Page 21 of Shamrocks & Second Chances

I know this necklace. I made it myself, pouring my magic and love into every link of the chain, every curve of the clover. “I gave this to you,” I say softly, turning to Bella.

She stands frozen, her face pale, gaze fixed on the necklace swinging gently from my fingers. The color drains from her cheeks, and for a moment, I think she might actually faint. “Bella?” I step toward her, concerned.

She takes a step back, shaking her head slightly. “I threw that in the Luminous Lagoon.”

I raise an eyebrow, surprised by both the confession and her tone—flat, almost defensive. “Bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

Hecate shifts on her shoulder, baring her tiny teeth at me. “She was grieving. Let her have her moment.”

Bella rolls her eyes at her familiar but doesn’t contradict her. She crosses her arms over her chest in a defensive posture. “I tossed it in three months after you left. I stood on WhisperBridge at midnight and threw it as far as I could.” Her voice grows quieter. “I wanted to get rid of everything that reminded me of you.”

The words sting, but I can hardly blame her. I left her without a proper explanation, breaking both our hearts in the process. “So, how did it end up here?” I ask, examining the necklace more closely. The silver is untarnished and the chain is unbroken. It looks exactly as it did the day I gave it to her.

“Someone used magic to retrieve it,” she says, stepping closer to examine the necklace without actually touching it. “Powerful magic. The Luminous Lagoon doesn’t usually give up what’s thrown into it.”

“And then they planted it here for us to find. Whoever is behind this treasure hunt knows us and knows our history.”

As we stare at the necklace, something strange begins to happen. The silver starts to glow with a soft, pulsing light. The clover pendant warms in my palm, and tiny letters appear along the chain, glowing with fae magic.

“’Where coffee brews and hearts combine, the final treasure is where you dine,’” I read aloud, the words shimmering before fading back into the silver.

“Whoever came up with these clues is terrible at poetry,” says Hecate. “They should have asked me.” She sniffs. “Not that I’d help with this travesty perpetuated against Bella.”

“And me,” I say mildly.

She sniffs again and gives a doggy shrug.

Bella stares at the words, then at me with disbelief and irritation. “You have to be kidding me.”

I can’t suppress a smile. “This is the most literal clue yet. You’re the only café owner in town.”

“If someone planted this message,” she says, rubbing her temples, “That means something is waiting for us at my café.”

Hecate stretches, her tiny body elongating in a way that seems impossible for her size as she slithers down Bella’s arm and into her purse. “Finally, a reasonable conclusion. Now, can we go? I’m hungry, and Bella makes the best scones in town.”

I look down at the necklace in my palm, then back at Bella. Despite everything, despite the hurt and the time apart, she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I hold out the necklace to her. “Guess it’s yours again.”

She hesitates, then takes it, careful not to let her fingers brush against mine. Without a word, she slips it into her pocket. “Let’s go,” she says, already turning toward the garden gate. “The café doesn’t open for another hour. We’ll have the place to ourselves.”

We make our way back through the overgrown garden, Hecate trotting ahead of us. As we reach the street, Bella glances back at East Lily House one last time.

“Did you ever miss it?” she asks suddenly. “This place?”

I follow her gaze, taking in the white walls, the blue shutters, and the garden now wild and untamed. “Every day, but not because of the house.”

She doesn’t respond, but her steps slow slightly, allowing me to walk beside her rather than behind her. It’s a small thing, but it feels like progress.

The walk to Moonwake Café takes us through the heart of Evershift Haven. The town is just waking up—shopkeepers sweeping their storefronts, early risers walking their dogs, and delivery trucks making their morning rounds. A few people nod to Bella as we pass, their curious gazes lingering on me. News travels fast in small towns, and my return has undoubtedly been noted.

“So, the necklace survived two years in a lagoon only to end up in your old wishing well with a magical message leading usto my café,” she says as we turn onto Main Street. “The universe has a twisted sense of humor.”

“Or someone with knowledge of our past is playing an elaborate game.”

“Either way, I’m not amused.”

Hecate trots ahead, her tail held high. “I am. This is the most excitement we’ve personally had in a long time. The last super fun thing was the town snowball fight in January.”

Bella snorts but smiles. “That was chaos but fun.”

---