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“I can’t wait.” I smile at him, but it feels forced and tight. He doesn’t seem to notice, though, and we walk onto the ferry side by side, heading to an island with a magic so subtle, we’ll hardly feel it.
Tragic.
thirty-five
Landon and I stand up on a wooden platform at the harvest celebration, holding hands, surrounded by dozens of candles flickering in the breeze and wisteria hanging from the pergola above us. Most of my coven is here to celebrate the season coming to a close, and at the end of the evening, Landon announces that we are to be wed.
It is as impactful as my mother said it would be. People cry and hug, the band breaks into a celebratory arrangement, and sparkling wine is passed around the festival in crystal goblets that reflect the moonlight.
People congratulate us over and over, and Landon holds my hand, kisses my temple, and plays the part of an enamored fiancé flawlessly.
But the twisting in my stomach has stayed with me since the ferry, and not even Ivy’s soothing tea is enough to calm it. The magic so subtle, I hardly feel it.
The next morning, Ivy is leaning against the stone wall of the perfumery when I arrive for my shift. She holds out a cup of tea and sips her own as I unlock the front door and turn on the lights.
“Thank you,” I say, taking it from her.
She nods in response, and it nags at me. Something feels off between us, but I don’t know what it is. It’s fuzzy, like I’m looking at it through clouded glass.
We head into the back room, and I set my tea down and take off my coat.
“How was dinner with the Yateses? We never got to talk about it with all the harvest celebration prep.”
“It was good,” I say, picking up my tea again. “Really good. I don’t think it could have gone any better.”
“Then why do you sound like the world has stopped turning?”
I shake my head and look down. “I don’t know.”
She watches me, and the same look of sadness I saw on my dad’s face after dinner passes across hers as well. I hate that I’m letting down the people I love most.
“I’ll figure it out,” I say, my voice too high. “I think I’m just nervous about the wedding. And Landon and I had an awkward exchange when I went to the mainland that I’m trying to untangle.”
“What about?”
I walk into the storefront and make sure everything is stocked appropriately. Then I lean against the counter and look down, remembering my conversation with Landon.
“He said he’s afraid of magic.”
“What?” Ivy asks, clearly surprised.
“He took me to a gallery with artwork of witches being tortured in a field of moonflowers, and he said everyone is afraid of the things they don’t understand.” I see my mother walking down Main Street, so I head into the back room with Ivy and shut the door. “The worst part is that I didn’t stand up for myself. For our island. I wanted to, Ivy, I really did, but I was terrified of making a scene or saying the wrong thing. Everyone knows him there. Everyone watches.”
Ivy looks thoughtful as she takes a long sip of tea. “You’re standing up for our island by marrying him,” she says, setting her cup down and reaching for my hand. “Don’t forget that.”
I nod and swallow the lump forming in my throat. Then she suddenly lets go of my hand and walks to the other side of the worktable as if something has upset her. A heavy silence settles between us. “Hey, are we okay?” I ask.
She looks hesitant at first, then gives me a small smile. “Yeah, of course. We’re great. I was cleaning up with my parents after the celebration and got to bed late. I’m just tired.”
“Okay,” I say, even though there’s something in her tone that isn’t convincing.
Maybe I’m just overthinking everything.
“Landon kissed me,” I blurt out, realizing I haven’t told her yet. “I almost forgot.”
That gets her attention, and she leans over the counter toward me. “That good, huh?”
“No, no, it was… nice. Sweet.”
