Chapter 17

SEVENTEEN

M ari stood at the counter of her kitchen, a tray of freshly baked lavender scones cooling on the marble surface. The rich, buttery aroma mingled with the delicate floral notes of the steeping tea, creating a soothing atmosphere that wrapped around her like a warm hug.

Molly sat perched on a stool at the island, her hands cupped around a mismatched China mug that Mari had found at a quaint little antique shop. Her red curls were escaping from the messy bun she'd thrown together that morning, framing her face in a riot of fiery tendrils.

"Mmm, these scones smell divine," Molly said, inhaling deeply. "Is that lavender I detect?"

Mari smiled, sliding a scone onto a plate and placing it in front of her sister. "It is. I'm testing out some new recipes for the bakery. Thought a touch of lavender might add a nice calming element."

Molly took a bite, her eyes fluttering shut as she savored the flavor. "Oh, Mari. This is incredible. You've got a real gift, you know that?"

A pleased flush warmed Mari's cheeks at the praise. She'd always loved baking, losing herself in the precise measurements and soothing repetition of kneading dough and whisking batter. It was a balm to her soul, a way to create something beautiful and nourishing out of chaos.

But as she watched Molly take another blissful bite, a flicker of sadness twinged in her chest. All those years with Victor, her passion had been stifled, her joy in the simple act of baking leeched away by his constant criticism and control.

Molly, ever attuned to Mari's moods, set down her scone. Her green eyes, so like Mari's own, shimmered with sudden tears. "Mari, I... I need to apologize."

Mari blinked, taken aback by the non-sequitur. "Apologize? For what?"

A shuddering sigh escaped Molly's lips, her shoulders slumping under an invisible weight. "For not being there when you needed me most. For letting our parents sell you off to that monster, Victor."

Mari's heart clenched, the old wound of her marriage throbbing dully. She reached across the island, covering Molly's hand with her own. "Oh, Molls. That wasn't your fault. You were traveling with Grandma, taking care of her. You couldn't have known what was happening back home."

Molly shook her head, a tear slipping down her cheek. "But I should have. I should have been there to protect you, to stop them from basically selling you into slavery."

"Listen to me, Molly Hues." Mari squeezed her sister's hand, willing her to meet her gaze. "What happened to me was not your fault. It wasn't anyone's fault but Victor's and our parents'. You were spared from a similar fate by pure chance, and I thank the Goddess every day for that."

A soft, broken sound escaped Molly's throat. "I had no idea, Mari. No idea what your life was like with him. By the time Grandma and I came back, you'd been married to Victor for five years already. He had you under lock and key, wouldn't let anyone near you..."

Mari swallowed hard, the memories of those dark, lonely years rising like bile in her throat. She forced them back, focusing on the warmth of Molly's skin against hers, the sweet scent of lavender in the air.

"I survived, Molls. I got out. And now I'm here, starting fresh. Building a new life for myself, surrounded by people who love and support me."

Molly sniffled, swiping at her tears with her free hand. "I just... I hate that you had to go through that. That I couldn't save you from it."

"You're saving me now," Mari said firmly. "By being here, helping me settle in, loving me. That's all I need, Molly. That's everything."

For a long moment, they simply held each other's gaze, a lifetime of sisterly love and understanding passing between them. Then, with a watery chuckle, Molly pulled her hand away to reach for her scone.

Finally, Mari pulled back, a mischievous glint entering her eye. "So, enough about my tragic past. What about you, little sister? Any handsome warlocks or dashing shifters caught your eye lately?"

Molly laughed, the sound bright and startled. She wiped at her eyes, shaking her head. "Oh, no. No, I'm much too busy running the bakery and helping folks glimpse their futures to worry about romance."

Mari arched a brow, unconvinced. "Really? No one's made you go all weak in the knees, set the butterflies fluttering in your stomach?"

A pretty blush stained Molly's cheeks, but she waved a dismissive hand. "Honestly, Mari, I'm happy as I am. If I ever meet a man who makes me feel even a hint of the sparks that fly between you and Deputy Dreamboat, then maybe I'll consider it."

It was Mari's turn to blush, heat flooding her face at the mention of Arden. "I don't know what you're talking about," she mumbled.

"Mari! I wouldn't lie to you," she declared, taking a determined bite. "These scones are too good to let get cold. Now tell me all about how Deputy Hotstuff has been romancing you."

Mari laughed. She busied herself pouring tea into her own mug, the delicate floral aroma soothing her frayed nerves. "You're crazy," she said lightly, fighting a smile. "Arden's just a friend."

Molly snorted inelegantly, arching a disbelieving brow. "Right. A friend who looks at you like you hung the moon and stars. A friend with an ass you could bounce a quarter off of."

"Molly!" Mari choked on her tea, spluttering with shocked laughter. "I can't believe you just said that!"

Her sister grinned, unrepentant. "What? I'm just calling it like I see it. That man is a tall drink of water, and he's clearly parched for you."

Shaking her head, Mari took a gulp of tea to hide her flaming cheeks. "You're incorrigible," she muttered, but a giddy warmth was unfurling in her chest at the thought of Arden, of the way his eyes always seemed to find her in a crowd.

Molly's expression softened, a knowing glint in her eye. "In all seriousness, Mari, I'm really happy for you. You two make a gorgeous couple, and it's clear he adores you."

A slow, wondering smile tugged at Mari's lips. "He... he definitely makes me feel like he wants something long term with me. I do wonder if this is real and not just me seeing things."

"It's real. Believe it, sis. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and then some." Molly took a sip of her tea, mischief dancing in her gaze over the rim of her mug. "Sooo, speaking of happily ever afters... have you and Deputy Dreamboat talked about the future yet? Little witchlets and wolf pups underfoot?"

Mari nearly choked on her scone, heat flooding her face. "Molly! No, we... I mean, it's way too soon for that kind of talk."

But even as the words left her lips, an image rose unbidden in her mind – Arden cradling a tiny, dark-haired bundle, his eyes soft with adoration as he cooed down at their child. Mari's heart stuttered in her chest, a long-buried yearning stirring to life like a tender shoot pushing through frozen earth.

Molly tilted her head curiously. "But... it's something you've thought about? Having kids?"

Worrying her lip between her teeth, Mari stared down into the swirling depths of her tea. "Before Victor, I always assumed I'd be a mom someday. Have a whole brood of little ones to love and dote on. But then..."

"He ripped that dream away from you," Molly finished softly, understanding and sorrow etched into the lines of her face. "Oh, Mari. I'm so sorry."

Mari shrugged, the ache of that loss a familiar weight on her shoulders. "I couldn't bear the thought of bringing a child into that toxic environment, of subjecting an innocent to his cruelty. So I locked that part of myself away, buried it deep."

Molly was silent for a long moment, the only sound the gentle clink of china as she set her mug down. Then, her voice tentative but threaded with hope, she asked, "But things are different now, right? You're free of him, building this incredible new life. And you've got Arden, who I bet would be an amazing father."

Mari's breath caught, the image of Arden with their baby flashing through her mind once more. Warmth bloomed in her chest, fierce and bright. "I... yeah. Yeah, he would be." A disbelieving laugh bubbled up her throat. "Can you imagine? Arden with a toddler on his hip, all protective and doting and..."

"Sexy as hell?" Molly supplied with a wicked grin, waggling her eyebrows.

Mari threw a napkin at her sister, giggling helplessly. "You're terrible. But... you're not wrong."

Sobering, she traced the delicate pattern of her mug with a fingertip, wondering at the fragile hope taking root in her heart. "I guess I hadn't let myself consider it before now. The idea of being a mom, of having that chance again after everything. It seems... too good to be true, almost."

Molly reached over, covering Mari's hand with her own. Her eyes were bright with affection and certainty. "It's not too good to be true, Mari. It's exactly what you deserve, after all the darkness you've been through. A beautiful, bright future filled with love and family and sticky little handprints on everything."

A watery laugh escaped Mari's lips, her vision blurring with sudden tears. "You really think so? Even though I'm so much older now, after..."

"Please," Molly scoffed, waving a dismissive hand. "Plenty of witches have healthy, happy babies well into their forties and fifties. Perks of being magical and all that."

Wonder and trepidation warred in Mari's chest, the idea taking tentative root. "I... wow. I guess I never thought... I mean, if it happens someday, if it's meant to be..."

"Then you'll be an incredible mom," Molly finished, squeezing Mari's fingers. "And Arden will be right there with you every step of the way. I'd bet my last cinnamon roll on it."

Mari squeezed back, overcome with love for her sister, for this fiercely loyal woman who'd been her rock and her guiding light since the cradle. "I love you, Molly. I hope you know that."

"I love you too, Mari. More than anything." Molly smiled, soft and sure. "And I can't wait to spoil your future witchlets and wolf pups rotten."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Mari laughed, poking Molly in the side. "Arden and I are still figuring things out. But... it's a nice thought. A really nice thought."

Molly grinned, looping an arm around Mari's shoulders and tugging her close. "One step at a time, sis. But for what it's worth... I think you and Arden are going to have a beautiful future together. Babies or no babies."

For the first time in longer than she could remember, Mari let herself imagine a future unburdened by shadows and fear. A future filled with laughter and love, chubby baby cheeks and Arden's smile, warm and bright as the rising sun.

It was a beautiful dream. One that, inch by tentative inch, was beginning to feel within reach.