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“Well, for our first summer season, they’ve agreed to hire an interim chief to come in and take over, and after that, depending on how it goes, I’m actually considering retiring from the force to run the camp full-time.” Sam looked at Sara and smiled. “We’ve talked about it, and we’d both like to make the camp a year-round thing so that more foster kids have the opportunity to come to the mountains.”
Lily pointed up to the sky as a pair of bats started to weave an invisible pattern just above the bistro lights, and Alex pulled her closer.
“I’m surprised they aren’t landing on your shoulder.” Sam leaned back to watch as one of them dipped below the lights. “You’ve always been McCall’s version of Snow White.”
“I don’t know.” Lily smiled, squeezing Alex’s hand. “I think when I was still having panic attacks and really struggling after LA, they stuck around to comfort me somehow. But the happier and more relaxed I am, the fewer of them I see.”
“Well, I hit the jackpot when you decided to stay in McCall,” Sara said, finishing the last of her champagne and reaching for the bottle to top up her glass. “And the girls’ nights on the sundeck of the yacht don’t exactly suck.”
Lily and Sara giggled as Sam rolled her eyes and pretended to be annoyed. “Well, the next time you decide to throw one of those, drop anchor somewhere out in the middle of the lake. The last time you two did it at the docks, we had a noise complaint at the station.”
“I’m not worried. We have connections.” Sara gave her wife an angelic look. “But since Jennifer isn’t here at the moment, let’s just blame it on her.”
“Actually,” Lily said, glancing over at Alex. “Alex and I are thinking about buying a house here in McCall, so maybe we’ll have to crank up the volume and really make the next few count.”
Sam smiled, watching Sara laugh with Lily and Alex. She leaned back in her chair for a moment
and looked up at the black velvet sky, then raised her glass.
“So.” Alex pulled Lily closer and looked to Sam as they all raised their glasses. “What are we toasting to?”
“It occurred to me tonight at the party that all of us have found love in McCall in some way. You and Lily, me and Sara, Jennifer and Murphy…” Sam paused to put her arm around her and pull her closer. “Even Moxie found her family here.”
“It doesn’t surprise me.” Lily laughed as one of the bats swooped over their heads, dipping so close it ruffled Alex’s hair. “McCall has always been magic.”
“Excellent point.” Sam smiled. “So here’s to love and magic in McCall.”
Sam’s champagne flute met the others in the center of the table, and the musical clink of the glasses rose like sudden sunlight into the black velvet sky.
