by Amy Boyles
“We don’t know,” I said.
“His legs, Pepper,” Betty snapped.
Roger knelt beside me. “Here, I’ll help.”
He pinned one leg, and I held the other. Axel thrashed back and forth as if a fever had suddenly hit him and he’d become delirious.
Betty chanted low. The words sounded almost lyrical as they drifted from her mouth. She pressed her palms to his stomach.
Axel jerked right and left.
I closed my eyes and prayed that he would be okay. That whatever ailment afflicted him, Betty would heal the pain and make it vanish.
Tears slid from my eyes and ran down my nose. Suddenly arms were around me and I smelled gingerbread. Karen held me tightly.
“It’s going to be okay,” she murmured. “Betty knows what she’s doing.”
I nodded stiffly and watched as Betty’s chanting grew louder, more focused.
“Hold him tight,” she directed to us. “This might hurt him a bit.”
I held Axel’s leg with all my strength. Magic flared from Betty’s palms. She laid them flat on Axel’s stomach, and a shock wave buoyed from him and spread across the field.
It kicked me hard, throwing me off his leg. Garrick was tossed back and so was Roger. I tumbled onto Karen, my back against her.
I quickly rose. “I’m so sorry.”
She took the hand I offered and exhaled before smiling kindly. “It’s okay. I’m not made of peanut brittle.”
I forced a laugh and helped Karen to her feet. “Let’s see about Axel.”
We rushed over. Betty knelt beside him. He no longer thrashed. He lay on the ground, his eyes closed.
Why wasn’t he moving? “Is he okay?”
Betty pressed a hand to his forehead. “Axel?”
He didn’t stir.
Fear, deep dark fear, the kind that takes hold of you and strangles the very life out of your soul, gripped me hard.
“Why isn’t he saying anything?” I shrieked.
“Give him a moment,” Betty murmured.
I held my breath as Axel’s lids slowly fluttered open. He sucked in a deep breath and glanced around, studying us each in turn.
He slowly sat up.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
Axel narrowed his eyes and clutched his stomach. “Better. Much better. Whew. I don’t know what came over me. But it was rough.”
He glanced at his mother and father. “Thanks for being concerned, but I’m okay.”
He rose to his feet and rocked back. Garrick placed his hands on Axel’s back to steady him. “Go slow, big guy.”
Axel smiled warmly. “Thanks, Garrick.”
Garrick patted his shoulder. “You had us all worried.”
“Yeah,” Betty said, “we weren’t sure what had come over you, because I know it wasn’t my cooking. That would be impossible.”
I rolled my eyes. Right. It would be impossible for Betty to give anyone a bout of food poisoning. Actually it might be. She probably would’ve spelled any food against it.
Axel chuckled. “I don’t think it was your food, Betty. Don’t you worry.”
“Well, I know of someone else you had pretty worried.” Betty nodded toward me. “You had Pepper in a tizzy.”
I laughed, embarrassed. “I was pretty worried. When you collapsed, I thought we’d need to get you to the hospital.”
Axel smiled warmly. “No, no need for that. I’m fine. I thank you for calling for help.”
“You’re welcome.”
That was odd. Axel smiled at me and nodded, but the normal look he had in his eyes for me—one of love—had seemed to vanish.
Shrugging my worry aside, I grinned at him. “Yeah, I was pretty worried the wedding tomorrow would have to be cancelled.”
I mimed wiping sweat from my brow. “Good thing that won’t be happening.”
Everyone had a good laugh, including Axel. When the laughter died, he glanced at me. “So. Who’s getting married?”
I laughed really hard and wagged a finger at him. “Don’t be silly. You know you are.”
He nodded again, this time the light in Axel’s eyes dimming a bit. “I am? To who?”
I forced a laugh as I glanced around the group of us, feeling sheepish as all get-out. I mean, a joke was a joke, but Axel didn’t have to keep playing along. Wasn’t it enough that he’d collapsed and Betty had to work magic on him in order to heal whatever had caused him the pain?
I lightly punched his arm. “To me, silly. Now don’t go trying to say you forgot that we’re getting married.”
Axel grimaced. He rubbed the back of his neck as heat flared on his cheeks. “I hate to say it, but I must’ve hit my head or something. You say we’re getting married?”
My heart thundered in my chest. Surely he was joking. Or maybe the universe was playing some sort of sick trick on me. I wanted to shake my finger at the sky and say, Very funny, you can all stop laughing now. This joke isn’t nearly as funny as you think, Big Guy.
But of course I did not. Instead I pushed a smile onto my face, even though my heart had shrunk at least two sizes. “Yes. You and me. We’re getting married. Tomorrow morning, for all our relatives and all of Magnolia Cove to see. The shields are down so that anyone who isn’t even a witch can enter. They can all come. All of them. No matter who a person is—werewolf, vampire. Oh, I’ve already met a vampire. He seemed friendly enough.”
I was blabbing from the nerves. I thought maybe if I talked long enough, Axel would say, That’s right. Now I remember. Boy, I sure did hit my head hard. Come over here, Pepper, and let me give you a big kiss.
Axel smiled. The corners of his eyes crinkled up in a way that made butterflies tornado in my stomach. He opened his mouth, and I knew he was going to say what I’d hoped, that this was all a momentary bit of memory loss from falling and hitting his head.
No big deal.
Then we’d all laugh and everything would go back to normal. It would have to. I would. I just knew it.
The smile on Axel’s mouth widened as he said, “And who are you, again?”
That was when the world fell away from my feet. I was standing in the middle of the ocean, drowning. My lungs didn’t work. I couldn’t breathe, and the only sound I heard was the thundering of my heart and blood rushing to my ears.
“I’m Pepper,” I whispered. “Pepper Dunn, your fiancée.”
Axel’s jaw clenched. His eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry. But I don’t remember you. I don’t know who you are.”
Chapter 7
It was a situation from my worst nightmares.
“It’ll be okay, Pepper,” Amelia cooed when we were back at the house. “Axel will wake up tomorrow morning and everything will be fine.”
Cordelia placed a warm cup of hot chocolate in front of me. A dozen mini-marshmallows floated on top. I could tell from the milky brown hue of the drink that she’d made it with milk, my favorite means of concocting the treat.
I hated watery hot cocoa. It was the pits.
Cordelia nudged the cup toward me. “Amelia’s right. By tomorrow Axel will be fine and all of this a silly event.” She glanced at Betty. “I’m sure he just hit his head, don’t you think?”
Betty stirred something in the cauldron. She glanced over her shoulder at me. “Yes, I’m sure. Kid just fell a little too hard. His parents will keep watch over him tonight and let us know what’s happening in the morning. Don’t you worry, Pepper.” Her tone became kind, gentle. Wow. Betty must really be worried. “You’ll see. By tomorrow everything will be right as rain. I can feel it in my bones.”
“When you feel something in your bones, does that mean it’s going to be okay?”
“I can feel that it’s going to rain tonight,” Betty said. “My right knee is achy.”
Of course that’s all it was. Her old lady joints acting up because of the weather.
“Where’s Molly?” I asked, hoping that someone would say she’d jumped off a very tall cliff.
&nbs
p; “Um, given the circumstances,” Cordelia said, “we thought it best if she stayed at the inn tonight. We didn’t think you needed any more stress.”
I cocked a brow. “And Hugo?”
“He’s here,” Betty said. “I made sure.”
“Thank you.” I rubbed my eyes and sank onto the couch. “Y’all, I do not want to mope about this. I really don’t, but I’m stressed to the max.”
Cordelia lifted the cup. “Drink some. The warm milk will help.”
I exhaled a deep breath and smiled. It was the least I could do. After all, my cousin had gone to the trouble of making it for me. I could drink some. It wouldn’t kill me.
I sipped the liquid, and it did help. The tension I’d been holding in my aching shoulders melted away. I hadn’t realized I’d been so stiff until the knots uncoiled.
I closed my eyes and sighed. “Thank you. It’s already helping.”
Cordelia nudged me. “Drink some more.”
I sipped the rest of the warm liquid. My eyes drooped, and my hands fell to my sides. I yawned. “I’m so tired. So very, very tired.”
Amelia and Cordelia lifted my legs and tucked a blanket around me.
“Get some rest, Pepper,” Cordelia said. “You’ve got a big day tomorrow.”
I squinted at her. “Was that drink doctored?”
“Only so that you’d sleep.” Amelia kissed my forehead. “Now get some rest.”
I closed my eyes and cupped my hands under my head. “See you in the morning.”
Even amid all the angst from tonight, I couldn’t stop myself from drifting off. “But Axel,” I murmured.
“Hush,” Cordelia whispered. “Don’t think about any of that. Just rest.”
And I did. Every worry left my mind, even though part of me wanted to clutch hold of the fear that Axel’s memory loss was permanent.
“That’s silly,” Amelia answered.
Oops, I must’ve murmured it out loud.
“Axel hasn’t forgotten about you. You’ll see. When you wake up, everything will be just as it was.”
The next thing I knew, light was cracking through the blinds in my bedroom. I stretched my arms above my head and yawned.
Wow. I felt so refreshed, better than I had in years. Seriously. I felt as if I’d slept for a year. I was ready to go. Ready to tackle the world.
Ready to get married!
This was it. My wedding day.
I got up so quickly I nearly kicked Mattie off the bed.
“Watch it, sugar!”
“Sorry,” I blurted out. “But today’s the day!”
Mattie licked her paw and rubbed her face. “Getting your panties all tangled up ain’t gonna make it happen any quicker.”
“I know. I’m just so excited.” I ran to the closet to make sure my wedding gown was ready—midnight blue and gorgeous.
Then I dashed into the bathroom and quickly showered and threw on a robe.
“Idie should be here any minute to do my hair,” I said to Mattie. “She’ll be doing your fur, too.”
“That woman ain’t touchin’ my fur,” the cat grumbled.
I pointed a hairbrush at her and glared. “She is and you will let her. If you’re going to be the ring bearer, you’ll do what I tell you.”
Mattie stretched her front legs and yawned. “All right. You win.”
I fisted the air in victory. “Time to go downstairs. Come down in a few.”
I charged downstairs and was met with wedding decorations—bells and white and silver streamers everywhere.
I spied Betty setting the table. “I’m getting married,” I yelled, pulling her to me and twirling her as we danced around the table. “Today’s the day! I’m getting married!”
Betty laughed. “You sure are. My granddaughter’s leaving the nest.”
“I’m old enough,” I said.
She nodded. “So you are.”
Cordelia and Amelia entered from the kitchen carrying a tray of fruit and cottage cheese. “It’s finally here,” Amelia cooed. “Your wedding day.”
They placed the food on the table, and the three of us joined hands and danced as if we were celebrating around a maypole, ribbons not included.
I laughed so hard I thought my sides would split. I hugged my family just as the doorbell rang.
“Idie Claire,” I gushed. “It must be her.”
I opened the door, and Idie Claire entered with an entire team of stylists. “Y’all ready to get dolled up for today?”
I hugged her, doing my best to avoid getting poked in the eye by her gigantically teased-out hair. “We sure are.”
Idie pulled away from me, eyed the living room and cracked her knuckles. “Let me work some magic here, first.”
She waved her hands and and in a bibbidi bobbidi boo moment, Idie Claire suddenly had furniture moving out of the way and new furnishings appearing—hairstyling seats and manicure stations—all with the wave of her hands.
“There.” She smiled widely, obviously satisfied with her handiwork. “That’s better. Pepper, I’ve got a chair right over here for you. Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.” I swooped down and sat in the chair. “I can’t wait.”
While Idie pulled out brushes, curling irons and hairspray—because even magical hairdos needed some structure—my cousins sat in the other chairs getting ready to be beautified.
“Are you so excited for today?” Idie asked, practically gushing.
“I am.” Then the episode from last night hit me with a force I didn’t expect. “If Axel remembers me.”
Idie stopped brushing my hair and stared at me in the vanity she’d magicked up. “What’s this?”
I waved away her concern and laughed nervously. “Oh, nothing. There was just a little incident at the rehearsal dinner last night.”
Idie’s mouth dipped into a frown. “Tell me all about it.”
Even though I knew Idie was a gossip, I went ahead and told her all about Axel forgetting my name. Well, actually, Axel forgetting all about me.
She patted my shoulder. “I’m sure it’s just the stress. Getting married, being a private investigator and living in a town as small as Magnolia Cove can put a lot of pressure on a person. I bet everything is fine this morning.”
“I’m sure he’s eating pancakes,” Amelia added. “Just sitting down to a nice breakfast. He doesn’t have to get poked and prodded like we do.”
“Lucky for him,” Betty said. “I’d rather be in his shoes than sitting here having my wig teased.”
I watched as the stylist working on Betty teased her hair as high as it would go. My grandmother wasn’t wearing tight curls today. No sir-ree, she was getting the works—wig combed out and straightened, makeup. Well, she’d practically look regal by the time our session was over.
“I heard about the women,” Idie whispered to me. “The ones who have been throwing themselves at Axel.”
I nearly gaped at her. “How did you hear?”
Idie shrugged. “Word travels fast.” She laughed nervously. “It’s a good thing you said Axel hit his head; otherwise I would’ve suggested one of those women snuck a potion into his food.”
I laughed uneasily. Butterflies whirled in my stomach. “Potioned him?” I repeated.
“From what folks in town said, the past couple of days there have been women nearly jumping into his lap—and right in front of you.”
“That’s the truth,” Amelia said. “Even our cousin who was staying here was acting like a fool. You remember Molly, don’t you, Idie?”
“Molly Craple,” Idie mused. “Of course I do. I’m surprised y’all invited her. She can be such trouble.”
Amelia pointed to Cordelia. “I wasn’t the one who did.”
Idie smiled at Cordelia. “You two always were close.”
Cordelia rolled her eyes. “I never had a problem with Molly.”
“That’s because Molly knew better than to mess with you.” Idie divided my hair into small sections
and started rolling it around the curling iron’s wand. “But just about everyone else was an open target. And when Axel moved to town, I knew she’d be after him. Molly figured herself entitled enough to have any man she wanted. She’s just that type.”
My stomach soured. I suddenly wanted my phone. Wanted to call Axel and make sure everything was okay.
I slowly inhaled and exhaled, trying to calm my stuttering heart. Everything would be fine. I had to keep telling myself that. It would all be okay. After Idie finished with my hair, I’d call Axel’s mom and make sure he was feeling okay.
After all, no one had called yet this morning. No news was good news, right? It was as Amelia said. They were probably all sitting around enjoying a large pancake breakfast.
Lucky them.
“And when they went out,” Idie continued, “I wondered how long it would be before Molly got tired of him. I figured she would because she always did. It wouldn’t last long. I knew that in my bones. But”—she coiled another section of hair around the hot wand—“it didn’t go as I expected.”
“How’s that?” I asked.
She leaned down and lowered her voice. “Axel broke up with her.”
“That’s not the story I heard,” I said with a note of bitterness in my voice.
“Of course it isn’t,” she said. “Molly would never admit it if a man broke up with her first. And what do you suspect that did to a woman like Molly?”
“Made her mad,” I whispered.
In the mirror Idie’s gaze met mine. She nodded, her eyes narrowing. “I would think a woman like Molly being rejected would make her want some kind of revenge. Something dark and awful, something where even the object of the ex’s desire would pay for how he embarrassed her.”
“But she told everyone she broke up with him,” I said.
Idie hiked a shoulder to her ear. “The truth only matters to someone like her. Even though the lies she spins would be the truth that people hear, she still knows what happened. For someone as egotistical as Molly, that’s what really matters.”
Sweat dripped from my palms. Okay, maybe not dripped but it was suddenly very, very hot in the house. The urge to call Axel filled every cell in my body. I knew I wasn’t supposed to see him before the wedding, but could I call him?
