Page 79 of Elora and the Crow

“Yes. She said to tell you that they got in a shipment of jade plants, and she set one aside for you.”

“Shit? Really? That’s great. She didn’t think they’d get any until spring.”

Elora sat up, reaching for the water bottle on the nightstand and drinking a few swallows. She handed it to him, and he sat up and took a long drink before leaning against the headboard. Elora took the water and had another drink, then studied him thoughtfully.

“What?” he asked.

“You really love this gardening thing, don’t you?”

“I do,” he said. “Before my father died, we used to talk about opening a greenhouse together.”

An aching sadness filled him at the memory, at the loss of what could have been if his father hadn’t died so suddenly and unexpectedly. A pang of longing for Caleb followed it. Despite what his brother thought, Jonah loved Caleb deeply and losing him was a painfully deep cut that would never heal.

“You should do it,” Elora said.

He pulled himself from his sudden funk with difficulty. “What?”

“The greenhouse,” Elora said. “You should do it.”

He frowned. “You think I should open a greenhouse?”

“Yes.” Elora gave him an excited look. “Why not? You love it, right?”

“Sure, but… I don’t know anything about running a business.”

“So, you take business courses. Maybe you get your degree in business, and then you start your own greenhouse.” Elora climbed into his lap, flinging her arms around his shoulders. “Jonah, this is your chance to do what you and your father dreamed about. You could talk to Cece. She practically runs the greenhouse when her boss is away and half the time when he’s there. I bet she could give you lots of advice.”

He stared at her, a current of excitement thrumming through him. “My dad and I had a journal for all our ideas, and we even made a rough business plan. I still have both.”

She smiled delightedly. “Perfect! You can build off of that. I’m not saying it’ll be easy or that you won’t have to work your ass off, but if this is your dream, you should do it.”

He leaned against the headboard, Elora’s soft weight in his lap as she sat quietly and gave him time to process. Just thinking about having his own greenhouse sent tendrils of excitement through him, and he could practically see his dad’s face glowing with happiness at the idea.

Could he really do this? Could he live a normal life doing what he was passionate about with a loving, supportive woman by his side? It seemed impossible, like a dream he would wake up from at any moment. Happiness didn’t happen to men like him. He didn’t deserve it.

As if she’d read his mind, Elora cupped his face and said quietly, “You deserve to have the life you want, Jonah. You’ve spent too many years being a puppet for the Academy, but it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. You can change your path, honey. You can be proud of who you are, like I’m proud of you.”

“You’re proud of me?” His voice was hoarse and filled with disbelief.

“Yes.” She pressed her lips against his. “You’re a good man who was forced into a life he didn’t want. You’ve had it drilled into you since you were a child that you belong in the darkness, that you’re only good for one thing, even though that isn’t true. Now you’re stepping into the light, even though it’s hard and scary and full of unknowns.”

She smiled at him, her eyes filled with a warmth and love that made his throat ache and his chest tight. “You are the most courageous person I know, Jonah, and I amsoproud of you.”

He yanked her against his chest, burying his face into her throat so she wouldn’t see his love for her written all over it. His voice a low rasp, he said, “Thank you, Elora.”

She smoothed her soft hand over his hair before hugging him tight. “You’re welcome, Jonah.”

CHAPTER25

Elora studied the torn and ragged fabric piled on the altar before holding out her hand and speaking the incantation in a low voice. Her hands glowed blue as her magic flared to life. God, she loved this feeling, loved how it pulsed and pounded through her veins.

She stared at the fabric and repeated the spell, letting her magic flow as she concentrated. The fabric pieces trembled lightly before rising into the air. Elora repeated the incantation, the magic swelling inside her in a lovely wave of pure energy that brought her incomparable joy.

She watched with satisfaction as the bits and pieces of fabric joined themselves together, weaving and swaying in the air until they had returned to their original shape. A lavender coloured cocktail dress with a fitted bodice and sweetheart neckline made of soft and delicate silk gently floated above the altar. Elora reached out and snagged it. She studied the dress carefully, but there were no lines or tears in the fabric to show it had once been hacked to pieces by a jealous roommate.

The magic faded, and the light disappeared from her hands. She carefully placed the dress in a fabric bag before blowing out the two candles on the altar. She looked up to see Jonah staring at her from his spot on the big leather sectional.

“What?” she asked.

---