Page 68 of Manors & Mischief

“Hello, you two?”

Not with his mother calling out cheerfully from the bottom floor. His jaw flexes, and as if resigned, he steps back.

“We’re up here,” I call out, popping the bubble concealing our tension.

It’s probably for the better. On the other hand, I wish this fear would go away because what Devon promises sounds like a good time, and now that I know he talks dirty, I have that to look forward to.

The first stair creaks.

Devon lifts his gaze to me. “I’m not done with you yet.”

From what I can tell, Devon doesn’t go back on his promises.

24

DEVON

Isit across from Ember at my mother’s dining room table. Familiar sights and sounds are made brand new just by having her here. I wince to think about how I acted earlier. She brings out a sex-crazed fiend in me that I’ve not even come to grips with yet. I don’t know what would have happened if Mom hadn’t interrupted with an invitation to dinner.

Mom places the meatloaf between the three of us before taking her place at the head of the table. “I hope you know, Ember, that I really want to help. I wish there was more I could do, but politics. It’s sad to say, but it is real. If he won’t give you an extension on the fine or break it up into payments, you come talk to me. Another business is good business for Harvest Falls. I’ll make him see.”

Mom hasn’t stopped talking about the issue with Nichols since we got here, so I can tell how guilty she feels. Ember, for her part, doesn’t blame her at all. In fact, she’s tried to change the subject several times. “Thank you, Mrs. Lachey. I will. I have a feeling it’ll all be okay.”

Ember smiles at me, and my mom notices. For the first time in a long time, it doesn’t bother me that my mom notices every little thing. She can see how much I care for Ember already as we fast approach October and the core of the Fall Spectacular festivities. “You two are the cutest,” Mom gushes. “Oh, I’m so glad you’ve found each other. Not that I’m pushing anything. Take all the time you need to get to know one another. You know how it goes.”

Crimson appears on Ember’s cheeks. I find it cute as hell, so I don’t bother to stop my mother as she goes on and on about love stories from around town. The way she tells it, Harvest Falls is the perfect place to fall in love, and it boasts more true love matches per capita than any other town nationwide.

She sounds like she’s thinking of adding all of this information to the town website, whether she made it up or not.

“You just want to make Valentine’s Day a thing here now, too,” I accuse.

My mom’s eyes get wide. “It’s not a bad idea. Re-election here I come.”

“So besides fall, there’s⁠—.”

“Well, we tried the Winter Wonderland thing but it didn’t stick. So, maybe Valentine’s Day is a viable opportunity. Just think of all the couples who could stay at the bed and breakfast. Then the café, bakery, and pub could also benefit. I’m sure some of the other businesses could do something.”

“The well,” Ember says.

Mom peers at me, surprised.

“I told her about the well today,” I confirm.

She claps her hands and looks up at the ceiling. “He’s loved that thing ever since he was a kid. It’s magic.”

She doesn’t say it in a way that’s teasing. My mother has always been like that. If I want to think something is magic, then why shouldn’t it be? I used to have a favorite pair of socks I wore on game days, too.

“What history you have here,” Ember notes, taking a bite out of the meatloaf Mom serves her. “I couldn’t find anything about it online, and only a couple of things at the library though.”

“Did you try the first-person diaries from residents’ past?”

“I don’t think I did. I just searched the catalog.”

“Ah,” my mom says. “These aren’t digitized. I’m sure you can find a few journals or diaries that mention the well. Probably Old Man Lewis’s. I know he donated it in his will to the local library, which we’re extremely grateful for.”

“Do you think Nichols would use that as enough evidence to make it a historical landmark? Devon and I want to preserve it. Right now, it’s looking a little shabby.”

“Listen to you. Devon and I,” she echoes, and I swear her eyes glisten with the beginning of tears.