Page 9 of A Touch of Spring Magic

But as she drove home, she vowed she’d find the book for Chloe.

*

Jessica changed clothesimmediately when she arrived home. She plowed all of her shock, hurt and humiliation into weeding the northwest part of the garden closest to the barn. Digging through the planters and beds choked with years of weeds, debris and many things Jessica didn’t want to ponder too closely strained her muscles, but at the same time helped her to relax. It was thrilling to imagine future possibilities. Color. Texture. Fragrant beauty. Creating life out of chaotic, neglected death. She was encouraged to see bulbs and a few other tendrils crawling out of the choked tangle.

Jessica wheeled load after load to her growing compost pile, charmed when a black-and-white ‘tuxedo’ cat Chloe had named Zin jumped up on the load as she trudged back and forth from the section of garden to the compost pile. She hadn’t been too fond of Chloe’s impromptu cat sanctuary initially, but she’d never say no to one of Chloe’s bursts of love and kindness, and now that she was living up here, it was nice to have a little company, even though most of the cats kept their distance.

Jessica stretched, bending forward to place her palms on the hard dirt. Zin wove in and out between her arms, his tail tickling her nose before he ran off.

Jessica pulled her phone from her back pocket and took a few pictures, hoping to perhaps use Canva or another online platform to begin to create a plan. She’d need to show something to Grandma Millie and her sisters. And she’d have to tell them that she’d lost her job.

The breeze kicked up, and Jessica noticed the shadows had grown and the air had cooled. What the heck time was it?

She’d taken her watch and earrings off, of course, when she’d come home, but she stared at her phone, shocked that she’d been working all day—skipping lunch and her usual three p.m. pick-me-up snack. She’d need to get cleaned up, rehearse her story for her sisters in the shower. They’d be arriving sometime after five, and she should probably plan out something for them all to eat. And they’d definitely need wine even though it was a Monday.

“All new adventures deserve a toast with bubbles,” Jessica stated, wondering if she should invite Grandma Millie, but she wanted to share what had happened with her sisters first, brainstorm ideas before she approached Grandma Millie to make sure she’d approve the plan and hopefully not deed the property to her son before Jessica could get her nursery up and running and have enough money to purchase at least a handful of acres.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Chloe sang out, and Jessica whirled around to see her youngest sister—technically cousin—though Jessica had always ignored her mother’s firm distinction and her father’s pointed silent indifference hurrying toward her.

“And I came prepared.” Chloe lofted up a champagne bottle over her head, and Jessica could see the condensation trickling down.

“I haven’t made any announcement yet,” Jessica was amused by Chloe’s exuberance. It was always hard to stay worried or sad with Chloe around—probably why Rustin adored her. That man had had his share of troubles over the years.

Chloe had always been a little different—fey, Grandma Millie called her, and sometimes scarily intuitive even though her head was in the clouds half the time, and she was humming a melody the other half. A rush of fierce, almost maternal love ran over Jessica.

Chloe paused, and then broke into a fast jog. “I have news. I do, but I knew something was up with you too. Just knew it. What’s your announcement?”

“What’s your news?” Jessica asked, puzzled, not an unusual state around Chloe.

A happy grin split Chloe’s face. “We’ll both wait for Sarah and Meghan. I hope Sarah doesn’t have the late shift at the clinic. Oh, and Rustin made us some appetizers and the most fragrant tajine…or is that the cooking pot? Maybe both. Context is everything. He thought you looked stressed and tired this morning, and since he’s been experimenting with some African fusion recipes, he sent one along. I wanted to stop so many times and bury my face in the pot and just inhale and maybe take a little taste, but I behaved. Are you stressed?”

Jessica was accustomed to Chloe’s verbal streams, but one theme stuck out.

“Great,” she said. “Rustin said I looked like crap?”

She wondered if Storm, no Brent, had had anything to add to that unflattering appraisal.

“Rustin would never say that—never ever. You’re always beautiful.”

“Rustin might not say it toyou,” Jessica clarified. “But I’m sure he’d say it.”

Chloe stepped closer. Her blue-purple eyes searched Jessica’s face, and she felt utterly exposed, all her failures on view. “You do look different. You’re not sick are you, Jessie?” Chloe hurtled herself against Jessica and hugged her hard.

“I’m fine. Breathing would be nice, monkey.”

“Sorry.” Chloe danced a couple steps back. “I just got scared for a minute.”

“Hey, is the party out here?” Meghan asked walking down the broken brick path. “It’s a bit chilly for a picnic, and something smells amazing in the kitchen. Have you been using the spooky book again? Is that why we’re here? We’re going to cast a spell on someone? I heard Storm Stevens is back in Belmont, hotter than Hades, and how did I miss that he’s been here since October starting a business? You calling dibs on that prime cut of beef, Jessica?”

Chloe laughed and clapped her hands. “Jessie, Jessie, Jessie. Prom queen and king. Storm’s perfect. Oh, let’s pick a recipe.”

“What?” Jessica squeaked. “I thought he was visiting his grandparents.”

Thank goodness she’d lost the book so no recipe could be chosen as an experiment.

“I have news,” Chloe said. “And so does Jessie.” Chloe hoisted the champagne above her head like she’d won something.

“What is it? I’m feeling thirsty,” Meghan said.

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