We had a few challenges along the way”—the expression on his face turns wry—“including some unstable magic that caused us plenty of headaches—”
“Gnome butts!” someone in the crowd yells, and laughter follows.
Baxter arches an eyebrow and continues. “But fortunately, we have things coming under control, and we appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding.”
Everyone claps in support. But I still don’t see Skylar anywhere.
A churning sensation fills my gut. Did something happen to him?
I pull out my phone, ready to send him a quick text.
“Before we have our musical finale, aka Mystic Hollow’s Battle of the Bands”—people enthusiastically cheer for the final event of the festival—“we want to take a minute to offer special recognition to one resident here in Mystic Hollow who, day in and day out, goes above and beyond for our town.” Baxter smiles.
“And while I can happily wax poetic on this subject, I’d like to invite one of Mystic Hollow’s brand-new residents and the owner of the Wright Cut Salon to the stage.
Skylar Wright, can you come up here, please? ”
I stop in the middle of my unfinished text message to stare dumbfounded as Skylar appears to one side of the stage and jogs up its steps. He shakes hands with Baxter and lowers the mic to his height, then waves to the crowd.
“How’s everyone doing? Still having fun?”
He gets a lot of enthusiastic responses in the form of whistles and cheers and flashes a smile my way.
Skylar looks incredibly handsome tonight. He’s wearing a fresh pair of jeans, a gray dress shirt, and a dashing brocade vest that I strongly suspect is a recent purchase from Kassiel’s boutique. His hair is expertly coiffed and his eyeliner is immaculate.
He’s absolutely stunning.
“Some of you don’t know me yet, but like Baxter said, I’m a hairdresser, and I’m offering services here in town at my new salon.
However, many of you who have met me probably did so because someone very near and dear to my heart told you about my business.
” He pauses for a moment and his gaze roves over the audience.
“I don’t think there is a single person in Mystic Hollow who doesn’t know and love Hal Atwood. ”
My mouth drops open and I nearly lose my grip on my phone.
The noise around me turns deafening, and I stare around myself in wonder. Skylar grins widely, and that whole-body tingle he always gives me starts up.
“It’s no exaggeration to say that there’s no one else in Mystic Hollow who gives more generously to this town and its people than Hal.”
My eyes are riveted on Skylar, and my pulse pounds in my ears.
“I’ve never met anyone with a bigger heart than him.” Skylar chuckles. “Maybe that’s partly biological, since he is one of the biggest residents in town.”
People around me titter, and I get a lot of warm looks.
Skylar nods. “In the short time I’ve been in Mystic Hollow, I’ve met countless people, and all of them have had a story to tell when it comes to Hal, stories about how Hal’s helped out someone in need or done something they’re deeply grateful for.
I know he’s done the same for me.” Skylar’s lips twitch into a little smirk.
“It’s part of what made me fall in love with him. ”
There’s a chorus of awwws from the crowd, and I clasp my hands together over my heart, moved beyond measure by this surprise.
“But I’m not here to give you a detailed account of our love story, even though, not gonna lie, it is pretty spectacular,” Skylar says with a cheeky grin.
Disappointed noises come from the folks around me.
“Tell us more, honey!” I hear Max call out. “Don’t leave us hangin’!”
More laughter starts up.
Meanwhile, I can’t look away from the man I love, whose eyes once more find mine in the crowd.
His gaze is unwavering as he continues. “I don’t think anyone here would disagree when I say Hal Atwood is the heart and soul of Mystic Hollow.
He’s a huge part of what makes this town a home and this community one big family.
” His voice catches slightly on the last word, and he clears his throat.
“Therefore, it is my supreme honor to name Hal Atwood the first recipient of the Mystic Hollow Civic Service Award. Please join me on the stage, Hal.”
The crowd goes wild, and I stumble forward on shaky legs, dazed. Somehow, I manage to climb on stage, never breaking eye contact with Skylar, my lodestar at this moment.
Baxter hands him a plaque that Skylar holds out to me with one of the most beautiful smiles I’ve ever seen on his face.
“You did this for me?” I ask wonderingly.