“Gigi must have been pissed,” Sadie said quietly.
“No shit,” Raquel said, and Sadie laughed because it sounded so like something Seth would say.
“Starting to talk like each other now?”
“Shut up,” Raquel smiled. “Are you really okay with us, by the way?”
“Hey, it’s your funeral. And anyway, I feel like if you can forgive me for … you know, being stupid, then I can forgive you for loving my brother, aka also being stupid.”
“So, now all we have to do is figure out what Gigi meant.”
Sadie settled on that word: we. One syllable packed with so much promise.
“Also”—Raquel took both hands in hers—“I think you need grief counseling.”
“I was only trying to save Seth,” Raquel answered, her heart hammering.
“I know, I know. This has nothing to do with Seth, though. I’ve already been talking to him about seeing a therapist.”
“I told him the same thing.”
“Sometimes it needs to come from someone who knows what it feels like, though, you know? I didn’t tell him he should or has to. I just told him how it’s helped me.”
“And you think it would help me too?” Sadie asked, even though she already knew the answer.
“I think therapy could help the entire planet,” Raquel said seriously. “But yeah, this isn’t something you want to walk through alone. Even though we’re here with you, a professional can give insight we can’t.”
“Okay.” Sadie nodded resolutely, vowing to find help after Seth was safe.
“Now, how’s it going with Florence?”
“Weird,” Sadie responded automatically. “Or maybe it’s weird because it’s starting to feel normal. I just wish Gigi could have been here. To see us all together. For everything.”
“She’s here.” Raquel reached out and squeezed her hand.
Sadie’s nerves felt calmer than they had in ages as she sipped honey chamomile tea. And when Sage padded in with sleepy eyes in her oversized T-shirt, clutching Cocoa to her chest, she poured her sister a bowl of cereal. Maybe her mother and sister would leave. But they were here now. And Sadie wanted to know this girl with secrets in her hazel eyes. She didn’t know what to do about the life debt, but sitting paralyzed in fear wasn’t getting her anywhere. It was time to switch gears. Nothing like a brush with death to set things in perspective, she mused. There were only nine days until the full moon, and with a jolt Sadie realized it was the same day as the fall festival.
“How would you feel about being my helper?” Sadie asked. “The Fall Festival is coming up. Gigi and I always have—I mean, had—a booth. What do you say?”
Sage’s tired eyes brightened, and she beamed.
“We’ll start with honey chrysanthemum scones.” Sadie smiled. “I have a friend I need to make them for.”
“Good morning,” Florence said from the doorway, glancing between her two daughters. “Coffee?” she asked.
“Sure,” Sadie said, and watched as her mother busied herself about the coffeepot. She thought of what she’d seen of her in the haze of the last week. She was always there to help, a Revelare trait, it seemed. She gave advice like candy but said it with such earnest honesty that the person it was directed at would nod, wide-eyed. Most of all, she hadn’t pushed Sadie. Hadn’t tried to force the bond. Sadie loved her just a little bit for that.”
“Ew,” said Sage. “Coffee is gross.”
“You say that now,” Sadie said, laughing as she stole a bite of her cereal.
Over the next hour, they planned and wrote down what they’d need for the festival, volleying ideas back and forth until everyone else woke up. There was coffee and toast and chatter and laughter, and it felt like Christmas vacation from childhood.
Uncle Brian cleared his throat.
“We won’t be in your hair much longer,” he said.
“You’re leaving?” Sadie asked, and even though she’d expected it, been waiting for it, it still hurt.
“Before mom died, she spoke to each of us. It’s time we’re all together again. I’ve been feeling it for a while now. I want to open another location for my auto shop. And there’s a garage for rent here in Poppy Meadows. So, Suzy and I, we put an offer on a house down the street. That’s why we left—had to list our other place and get all our affairs in order.”
“And I’ve spoken to my work about transferring,” said Tava. “There’s too many good thrift stores around here anyway. I needed more time in them,” she smiled. “Kay and I are renting a little flat above Lavender and Lace’s Ice Cream Parlor in town. Those girls are a hoot. And who knows, I might end up opening my own little vintage and refurbished furniture shop.”