Page 14 of Mated to the Monster Under my Bed
"Danni, these are gorgeous. Where did you get so many beautiful sweaters?"
“Oh, I made them.” I smiled proudly. “Knitting is a hobby of mine. In fact, I used to wish I could open my own knitting shop. But that was before…”
“Before what?” She looked at me curiously.
I shook my head.
“Never mind. It just didn’t work out.”
“Well, I say you should open a shop. These are beautiful.” She ran one of my scarves—a long crimson one with an intricate pattern—through her fingers. “And they’re exactly what people need here, since it’s always Autumn in Hidden Hollow.”
“Wait…it is?” I frowned at her uncertainly. “Seriously?”
“I know—it surprised me too.” She laughed. “But yes, this is a magical town and the Town Council took a vote and everyone decided that Autumn is their favorite season. So we have Autumn almost all year round. Except for one month of Spring in April, one month of Summer in August, and one month of Winter in December—the rest of the time it’s Fall, during peak leaf season.”
“Sweater weather almost all year round,” I breathed. “This town really is magical.”
She laughed.
“Exactly what I thought. I come from the South and it’s so hot all the time.”
“Oh, me too!” I exclaimed. “I hate it there, but we were stuck because of my husband’s job.”
“Oh, you’re married?” She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
I shook my head, a lump forming in my throat.
“Not anymore. He, uh, died.”
“Oh, Danni—I’m so sorry.” She squeezed my arm gently.
“It’s okay,” I said, even though it wasn’t. “That’s how I found my way here—there were two keys in the things he left me in his will. One of them allowed me to draw a door to this place and the other one fit the lock to the cottage.”
“It sounds like you were meant to be here,” Harmony said softly. “Hidden Hollow calls people with magic in their blood to come here and it usually calls them at a time of great stress or need.”
“Oh, I don’t have any magic in my blood,” I protested.
She gave me a small, mysterious smile.
“I thought the same thing. But here I am.”
“Well…” I wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Since I have my clothes, I’d better get changed,” I remarked and pulled out a navy-blue sweater with a V-neck that I’d knitted years ago. It was always one of my favorites to wear because it had a vertical pattern running down the sides that made me look slimmer.
“Oh, that’s so pretty!” Harmony said, admiring it. "You should sell them. Seriously. This is witch-level craftsmanship."
I blushed with pleasure.
"Well, thank you. Here—you should have one.” I nodded at the closet. “You’ve been so kind to me.”
She backed away.
"Oh, no, I couldn't. I know how much work goes into handmade things. I wouldn't feel right."
I nibbled my lower lip.
"What if I give you a scarf instead?" I pulled the scarlet one she’d been admiring earlier out and handed it to her. “I can make these in no time,” I promised. Which wasn’t exactly true, but I am a very fast knitter. “Please, I want you to have it.”
“Well…” Her eyes lit up as she accepted it. “Thank you—it’s beautiful. But I’ll only take it if you promise to teach me how to make one too. I’ve always wanted to learn to knit."
