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“Impressive,” Elspeth praised from under the tree.
“Goodbye Mediocre Maggie and hello Magnificent Maggie,” Three crowed, and the women clapped, including Elspeth.
“Your turn.” Harper nudged Penny.
Penny took a deep breath and raised her arm. She finished moving the medium stones before Harper raised her arm to help. Maggie dodged the flying stones and joined them. A few minutes later, the stones were in place and Penny magicked the bag of gravel to pour a thin line between the stones. Harper magicked the rake to smooth them out. Maggie carefully placed moss at several intervals as the garden hose watered everything. The witches held hands, and the moss spread, creating a vibrant web of color around the stones.
As twilight settled around them, Nanna clinked her knife against her wineglass. Empty bowls and plates surrounded the remaining slices of birthday cake—a three-layered lemon cake filled with fresh strawberries from the garden and covered in a bright pink buttercream frosting. Nanna still wore her ridiculous crown, as she presided over them from the head of the old table.
“Thank you all for such a wonderful birthday. I’ll remember today every time I walk on my beautiful path.”
“To Barbara,” Lucas toasted as everyone raised their glasses.
She laughed and pointed to him, saying, “You seem to have recovered from the rock show.”
“I’m not sure about that. I’m finally getting used to seeing Maggie do magic and use her gifts. But seeing all four of them together was, wow, you know?”
“Oh, I know, trust me.” She winked.
“And it helps when they practice,” Elspeth said with a pointed look at Maggie.
“It’s easier to practice when you’re confident, and I have Lucas to thank for that.” Maggie kissed Lucas—the source of her confidence and her biggest cheerleader—on the cheek.
“And Penny’s powers have returned after some much needed rest and relaxation,” Elspeth said. Before her vacation, Penny had confessed to her aunt that her gifts were acting erratic. Water spraying out of the blow dryer. Hot rollers straightening her hair. Suggesting Fifty Shades of Grey to Mrs. Howard, the head of the local chapter of the Conservative Women for America. Elspeth had been concerned—family history had no record of a witch’s gift glitching like this—but she’d decided Penny was overworked and hadn’t recovered from their sales-busting December. She’d likened it to an overworked muscle needing rest and recovery to rebuild itself to be stronger. It had taken more than her vacation, but lately Penny felt back to her old self.
“And she’s happy again,” Alison said. “I’ve noticed my girls are the best versions of themselves as witches and women when they are happy. And I haven’t seen Penny this happy in a long time.” Alison’s eyes glistened in the twinkling lights above.
“Women first, then witches,” Nanna said, and Penny hoped the birthday celebration didn’t degrade into the age-old debate of which was more important, their lives as women or witches. “And you know what I’m going to remember most about this day?”
“The flying rocks?” Lucas asked.
“No, the love. Every time I look at my beautiful path, I’m going to remember the love that went into it. You and Cal didn’t use magic to cut out the grass and Cal didn’t use magic when he bought all the supplies. We could have laid the rocks without magic, but without love, I wouldn’t have my path. Love is the greatest magic of all.”
“Well, said, my love.” Three kissed her on the cheek and Penny sighed. She wanted that: love, a committed relationship, a family someday. Nanna and her mom were right. Penny hadn’t been this happy since she’d worked in New York. And it’s because of Bash.
He’d given her back her dreams. She was working in publishing. It wasn’t what she’d originally dreamed of, but helping other bookstores fulfilled her more than editing manuscripts had. And she loved reading and choosing the books for the book clubs and writing the questions. Adding him and his world into hers made her happy.
Penny frowned. She didn’t know what to do. Maintain the status quo or convince her man of action that he loved her, too. Unlike Nanna, Penny didn’t have a clear path to follow, but she had a month to find one.
Chapter 27
“Baaash!” Maggie dropped the rag and raced around the counter.
“Umph,” he grunted, as she collided with him. Let’s hope she’s not the only sister happy to see me.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
He shrugged. “You’re just a slight detour on my way to Thistlestone, and I wanted to see if everything looked as great as it does on the website.”
“And the million and one pictures Lucas sent to you?”
He smirked. “He’s proud of the way it turned out.” And he should be. Bash looked at the gleaming counter tops and the delicious-looking desserts behind the display glass. They’d mounted large monitors on the wall listing the specialty coffee and tea drinks and the week’s specials: summer berry smoothie, iced tea sweetened with Thistlestone honey, raspberry mocha hot or iced, blueberry blondies, chocolate chip pretzel cookies, and ice cream sandwiches featuring Moo Please ice cream. A couple sat next to each other at the long counter against the window overlooking Tumble Falls with their backpacks tucked underneath them. A mother and two young children sat in a booth near the entrance to the bookstore, snacks in front of them, and a Get Lost bag sat on the table. The space was open and bright, comforting and welcoming, just like the woman clinging to him. The sun broke through the clouds, filling the room with tiny rainbows as the chandelier’s crystals caught the light.
“Is it story time?” he asked, nodding toward the opening that led into the bookstore. Bash hoped he didn’t sound too eager.
“They finished a while ago, but Penny’s not there,” she said with a knowing look. “Come on back to the kitchen while I finish frosting the cupcakes.” Maggie grabbed his hand, and he followed her. The kitchen was small, but organized and clean. Maggie hooked her foot around a stool, pulling it out, and gently shoving him on it before pushing a plate at him. “These are a little overcooked, but they still taste great. Eat.” Bash munched on the cookies while he asked her how business was going, if the shared space between Goddess Bakes and Get Lost was working for both businesses, and if she enjoyed being her own boss. Listening to Maggie’s voice soothed him. He hadn’t realized how nervous he was about seeing Penny.
“How many of those do you need to do?” he asked as she finished decorating her fourth cupcake with a mound of pink icing and a sprinkle of edible glitter.
