by Lisa Coots
She nodded silently as a tear raced down her face. Jake pulled her to him and she hid her face against his chest.
“That’s a reasonable explanation. And probably as good as it’s going to get,” Mason agreed squeezing Serena’s hand again.
“And now we can get back to my wedding plans!” The blush on Claire’s face made her eyes seem bluer. “It’s going to be perfect. Richie is gone and Anna found her baby.”
Ben coughed again as he headed out the door. “Umm. Yeah, I’ve got stuff to take care of.”
“Yeah, the rest of the pie,” Faith snorted, lifting her face from Jake’s shirt.
“I’ll give you a hand with that, Reuben.” Gabe laughed as he stood to follow Ben.
After seeing the other couples out, Serena reveled in the warmth of happiness and friendship. Smiling to herself, she mentally added family to that list. The word was magic. She leaned against the heavy door and marveled at everything that had transpired within these walls. She truly felt it had been magic all along.
Hearing a noise from the big room, she paused. The unmistakable sound of a candle being lit came through the slight crack in the sliding door. Mason. Music drifted through the air to her and she felt the pull of longing. The music, him, the memories, and the passion. Slipping through the opening, she closed the door behind her letting the soft light surround her. She knew he was waiting there in the shadows for her.
“Mi Amor.” His deep husky voice reached out to her over the music.
“Mason…,” she began.
“No, love, dance with me. Can we just dance?”
She went to him melting instantly against his body. No words were needed. They let the music take them, moving by feel. His strong arms held her as his muscular legs brushed against hers. The heat between them began to build and her soul rejoiced. Their energy melded and flowed with the music.
When the song ended, Serena couldn’t bear to open her eyes. She just wanted to feel. Not think. Not remember.
“Rena, my love.” His strong hand caressed her back and found its way under her chin lightly turning her face upward. She opened her eyes then to see his green gold ones watching her intently. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“Mason, you came back for me. You came back to make things right and you did. Our magic is real.” Reaching up to softly kiss him on the lips, she watched his eyes close on unshed tears. She felt his relief as he crushed her to him.
“I love you,” she whispered into his lips. “We are bound.”
CHAPTER 32
Coeur du Bayou was bustling with activity and Serena loved every minute of it. Noisy clattering from the kitchen told her Faith was busy in her domain. Upstairs, Michelle was setting up for the last fitting before the rehearsal supper. The big room was set and ready for the guests. Finally deciding that the room needed a more formal title, Serena had dubbed it, ‘The Event Room’, and she had every intention of it earning the name. Noticing Ben lurking in the foyer near the boxed desserts for the reception, Serena quietly watched as he sneaked a mini pie out of the pastry box.
“Ben! What are you doing?”
Looking guiltily at the treat in his hand, he smiled quickly and replied, “Quality assurance.”
“Faith is going to kill you if you don’t stay out of the food. Those are for the reception tomorrow.”
“Then why are they out?”
“Gil’s coming to pick these up to store at the diner until tomorrow. And they were boxed.” Serena pointed to the stack of boxes that were closed and taped.
“I’m here!” A frazzled Elle burst into the foyer, pushing her sunglasses over her spiky hair.
“Elle, it’s ok. You’re not late. Relax.” Serena smiled at her.
“Oh, good. Am I staying here tonight?”
“Well, I don’t know. I thought you were staying at your mom’s.”
“Elle.” Ben nodded in her direction awkwardly.
“Hey,” Elle answered shyly, and lowered her voice in Serena’s direction. “Hey, you think you have time to do a reading for me? I think I need it.”
“What?” Taken aback by the request, Serena didn’t have time to answer before the door opened again.
“Elle. What the hell?” Evan strode in carrying a bag. “You’re only here for a few days. Your car looks like you’ve got your whole house in it, and you’ve been living in it.”
“Evan, what are you doing here? We have to try on the dresses. You shouldn’t be here.”
He pointed to the door as Claire entered. “Hey, I thought it’d be better if he just dropped me off now, instead of taking two cars.”
Evan turned back to his sister with a frown. “I’m not hauling all that down. You don’t need it.”
“No, that doesn’t get unloaded here. It’s going to Claire’s.” Elle’s smile faded, and she bit the side of her lip. “I guess she hasn’t told you.”
“Told me what?” Evan looked from Elle to Claire then back at his sister for an explanation.
“I’m moving back. Claire’s going to rent me her house.” The diamond stud glinted from the side of her nose as she gave a cheesy smile to her brother.
After a few blinks, he asked, “What about your job?”
Elle’s smile faded as she looked at her sandals. “Umm… I quit.”
“Has that hair dye gone to your brain?”
“Evan.” Claire smacked him on the arm.
“Why did you quit Elle?” Serena asked, realizing her request for the reading. “Are you ok?”
“No, damn it. I’m not ok!” Elle’s cheeks grew red as she stomped a foot on the wood floor. “Claire told me what happened and I missed it. All of it.”
“Oh man,” Ben grumbled, looking at the half eaten dessert in his hand.
“What the hell are you going to do here?” Evan demanded.
“I’ll find another job. I just don’t want to miss anything else.” Her large brown eyes threatened to water. “Everyone I love is here.”
Evan blinked again, nodded silently and cleared his throat. “Where’s Faith?”
“In the kitchen finishing up the cake. And don’t go in there. I stuck my head in and I thought she was going to stab me.” Ben rolled his eyes toward the kitchen and popped the last bite into this mouth.
Claire blushed with happiness as she watched them. Serena, knowing exactly how she felt, put an arm around her and squeezed. “It’s good to have family isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
The wedding day started with a low fog covering the grounds of Coeur du Bayou. Serena had slipped quietly out of the cramped daybed she shared with Mason to watch the dawn. Her house and her heart was full. All of the rooms of Coeur du Bayou were occupied except for the yellow room, Anna’s room. That room had been designated for the bride and bridesmaids to prepare for the ceremony.
Faith had shown up first, busily finishing up the reception food. Gil had already made several trips, bringing back the food he had kept in his cooler overnight. Claire and the hairdresser had made their way up the stairs to Anna’s room. Even Michelle had stuck around to help out. Faith had probably made a dozen trips up and down the stairs already that morning even squeezing in time for her own hair to be done.
Serena stood at the doorway to the event room and smiled at her handy work. Mason, Gabe and Ben had helped set tables and cover chairs. The backdrops had the desired effect and the guests would start arriving any minute.
“Come on. It’s time. We need to get dressed.” Faith hurried out of the kitchen and headed for the stairs.
“I know. Just checking. One last look.” Serena glanced around and was pleased with everything. “We did it, Faith.”
“Yes,” Faith grinned at her, then snorted. “Well, almost. Come on.”
Arm in arm, they made their way up the staircase to Anna’s room. Elle and Claire were already dressed and chatting nervously. Michelle handed them their dresses and quickly shooed them behind the screens to change.
Suddenly ner
vous, Serena slipped the dress on. She had no reason to be. Everything was perfect. The food, the flowers, even the weather seemed to be holding out. As she struggled with the zipper, she heard a knock on the door.
“Hey you guys decent?” Ben called through the closed door.
“Umm. Just a sec.” Claire waited for Serena to step from behind the screen. “Yeah, come in.”
“Just thought you’d want some pictures in here before we go down. It’s almost time.” Ben held up his camera.
“Yes, I was waiting to put the veil on her.” Michelle smiled at Ben, who immediately blushed.
“Oh, ok.” Faith took the veil from Michelle and stood next to Claire in front of the mirror.
“Wait. Serena, you too,” Ben instructed. “Claire look into the mirror. Faith on one side. Rena on the other. Elle stand there. If I can get a good angle, this will be sweet.”
Ben knelt down turning his camera this way and that while snapping away. Serena caught Claire’s eye in the mirror and they laughed. Who would have thought a lost dog in a rain storm would have brought them all together?
“Wow! You guys look great.” Ben continued to snap away, giving instructions for their poses. Holding the camera to his face, he asked casually, “So which one of you is pregnant?”
Shocked, Serena glanced at her friends as Ben clicked the camera rapidly.
“What?” Faith snapped.
“Well, someone in this room is definitely prego.” Looking over the camera, Ben watched them thoughtfully. “I’ve been around Serena and Faith almost every day for the last few weeks. I don’t think it’s them... Elle?”
“Oh my God, Elleanor!” Wide eyed, Faith turned to her sister. “Is that why you’re moving home?”
“No way! It’s not me!” Elle glared in Ben’s direction shaking her head vigorously.
Finally, everyone turned to Claire who was gazing dreamily in the mirror.
“Oh, hun. Really?” Serena reached out to touch Claire’s arm.
“Yes, but don’t say anything just yet. I was waiting for the honeymoon to tell Evan.” Claire grinned at them, her huge blue eyes dancing.
Amid the squeals and laughter, Serena caught the faint unmistakable scent of gardenias and she knew everything would work out. Evan and Claire would have their promised tomorrow. Jake and Faith’s hope for a life together would be fulfilled, while Anna watched on in approval.
Her and Mason… To her, he was her husband already, heart and soul. And even though they didn’t need a wedding to prove their love, she knew their wedding would be magic.
THE END
A Word from the Author
Thank you so much for reading Magic: Book Three of the Coeur du Bayou Trilogy.
Wrapping up this series and typing THE END created many strong emotions. I’ve grown to love these characters and I will miss them. Then I realized it never truly is THE END. The story of the house may have come to a close but these characters continue on.
My next series is about the Del Toro brothers and their ghost hunting team, Spirit Catchers, Inc.
The first book features Elle Bertrand settling into her new job at a local radio station that is rumored to be haunted.
For more information on The Spirit Catchers Series, please follow me on Facebook:
facebook.com/lisacootsauthor
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Coots grew up in the tiny Louisiana village of Lacassine, but has always yearned for the challenge of a new adventure. Her youthful dreams ranged from the artistic: as a sketch artist and painter; to the studious: as a writer and librarian.
Lisa’s dreams were nudged aside, as dreams often are, by conventional reality. Marriage and motherhood came easily to her and she successfully raised three remarkable children and an amazing husband. When the first pangs of empty nest syndrome came a rapping, she eagerly returned to the artistic passions of her youth; painting, designing, and of course, writing.
Lisa Coots now lives in a slightly larger village in Louisiana with her loving family and lots of furry friends.
LisaCoots.com
