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I step closer. The flower dips open, exposing its powdery soft inside to the moonlight. An invitation. A promise of something impossible.
Even though I know better, I lift my gaze to the moon and repeat one of Maeve’s affirmations under my breath. Echoes of my whispers drift through the park.
Silence greets me when I’m done.
Of course, what else did I think would greet me? My father’s voice? Some sign from the universe? Maeve was a lot of things, and magical wasn’t one of them. She was just a sad woman with a sad—
A crackle of electricity breaks the silence.
My ears perk up.
Nothing follows. Seconds tick by.
A high-pitched sound whines from somewhere up ahead.
A heartbeat later, half the sign near the Ferris wheel lights up.
The words:ADVENTURESTARTS WITHHOPEglow brighter than the stars against the night sky.
41
HOPE
It’s Tessa’s big night. Well, technically Noah’s big night, but no one can take their eyes off Tessa. Her joy is infectious and has been ever since Noah walked into the ballroom and his jaw dropped as he took in the Ian Summers Band and the dessert table and every inch of the ballroom.
I sweep my gaze over the twinkling lights, gauzy tablecloths, and red velvet cupcakes—the baker came through on what he’d promised and more, thanks to Will.
My gaze travels to the bar. Three young bartenders work in graceful synchronicity to fill drink orders. The line for a drink has never gotten more than three deep. I wouldn’t be surprised if the efficiency was due as much to the enthusiasm of the Inn’s new hires as to the difference between wedding drinking and fortieth-birthday-party drinking. Or retirement-party drinking, for that matter.
“Are you having fun?” Tessa glides off the dance floor and takes a hold of my wrist. Her eyes twinkle.
“It’s an amazing night.” I giggle at the sight of my two nieces holding court on the dance floor in front of the band—also Will’s doing.
“You’re never getting those girls to bed,” I tell Tessa.
Tessa raises an eyebrow. “You’re not dancing.”
I show her my half-empty glass. “Just taking a breather.”
“Uh-huh. There’s no other reason you’re parked in the corner with a clear view of the bar?”
We both glance toward the bar. Will’s mother and her new boyfriend have appeared and are in a heated discussion with Annette Martina, who managed to guilt Tessa into a last-minute invitation thanks to their garden-club connection.
I turn to face Tessa. “No other reason.”
She grins. “You really are a terrible liar.”
“There are worse things to be,” I say and gesture toward the bar. “What’s happening over there?”
“Aah, I bet Will’s mom just told Annette that they’re not backing down on the new coffee shop.”
I raise an eyebrow, waiting for Tessa to fill me in on the part of the story I’m missing.
Tessa rolls her eyes. “Come on, Hope. Seriously? Everyone’s been talking about it.”
I shrug. “I’ve been busy packing. I don’t have time for rumors.”
Tessa hesitates for less than a microsecond. “Well, I heard Will’s mom and her new boyfriend bought a space at the edge of town. They’re turning it into some fancy new coffee place. Rumor has it Darren and Lacey are helping. They’re going to be opening a public memorial garden on the Inn’s roof-deck and taking over Maeve’s garden too. Annette’s obviously pissed about the competition. She’s trying to get a committee together to stop them—something about poison flowers from the garden contaminating the coffee—but I think people are beginning to see the real Annette. Or at the very least, they’re excited to try a new coffee and breakfast menu.”
