Page 71 of Must Love Lavender and Little Lies
“How so?” Narrow asked, confused.
“Granik,” Zarina said with a bright smile. “Congratulations again. I really am so happy for you both.”
“Thank you, Zarina. You’re not dancing?”
“I… I was thinking about it. I just needed a partner,” she said, then turned and looked at Narrow expectantly.
He looked over his shoulder a moment, then turned back. “What? Me? You… You want to dance with me?”
“Smooth,” I whispered in a low tone.
“I don’t see anyone else standing here, except the groom.”
“Well, I’d be honored. Just…mind your feet.”
At that, Zarina laughed. “Only if you mind yours,” she said, then took his hand and led him to the dancing square.
Narrow looked over his shoulder at me, a stupid but happy grin on his face.
I nodded to him encouragingly.
Gree-Gree gestured for me to join her.
I made my way through the crowd, pausing to accept congratulations as I went, then joined Gree-Gree.
“Well, boy,” she said with a warm smile. “You have married well. I am happy for you, Granik.”
“Thank you, Gree-Gree. And thank you for, you know, the bogshine.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Gree-Gree replied with a laugh.
My mother joined us a moment later. “Ma,” she said to Gree-Gree, “did you see the living ice sculpture that clever half-elf brought? The fat little cherub never melts, and every few minutes he moves into a new position.”
“Is that so?” Gree-Gree asked, rising. “And he’s set up right beside the ale, isn’t he? Well, I better go have a look,” Gree-Gree said, winking at me.
My mother paused a moment to kiss me on my cheek. “I really am so happy for you, my son. She’s such a beautiful bride. I’m so proud of the life you’ve made here,” she said, wiping her lipstick off my cheek before she followed behind Gree-Gree.
The dancers spun around in a circle once more, Kika waving to me as she passed. Narrow and Zarina, I noticed, were having fun together.
A moment later, Juniper floated toward me. Her flower crown was slightly askew, and her cheeks pink from dancing. She wrapped her arm around my waist and leaned her head against my chest.
“Can you believe all of this?” she asked. “It’s…like magic.”
“It’s Moonshine Hollow, every last bit of it. You know, I learned about this town from a traveling bard. He said Moonshine Hollow was a hidden magical gem filled with the kindest, if not a little nosy, people in all the realms. He used his words to make a picture. When he was done, I knew this was where I wanted to be. It sounded almost like perfection.”
“Why almost?”
“Because his picture didn’t include you. But once I met you…”
Juniper laughed lightly. “Well, I’m glad you met that bard.”
“Me too.”
“And I’m glad you moved here.”
“Same.”
“And…I’m glad we lied to everyone.”
