22. Epilogue

Epilogue

The café was humming. It was finals week, and all the students were gathering together to study as snow blanketed the world outside. Many had found out about the place from Willow and their new friends working there. It was keeping us busy, and me baking. Willow pitched in to help a little, but spent most of her time in the kitchen grading, or out at a table with some students discussing their final projects.

Watching her work and interacting with others brought me joy. It never failed that she was kind and considerate, and even if she complained about her students not reading emails or instructions, she always painstakingly replied to them. I'd had to hide her phone a couple of times, just to keep her from checking her email again late at night. We had other plans, and I needed her full attention.

She'd gotten word back that the book was fully accepted, and through editing. Because of the timeline, we were supposed to be sent a proof this weekend, or so she thought. A box had arrived today for her, and I was ready to surprise her.

Piper came by often every evening as well, and had teased us both incessantly. She'd also joked about me finding a friend for her.

Overall, I couldn't believe that my whim of taking over this café from my aunt had led to all of this. I was the happiest that I had ever been. My soul was light, my heart was full, and I finally felt like I had made peace with my mother. My brother planned to visit over the holidays, and I couldn't wait to show him everything.

What a whirlwind it had been.

Finals week wrapped. It was a semester of challenges and near heartbreak, but it was more than anything, one of the best in my life. Winston was still apologizing every night, and between that and my book successfully being submitted for publication, I was happy. Happy and in love, and more content than I had ever been in my life.

That night, I came up to the apartment after graduation, tired but happy. Winston was at the table, a meal prepared for both of us, candles glowing on the cabinets and shelves, and soft piano music playing in the background.

I stopped short, throwing my graduation robe on the couch. I pulled the tam from my head and tossed it there, too. "Winston?"

"I know I cook for you all the time, but I thought that I'd add a bit more romance to our night. Soon, I hope we can go on a proper date. But this arrived… and I wanted to celebrate it with you."

He held out a box marked proof with my name on it. With a gasp and a racing heart, I took it and pulled the tab on it. Out came a beautiful hardback book, with his illustrations on it, and the title "Lost Spells and Witchcraft History: A Journey Through Time—by Willow Redwine" on it. I flipped the pages, seeing the glossy images and drawings for the first time. It was better than anything I had ever done.

"Oh, Winston, it's beautiful."

He smiled and said "Congratulations."

I flipped back to the dedication page and held it out to him.

"To Winston—for whom this book sings. My soulmate, my illustrator, and the one who helped make all this possible."

He smiled softly, set the book aside, and grabbed me by the waist, pulling me to him.

"I think supper can wait."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. Wanna wear the tam? You're kind of cute in it."

I laughed, and he pulled me back to the bedroom. I didn't know what I had done to deserve all of this, but I silently thanked whatever witch had left hidden those spells and hoped her life had been as lucky.