Page 118 of Bewitched & Bewildered
The Moonlit Tavern.
I designed the font and the little moon myself. There’s no better way to make my mark on the bar.
Taking our mother’s old sign down is bittersweet, but our mother’s spirit still lives there. Her portrait hangs behind the bar for all to see, and as we watch everything come together… we know she’s smiling down at us. Finally, I can feel her.
We haven’t even opened yet, but the feeling I’ve been waiting for is finally here. I am settled.
Her spirit is around me more than when I ran the apothecary.
I’m ready to face life again. No, it’s more. For the firsttime in my adult life, I have something Ineedto succeed in. Gods, I missed that feeling.
“It’s perfect!” Maple gasps, clasping her hands together.
With misty eyes, I watch my sisters. “It’s everything I wanted.”
“I wish Aspen was here.” As happy as we are, Rowan is frowning.
Aspen replied to the group chat and allowed us to make the changes, but… it feels wrong that our middle sister isn’t here.
“She’ll be here for solstice,” I say. “She promised us.”
“This place is going to be so pretty for Yule!” Laurel bounces on the balls of her feet. “Oh, can we get a big Yule tree? Please?”
“Sure.” I chuckle. “We can do that.”
“Will we be ready to open in time?” Maple asks.
“We will,” I say. “It’s looking like we’re going to be readysoon.”
Yule is a few weeks away, and we have a lot of work to do… but I’m not alone. I have my sisters.
And I have Ozan.
TWO WEEKS LATER — OPENING NIGHT
Laurel was right about the Yule tree. It’s big—the biggest I’ve ever seen—and it looks perfect in our bar. The place is jam-packed with familiar faces. Not that I have time to look. Laurel and I are behind the bar, slinging drinks and food.
The little kitchen is as busy, but at least Maple isn’talone. She has a team behind her. As the night flies by, I think my mother would be proud. We’ve taken her shop to levels she never would have imagined…
And we’re doing it together. Each of us has a place and a job.
Soft Christmas music plays in the background, quiet enough that the patrons can still converse but loud enough that they can feel the vibe. I lose track of the cranberry bliss drinks I’ve made. They’re not as strong as the one I shared with Ozan all those weeks ago. I would say they’rejustright.
And he’s here, too.
It’s easy to spot Ozan as he weaves through the crowd, several inches taller than any other patron. He notices me, too. His dimples appear as a broad smile stretches on his handsome face.
Someone smarter than me would smile back and go on with their life. We’re too busy for me to give Ozan the attention I want to. I can’t waste time with my boyfriend on opening night.
But…
Gods, I can’t stay away from him. None of this would come together without him. He deserves some acknowledgment.
“I’ll be back,” I say to Laurel.
“What?” She looks at me with wide eyes, and I pay her no mind.
Laurel is a surprisingly good barkeep. She and I spent weeks studying, and by the time we’re done, she’s as good as I am. She may even be better. Potions aren’t her specialty, but she can charm a drink unlike anyone else.
