“I meant every word I said, Bay,” he whispered, his forehead connecting with mine. “You are the love of my life. You’re the reason my heart keeps beating. You’re my ... forever.”
“I love you.”
He smiled. “I love you too.”
His lips met mine in a torrid kiss, and as his arms came around me, the butterflies glowed brighter, basking us in warmth and energy.
That’s when the clapping began, and one by one the silhouettes emerged from the darkness.
Marcus and Thistle stood together, both grinning from ear to ear as they held hands.
Sam stood behind Clove, his arms wrapped around her and his hands resting on her stomach as they beamed.
Twila and Marnie had their heads bent together, and I had no doubt they were already talking about the food they would serve at the wedding.
Dad, Warren, and Teddy stood a bit apart, but they’d obviously been included at Landon’s behest ... which meant things were coming together on that front, too.
Mom stood with Chief Terry, tears streaming down both their faces. I had to look away otherwise I would dissolve into body-shaking sobs.
When I rested my chin on Landon’s shoulder, I found Viola watching from a few feet away. She looked delighted. Behind her were other ghosts. I had no idea where they’d come from or how they’d known to come.
My grandmother stood with Uncle Calvin, Aunt Tillie’s husband. They both looked thrilled as they watched everyone react to the big moment.
Edith, the former ghost at The Whistler, showed her teeth when she grinned, something I was certain I would never witness.
And in the midst of them all stood Aunt Tillie. She wore her combat helmet, now adorned with a ring of flowers, and her hands glowed as she lifted them toward the sky. I had no idea what magic she was conjuring, but I knew it would be fun, not menacing for a change.
“Do you smell that?” Landon pulled his head back and looked me up and down, tentatively leaning closer. “Oh, baby, you smell like bacon.”
Of course. I should’ve known. “You smell like doughnuts,” I noted.
“That’s a potent combination. Do you want to go home and see what we can come up with when we put the two together?”
“Don’t make me hurt you,” Chief Terry threatened, his expression darkening.
I laughed as I threw my arms around Landon’s neck, my eyes finding one more ghost. It was a small one. Erika, the girl who showed Landon how to find me in a moment of great need. She’d somehow returned for this moment.
“I knew you would get here,” she said, beaming.
Landon snapped his head in her direction, surprised by the voice. “You.” He could clearly see her, again.
“Me,” Erika agreed. “I can’t stay. I just wanted to see. Remember ... keep wishing.” As she pointed toward the sky and started to dissolve, a star arced and exploded, creating yet another magical moment.
I closed my eyes, determined to follow her advice, and found I had everything I ever wanted.
It was the best feeling ever.
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About the Author
Amanda M. Lee and Lily Harper Hart
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
Unwritten & Underwater
Extra! Extra! Dead All About It
On Deadline & Under Fire
Above the Fold & Below the Belt
Oracles & Obituaries
New Media & Old Grudges
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Witch Before Dying
A Breath of Witchy Air
Witch, Interrupted
Witchin’ Around the Clock
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
Landon Calling
I Dream of Twila
How Aunt Tillie Stole Christmas
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
Make A Witch
A Witchmas Carol
All My Witches
Close Encounters of the Witchy Kind
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Grim Rising
Grim Tempest
Grim Vows
Grimlock Family Shorts
Grim Like Me
Grim & The City
Now & Grim
Grim & Bear It
Grim & The Dead
Death Gate Grim Reapers
Only the Lonely
Only the Quiet
Only the Lost
Only the Devout
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
Freaky Games
Freaky Places
Freaky Rites
Freaky Witches
Freaky Reapers
Freaky Fangs
A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery
The Bigfoot Blunder
The Chupacabra Catastrophe
The Werewolf Whoops
The Megalodon Mix-Up
The Undead Uproar
The Incubus Impasse
A Moonstone Bay Cozy Mystery
Witchin’ USA
Witch Out of Water
Freaky Deaky Tiki
Hex Type Thing
A Spell’s Angels Cozy Mystery
Bad to the Crone
No Crones About It
No Crone Unturned
A Two Broomsticks Gas & Grill
Cozy Mystery
Sinfully Delicious
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
Dying Covenant Trilogy
Haunted Covenant
Desperate Covenant
Everlasting Covenant
2019 Shorts
Wolf on the Job
Luke on the Loose
Cupid in Crisis
Millie on a Mission
Jerry Takes Charge
Elemental Witches of Eternal Springs
Bat Out Of Spell
Spell on Earth
Hotter Than Spell
Spell or High Water
Books by Lily Harper Hart (Amanda M. Lee’s pen name)
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns
Grave Discovery
Grave Decisions
Grave Seasons
Grave Holiday
Grave Haunting
Grave Paths
Grave Danger
Grave Missteps
Grave Demands
Grave Wedding
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times
Wicked Places
Wicked Warning
Wicked Fog
Wicked Season
Wicked Winter
Wicked Hearts
Wicked Wishes
Wicked Whimsy
Wicked Haunts
Wicked Delight
Wicked Respite
Wicked Decisions
Wicked Reunion
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues
Ghostly Deceits
Ghostly Worries
Ghostly Images
Ghostly Wrecks
Ghostly Asylum
Ghostly Tricks
Ghostly Distress
Ghostly Despair
Ghostly Holiday
Ghostly Ordeal
Ghostly Fears
Ghostly Charms
A Rowan Gray Mystery
Welcoming Seas
Murky Seas
Stormy Seas
Sunken Seas
Choppy Seas
Churning Seas
Dangerous Seas
Perilous Seas
Raging Seas
A Hannah Hickock Witchy Cozy Mystery
The Dirty Coven
A Fistful of Demons
Boot Scootin’ Boogeyman
A Supernatural Speakeasy Cozy Mystery
The Hexorcist
Crossovers
Wicked Ghosts
Wicked Seas
Ghostly Seas
Grave Seas
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados
Deadly Arrival
Deadly Rivalry
Deadly Memories
Deadly Adventure
Deadly Reunion
Deadly Conflicts
Deadly Payback
Deadly Waves
Deadly Forever