“I do not profess to know.”
“I’m shocked. There’s something you don’t know?”
“It’s a rare occurrence to be sure.” He launched into the air, and circled around my head. “I shall see you tonight, birthday girl.”
I watched him fly away, then headed back to the coffee shop for my birthday brew. For the first time in forever, I was determined to enjoy every minute of this day. I just hoped the Elder didn’t have bad news for me.
* * *
At six o’clock on the dot, I found myself in the Elder’s meadow, sitting on a tree-stump stool, feeling a little like I’d been called to the principal’s office, except I wasn’t sure if I had done something good or something bad.
“I imagine you’re wondering why you’re here.”
For what felt like the hundredth time, I wondered if she could read minds. “Yes.”
“I have a quick job for you.”
“Oh?”
“You’ve heard of this dance competition happening at the Will-o’-the-Wisp tomorrow?”
“I heard,” I said, humor lacing my words.
“Well, I want you to do a bit of snooping for me. I’m not entirely sure this competition is something I want associated with the village.”
“Whoa now! I’m not sure I—”
She cut me off. “No excuses.”
I sighed and wondered if it was possible to wash eyeballs out with soap. “What do you want me to do?”
“There is a box here near the trunk of the tree. Take it immediately to the Will-o’-the-Wisp.”
“Tonight?” I asked. Ve had given me strict orders about dinner and I didn’t dare disobey.
“Do you have other plans?”
“Kind of.” I was a little bit stung that she didn’t remember what day it was.
“Your plans shall wait. This task shall not. The side entrance of the building is unlocked. Go into the lobby and near the top of the stairs you will see a potted palm—take the box to the tree. Do not open the box until you are at the specified location. Directions on how to use the device are included in the box.”
“Is it a camera? This all seems very Double O Seven-ish.”
“You hardly look like Daniel Craig.”
“Thank goodness. That would be a little strange with the facial hair and all.”
She laughed, and again I tried to place the sound.
“Hurry up with you now,” she said. “The device must be in place soon. We are under a time constraint.”
“The contest isn’t until tomorrow.”
“Are you talking back?”
“No ma’am,” I said, shaking my head and trying not to grin.
“Come get the box and be on your way. I’ll send Archie to fetch you tomorrow for a full report of your efforts.”
At the base of her tree I stooped and picked up the box. It was small, maybe big enough to hold a mug or a ball cap. It weighed next to nothing, and I couldn’t begin to imagine what was inside. Probably some sort of magical Crafter gadget I knew nothing about. I was actually rather curious to see what it was.
As I headed back to the trail, her voice stopped me in my tracks. “Oh, and Darcy?”
I turned. “Yes?”
Her voice softened. “Happy birthday.”
I smiled the whole way back to the village.
Chapter Thirty-six
“What do you think I should do?” Starla asked as we made our way toward the Will-o’-the-Wisp. I’d stopped by home to tell Ve that I had to run an errand and Starla volunteered to come with me. “Should I give Vince a second chance?”
“What’s your gut instinct say?” I asked.
“Once upon a time my gut told me something was seriously wrong with Kyle but I didn’t listen. . . .”
“But what is it saying about Vince?”
Mist swirled around lampposts as we walked. “It told me to trust my heart.”
“And what’s your heart say?” I asked, smiling at her wry tone.
“I think I might love him.”
She said it as though it were the worst affliction in the world.
“Then why are you hesitating?” Moonlight poked through high, thin clouds, highlighting her face.
“Just because my heart trusts him doesn’t mean my head does.” She scuffed her boot on the sidewalk. “There is always going to be worry in the back of my mind because he’s a Seeker. I always need to be extra cautious around him, careful of what I say, do. It isn’t natural. But . . .”
“What?” I asked, looking at her.
“I think I love him.” She laughed.
“Oh, Starla.” I put my arm around her.
“I don’t know what to do.”
There were no cars in the Will-o’-the-Wisp’s parking lot as we approached. “I can’t tell you what to do, but there’s no harm in taking your time. You’ve only known each other a short while, and you’ve just been through the most emotional week someone has ever endured. Maybe he’s the man for you, maybe he’s not. Time will tell. And until then, just enjoy what the two of you have.”
“Enjoy?”
“I know; seems like a foreign concept after the last week, doesn’t it?”
Smiling, she hugged me. “But what about him being a Seeker?”
“He promised no more cameras,” I said, and added with a wink, “And we have plenty of memory cleanse left.”
“Time?”
“Time.”
“Okay, then, I’ll give him a second chance.”
As I saw her smile, I had the feeling she wasn’t just giving him a second chance—but herself, too. It did my heart good.
I tugged on the door and just as the Elder said, it was unlocked.
It was dark and spooky inside the building with only perimeter lighting casting a soft glow.
“Did you bring any Mace?” Starla whispered.
I kept my voice down, too. The situation seemed to call for it. “No jokes at a time like this.”
“Who’s joking? This place is scary-town.”
Chills went up my arms. “Let’s get this over with, the quicker, the better. Do you see a palm tree?”
“There,” she said.
I should have spotted it myself—it was one of the only things around that had light shining on it. The fronds of the tree cast long shadows across the floor, looking like outstretched fingers. Completely creeped out, I hurried over to the tree.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the box. There was a note on top of a tissue-wrapped object.
“What is it?” Starla asked quietly.
“I don’t know yet.”
I opened the note and held it up to the light. It was written in sparkly curlicue letters.
I read it aloud. “Unwrap object. Place on head.”
Thoroughly confused, I took the object out of the box and quickly unwrapped it.
“Nice,” Starla said, oohing.
It was. The beautiful tiara sparkled in the ambient light.
“Put it on,” Starla urged.
“I don’t really understand. . . . What does this have to do with the Swing and Sway?”
“I don’t know,” Starla said, “but I wouldn’t disobey something the Elder told me to do.”
She had a point. I placed the tiara on my head. As I did so, the lights flashed on and a deafening shout of “Surprise!” nearly scared me to death.
I blinked at the sudden brightness and tried to focus on what I was seeing. I couldn’t believe my eyes. At the bottom of a grand staircase stood a ballroom full of my family and friends.
At first I was so taken aback that I couldn’t process what was going on. I was shaking from the sheer adrenaline and it wasn’t until the group started singing “Happy Birthday” that I finally came to my senses.
This was a surprise party.
For me.
Tears welled and threatened to overflow.
I spotted Harper and Marcus; Evan, Mimi, and Cherise; I even saw the elusive Terry Goodwin along with do
zens of other people I’d come to know over the past year. I didn’t see Nick or Aunt Ve but knew they were here somewhere.
Everyone was dressed to the nines in their black-tie best, with the men in tuxedos with crisp white bow ties and fancy handkerchiefs. The women wore long satin gloves and were dripping in jewels and feathers. Crystals hung from the ceiling, and everything glittered and shone, from the fancy marble columns to the extravagant chandeliers to the tall decadent cake decorated in sparkling crystals—edible, I would bet (that sneaky Evan). Next to it sat a small lop-sided chocolate cake, and I immediately recognized it as one of Harper’s creations. She usually made my cake, and I was happy that this year was no different. My gaze found hers, and she blew me a kiss. I blew one back.
I blinked and realized I’d seen this all somewhere before. It all seemed so . . . familiar. It took me a moment, but it finally registered. I gasped.
The space had been decorated to replicate the ballroom scene in My Fair Lady. Trying to hold back floodgates of emotion, I couldn’t believe this had all been done for me.
My gaze swung to Starla. She was bouncing up and down, her eyes shimmering. “Surprise!”
“You knew!”
“Of course. Ve was the mastermind, but the whole village knew.”
She gave me a noisy kiss on my cheek. “I’ve got to run back and change. Don’t have too much fun without me.”
And suddenly the tiara made sense. But the rest of my outfit made me feel woefully underdressed. Almost as soon as I had the thought, Godfrey stepped out of the shadows and came over to me. I was glad to see he was fully clothed in an impeccable tuxedo. He gave me a grand bow, and boomed to the crowd below, “We shall return in a moment.”
Clapping filled the air as Godfrey whisked me away to a private room. And as soon as I opened the door and saw Aunt Ve standing there, I burst into tears.
“Now now,” she said, pulling me into her arms. “Are these happy tears or sad tears?”
“H-happy,” I stuttered. “How did you . . . Why?”
Aunt Ve held me tight, smoothing my hair and rubbing my back. “Everyone deserves a happy birthday, Darcy dear. And there are many bad ones to make up for. This party is a start.”
“You didn’t have to—”
She cupped my face with her hands. “Hush now. It’s what your mother would have wanted. She loved a good party.”
At the thought of my mom, new tears formed. Thanks to Mimi I’d see my mom’s face tonight. I’d finally remember it. I could hardly wait.
“Now stop these tears,” Ve said. “There’s a handsome man waiting for you.”
Godfrey preened and said, “I’ll wait. Take as much time as you need, Darcy.”
Ve frowned at him but said to me, “It’s Nick who is waiting for you, dear.”
Swiping my eyes, I started piecing things together. “The gloves and crystals.”
Ve beamed. “I almost had myself a heart attack when you opened that box.”
I gasped again. “The Elder set me up, sending me over here!”
“That she did,” Ve said, smiling. “She’s a very good accomplice. Everyone’s been in on the secret.”
“There is no nudie dance competition, is there?”
She laughed. “Heavens no! Nobody wants to see Godfrey naked.”
“Now see here, Velma,” he blustered.
Patting his cheek, she said to him, “Work your magic, Godfrey. I will go and mingle.” She smiled warmly at me. “Enjoy the night, dear.”
As the door closed behind her, I pressed my hands to my hot face. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Believe it, my dear.” He pulled a drape off a dress form, and I couldn’t help from crying out in glee.
“The dress!” Now that I could place it in its proper context it was easy to see it was fashioned after the dress Audrey Hepburn had worn to the ball at the end of My Fair Lady. “It’s beyond gorgeous.”
The white silk dress with sheer overlay had been painstakingly crusted with crystals, sequins, and threads of silver that made it sparkle like diamonds. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I gently touched the jeweled cap sleeve and kept shaking my head as though I was about to wake from a dream I didn’t want to leave.
“It’s yours. A gift from Pepe and myself.” He bowed.
I kissed his cheek. “Thank you so much.” I glanced around. “Is Pepe here?”
He fussed with his tie. “He’ll be along in a little while.”
“Is he okay?”
He wouldn’t look me in the eye. “Don’t you worry about him. He’s just fine. Just fine.”
I didn’t believe it for a second, but accepted that Godfrey didn’t want to put a damper on my party.
“Let’s get you all dolled up and get you out there,” he said. “Or there’s bound to be a mutiny.”
Fifteen minutes later, I stared at the image in the mirror, hardly believing my own eyes. Godfrey had not only helped me dress but also fixed my hair (who knew he had such talent), using jeweled combs to keep it off my face. But I drew the line when he suggested bright pink eye shadow for my makeup. He fastened an elaborate diamond choker around my neck, an amazing replica of the one from the movie, and handed me a pair of long white gloves.
He took my hand and gave it a kiss. “You’re a vision.”
“Thank you, Godfrey,” I said, my voice catching. “For everything.”
He smiled. “If you ever change your mind about that stodgy policeman . . .”
I kissed his cheek. “I know where to find you.”
“No more tears,” he ordered. “It is a happy night.”
“I promise.” I’d probably cried more tears in the past week than my whole life up until this point. I’d be glad to shed no more.
He gave my hand another kiss and was gone. I quickly swiped on some makeup and couldn’t keep from touching the dress. I wasn’t sure that I’d ever take it off.
Chapter Thirty-seven
A few minutes later, a knock sounded on the door and Nick and Mimi peered inside and Mimi squealed. Nick just stared, and I could have sworn I saw a little moisture in his eyes.
I couldn’t keep my heart from racing.
Nick said, “You’re stunning.”
“Totally,” Mimi said.
“And you two are devious. You could have warned me about this party.”
“And ruin the surprise?” Mimi smiled. “Never!”
“I forgive you. Now spin around and let me see your dress.”
She twirled, her smile lighting her from inside out. “You look beautiful, Mimi.”
She hugged me.
“And you,” I said to Nick.
“Not bad, eh?” He rocked on his heels.
Not bad? More like amazing. “Not bad at all.”
Mimi held up two boxes. “We brought presents.”
Nick said, “We know everyone’s waiting for you, but Mimi insisted we give these to you now.”
I eyed the boxes. “The night’s long. No one will mind waiting just a little bit longer.”
We sat, Mimi on my right, Nick on my left.
“The little one’s from me. The bigger one’s from Dad. He won’t tell me what’s in it.” She arched a disapproving eyebrow.
“Patience,” he said.
“Which should I open first?”
“Mine!” Mimi said.
Nick laughed. “Definitely hers.”
I carefully unwrapped the small square box and my heart melted as I pulled out a charm bracelet.
“For now there are three charms, but we’ll keep adding to it. Cool, right?”
“Right,” I said, my voice catching. “It’s perfect.”
“The paintbrush is because of how artsy you are,” Mimi said. She leaned against my shoulder. “The book is because that’s where Dad and I first met you. At the bookstore. I made both those charms at Wickedly Creative.”
I kissed her forehead. “You did an amazing job. They’re perfect.”
/> “Dad bought the other one.”
I fumbled with the charm, which had flipped backward. My hopes were high that it was a heart, symbolizing love, but as I turned it around, I saw it was the sun.
He said, “It’s for the light you bring into our lives. We’re not sure what we’d do without you, Darcy.”
It wasn’t the profession of love I’d been hoping for, but the sentiment still tugged at my emotions. “I love the bracelet. Help me put it on.”
Mimi’s nose wrinkled. “It doesn’t go with your dress.”
“I think it does, and it’s my birthday so no one gets to argue with me.”
She giggled and fastened the clasp. “There. Now open Dad’s present.”
The charms jangled prettily as I shook the box and heard a thunking from within. I glanced at Nick, but he kept his face neutral.
“Open it!” Mimi urged.
I laughed. “Okay, okay.” I slowly peeled back the paper to reveal a nondescript shoe box. I stole another look at Nick, but he still wore his poker face.
I lifted the box top in one quick motion and blinked at the contents nestled inside delicate tissue paper.
“Slippers!” Mimi cried, frowning. “What kind of present are slippers? Is there something in them? Like a diamond ring?”
“Subtle, she isn’t,” Nick said, smiling.
Mimi picked up a slipper and shook it. Nothing fell out. “I don’t get it.”
“That’s okay,” I said softly. “I do.”
I recalled a conversation Nick and I had recently.
I’d said, “Not everyone needs grand gestures. Sometimes it’s the little things that show someone how much they’re loved.”
“I agree, but don’t you think he should have—I don’t know—said ‘I love you’ or at least brought her a pair of slippers?”
“Slippers?”
“Like you said, it’s the little things.”
“I’ll remember that.”
I remembered. Glancing at Nick, what I saw in his eyes took my breath away. Love. Trust. Promises.
“Could you explain it to me?” Mimi said. “Because I don’t get it.”
“Sometimes it’s the little things,” I said, then threw my arms around his neck.
“Hey now,” Mimi said. “If you two are going to get all lovey-dovey, I’m just going to go. I’m too young to see stuff like this. I have tender sensibilities.”
The Goodbye Witch Page 28
