Page 123 of Bad Luck Club

She wished them luck and headed off, leaving the rest of them buzzing with nerves as they made their way to the stage. As they neared it, they caught sight of Georgie and River standing in a huddle with Finn and Adalia, Dottie, Lurch, and a few other Buchanan people. They’d arranged for other employees to man the tent while the results were announced. All of them had wanted to be there to hear the results. Including Josie, Dottie’s protégé, for lack of a better word. She was muttering something under her breath, counting crystals on her necklace, and given what little he knew of her, he was reasonably sure she was putting a hex on the other entrants. There was no sign of the Bad Luck Club, although they’d seen them earlier, when they’d come by to try Buchanan Brewery’s beers.

“I’m so nervous!” Georgie said.

“It’s gonna be close,” River said, giving his fiancée an apologetic look.

Earlier, Lee, River, and Finn had gone around and tasted the competitions’ brews, and River had admitted that he wasn’t confident they would place fifth or higher.

Two months ago, Lee would have thought River would be elated if they placed sixth or lower so he could win the brewery, but now he knew better. River wanted Buchanan Brewery to win just as badly as the Buchanan siblings, maybe even more. He suspected that his soon-to-be brother-in-law wanted to prove to all of them that he was worthy of their trust. That he loved Georgie so much that he wanted her and her siblings to keep full possession of his mentor’s business.

“I don’t think I’m going to survive the anticipation,” Adalia said with a grimace.

Finn wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her closer, kissing her temple.

“Please,” Maisie said with a laugh. “You’re on a winning streak, girl. You sold every piece of your exhibit within two weeks, and you got engaged at a meeting of the Jane Austen literary society, of all places. You’re like the Buchanan lucky charm.”

“Are you nervous about the wedding?” Blue asked Georgie, likely to try to take everyone’s mind off the competition. The wedding was going to be at the arboretum, which Lee would always remember as the place where Blue had first kissed him…and Nicole had abused the statue of a famous landscape architect. Although it was a popular venue for weddings, they’d been on a cancellation list, and someone’s misfortune had been their good luck.

“I have everything under control,” she said serenely.

River took her hand and squeezed. “What she means is that she’s planned everything down to the last detail.”

“That’s because she has notebooks of lists,” Adalia teased. “And lists for her lists.”

Everyone laughed, but Georgie gave them a pointed look. “Go ahead, make fun of me for all my planning, but when our wedding goes smoothly and perfectly, we’ll see who’s laughing then.”

Lee sidled up to his sister and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, giving her a sideways hug. “Georgie always was a planner. She even made schedules for her dolls.”

Georgie lifted her chin. “They led very busy lives.”

The siblings laughed and Lee glanced from Georgie to Adalia, a lump filling his throat. He was so grateful to be here with them. For getting a second chance to make new memories.

“Hey,” someone said, and they all turned to look at Josie, still stringing those crystals along on their cord. “I haven’t gotten my invitation yet. Did you send it through the post office? You might need to hand-deliver it. Sometimes mail gets lost in my neighborhood.”

“Actually,” Lurch said, his brow furrowed, “I haven’t gotten mine either.”

Georgie blanched, and River opened his mouth to say something, but whatever it was they’d never know because another trumpet blast filled the air.

“They’re getting ready to announce the winner!” Maisie said, tugging Jack a little closer and squeezing his hand.

Lee felt his body tense, but Blue pressed herself into his side. “It doesn’t matter if you win,” she whispered. “What matters is everything you’ve accomplished together.”

He felt himself relax into her. Because she was right. Not just about the brewery, although he was proud of what his siblings had accomplished, with some help from him at the end, but about the two of them.

Together. They were their own Good Luck Club of two, always offering each other the encouragement to pursue their dreams and, occasionally, to confront their nightmares.

Lee didn’t have the kind of job he’d thought he wanted. He didn’t have a house of his own. His bank account was still middling.

But he’d never been happier or more fulfilled in his entire life.

So it didn’t matter if they won or placed in this competition, but he still wanted them to. He wanted it for River, who’d made a damn good beer, and for Georgie, who’d put all of herself into updating the brewery and making it competitive, and for Jack, who’d left the life he’d known because he wanted something more. And he wanted it for Dottie, who had loved his grandfather with the same warmth and enthusiasm she bestowed on each of them.

“Fifth place for the Best Brew award goes to Stone Mountain Brewing,” the announcer said, “for their IPA High Mountain Bulldozer.”

“That’s okay,” Adalia said, glancing around at everyone in their tight circle as they applauded the winner. “We wanted better than fifth place anyway.”

“That’s the spirit, dear,” Dottie said with an approving nod. But he didn’t miss the way she touched her own crystal necklace, as if hoping to generate some luck.

“In fourth place…is Two Meadows Brewery with their Sea Spring light ale.”

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