Page 28 of Shamrocks & Second Chances

I laugh and shake my head. “Not a ring. Not yet, anyway.” I open the pouch and tip its contents into my palm. A delicate gold chain spills out, supporting a small crystal pendant. Inside the crystal, a tiny coffee bean floats, surrounded by what looks like golden dust.

“What is it?” she asks, leaning closer to examine it.

“A promise,” I say, holding it up. “The coffee bean is from the first cup you ever made me. The gold dust is from my personal reserve—the part of my treasure that’s tied directly to my magic and life force.”

Her eyes widen. “Seamus, you shouldn’t—”

“I wanted to,” I interrupt gently. “It’s enchanted. As long as you wear it, you’ll always be able to find me, no matter where I am, and I’ll always be able to find you. No more disappearing.” I lower my voice to avoid revealing all my secrets to those around me. “You’ll also share in my lifespan.”

Bella touches the pendant with one finger, and it glows briefly in response. “It’s beautiful.”

“May I?” I hold up the necklace.

She nods and turns, lifting her braid. I fasten the chain around her neck, letting my fingers linger on her skin for a moment. When she turns back to face me, the pendant rests just above her heart.

“Thank you,” she says softly.

I take her hand and bring it to my lips. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

Around us, the festival continues in full swing. Music swells, people dance, and the day air fills with laughter and magic. For the first time in two years, I feel completely at home.

“Dance with me?” I ask, nodding toward the stage, where couples are swaying to a slow melody.

Bella smiles and squeezes my hand. “Lead the way, leprechaun.”

As we’re moving toward the dance floor, I ask, “You really didn’t send the pin?”

She flushes and looks away. “Well...”

Hecate suddenly appears at our feet, grinning up at me with her doggy tongue out. “I found that box two years ago. You didn’t deserve it then, but you do now. I dug it out of the attic where I hid it to save it from the purge and I arranged to have it delivered to the inn.”

I grin at Bella, who flushes. “So, it was you.”

She shrugs. “Yeah. I guess I was embarrassed to admit it. I hadn’t seen it in a long time, so I figured I must have thrown it out when I was eradicating all traces of you from my life. I’d intended to give it to you as a thank you for the jewelry you’d made me, but then...” Her eyes cloud for a minute.

“Then I was gone, and it was too late.”

“Not too late. Just postponed. You can thank me later, with a nice filet mignon, cut into tiny pieces,” says Hecate before turning and trotting away, skillfully dodging between dancers’ feet.

“She’s a pip,” I say.

Bella snorts. “That’s one word for her. Another might be unemployed. Lucky for her, it’s just too hard to sever a contract with a familiar.” With a grin, she squeezes my hand. “Are we going to dance, or what?”

I laugh. “Since the town would frown on us publicly ‘or what’ing, we’d better dance.” I sweep her into my arms, and it’s just like old times, but better, because this time, we’re going to make it work.

THE NEXT MORNING, SUNLIGHTstreams through the windows of Moonwake Café. Bella moves behind the counter, preparing for the day’s customers. I sit on a stool, watching her work, still marveling at the fact that I’m here, and we’re together.

Hecate materializes on the counter in front of me, her fluffy tail swishing back and forth. She fixes me with a judgmental stare, then turns to survey the café.

“Finally,” she says with a canine sigh. “Now, can we get back to running a business?”

I laugh and reach out to scratch behind her ears, but she dodges my hand with supernatural speed.

“I don’t think we’ve reached the ear-scratching stage of our relationship yet, leprechaun.” She sniffs.

“Give it time,” I say. “I’m very persistent.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Her tone is dry, but there’s a hint of approval in her eyes.

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