Chapter 14
“Did you hear?” Faith called as she walked into her father’s backyard. All of her sisters were there, including Hope, who was finally back from helping Healer Snow in Eureka. “Zoey got a part in an actual community production of Elf. It runs for two weeks at Christmas time.”
The entire family cheered and raised their glasses in a toast to the teenager.
“Well done, Zoey!” Noel called. “I knew you could do it.”
“Thanks, Aunt Noel. I wasn’t sure. There were so many good actors, and when I got the call, I just… Well, I cried,” she said sheepishly.
“I would have, too,” Noel said with a wink.
Zoey made the rounds, letting her family congratulate her, while Faith and Hunter took a seat at one of the outdoor tables.
Daisy came over to sit next to Faith and let out an exaggerated sigh. “I suppose I owe Zoey an apology.”
“For what, honey?” Faith asked, genuinely confused.
“For being such a witch about getting tripped and spraining my ankle. I stopped returning her calls because I was so mad that I missed a beach party and a hike with… a friend, all because of my ankle.”
The friend had been a boy she liked that had finally invited her out after two months of flirting. Faith had understood the angst. “Probably,” she agreed.
After the incident at the production of Mean Girls, they’d sat down and realized that every time something had gone wrong, the bracelet had been present.
It had been in the dressing room at the spa, in the bag at Noel’s house when Daisy had sprained her ankle, in the SUV when they’d had the accident, and then on Zoey’s wrist when the stage had tried its best to take her down.
The bracelet had been cursed to do whatever it took to take Zoey out of commission so that Autum could swoop in and take her parts.
Apparently, Autumn had gotten tired of playing second fiddle to Zoey’s talent and had tried to cast a simple spell that would cause minor issues.
She hadn’t meant to burn down the spa or almost kill someone in the process, but her inexperience had worked against her intentions.
Summer was under investigation for attempting to spell someone with a love potion without their consent.
She was also facing some serious issues due to the fact that she kept illegal magic ingredients in her house that Autumn had been able to access.
As a result, Autumn had left Keating Hollow to go live with her grandparents.
The charm bracelet had been cleansed and smudged with sage, and then put away in a safe, just in case.
Neither Zoey nor Faith were all that interested in seeing it or wearing it at the moment.
But it meant too much to them both to just get rid of it.
Maybe one day it would make an appearance again…
as a good luck charm instead of pure destruction.
Hunter stood. “I’m going to get something to drink. You ladies need anything?”
“I’m good,” Faith said.
“I’ll go with you.” Daisy hopped up and the pair went in search of beverages.
“Are you ready for the grand reopening tomorrow?” Abby asked, referring to the spa as she Noel, Hope, and Yvette plunked down at the table.
Faith felt a smile tug at her lips. All her apprehension about going back to the spa had disappeared, and she couldn’t wait to get back to work. “You have no idea. I loved being a temporary stay-at-home mom, but I miss my clients and the healing that happens at the spa. It will be good to be back.”
“I’ll be ready, too,” Abby joked. “My back is screaming for one of those massages.”
Yvette nodded her agreement. “Same.”
Noel chimed in. “I’ve been counting the minutes.”
Hope rolled her eyes. “You three hardly ever come in. Now, since the place has been closed for three weeks, you’re acting like you’re going through withdrawals.”
Faith chuckled. Hope was right, but she knew their sisters were just being supportive, so she opened her appointment app and said, “Let’s get you three booked.”
Once they made their appointments, they wandered off to find their husbands and Hunter arrived and took the seat next to her.
After a quick kiss, they held hands and then sat together in Lincoln Townsend’s backyard, listening to their family, the happy cries of the children, the dogs barking as they played, and the laughter of their loved ones.
Finally, Faith turned to Hunter and said, “Does it get any better than this?”
He grinned at her. “Only when it’s just you and me. Naked. With hours until the alarm goes off.”
Faith looked at the time on her phone. “Can you wait four more hours?”
He grinned. “For you? Always.”
***