Ian set Ash on her rug and stood beside me. He slipped his hand in mine, but remained silent.
A moment of truth? My pulse raced. “I might consider an offer.”
“When would be a good time to show it?”
Nora waltzed into the boutique. I offered her a smile before I addressed Barry. “When were you thinking?”
“At your earliest convenience.”
I walked around the counter. “Nora, would you mind letting Barry and his client into the house today?”
She cast him a glance, her eyes glowing. “I can do that.”
“Nora. So good to see you again. How have you been?” Barry asked.
“Better than ever,” she replied.
Barry turned to me. “I’ll let you know when my client is available.”
“You do that,” Nora said.
Barry rushed out, and Nora approached Ian.
“Edgar Oliveiro’s nephew?” she asked.
He bent at the waist in a half-bow. “Ian. You must be Nora Hanson.” He kissed her knuckles.
She smiled, her attention lingering on him before she turned to me. “I can understand the attraction. How are you today, sweet Brynn?”
“My heart is full,” I replied.
“Something I should know about?” Cassandra asked, walking behind the counter to ring up a sale.
Inside, I wanted to tell her, but I was wary. “When I have something to share, you’ll be the first person to know.”
Nora corralled Cassandra and me into a group hug. “I’m proud of you both for following your dreams. I’m going to miss this old shop, too, but new adventures lay in wait. For both of you. I think you’ll do very well in Milwaukee, Cassandra.”
Cassandra beamed. “Thanks, Nora. I hope so.”
Nora shared a secretive glance with me. She was the closest thing to a mother I had. Of course, she knew I was pregnant. I’d already told her I suspected as much. I still couldn’t quite believe it was true, and I had several weeks to go before I could be assured the baby would stick.
Nora took my hands, in that all-knowing way she had. “Everything’s going to be fine.”
Epilogue
One Year Later
I checked on my son, sleeping in the back seat as Ian drove us to Meadow Hill. I hadn’t ventured far from the castle since Wesley had been born, and welcomed the opportunity when Jason had invited us for dinner.
“We’ve got a few extra minutes,” I said. “Can we detour through Hillendale to drive by the house?”
Ian signaled and switched lanes, turning onto North Avenue, the northern border of Hillendale. He drove under the iron scrollwork that greeted visitors into town and moments later, he stopped at the corner of the dead-end street.
A shadowbox fence dripping with ivy surrounded the house, although the triquetra on the chimney was still visible.
Ian laced his hand with mine. “Looks like a haunted house now.”
“Madeleine values her privacy.”
“Don’t we all? There are easier ways to keep people away. You never got unwanted visitors, did you?”
I considered Daria. Unwanted? Maybe, but she’d come for a reason. Curiosity seekers kept their distance. His question was rhetorical. I’d made very few trips to Hillendale since I’d sold the house to Madeleine Stephens, steering clear of the town gossips. They’d embraced me once, but my life had been much less stressful away from the constant scrutiny and judgement.
“Do you want to say hello while we’re here?” Ian asked.
“No. Jason will be waiting for us.”
Ian squeezed my hand. “Do you miss the place?”
I gave in to a nostalgic smile. “Yes and no. I only lived there a few years, but it was the one place that felt like home. Until I met you, that is.”
Ian’s eyes sparkled. He leaned in to kiss me before he pulled away from the curb and continued on to Jason’s house.
Ten minutes later, we pulled into Jason’s driveway. As I released Wesley from his car seat, Nora parked behind us with a jerk. She flounced out, sleeves flying from her outstretched arms like great wings.
“Look at this beautiful boy,” she warbled, gathering him into her arms. “He gets bigger every time I see him.”
“Babies will do that,” I said with a laugh.
She held my gaze, a new habit she’d acquired from when I’d been pregnant. “It’s good to see you looking so well, sweet Brynn.” Which I interpreted to mean she could see the glow of magic in my eyes.
“I didn’t realize you were coming today,” I said. “For that matter, I didn’t think Jason was comfortable around you yet.”
“He said there was something we all needed to discuss ahead of Jeannine’s wedding.”
I turned around and nearly ran into Nora’s husband, Fletcher. I let out a gasp and took a step back, my hand over my heart. His stealthy manner continued to startle me. I smiled and gave him a hug. “Good to see you.”
Jason met us at the foot of the front steps, shook hands with the men, and faced me. “Motherhood agrees with you. You’re looking like your old self again.”
“Growing a human is hard work,” I joked.
When he didn’t lead us up the steps right away, I grew wary. Ian handed me the diaper bag and collected Wesley from Nora.
“Something we should know?” Ian asked.
“He asked me not to tell you he was coming,” Jason said.
“He who?” Nora asked.
I held my breath. He wouldn’t invite Kyle over, would he?
The baby fussed, and I traded the diaper bag for my son, bobbing him gently in my arms to quiet him. He was due for another feeding, which I was willing to do in the car to avoid an unpleasant confrontation.
“My father,” Jason said.
I felt strangely impassive at the idea of seeing my uncle again after all this time, but the calm gave way to dread. “And your mother?” I asked. Ian put a protective arm across my shoulders.
Jason shook his head. “No. She isn’t here.”
“Heavens. Do you realize I haven’t spoken to him for...?” Nora
