Page 21 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“Juniper,” Portia said carefully. “Maybe…” she began, then paused, the others looking at her, Emmalyn’s eyes wide with some message I didn’t understand. Portia cleared her throat and then said, “It’s normal to feel confused. You may feel a lot of things in the coming days. Just listen to your heart, and know we’re here for you. All of us. Whenever you need to talk, whatever you feel, we are all here to support you.”
I dashed the tears from my cheeks one more then nodded. “Thank you. All of you. And I’m sorry for ruining book club. I really liked the book,” I said with a tearful laugh.
At that, the others chuckled.
An odd movement from Sir Hootington, however, caught all of our attention. He had turned to the window and was looking out, clicking and flapping his wings.
“Hootington? What is it?” Portia asked, looking out the window.
A moment later, a horn sounded.
“Bjorn?” Rosalyn said in confusion, going to the window.
The rest of us joined her.
Sure enough, Prince Bjorn was there standing beside a flower-bedecked wagon.
When he finally saw us, he called, “Lady Juniper, I have been sent to fetch you. Your ride awaits,” he said, gesturing to the wagon.
I shook my head, confused. “What?”
Tansy giggled but added nothing.
“Well,” Emmalyn said, “you did say you and Granik were going to go public. I guess Granik took that literally. Horn and all.”
“What are you waiting for?” Winifred asked. “Let’s go.”
Confused, I made my way downstairs, the others following behind me.
By the time I arrived, a crowd had gathered in the street, the people of Moonshine Hollow gesturing and watching.
Rosalyn flew to her husband, her pixie wings fluttering. “What’s happening?” she asked.
“I can’t say. I am only here to convey Juniper to her destination,” he replied, giving Rosalyn a wink, and then stepping forward to meet me. The prince extended his hand. “May I help you aboard your wagon?”
It was Granik’s wagon, I realized, prettily bedecked in all the colors of spring.
“Thank you, Bjorn,” I said, taking his hand. Confused but excited, I climbed aboard. The prince slipped in beside me. Giving his wife a wave, he tapped the reins, and we headed off.
My heart beat hard in my chest.
Granik and I had talked about a public engagement, but this…this was more than that.
I looked back at my friends to wave goodbye, but they had turned and were listening intently as Tansy told themsomething. She was speaking quickly, gesturing as she talked. The expressions on their faces shifted like colors in a kaleidoscope. What was she telling them? Did she knowsomething I didn’t? How? When they finally looked back at me, they were all smiling.
Sneaky elf, what was she up to?
The wagon took a familiar path through town, but then took a turn toward a winding dirt road that led to a well-known picnic spot that looked out on Rainbow Falls. Some of those who’d been following seemed to realize the destination and took the easier footpath, crossing the green space, curious to see what was going on. So was I, but I was also taken by the beauty of the surroundings. It was spring, and the forest was showing off its finest. Overhead, the trees were loaded with pale pink flowers. As we passed, a soft breeze blew. On it, I swore I heard a light giggle. And then, the trees let loose a shower of petals. As Bjorn turned his wagon, making his way through the flowering trees that line the path, pink petals danced on the wind and made a carpet of flower petals before us. It was nature at all her finest, but when I looked a little closer, I sensed a little magical help.
Primrose.
I could see the half-elf’s magic hiding amongst the beauty. As always, she brought love and light to everything she touched.
When we reached the end of the cart path, I was surprised to see that a flower arch had been erected at the top of the knoll. Leading to it was a path of pink flower petals.
A crowd had already gathered.
I took it all in.
