“No matter the outcome, we’ll get through it,” Willow reassured her, leaning against the stand.
The man served their tsokolate, and Sal allowed herself a long, languid sip.She closed her eyes as the nutty and chocolaty drink warmed her and took a deep breath.She had risked everything: her time with her cats, her livelihood, her burgeoning career in the art world, and most importantly—Rafa, a great love.
Willow sipped her drink and let out a satisfied exhale after.“Hey.”She elbowed her friend.“You’re the best, you know?And there’s nothing more we could’ve done.”
“You too, Will,” she replied, elbowing her back.
“I mean it…You’re really too hard on yourself most times and don’t see your strengths.You’re determined and have a quiet strength to you, and a vulnerability that’s honest, but kind,” she said, looking down at her drink.
Sal eyed the people around them; considering what Willow had just said.They had given them hope and livelihood; some of them were Filipinos managing small businesses, others were talented artists who just needed a break, and Taal Heritage Town had been brought back to life.“We did this,” Sal said as the night shrouded them and the fairy lights flickered to life.
“Yeah, we did this, babe.”They clinked their cups together and finished their tsokolate drinks in silence.
Then, not a moment later, Theola came rushing out.Her cheeks were covered with tear streaks, and she had a smile so big it could have brightened up the world.
“You guys…!”she trilled.“We did it!”She lifted her mini-iPad to show them a report on the screen.Thanks to the grimoire, they had crossed the minimum threshold for sales, and they had overshot Harmon’s art show attendance by a mile.What made them win was the sheer turnout from the Filipino crowd against Harmon’s and the final critic’s score.The critics had given them a score of 84, and Harmon’s was 82.
They had won.It was over.They would keep Autumn Town.
“Holy shit!”Willow yelled in disbelief.
Sal stood there, still holding the iPad, tears gathering in her eyes.Suddenly, she heard a loud round of applause.Theola’s cousins who helped, the vendors, and all the other artists who came through clapped.Relief settled in, and she felt like she could finally breathe.
“Oh, my God,” she cried.“Oh, my God!”All three of them embraced, and for that moment, all the hurt, all the sacrifice felt worth it.The light and happiness Sal felt almost spilled over, and the only other person who should have been there to celebrate with them was Rafa.She grabbed her phone, still elated, tearful and breathless, when she saw about five missed calls from him.
Rafa had probably heard the news.Sal called him.His phone rang three times before he answered.“Hello?Rafa, we won!”
“Sal…” Rafa whispered.“Sal, I hope you didn’t sell the grimoire.”
“What?”Sal’s stomach dropped.She moved to a quieter spot away from the crowd.When she was alone, she asked, “Why?”
“You need to bring it back,” he said, his tone sounding grave.“Bad things have been happening in St.Stephenshire.”
Chapter Forty-Three
The Custodian
RAFA
Days Ago
AudeninstructedRafatomeet at Hearthstone Library, and as soon as the taxi crossed into town, Rafa witnessed what he never thought possible in St.Stephenshire—it was hailing.St.Stephenshire was experiencing snow and hail for the first time in nearly a century.He peered through the taxi window in disbelief.The town seemed deserted.Autumn Town was closed when he passed by, though he couldn’t see past the howling wind to be certain.
“What happened here?”he asked the taxi driver
“I dunno, sir.I don’t go here much, but it’s strange that there’s a snowstorm here,” he commented, turning up the car heater.The taxi dropped him in front of Hearthstone, where inches of snow greeted him on the way up the steps of their beloved town library.The howling, icy wind was the kind of cold that felt like it could frost your bones.
The weight of the snow against the library door was heavy against his shoulder as he pushed through the snow blanketing his feet.When he entered, the library’s warmth embraced him.An exhale escaped his lips.Hearthstone felt like an old friend greeting him from the cold.It welcomed him with its soaring halls and long mahogany tables generously adorned with vintage lamps.
He noticed four people gathered around the table nearest the fireplace.He recognized three of them at once: Vicky, covered from head to toe in waffle knits; Auden in a beanie, heat-tech and snow boots; and Mayor Fayemoore clad in a thick coat.
“I’m here,” Rafa announced as he approached.
“Thank God,” said Vicky.
Mayor Fayemoore greeted him with a weary grin and a nod.
“Rafa!”Auden said as she hugged him tight.“You didn’t bring the grimoire with you?”
