Chapter 46

forty-six

ELLA

Luke and I dance under the stars, through the trees, spinning around to our own little symphony. The way the music swells and repeats reminds me of “One Day” from Pirates of the Caribbean.

“This is my favorite part of the song.” I smile.

“Why?”

“The way the music repeats. The strings. It’s so romantic. You can feel the emotion as it builds.”

“There’s not a fancier name for that?” His eyes sparkle in the moonlight.

I glare. He’s teasing me about my word of the day calendar again. “It’s called an ostinato , thank you very much.”

“A what?”

That is not Luke’s voice.

I bolt upright in bed, startled. “Hello?”

“What is an ostinato, Ella?” Gaby shouts through my phone speaker. “And who were you talking to?”

I shove blankets off enough to sit up and grab my phone off the nightstand. It’s the curse of touchscreens. After our conversation at the bridal shop the other day, Will and Elizabeth have been on my mind non-stop. I might have made “One Day” my main ringtone.

Exhaustion weighs on me as I stare at the screen. The only logical explanation is that I swatted my phone like an alarm clock and somehow accidentally answered Gaby’s call.

“I wasn’t talking to anyone,” I reply, rubbing my eye with the side of my forefinger. “I was asleep.”

“What did you and Luke do after the Homecoming game last night?”

“Nothing.”

“Don’t tell me you were working.” She groans.

Despite Laila serving as Charlotte’s supposed ‘plant’, she hasn’t stopped with her demands. We were up late collaborating on what to send to her so she’d be appeased for another day or so. Small, incremental steps seem to be all I can get before she swoops in with another angle to ensure my failure.

I’m genuinely unsure at this point why she’s so intent on getting the farmland that she wants nothing to do with.

“Why?” I ask.

“We sort of have a minor emergency at the farm.”

My heart kicks up a few notches. “What kind of emergency? Luke? Lucy? Your parents?”

“Heavy emphasis on the word ‘minor’. My mistake! We had a Pumpkin Princess scheduled for today and she called in sick. The kids have been going wild for her appearance and they’ll be disappointed that she won’t be here.”

Caught between relief that nothing bad is wrong and curiosity, I sit straighter in bed. Helping at the farm could be a lot of fun.

It would give me an excuse to see Luke. And Lucy.

And relish in all the fall goodness.

“I don’t have a dress.” That’s the least of my concerns with everything going on, but it’s the first objection that comes to mind.

An unusual noise comes from the opposite side of my room. I lean forward, like that will offer an explanation.

Almost in response, there’s a quiet groan as my wardrobe shifts from one side to another. Like when you’re moving an old piece of furniture and rock it ever so gently to coax it to a new position.

It’s the most minor movement.

I could easily blame it on not enough sleep or too much caffeine.

Even an overactive imagination.

But that’s highly unlikely.

“There’s a breakfast we had planned with the kids by The Storybook Cafe and photos—” Gaby continues.

“I think I need to call your brother.” I stare wide-eyed at the antique piece of furniture, willing it to do something again. Anything.

I’m not crazy.

“Luke? No, no. I’m in charge of this. It’s fine.”

“No, call Sam. There’s something going on with my wardrobe.”

“Oh!” she shouts gleefully. “I was thinking you wouldn’t get to experience anything while you were there!”

“What are you talking about?”

“Put me on video. I want to see!”

Gaby has officially lost her mind, I think. But I switch over to a video call and prop the phone on my nightstand so she has a perfect view of it.

“What is supposed to happen? Can you give me a clue?”

“It just depends on what your need is.” Her smile is wide as she claps excitedly. “I’m so happy for you right now.”

Magic wardrobes were never on my list of things to experience while I was here, but neither was being fake engaged to someone. I guess I just need to roll with it.

“So it just… produces things?”

Gaby shoos me through the camera, encouraging me to go open the door and see what awaits. I blink, taking in her chestnut waves piled on top of her head. Her makeup is usually on the light side, but today it’s almost theatrical. I won’t have long to get ready based on how she looks, nor do I have any idea how to apply makeup like that.

I’m not sure even sure I have that much makeup to begin with.

I ease myself from beneath the fluffy down comforter and slip myself into some pumpkin slippers I found at the Treasure Trove Trading Company.

“What were you just thinking about?” she asks.

My eyes fixate back on the antique, with its ornate swirls and beautiful carpentry. Even without knowing its origin, its age is obvious from the deep brownish-red colors.

“I just told you I needed a dress,” I murmured.

I close the distance and gingerly crack open a door. Out spills piles of sky blue tulle and silky layers, the top layer sparkling with glitter and rhinestones. Part of me wonders if this appeared from a distant royals closet somewhere, and if they’ll miss it. It looks like something Mia would wear at a royal ball in The Princess Diaries.

This belongs to me now.

I know I’m supposed to act every inch the adult that I am, but that’s not very fun. Pretending to be a princess for a day? So much more fun.

“You’re going to say yes, aren’t you?” Gaby squeals. “We’re going to have a blast.”

I skim my fingers across the differing textures, rough to bumpy to smooth.

“Well, the wardrobe obviously wants me to wear it,” I reply.

There’s another groan as the opposite wardrobe door creaks open. On the bottom shelf are the sparkliest pair of shoes I’ve ever seen. If I were a cartoon character, I’m sure there would be literal hearts in my eyes.

I have another fleeting thought, a deeply rooted wish that passes through my brain so quickly it’s almost like it didn’t exist. But there’s another soft sound, this time more like a creak. Like a movie, I toss open both doors and can’t contain my squeal at the sight of the Prince Charming costume hanging next to my dress.

“I will owe you a week of coffee and that new book series you’ve been eyeing if you can get him to wear it!” Gaby shouts.

It’s now become my entire mission to include Luke in the activities today, and I’m going to love every single minute of it.

***

Serving pumpkin pancakes to tables and tables of kids dressed up in costumes wasn’t on a single sheet of my trip’s agenda. It’s not in Charlotte’s ridiculous demands or part of planning Holly’s wedding.

But I can honestly say that it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done.

The Storybook Cafe didn’t exist when I lived here, but it’s a sweet addition to their farm. Farm to table meals and drinks in a cozy space, with reading nooks and mismatched tables spilling out onto the grass outside. It reminds me of the yard behind the Jackson farmhouse.

“How often do you do this?” I ask.

“I started it a few years ago just for fun with Lucy. And it’s just grown, every year. We need more space, but we’re all so busy it’s pretty low on the totem pole of projects.”

I take in all the little boys in their varying royal and superhero costumes and the little girls dressed as princesses and can’t help but sigh.

“This reminds me of when we were kids.”

“I’ve told Lucy stories. Her favorite is the one where you slipped a slug in her dad’s collar.”

My cheeks heat. “He started it with the garter snake in my slipper.”

“I’ve apologized for that plenty of times. You can’t still be mad about it.” My heart rate kicks up several notches as every cell in my body alerts to Luke’s presence.

He stands beside me, the sleeve of his costume brushing against my arm.

He’s wearing it! Don’t look. Don’t look. Don’t look.

“You ruined a perfectly wonderful moment. Nowhere in the history of fairytales does Prince Charming prank Cinderella.”

“It’s possible that someone lost it in translation somewhere. You never know.”

The moment Lucy sees us together, her eyes brighten, and she shoves away from the table, practically tripping over her oversized dress that looks very much like mine. It makes me wonder if there are more pieces of furniture or places that will be happy to provide in a time of need.

I could get used to moments like this.

“This is the best day of my life!” she squeals dramatically, taking each of our hands in hers. “You guys look like the real thing.”

“You can thank Ella for my costume. Aunt Gaby got her to come, and she decided I should join in the fun.”

“It’s seriously the best breakfast so far, Dad!”

Purely by coincidence, he bows and I curtsy at the same time and her head tips back in a peal of laughter.

“My BFF is a princess and my dad is Prince Charming!” she shouts to all the other kids. “Do you see them? Aunt Gaby, take a photo!”

Before I can register what’s happening, Luke’s hand snags at my waist and tugs me close. Lucy’s body presses against my legs and I’m not sure my heart could feel more full than it does at this moment.

Luke leans over, his voice low in my ear. “Seriously. Another corset? Please don’t make me explain to these kids why Cinderella passed out in the middle of breakfast.”

I can’t help the snicker that escapes. “Stop with the Elizabeth Swan references.”

“I’d ask, but there are children present,” Gaby says. “Can you please just smile and be normal?”

“Corsets make princesses look the part. They’re time period appropriate.” I giggle.

“But,” he argues. “You’re perfect as you are.”

Lucy tugs on my skirts, shifting my attention away from the man who may very well have my whole heart.

“Can we take a picture of just the two of us?”

I glance over at Luke, unsure of how to proceed.

“That’s a great idea, Luce. One copy for your room, and one copy for the fridge.”

I came into this town with nothing, and I’m suddenly making it to Luke’s fridge and on a wall or piece of furniture in Lucy’s room. A life I’ve only ever dreamed of is building faster than I can keep up.

He steps away, leaving me with his daughter. So there won’t be such a height discrepancy, I bend down in a semi-crouch as Gaby snaps a photo. With our heads so close together, it’s easy for her to turn and toss her arms around my neck.

“Thank you for coming,” she says, squeezing me.

“You’re welcome.”

There’s nothing on my calendar that would beat how much fun I’ve had today.

“Are y’all game for more photos? We can rotate,” Gaby says.

It doesn’t take much to twist my arm when all the kids clamor for attention. Time passes in a blur, much like most of the time I’ve spent in this place for the last week and a half. The longer I’m here, the more it feels like I belong.

And I don’t just mean Enchanted Hollow.

As the kids disperse to do other things, Luke pulls me into his arms. His eyes squint just so as they travel my face, dipping just briefly to my lips. I want to ask if he’s thinking about our kiss last night under the bleachers, or at the edge of the pumpkin patch. But then he hums, slowly swaying to an unheard song.

“What are you doing?”

“Making memories with you. That’s on that list of yours, right?” he grins.

“People are watching.” I lower my voice.

“Then we should be grander. We’re royalty.”

This is a side of Luke I’m not familiar with, and based on the volume of Lucy’s delighted laughter coming from somewhere off to the side of us, it’s a side I want to know more. He’s fully embellishing a made up dance now, spinning us around in the dirt like we might as well be in a grand ballroom.

I’m so used to keeping to the shadows of weddings—it’s important to do my job without people seeing me—that the attention is new and a little uncomfortable. I don’t know what it’s like to live life out loud.

But if this is what it feels like, sign me up.

I could do this all day.

“Ah, I think I might’ve misunderstood Laila.” Holden narrowly steps out of the way as we make a wide loop.

“What do you mean?” I ask, breathless.

We break apart to applause and laughter. For the first time, I’ve giving Luke a little credit to his corset theory. I’m hot and it’s hard to take deep breaths.

“She mentioned a breakfast at the farm, but I didn’t realize there was an entire event going on. I wanted to bring these by for you to try. Holly wants little mini loaves for her guests as gifts.” He sheepishly grins and tucks the couple of loaves of bread closer.

“That seems like a lot.” Luke frowns. “The wedding is only a few days away.”

“I’m grateful for the way she supports our businesses, so it’s no trouble. Really.”

Laila didn’t mention this at all when we were up working last night. I’ve got the foggiest memories of the two of them when we lived here before. Is he a boy she mentioned that used to sneak through her window? I’ve got so many questions.

“When were you and Laila chatting about this?”

“She came by the bakery a few days ago whenever she got to town.” His cheeks pink. “We met again yesterday. That reminds me—Luke, I dropped off some more pumpkin gingerbread people at the café.”

“Thanks, Holden. The kids love them.”

My eyes snag on Luke again. He’s always handsome, but I newly appreciate what he looks like in a costume. Could we dress up together for Halloween? What about all three of us?

Definitely getting ahead of myself.

“So, what did you bring?” I gesture to his arms.

His grin shifts into something more confident, his dark hair falling over his eyes. With a quick toss of his head, he thrusts one in my direction.

“Pumpkin gingerbread with an orange glaze. Gingerbread is my specialty. ”

Luke grabs the loaf. “I’ll have to hide this. They never stick around long.”

“Would you hide it from me?” I ask.

“You’re about the only one I’d share with.”

“Ah, well, taste them and let me know?” Holden passes the other to me and backs away. “I can have them done pretty quick.”

For someone who’s been heavy into my business and feelings, Laila has been awfully quiet about hers. Maybe there’s more than one reason she came here. And one of those reasons involves a dark, handsome gingerbread baker.

I take a deep inhale of the scent escaping the wrapping. “It’s fresh.”

“Seriously, hide it. You won’t get a piece for yourself if any of my siblings catch the scent.”

As if on cue, Dean heads straight for us. “Did I see Holden? What do you have there?”

“Lucy, head for the maze! Last one to the end is a rotten egg!” Luke calls, then glances back at me with a wicked gleam in his eye.

“What are you doing?” I laugh.

“No! Don’t you dare use my niece to run away from me!”

“Think fast!” Luke tosses the mini loaf to Lucy, who takes off running for the maze.

“You can’t catch me—I’m the gingerbread man!” She shrieks as she disappears into the tall crops.

As Dean follows the two of them, I sigh contentedly.

It’s been a perfect day of absolutely no productivity. I can’t remember the last time I had one of those.

Have I ever had one of those?

Hopefully, there will be a lot more to come.