Page 74 of Everything She Does Is Magic

He recovers as only he can, that customer service brightness always right within reach. “Thanks for celebrating our baby girl,” he says to the crowd. “She wants me to share something happy, and I think I have just the news. We’re thrilled to announce who will be taking over the shop for us when we retire.”

This sends a ripple of surprise through the audience. Including me. We haven’t discussed this in weeks. It’s been my last loose thread, the nagging worry that I’ve been concerned I’ll carry all throughout college.

My mom joins Dad at the mic, putting a hand around his shoulder in support.

“We don’t know anyone with more commitment, enthusiasm, and dedication than this person,” he continues. “And they’re young, which certainly helps two old farts like us. My bones crack every time I walk up and down these stairs. This young sprite will have no problem. Not for a few decades, at least.”

My mom gives him a nudge, returning him to the point.

“The next owner of Pam’s Paints and the future leader of theFableview Fall Planning Committee is none other than Grace Manalo!”

Grace runs up to the mic like she’s been waiting for this. And in so many ways, she has. It makes perfect sense. Grace knows the town’s secrets, and she guards them with ferocity. She has no plans to leave. How could it ever be anyone but her?

“Thank you,” she says, hugging my dad. “I didn’t know we were doing this today, and I want to be sure we don’t take too much shine away from my best friend, so I’ll keep this brief. I can’t wait to keep the magic alive every fall, and I will do everything I can to preserve the traditions of our strange little town. Thank you! And congrats to Darcy!”

She blows me a kiss, flitting off into the crowd to receive her appropriate congratulations.

Anya’s hand finds mine again.

“That fits,” she says.

“It does,” I tell her.

And then we face each other, and the rest of the world falls away. It’s just her and me inside the art shop, the same way all this started.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you right back,” she tells me.

She rests her forehead on mine.

I don’t know what will happen in the fall when I leave for college. But I know we’ll figure it out somehow, because that’s what we do together. We solve what no one else can.

Broken, fixed, or anything in between, we fit.