Pumpkin Spice & Poltergeist (Maple Hollow #1)

She gave him a wink. “I’ll see you on the other side.”

The group bade her farewell, and I walked her out onto the square, wanting a final goodbye, just the two of us. When we were sure we’d walked out of earshot, we let out matching sighs.

“It’s been an adventure,” I said.

“It sure has.” She hugged me, her body corporeal but devoid of warmth.

I squeezed her tight and dropped my head onto her shoulder. I didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to hug her again.

“I’m so sorry, Lou,” I murmured. “For everything.”

She gave me one final squeeze and pulled away. “Don’t you dare be sorry. Juniper wouldn’t have stopped with me—or Harlow, for that matter. I’ll actually be able to rest now that I know how and why I died. Thank you for giving me that peace.”

That stinging reminder hitched in my throat. I wiped away my tears and nodded.

Lou flashed me a bittersweet smile. “And we had a little bit of fun too, right?”

I mustered a weak smile to mirror hers. “I guess there was some fun.”

“I’m so proud of you for realizing what you want . . . and even being willing to kill to keep it,” she added with a morbid chuckle. “Don’t get me wrong, the old Jordyn was great. But the new Jordyn is amazing.”

“Thank you.” It didn’t feel like a big enough gesture of appreciation, but the knot in my throat was growing with every passing second.

“Goodbye, Jordyn,” she said, lifting a hand as her visage flickered. “And do me a favor?”

“Anything,” I squeaked.

“Tell Harlow to take care of you too.” Lou’s distant voice was fading fast. “She’s a good one. Hang on to her.”

Another river of tears slid down my cheeks as I nodded. I waved as she fractured into bright, warm lights then drifted away like sparks of a campfire floating into the night sky.

I stared at the spot where she’d disappeared. I would always miss her. In life and death, she’d taught me more about myself than anyone else could . . . except, perhaps, for the beautiful woman lying unconscious in the café because of me.

I felt equally guilty and grateful that Lou and I had had this time together—one last story between the two of us to share for eternity. We finally got the ending we both deserved. Whatever the afterlife held for Lou, I hoped it was beautiful and peaceful and filled with the slightest bit of mischief I knew she loved.

The café door opened behind me, and Iris shouted, “She’s waking up!”

31

HARLOW

Ididn’t know if it was dawn or dusk or how many hours had ticked by since I’d passed out. I sucked in a sharp breath as it all came flooding back to me: Jordyn, Lou, Katie, Juniper . . .

As I blinked the world back into focus, a weight pressed into the mattress and I saw Jordyn perched on the bed beside me, holding my hand in hers.

Her eyes were so watery, I could barely make out her pupils. “Hi,” she said, her voice breaking.

“Hi,” I whispered back. I rubbed a hand across my neck. I expected it to be bruised and swollen, but I couldn’t feel any injuries. “Juniper?”

“Dead.” Jordyn hung her head. “I should’ve known it was her. She’d always been a bit weird about my relationship with Lou, but murder? I didn’t think she was capable of that.” She wiped a knuckle under her eye. “I’m so sorry, baby. I should’ve known. I should’ve protected you.”

I shook my head, unable to find the words, and then I remembered. “Willow?” I practically leaped out of bed, and Jordyn had to grab me by the shoulders and gently steer me back against my pillow.

“She’s okay. She’s okay,” Jordyn reassured me, holding me down with a tentative firmness until the words sank in and I stopped battling her. “She woke up last night.”

“How long have I been out?”

“A whole day,” she said. “Nearly taken out by Juniper’s surprise pocket fish.”