Sunset Glade Panthers: The Original Trilogy and Epilogue

by Sennah Tate

  Elena nearly choked on her chicken, “Not exactly subtle there, Bea.”

  The old woman simply shrugged, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

  Elena set her fork down and admired the ring sparkling on her left hand. She certainly never expected to be proposed to with a cupcake, but it had been perfect. Completely Benny.

  “We’re not in any rush. When the time’s right we’ll make it official. I’m just happy to have him. I know I’m a lucky girl.”

  Bea’s face fell a little, but she didn’t press the issue.

  Then Elena noticed the sun fading outside and remembered the time she’d lost in meditation. She pulled out her phone again and looked at the time.

  “I’ve gotta go meet Tucker. I didn’t realize how late it is. I’m sorry,” she said, jumping up from her seat to give her aunt a kiss on the forehead. “Thank you for everything.”

  Chapter Four

  Gabi

  After her four-course breakfast, Gabi excused herself from the diner with an excuse about checking up on her dear old dad. She drove down the winding swampy roads, trying to think of her pretense for showing up on his door. Her dad wasn’t dumb — quite the opposite — and he’d see through a flimsy cover story in a split second.

  Dr. Richard Fairway had once been a respected biologist, but that was decades ago. He’d lost all respect from the academic community — and his beloved wife — the moment he became obsessed with proving the existence of bigfoot.

  That was all in the past, though. They’d learned the truth about bigfoot and Gabi’s dad even became best friends with a sasquatch — before Benny was made human again. She’d thought that he’d be able to settle, to live a normal retirement free of crazy hunts for the unknown.

  Of course, Dr. Fairway could never make things that simple. Sasquatches were one thing — they at least liked to stay hidden in the woods — but now, Dr. Fairway was obsessed with something much more worrisome: ghosts.

  In years past, Gabi might have laughed at her dad’s hunt for spirits and the afterlife, but after learning about shifters and witches, Gabi was not going to take any chances. One hand drifted from the steering wheel to the swell of her belly. Inviting unknown spirits seemed a terrible idea, especially around the baby. She didn’t want to take any chances, so she wanted to keep a close eye on her dad.

  The thought of being a mom terrified Gabi. But it was exciting, too. She worried about all the things that could go wrong with a new baby, all the things she could mess up, but then she’d put her hand on her belly and feel an overwhelming surge of warmth and love and she knew it would all be alright.

  Still, she couldn’t always trust her father to see the bigger picture. So, while Tucker said he had some things to take care of for work, Gabi would visit the not-so-esteemed doctor and hope to finally talk him out of his crazy quests.

  The car jostled her around as she turned down the dirt driveway to her dad’s house. Part of Gabi hoped to see him in the front yard, tending his garden. That part was disappointed.

  She shut the car door loudly as she got out, hoping again that he’d come out the front door to greet her. Again, her hopes were dashed when he didn’t appear.

  “So help me, if you’re in the middle of a seance…” she muttered, climbing the handful of creaky steps to the front door.

  “Dad?” She called, after he didn’t answer her knocks. Gabi walked through the house, looking for him, her worry growing every minute. What had he gotten himself into this time?

  “Dad, are you here?” She poked her head in the bedrooms, in the kitchen and even the tiny crawlspace attic.

  Every room she cleared without finding him sent her anxiety ratcheting up another degree. This was not the kind of thing she needed to be worrying about now. There was no note. Nothing. What if he’d found some kind of portal to ghosts or spirits or…

  Then she heard it. The steady tink tink tink of tools hitting against one another. Her heart slowed its frantic pace only a bit: at least he hadn’t been sucked into an alternate dimension, but Dr. Fairway with tools was still worrisome. Maybe she didn’t give the old man enough credit, but she worried about him!

  “Dad?” She called again as she opened the back door.

  Her father turned to face her, his expression alarmed, his silvery hair mussed as he tried to extend his arms to hide whatever it was that he worked on.

  “What are you doing back here?” Gabi asked.

  He stammered.

  “Well, I was uh… I… ah… What brings you here for a visit Gabi Bear?”

  She rolled her eyes. Smooth, Dad.

  “Just wanted to check on you. Whatcha got back there?” Gabi took a few steps toward her lanky father, trying to look over his impossibly tall shoulders.

  “I… well… it’s erm…” he sighed, his face falling. “Well, you caught me.”

  Gabi’s heart stopped and her blood chilled. Caught him? What now?

  He stepped aside and revealed his project, leaving Gabi speechless.

  Dr. Fairway shuffled from one foot to the other, “It’s not done, yet, mind you. And I wanted it to be a surprise…”

  Gabi’s fingers reached out of their own accord to trace the hand-carved lines of the crib he’d clearly spent a lot of time building. The beginnings of serene swamp landscape were sketched into the head of the crib and Gabi felt tears flood her eyes as her vision got a little blurry.

  “Dad… I…” And she’d thought he was communing with a poltergeist.

  He slipped an arm around her shoulders, “Oh, come on, Bear, it’s not worth getting all teary over,” he nudged her gently.

  Gabi laughed and swiped away a few errant tears, “These damn pregnancy hormones,” she said with a watery grin. He didn’t look like he bought her excuse.

  She hugged him, burying her face in his chest like she had so many times growing up. He smelled like wood shavings and peppermint: a combination that made her heart warm with a feeling of home.

  “Thank you, I love it.”

  Dr. Fairway beamed, and Gabi swore she saw a tint of embarrassment tinge his cheeks, but it was hard to tell in the setting sun.

  Her phone rang and they broke the hug as she pulled it from her pocket, and answered.

  “Hey babe, guess what!”

  Tucker didn’t give her a chance to tell him about the crib.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you,” he said, “A Christmas surprise. Come to the diner.”

  Another surprise? She didn’t know if her heart could take any more.

  She beamed at her father and hooked her arm through his, “Come on,” she said, “I don’t know what they’re up to, but you should be a part of it, too.”

  He grinned back at her, his own eyes a little watery as they walked around the house to her car.

  Chapter Five

  Hailey

  “Gabi’s on her way!” Tucker said with an air of frenzy in his tone as he poked his head through the diner door. “Elena still needs a few minutes, can you keep her busy til we’re ready for her?”

  Hailey grinned, “Of course! I know just the thing!”

  “You’re a lifesaver,” Tucker said before ducking back outside.

  Hailey had to chuckle to herself. They’d been running around frantically trying to get everything set up just so. Of course, she wanted to do her part, too. Gabi was her best friend, after all.

  “Hey, hon?” She called to Brock, who’d finally finished hanging garland and lights. “In the office, in my top right drawer, I’ve got a present for Gabs, could you grab it for me?” Hailey still had to put the final trimmings on the diner’s tree and put all the holiday menu inserts in. Benny had been working so hard to perfect their Christmas Week menu, but she still had an empty space next to ‘dessert’.

  Well, if he couldn’t come up with something, she’d manage. Hailey never expected to have quite the knack for running the diner that she did, but it all came naturally to her. And she loved it.

  “Sure thing,” h
e said, disappearing into the back.

  The bell above the door chimed and Gabi and her father waltzed in, both beaming.

  “Merry Christmas!” Dr. Fairway called to the diner.

  Benny stuck his head through the service window, a Santa hat slightly askew atop his hair, “Rich? Hey buddy! Wanna do me a favor and try out this recipe?”

  Hailey groaned inwardly, not another fruitcake. Better Gabi’s dad than her, though.

  She bustled over to wrap Gabi in a big hug, “I’m glad you came!”

  Gabi grinned back, “This place looks great! I’ve never seen it all decked out like this,” she gushed before adding in a conspiratorial whisper, “Any idea what my boyfriend is up to?”

  Hailey feigned an innocent look, “Not a clue!”

  Brock returned from the office with a small package wrapped in metallic paper and Hailey took it from him with a whispered thanks.

  “I got you a little present,” she said, handing the package over to Gabi.

  “What? But… you shouldn’t have. I didn’t know we were doing gifts now,” Gabi protested.

  Hailey waved her off, “Don’t worry about it. It’s just a little something… Open it!”

  Gabi carefully unwrapped the present, taking care not to rip the paper and Hailey danced from foot to foot anxiously.

  “It’s a… picture frame?” Gabi said before turning it over. Then she spotted the writing on the outside edge ‘Baby’s 1st Christmas’ and the sonogram picture in the frame.

  Her mouth fell open and her eyes locked with Hailey’s, tears brimming there as she dove in for another hug.

  “Thank you so much,” she said through her tears.

  Hailey chuckled, getting a little misty-eyed herself, “Don’t mention it.”

  “Ugh!” Gabi groaned, swiping at her tears, “I can’t seem to keep the waterworks under control these days.”

  “That’s okay,” Hailey said, giving her a final squeeze as she watched Tucker walk back up to the front door.

  “We’re ready for you,” he said to Gabi, taking her by the hand.

  She showed him the frame and picture and Hailey thought she saw a hint of emotion in Tucker’s eyes too as he faced her and thanked her before leading his mate out of the diner.

  “There can’t possibly be more,” Gabi said as she walked into the cool night air.

  “Time for the show?” Brock asked, his voice warm and husky behind Hailey. She shivered, feeling his breath on the back of her neck and nodded.

  “I’ll be right back,” he said, letting his hand trail over her hip and back as he left for the kitchen.

  Hailey claimed front-row seats at the window, overlooking the darkened streets in the middle of town. She saw the barest outline of Gabi and Tucker, walking toward the playground hand in hand.

  All at once, the square lit up. Christmas lights adorned street lamps and trees. The entire block twinkled and glowed and Hailey felt warmth spread from her heart all the way to her toes. Was this the magic of Christmas she’d missed out on for all those years? Friends — well, they were more like family, now — loved ones, lights and…

  A heavenly scent greeted her as Brock returned with two mugs in hand.

  “Hot chocolate?” She asked.

  “With cinnamon,” he amended, slipping his arms around her as they watched out the window.

  Gabi’s glee was evident even from their distance. Hailey leaned back into Brock’s warmth and sipped her cocoa as the first glimmer of white fell to the ground.

  Hailey wasn’t sure that she’d really seen it at first. Then another snowflake fell. And another. And soon snow fell all around, glittering in the lights like magic.

  Of course… it was magic, Hailey had to remind herself.

  Beautiful magic, nonetheless.

  Brock took a drink from his mug, “I wonder how many people are going to freak out about seeing snow in town. This is a pretty big spectacle.”

  Hailey shrugged, reveling in his warmth and the winter wonderland outside the window, “It’ll melt fast, but it sure is pretty, don’t you think?”

  She took another look around the diner, admiring all the hard work he’d put in decorating all day.

  “Thanks for humoring me with the holiday stuff. I know you weren’t thrilled, but it means a lot to me that you helped out.”

  A sly smile spread his lips, “My pleasure.”

  He paused for a beat and then his forehead crinkled, as if he were just remembering something.

  “What?” Hailey asked.

  “There’s one more decoration I forgot, and it’s the most important one of all,” he said, reaching into his pocket.

  Hailey looked around the diner, confused. She didn’t spot anything missing. There was a tree, garland, enough lights to choke a reindeer… what could they be missing?

  Before she could ask, Brock extended an arm above her head and tied something to the bells above the door. When his arm dropped, she saw that it was a sprig of mistletoe and she buzzed with warmth and love once more.

  Their eyes met, his shining with adoration and hers with unending love and gratitude. With the lights twinkling in the distance and snow falling in the background, they kissed under the mistletoe.

  “Merry Christmas,” Brock whispered.

  Hailey smiled and kissed him again, “Merry Christmas.”

  Chapter Six

  Benny

  Benny found Elena under a large Oak tree, watching her handiwork fall from the sky. He slipped behind her and wrapped his arms around her, planting a kiss on the side of her neck as she laughed and squirmed.

  “This snow is really impressive,” he said, content to just hold her in his arms. “Your magic is getting so strong and you’re a whiz at controlling it, now.”

  She positively beamed with pride, “Thanks. I’m glad I could do this for your brother and Gabi.”

  Inside the fence of the playground, Gabi and Tucker kneeled on the ground, desperately trying to gather enough snow to make a four-inch snowman. Benny looked to his right and saw Hailey and Brock inside the diner, kissing under the mistletoe. His heart clenched inside his chest and he squeezed Elena tighter.

  “I’m a bad fiance,” he said, his voice full of dejection.

  Elena turned to him with a question in her eyes.

  He shrugged, “I don’t have anything for you yet. Everyone’s doing all these nice things for Christmas and…” he frowned.

  Elena took his hand in her own and squeezed, leaning into him as snowflakes fell on his arms and melted away in an instant.

  “I have everything I need right here,” she said.

  He wrapped her up in his arms again and they stood there, watching the snow fall and the lights sparkle. He’d never seen anything so beautiful as Sunset Glade dressed up for Christmas like this.

  Well, except for Elena.

  Then she turned to him with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes and Benny knew he was in trouble.

  “What? I see those wheels turning in that pretty little head of yours,” he teased.

  She bit her bottom lip, thinking over her words carefully, “Aunt Bea said something to me today… I think I know what I want for Christmas,” she said.

  Benny waited for her to explain, but Elena looked from their joined hands — the ring he’d

  given her months ago still sparkling like new on her finger — and up into his eyes.

  It took him longer to figure out what she was trying to say than he was proud of, but realization finally dawned on him and a huge smile split his face.

  “You mean it?” He asked, nearly ready to jump out of his skin with excitement.

  Elena nodded, her grin mirroring his own, “I think vows seem like the perfect gift. Don’t you agree?”

  He couldn’t contain himself. Benny whooped and scooped her into his arms, spinning her around before planting her feet back on the ground with a fierce kiss, “Yes, I do.”

  “Save that for later,” she teased as he released her. />
  “I’ll be right back!” He called over his shoulder as he practically ran back into the diner, leaving Elena somewhat baffled and speechless in his wake.

  Benny fetched Rich from the diner and told Hailey to gather everyone. He wasn’t going to let this moment slip by. It was too perfect. Too magical.

  Within a handful of minutes, they were all gathered under the sprawling canopy lighted trees, snow still slowly drifting, melting before it even reached the ground.

  “What are you… you mean now?” Elena asked as Ben took her by the hand and led her down the makeshift aisle of their friends and loved ones.

  “Rich is a notary. He can marry us. Can you think of a more perfect setting?”

  Elena looked around at the smiling faces and shook her head, “No, but what about Aunt Bea?”

  As if saying her name had summoned the old woman, Bea was spotted hurrying over to them with something in her hands, held gingerly as if it were very fragile.

  “Didn’t think y’all could get hitched without me knowin’ did you?” Aunt Bea teased, taking Elena’s hand in her own withered one, sliding something over her wrist. Bea patted Elena’s hand and whispered something that Ben couldn’t hear.

  When Bea joined the others, Elena had an old-looking bracelet hanging from her wrist and tears shimmering in her eyes. She turned to him and nodded, “Let’s do this.”

  They joined hands and were married with a few simple words of love and devotion.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife!” Rich said gleefully.

  Benny scooped Elena into his arms again and kissed her with everything he had. Nothing in the world could ever make him happier than Elena. Nothing could be more perfect.

  The air around them buzzed with excitement and affection as they all retreated into the warmth of the diner and Elena stopped the flurry before she grew too exhausted. Benny felt the whole world glowed in the wake of their spontaneous wedding. But maybe that was just him.

  He was definitely glowing.

  As they all settled into the diner, just their group and no one else, Brock spoke from one of the back booths.