Page 37 of The Witch & the Hound
She nodded, then hesitated. "Your dinner. At the restaurant. Did you—"
"We'll reschedule," Bram said.
"No." She shook her head firmly. "I'm calling them right now. I'm paying for your dinner. Tonight and any night you want to go back. It's the least I can do."
"You don't have to—"
"I insist." She was already pulling out her phone. "Give me five minutes."
She walked a few steps away, talking rapidly into her phone. The deputies dispersed, radios crackling with the all-clear. Thevolunteers drifted back toward the festival. Within minutes, it was just me and Bram standing on the sidewalk, slightly rumpled, both of us smudged with dock grime.
We looked at each other.
"So," I said. "That was dinner."
His mouth quirked. "Not what I planned."
"Better than compressed melon?"
"Definitely better than compressed melon."
I laughed, the sound releasing some of the adrenaline still thrumming through my system. My hands were shaking slightly, the aftermath of crisis, of fear transmuted to relief.
Sarah reappeared, phone in hand, smiling. "All set. The restaurant's holding your dinners. You can pick them up whenever you want, or they'll deliver to your house. My treat. Both meals."
"Thank you," I said. "Really. But you don't have to—"
"Yes, I do." She smiled. "And Maggie? Bram? Welcome to Seaview. For real, this time."
She herded her children away, Lily looking back once to wave at Bram before disappearing into the crowd.
We stood there, alone again, the festival swirling around us.
"Well," I said. "Should we go get our fancy boxed dinners?"
"Or," Bram said slowly, "we could go back to your place. Order pizza. Watch another movie."
I smiled. "That sounds perfect."
"The pizza place near the pier makes good margherita."
"How do you know?"
"I've been doing research." He looked embarrassed. "On good date spots. Places you might like. I have a list."
My heart did something complicated and dangerous. "You made a list."
"I wanted to be prepared."
"Bram." I squeezed his hand. "You tracked a missing child through a crowded festival using smell and instinct. You don't need a list."
"But—"
"Take me home," I said. "Feed me pizza. Take me to bed. We can do the fancy restaurants later."
His expression softened. "Are you sure?"
"Very sure."
