“Come here, you freak.” Emmie pulls me into a tight embrace, and I can feel her chest bucking with emotion despite the fact we’ve pinned Annabeth between us. And soon the waterworks start, especially on my end.
Leo blows out a breath. “All right, ladies. I’m going to let you duke it out.” He offers a playful short-lived smile before stepping over to Jasper in the dining area.
“How about a quick walk?” I nod toward the beach, and soon Emmie and I are on the sand. “Did you really call me a freak?” A laugh trembles from me as we stop just out of earshot of those nearby.
“Only because I love you.” She shrugs. “I’m your sister, remember? I get a name-calling pass.”
“Does that mean I get a horrible secret pass?”
Emmie dips her chin until her gaze is firmly pressed to mine. “Bizzy Baker Wilder, you can have any pass you want. Except, of course, anything that has to do with Leo. That boy is mine, through and through.”
We share a warm laugh, but her expression grows serious once again.
“So?” She cranes her neck as she inspects me. “You’ve really been able to read my mind ever since Mackenzie dunked you into that whiskey barrel?”
I give a slow nod.
“Bizzy”—she shakes her head—“that was a million years ago. This must have been weighing on you so heavily. How could you ever think I’d cut and run? You’re my ride or die. I couldn’t leave your side for anything. And I do mean anything.”
I press my lips tightly. I had just marveled at Camila for sticking it out with Sabrina and using the exact same phrase. And here my best friend in the world is that great and so much better.
“Oh, Em.” I pull her in for another tight embrace. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. You should have been the first person I told.”
“You’re totally forgiven.” She pulls back and wipes the tears from my face. “So who was the first person you shared this with?”
I make a face. “Georgie sort of wrangled it out of me.”
She laughs. “That sounds about right.” She takes a breath. “Leo gave me a little more detail about how you and he figured things out. And he mentioned the fact that Camila knows.”
“She does know about him. Although, I’ve yet to verbally admit anything to her. It’s sort of an unspoken truth that I share his quirk.”
“Hey, don’t you berate yourself. This is no quirk. You’ve got a bona fide superpower. And I happen to think it’s pretty cool.” She shrugs. “I don’t mind you peeking into my head one bit.”
I bite down on my lip as I nod. “Thank you, Emmie.” I rattle the doll in my arms her way. “Annabeth thanks you, too.”
A couple strides our way and as they step in close, we see it’s my brother and the woman who landed me in this mess to begin with, Mackenzie.
“Hey, Hux.” I flex a wry smile. “Mayor Woods.”
“Geez.” Huxley shakes his head as he pulls me in for a quick hug. “Jasper just told us the news. You got another one.” He steps back and examines me with his stony blue eyes. I will never be able to keep her safe. Good thing she married a man who’s required to carry a gun.
Mackenzie snarls my way. “Good work, I guess. But in the future, leave the detective work to the detective.”
No sooner do those words leave her mouth than my very favorite detective wraps his arms around my waist from behind.
Leo joins us, as do Georgie and Juni.
Georgie pats her belly. “Great news, kiddo”—she says, looking in my direction—“I won the pancake war.”
“I’m guessing you’re talking to Annabeth.”
Mackenzie scoffs at Georgie. “Before I leave you to carry on a conversation with your doll, I wanted to let you know that the town council has approved a Founder’s Day Festival for November, which will kick off at the beginning of the month and end with a parade right down Main Street on Thanksgiving Day. Cider Cove is turning one hundred next month, and we’re going to make a big to-do about it. Sure, we’re practically a baby when compared to an old town like Biddeford, but Cider Cove is comprised of proud citizens and we’re going to do right by this town. And we’ll be highlighting all of the local businesses to the tourists who come in for the event. Expect an influx.”
“That sounds great,” I say as I hike up the doll in my arm a notch. “Annabeth approves, too.”
Mackenzie freezes. “No haunted dolls. It’s bad enough I’ll have to burn an entire sage bush just to be rid of the darkness those things have tainted this town with.”
“Fine,” Georgie says. “But I’m really digging those quilts. Now that winter is about to ruin my sea glass hunting mojo, I think I’ll take up quilting to pass the time. In fact, I’ll whip up a few to sell next month for the Founder’s Day Festival.”
My guess is that quilts aren’t all that easy to whip up, but I’ll let Georgie have the fun of trying, rather than raining on her quilted parade.
Mack and Huxley take off, and Leo nods my way as he wraps his arms around his girl.
“Everything okay?”
Emmie nods while she looks my way. “Everything is great.”
“It’s perfect,” I say just as Fish, Sherlock, and Sprinkles run up, winded from their maddening sprints. “The only thing left to do is find a home for this sweet little girl.”
Georgie coos, “You mean Annabeth?”
“I mean Sprinkles,” I’m quick to correct her. “That little princess deserves the best of the best.”
Juni scoops the tiny treat up and kisses her on the furry forehead. Sprinkles still has her
