Eclairs, Scares & Haunted Home Repairs

by Erin Johnson

  Hank gave me a little smile. “So… we leave at dawn and sail for Bijou Mer.” He lifted his brows. “In the meantime, should we”—he tipped his head toward the backyard—“finish getting married.”

  A huge smile stretched across my face.

  “Not so fast.” Amelia held up a slender finger. “Hear me out. Wait to get married in Bijou Mer.”

  66

  Homeward Bound

  Hank shook his head. “Amelia, I don’t want to wait another minute to be Imogen’s husband.”

  Aw.

  Iggy rolled his eyes. “Puke.”

  Amelia shook her head. “You have no idea what it’s been like. This overthrow of King Roch, the exposure of his terrible secrets and acts, and the fact that it extends to the leaders of Earth and the former head of Fire? It’s been chaos. But a wedding?”

  Her expression softened, eyes bright. She spread her hands through the air. “Picture it. You two looking beautiful, celebrations in the street, heads of state gathered together once again.” She nodded, giving us each a serious look. “Our people—your people, need this. They need a celebration, a symbol of unity and new beginnings.”

  Horace folded his arms and leaned back in his seat. “You need a happy distraction to pacify them.”

  Amelia rolled her eyes. “It’ll give people hope. Wait. Wait to get married, and I’ll plan it for you. I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams.”

  I looked up at Hank. “This is the wedding of my dreams.”

  “Oh really? Some mismatched chairs in the grass and cold cuts?” Amelia scoffed. “What is the theme here?” She held up a palm. “No offense.”

  Iggy cackled.

  Hank shook his head and turned to me. “I’m not sure.”

  I bit my lip. “Me either.”

  “I like this wedding—it’s personal and it feels easy. If we wait and get married back in Bijou Mer…, it’s going to be a circus.”

  I nodded. “You’re right. On the other hand though, we’d get to celebrate with Shaday and Elke and K’ree and all our friends.” I gave Jiji and Fumi a sad look. “But we’d be leaving behind some of our new friends.”

  Hank squeezed my hand. “It’s supposed to be our day… but I can’t help but see Amelia’s point. If our day could really bring hope to a lot of people….”

  I nodded, disappointed. “I really, really wanted to be your wife today. But… if a royal wedding will truly help bring the kingdoms together, then… okay.” I nodded at Hank. “I’m okay to wait.”

  He nodded. “I am too, then.”

  “Yeee!” Amelia clapped, giddy.

  I froze. I’d never seen Amelia giddy… ever.

  “Oh, you are not going to regret this.” She clapped her fingertips together.

  Iggy sniffed. “Doubtful.”

  I turned to my brother beside me. “Horace? Will you come too?”

  He gave me a long look. “Afraid not, little sis.”

  “What?” Disappointment sat heavy in my stomach.

  He lifted a brow. “I’ve got that project I’m working on.”

  I frowned. “But… I want you at my wedding.”

  He lifted his upturned nose. “I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

  “But how…?” I cocked my head and lowered my voice. “You’re making a mirror, right?”

  He winked.

  * * *

  The next morning we said a tearful goodbye to Jiji, Fumi, Chief Abe, Sara, and all the wonderful people of Kusuri we’d met. I gulped as we locked the front door. I’d even miss our house, though we’d only been living in it a few days.

  We were quiet as we marched with Amelia and the pirates toward the coast. My head raced with a thousand thoughts. Would the people really be happy to see us back? After all this peace and quiet, what would it be like to be on the front page of the tabloids again? Would Hank be all right seeing his father behind bars? Would we ever see Kusuri again? Would everything be different?

  Hank held my hand most of the way. Every time I got teary-eyed he’d squeeze my hand and remind me that we were in this together—and we’d figure it out together.

  We reached the coast just as the sun was dipping toward the watery horizon. We paused on the wide, white sandy beach, the pirate ship rising from the water in the distance. Wiley used his wand to send up a signal. A few moments later, one of the ship’s canons fired.

  Captain Chuck gave a smarmy grin. “They see us. My girl will here soon.”

  I paced in the sand, unable to stand still, and within minutes flashing lights became visible just under the surface. Giant fins breached the surface, and the water churned. It was the mermaids using their magic to keep the sea monsters at bay. Maple whimpered.

  I frowned at Amelia. “You’re sure this is safe?”

  She lowered her voice. “It’s the pirates and the mermaids.” She shrugged. “So as safe as that gets.”

  I shook my head. “Not too reassuring, Amelia.”

  “C’mon!” The pirates waved us over to a couple of waiting rowboats. We piled in at the water’s edge, and the last pirates shoved off and hopped inside.

  A head popped up above the surface. “Hiya!”

  Startled, I glanced over the edge of the boat. I couldn’t help but grin at Winnie’s overly tanned face and bubblegum-pink hair. She gasped, then slapped at the water. “Valonzy, get a load a dis. Valonzy!”

  Another head popped up. Magical lights continued to flash below the surface, and the water churned with tentacles and fins as the other mermaids and mermen fought the sea monsters away from our rowboat. Captain Chuck snapped his fingers, and the boats zipped through the water at a quick clip toward the ship.

  Winnie and Valonzy easily kept pace with us.

  Valonzy jerked her chin in my direction, her long black hair plastered to her head. She chewed on gum. “It’s red balls.”

  “Oh!” Winnie’s face lit up. “I’d forgotten the nickname we gave her.”

  “Oh!” Iggy clapped, delighted. “I had, too.”

  I crossed my arms and sulked. “I hadn’t.”

  “Hey, everybody.” Iggy jabbed his little flame finger at me. “It’s red balls!”

  I bared my teeth at him. “Say it one more time and I—”

  “And you’ll what, red balls?” Iggy cackled. “You gonna make me walk the plank?”

  “Hmph. Don’t tempt me.”

  I appreciated Hank’s attempts to hide his laughter with a cough.

  We survived the tense journey back to the ship. Pirates threw magical ropes over the railing, which we attached to the rowboats. The mermaids and mermen flopped in beside us, and the pirates hauled us up on deck. Within minutes, we’d set sail.

  Hank and I stood at the front of the ship, and I really wanted to do the whole Titanic thing, but I knew everyone would just look at me funny—it was a human thing, nobody would get it. So I just murmured it to myself, arms spread wide. “I’m king of the world.”

  Hank leaned his chin on my shoulder from behind. “What was that?”

  “Nothing.”

  As we sailed into the sunset, I glanced back. Back at the green, mountainous island fading into the distance, and my stomach twisted with sadness at all we were leaving behind. It was bittersweet, this return home. The Badlands felt like home too.

  I turned forward again to face the wide expanse of sea ahead of us.

  Soon, we’d be back in Bijou Mer.

  <<<<>>>>

  A note from the author

  I’ve always dreamed of being a published author, and to realize that dream, and have people like you actually read my book—I can’t tell you how much it means to me. So, truly, thank you.

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  Thanks so much,

  Erin

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  About the Author

  A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (so she can eat more).

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  Copyright © 2019 by Erin Johnson

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