“I suppose we have Raquel to thank for that decision?” Sadie smiled.
“She made some valid points,” he admitted. “And I see how different she is, how much it’s helped her. And I want to be the best version of myself for her.”
“My brother and my best friend,” Sadie said, shaking her head, still in disbelief. “Well, then you’ll also be happy to know I’m going to go to grief counseling,” Sadie said.
“Raquel strikes again. And hey,” he said, patting her on the head like a dog or a child, “when you’re ready, I’ve spent the last few weeks researching the best literary agents to query for a cookbook. I have a whole spreadsheet. And a bunch of links for legal and business stuff you need to fill out to teach cooking classes.”
“Seth,” Sadie started, but her throat was too constricted with the effort of holding in her tears.
“Stop,” he said, holding up a hand. “I needed something to do. And you needed a kick in the ass to do something for yourself.”
She threw her arms around him and squeezed until he groaned in irritation.
“Thank you,” she breathed. “Thank you for being the best brother in the whole world.”
“Thanks for almost dying for me,” he answered with a soft smile.
Sadie walked to the back porch in a daze, staring at the rustling leaves of the peach tree and the patch of dirt where her magic had once grown. The fairy lights were glowing, and the night-blooming jasmine perfumed the air with a flourish. Security, she realized, wasn’t an impossible dream. It was a garden like the one before her. Vulnerable and in need of constant tending, but beautiful and bright.
And now, it was time to navigate her new world with the man she loved, family by her side, her town, Gigi’s memory in her heart, and the Revelare heritage to carry on.
The nightingale’s song fluttered through the trees, and the deck hummed in approval while the grandfather clock chimed gently from inside. And as the wind whispered, her fingertips tingled. That old familiar feeling. The one she thought she’d never feel again.
She didn’t breathe, but watched as Gigi’s rosebuds, pale in the dawn light, unfurled before her eyes, their scent staining the cold air like a promise. She thought of Gigi’s lessons and rules that still clung to her. “Always bury found pennies in the garden at midnight to make a wish come true. Never whistle indoors or you’ll invite bad luck. Always wear green in some form or another.” And “A little bacon, butter, or sugar can improve just about any recipe.” But most importantly, “Hold on to hope no matter the cost, because as long as there’s hope, everything else is just the unfortunate side effects of heartbreak and magic.”
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FIRST, THANK YOU, GOD, for putting this dream in my heart and bringing it to fruition.
Second, none of this would be possible if my agent extraordinaire had not plucked me from the mire and made it possible. Natalie, you exceed my wildest dreams at every turn. You go to bat for me and answer my hundreds of questions, and you gave me hope when there was none. Thank you for not giving up on me!
Third, to Holly—you took my sad tea and breakfast and turned it right around. This book is at least six thousand percent better because of you and that’s a solid math statistic.
To the whole team at Alcove Press: what you do is true magic, and I am so grateful this book found a home with you.
Mom and Dad, words can never express how much you mean to me. Thank you for watching the girls and giving me space to chase my dream. I could write a whole book about my gratitude to and love for you. Everything I am, I owe to you.
To my love, your unfailing support and the way you celebrate every little win makes me fall more in love with you every day.
To my darling daughters, Evelyn and Rosalie, thank you for your grace and patience （usually） while Momma worked.
Grandma and Grandpa, thank you for your unflagging enthusiasm and for being so proud of me. And Uncle Matt, thank you for always checking the weather with me. I sure love you.
Alyssa, your love sustains me. Mac, you are my Bookish Wonder Twin forever. Uncle Teddy, it all started with you. Jinnae, you’ll always be my Tweedle Dee. Or is it Dum? Kienda, my kindred spirit, your gifs and voxers are life.
To my TikTok family—you brought the excitement and turned this into something far bigger than I could have imagined! Thank you forever.
And to anyone who reads this book—you have my eternal awe and gratitude. I wrote it to process through the grief of my grandmother’s death, and if it connects with you in any way, it’s an honor to her memory, and for that, I am forever humbled.