Fairytale Come Alive

Chapter Nineteen Spooked

Fiona

Fiona floated, her arse close to the stool next to Jason’s, her ghostly eyes were pointed toward the kitchen.

She was avidly watching Prentice and Bella whilst Jason was avidly concentrating on what was on his breakfast plate and trying not to grin.

Sally was forking hash browns into her mouth, swinging her legs and humming to herself through a full mouth, completely oblivious.

Prentice had his hips to the counter, his jaw was tight and his hand was wrapped around a mug of hot coffee in a way that looked like his hand would rather be strangling someone.

The someone he’d rather be strangling was Bella, who was scrubbing a skillet like she wanted it to disappear under her ministrations.

They were having a tiff.

And it was hilarious as it always was and, lately, it had been happening a lot.

It had been over a month since they returned from Chicago. Fiona hadn’t been able to go but something happened there, something that had to do with Bella’s odious father and, whatever that something was, it flicked a switch on in Bella.

In the time after “The Kettle Incident” (as Fiona was calling it in her mind) and before they went to Chicago, Bella had been anxious. It was obvious and it was worrying not only because Fiona’s eternity hinged on Bella’s happiness but just because it was difficult to see Bella in that state.

Bella didn’t trust that her life could turn on a dime and, after all she’d endured, why would she?

After they came back from Chicago, Bella was changed. She seemed slightly more settled, more assured but still she was somewhat uncertain, nervous and hesitant.

With Prentice’s unwavering devotion (and it was indeed devotion, even if it was sometimes irritated devotion) and Sally and Jason’s too, Fiona watched Bella’s confidence grow then blossom and finally bloom.

But it bloomed out-of-control.

Bella of old was back with a vengeance.

And Fiona loved it.

Prentice, on the other hand, found it frustrating on occasion and on other occasions annoying and sometimes downright infuriating.

Fiona thought watching her family with Bella would be hard.

It wasn’t.

Seeing them happy and whole again was a gift. It was a weird gift but after watching more than a year of Prentice struggling and Jason grieving, it was definitely a gift and a treasured one too.

Now Fiona just had to practice on her “magic”, whatever the bloody hell that was, and after a month with Fiona intensely aware that time was sliding by, she had no more clue.

She also had no clue as to what danger threatened Bella. Her father, from what tidbits she heard Prentice and Bella murmuring about, was obviously out of the picture. And the entire family had become old news, there weren’t even photographers around the village anymore.

Apparently Isabella Austin Evangelista shacking up with an architect (an award-winning one at that) wasn’t a hot news item worthy of continued exploration.

It was, the photographers found, mostly Bella looking fantastic as always but not stepping out on the town. Instead, she was going grocery shopping, picking the kids up at school, chatting with villagers on the pavements and the like.

Boring.

To them.

But Bella was clearly having the time of her life.

“Kids, books,” Prentice ordered when he saw their plates clean.

Jason scurried off his stool, happy to get away from the heavy air in the kitchen so he could grin his father’s wicked grin somewhere where he wouldn’t be hit by the heat of Prentice’s irritated gaze which had happened before.

Jason, like his mother, thought Prentice and Bella’s fiery relationship was amusing. Likely because Fiona’s son wasn’t stupid and he sensed that there couldn’t be anger without love. If you didn’t care about someone, you wouldn’t care enough to fight with them.

Fortunately for Jason, (unfortunately for Fiona but she was working through it), he didn’t realize their volatility had a whole hell of a lot to do with passion too.

Which Prentice and Bella also obviously had, in abundance.

Sally didn’t move so quickly.

“Elly Belly?” she called. “Can you give me a manicure after school?”

“I gave you one yesterday, sweetie,” Bella answered, still scrubbing the skillet which was, Fiona thought it important to note, thoroughly clean and had been for the last five minutes.

“Can you teach me guitar?” Sally went on.

“The guitar’s too big for you still, Sally. Like I said before, give it a year or so and we’ll start.”

“Can we have your apple caramel-umble for pudding tonight?” Sally pressed. Apple caramel-umble was the name Sally had given the pudding Bella had made the week before. It was supposed to be a crumble but she’d been distracted by her boxes arriving and she was unpacking at the same time she was getting the Christmas decorations out therefore she accidentally doubled the brown sugar and the butter so it ended up a gooey, caramelized mess which the children had adored.

“We had that last week, Sally, now go upstairs and get your books,” Bella said as Prentice delivered the children’s plates to the side of the sink.

“Daddy,” Sally, finding her efforts with Bella unsatisfactory, switched targets. “Now that we’re used to Blackie, can I have a puppy?”

Prentice leaned his hips against the counter next to the sink and leveled his eyes on his daughter. His method for dealing with his children was far more time-economical than Bella’s.

“Books,” he commanded firmly in a voice that didn’t invite argument or discussion.

Sally was also not stupid, she knew that voice. She made a pouty face but slid off the stool and hurried up the stairs.

Prentice watched her progress and the minute Sally disappeared, his head turned to Bella.

“Elle –”

“Save it!” she hissed under her breath.

Prentice looked to the ceiling.

Then he looked back at Bella and asked with impatient disbelief, “Honest to God?”

Bella went still as a statue, dropped the skillet, turned to him and put her soapy hands on her hips.

Her reply was also said with impatient disbelief, “Seriously?”

Fiona didn’t know what they were arguing about.

She had, in the past month, not managed to recognize her “magic” but she had managed to figure out how to pop herself back and forth between her ghostly haunting of her old home and her serene tent by the stream. She usually went back there at night when she was exhausted from trying to make pixie dust fly from her fingertip or shouting soundless “abracadrabras” and then throwing the force of her emotions at one of Prentice’s whisky glasses on the balcony, trying to make it explode. She’d return in the morning to haunt her family, search for clues as to what danger plagued Bella and try to discover her magic.

Thus, this morning, she missed their fight.

Which, in a way, made their incomprehensible verbal tussle all the more amusing.

Prentice was losing patience, Fiona could tell this when he leaned toward Bella and his voice got lower and far more irritated.

“This is your home now, Elle.”

“I’m aware of that, Pren.”

“You need to make it yours,” he demanded.

“It already is,” she snapped.

“You need to put your mark on it.”

She threw her hand out to indicate the abundant Christmas decorations that she, Prentice and the kids put out most of which were old but some of which Bella had bought, not to mention some framed pictures of her, Annie and Mikey that she’d dotted around the place and replied, “I already have!”

He got even closer and said even lower, “You fucking well know what I mean.”

She leaned closer too and returned, “Redecorating isn’t putting my mark on a house, Prentice Cameron.”

Fiona emitted a useless, ghostly gasp and floated back several feet.

Prentice wanted Bella to redecorate?

Fiona had spent months choosing furniture, spent years buying and even paying off paintings that she’d found, deliberated greatly over the frames she’d buy to put her family’s photos in.

The blinds…

The crockery…

The… the…

The nerve!

Fiona tried not to take sides when they were fighting but she was firmly on Bella’s side in this one.

Prentice dragged his fingers through his hair, indicating that his patience was spent before he muttered, “Fucking hell, Elle.”

Elle grabbed the children’s dishes and started to rinse them mumbling, “It never ceases to piss me off all the times you say it that my name rhymes with fucking hell.”

Prentice ignored her rant and threatened which meant promised, “If you don’t do it, I will.”

“Be my guest,” she shot back.

He glared at her bent body as she slammed the children’s plates and cutlery into the dishwasher.

Then he pulled in a deep breath and when she straightened, kicking the door closed to the dishwasher and starting to walk away, he leaned forward and caught her at the waist.

Pulling her back to his front, she struggled for a minute before his mouth went to her ear.

“All right, Elle, I didn’t want to say it but here it is. That bedroom is now yours and mine but it was Fiona’s and mine.” Fiona’s spectral body grew still at the same time Bella’s corporeal one did. “I thought I’d be okay with it, sleeping with you there, fucking you there, but as time goes by, I find I’m no’. So I need you to make it ours so I can fucking move past this. I’m asking you to help me with that. Now do you fucking get me?”

Fiona watched as Bella’s face paled and then her body relaxed, her anger fled and she turned in the curve of his arm.

Her hands went up to curl on his neck; she leaned into him and asked softly, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just did,” he clipped, still angry, probably because he had to share something difficult or, since he was a man, because he had to share at all.

“Yes, but before you said,” her voice dipped low and she assumed a (very bad) Scottish accent to indicate she was mimicking Prentice, “‘You need to redecorate this fucking room, Elle.” She pressed closer and went back to her own voice. “You didn’t tell me why.”

“Now you know.”

Her expression for the first time in weeks grew uncertain. “I’m not good at decorating.”

“Ask Sally, I’m sure she’ll be more than happy to give you some ideas,” he bit out, obviously not noting her expression and he was also not being humorous but flippant.

Bella decided (wisely) to ignore his flippancy and teased, “I’m not sure we want a room decorated in pink and purple with plentiful amounts of glued on glitter.”

“I don’t give a fuck what it looks like, just as long as it’s something that’s ours.”

Fiona glared at her husband as he obviously didn’t feel like letting go his anger even though Bella had given in.

Prentice always could hold a mean grudge.

Bella was more patient with it than Fiona ever was and she leaned in further and whispered in his ear, “I’ll see to it Pren.”

She kissed his jaw and tried to move away but Prentice’s arm tightened.

“What I said doesn’t mean –” he started but Bella cut him off.

“I know.”

“You know I love it when we –” he began again only for Bella to interrupt him again.

“I know.”

Fiona started dematerializing as Bella kept whispering something about having to do something about Prentice being grumpy in the morning.

This was difficult for him, she knew, and he didn’t need an additional witness, even her, who he didn’t know was there.

Luckily, Bella knew it was difficult too and she was doing a fine job in making it easier.

Fiona stopped dematerializing when the doorbell rang. She fully materialized and watched both Prentice and Bella’s heads swing to the door.

“I’ll get it!” Sally shrieked from upstairs and Fiona’s body turned to watch her daughter run headlong down the stairs.

No, strike that.

Fiona’s body turned to watch with unadulterated fear as her daughter ran headlong down the stairs.

Fiona’s lass had been knocked over by a car, she was fully healed now, the cast off and she seemed no worse for the wear. It would be an even bigger tragedy if, after surviving that, Sally broke her neck falling down the stairs.

“Sally, be careful,” Bella called, unadulterated fear heavy in her tone and Fiona let out her nonexistent breath (whilst Bella did the same audibly) when Sally made it to the bottom, turned on one foot, nearly toppling over, and dashed to the front door.

Bella and Prentice both made their way toward the great room but they didn’t have to approach the door because the caller announced himself and when he did this, he did it loudly.

“Mikey’s home!”

“Hurrah!” Sally screeched, beside herself with glee. “Mister Mikey’s here!”

Prentice turned his eyes to Bella.

Bella did the same to Prentice and shrieked, “This is brilliant! Mikey’s great at decorating!”

Then she too ran forward, throwing her arms around Mikey while Sally jumped up and down and clapped.

Fiona’s eyes moved to Prentice and she saw he was standing frozen, staring at Bella swinging around in Mikey’s arms. He looked arrested in time, his eyes glued to the two friends, his face filled with awe as if he was watching a miracle occur.

At first, Fiona thought this was strange.

Then, slowly, her eyes slid to the friends and she too stared.

This scene couldn’t be any more different than the one that happened in Fergus’s entryway three months before.

Bella, in jeans and jumper, her feet bare, her face makeup free, her hair in a messy bunch on top of her head, her arms around her friend, her mouth laughing, her face aglow.

She was not detached, quiet, remote and cold, wearing a fancy suit, posh shoes with her hair all twisted in an elegant bun.

She looked not only like she belonged in a family home in the wilds of Scotland but like she was created to live this existence.

Bella pulled away from Mikey but kept her hands curled on his shoulders. He still had his hands at her waist and he too was looking down at his friend’s face with wonder etched in his features.

“I can’t believe you’re here!” she cried. “What a tremendous surprise and perfect timing. Prentice wants me to redecorate the bedroom and I have no clue.”

Mikey blinked and for a moment Fiona thought he might very well cry.

He pulled himself together just as he pulled Bella close again and drawled to Prentice, “Then I’m here in the nick of time, as usual. Decorating is not Bella’s forte.”

Prentice had moved forward and was offering his hand, now smiling warmly at Bella’s friend while he greeted, “Mikey, good to see you, mate.”

Mikey shook his hand and then leaned back, proclaiming dramatically, “Good to see you too.” He gazed down at Bella and asked, “Girlie-girl, what’s in the water here? Because I want some of it. You look ten years younger and he’s hotter than hot and since he was hotter than hot before, he’s off-the-scales hotter than hot now.”

Bella snuggled into Mikey’s body, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head on his shoulder as she looked at Prentice. At her cuddle, Mikey looked like Fiona reckoned anyone would look before they dropped dead of a heart attack. Then his face grew soft.

Bella didn’t notice.

“I think he either made a deal with the devil or he’s the bastard love child of Father Time,” Bella remarked with a radiant grin thrown in for good measure.

Mikey burst out laughing but Fiona looked at Prentice and saw him gazing at Bella with that expression he got before Fiona was popped back to her tent by the stream.

“Mister Mikey!” Jason shouted as he also ran down the stairs.

“Jason, be careful on the stairs,” Bella cautioned as she moved out of Mikey’s embrace.

Jason ignored Bella, ran up to Mikey and then her son gave him a quick hug.

Jason stepped back and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Surprise inspection,” Mikey muttered, his eyes on Bella.

“What?” Jason asked, his voice filled with humor.

“Nothing, bucko,” Mikey answered. “I just was sitting around, thinking, ‘What am I going to do for Christmas?’ and it came to me that Bella said the guest suite in your house was magnificent so I figured I just had to spend time there and, therefore, invite myself to Christmas with all of you, so here I am!”

Jason grinned and declared, “You’re mental.”

“Yes, indeed I am,” Mikey replied, sounding proud of Jason’s assessment.

“Oh my God! School!” Bella shouted. “Kids, car! Mikey, I’ll be back in twenty minutes, tops.”

“Elle, I’ll take them this morning,” Prentice offered.

“No, it’s out of your way and you have that meeting. I’m good, Mikey’s good.” She was hustling the kids to the door then she suddenly changed directions, dashed forward, threw herself in Prentice’s arms, pressed a quick kiss on his mouth and dashed back, going back to her babbling. “Mikey, coffee, toast, get your stuff settled in the guest suite, twenty minutes.”

“Bye Mister Mikey! Bye, bye, bye!” Sally jumped up and down as Bella hustled her forward at the same time shoving on a pair of shoes.

Jason waved behind him and they all hurried out the door.

The minute it closed, Mikey turned to Prentice.

“I’d give you a hug if I didn’t think you’d punch me. Or I’d offer you a million dollars if I didn’t know you’d turned down fifty-four or if I actually had a million dollars.” His voice lowered and his eyes grew bright when he finished, “So, Prentice Cameron, the only thing I can do is say thank you.”

Prentice tilted his chin up slightly and gave Mikey a moment to compose himself before he commented, “I’m guessing we passed inspection.”

“You all get gold stars,” Mikey replied and Prentice grinned.

Then Prentice’s eyes went to the door and he asked, “Have you ever seen her like that?”

Mikey looked behind him toward the door and answered, “Yes, often, at school.” He turned back around. “After she lost you, when she was vulnerable and he could beat her down, rarely.”

Prentice’s jaw grew tight.

“Prentice,” Mikey said softly, “that was then, this is now. Let it go.”

Prentice tilted his chin again but this time it was more of a jerk.

Mikey’s voice was still gentle when he stated, “Annie tells me she’s not self-harming anymore.”

Prentice’s eyes narrowed. “You knew about that?”

Mikey nodded. “Both Annie and I talked to her. She was seeing a doctor.”

The color went out of Prentice’s face. “She’s not seeing a doctor now.”

“She’s also living thousands of miles away from her abusive father with whom she used to live in the same city and, regardless of her age, he was unrelenting in his attention. And she doesn’t have photographers breathing down her neck because she’s not attending all the soirees and high-brow events her detestable ex-husband and then her despicable father demanded she appear at which, by the way, she loathed. Instead, she’s living in a beautiful house with the only man she’s ever loved, helping him raise his children. So,” Mikey threw out his hand absently, “I’m no psychologist, but I’m guessing she doesn’t need a doctor anymore.”

Prentice wasn’t convinced. “Life has a way of twisting and turning.”

“Yes,” Mikey agreed. “It does. And usually one can go with the flow. But when one finds they can’t, they need a strong, solid anchor.” He nodded to Prentice. “You aren’t made of iron but I think you’ll do.”

Prentice didn’t reply then again, he didn’t need to. He was Bella’s anchor and they both knew it.

That was why Mikey smiled before he clapped and exclaimed, “All right! I need coffee and you need to get to a meeting.”

“I’ll bring in your bags,” Prentice offered.

“I’m gay, not disabled.” Mikey smiled through his refusal. “Go to your meeting.” When Prentice didn’t move, Mikey started waving at the door, saying, “Shoo, shoo.”

Prentice shook his head but slapped Mikey on the shoulder.

“Good to have you back, mate,” he mumbled before he strode to the door, grabbed his coat off a hook, gave Mikey a departing nod and left.

Mikey stared at the door, the tears he wouldn’t allow himself to shed earlier pooled in his eyes and he whispered, “Have a good day at work, Superman.”

Then Fiona watched as he turned to the coffee.

“Bella, no. What you’re saying is you want four different colors of cream,” Mikey declared in a disgusted tone and Fiona agreed with him.

You need blue, Prentice LOVES blue, Fiona screamed.

Bella hesitated, looking mystified and maybe a little scared.

She glanced at Fern and asked, “Can we see that blue swatch again?”

Bella, Mikey, Annie and, of course, Fiona were in Fern Goodacre’s little shop. Fern sold candles, candleholders, pretty, unusual jewelry made by locals, frames, artsy knick knacks and other gift items. Fern also had a small side business in interior design that she ran from the back room of her shop.

A lot of local folk said Fern was really good but Fiona was not the type of lass who would hire an interior decorator so she didn’t know. But Janice MacHolm used Fern to decorate her sitting room and Fiona always thought it was really lovely.

They were all crammed in the back room of the shop and Annie and Mikey (and, of course, Fiona) were also cramming their ideas into Bella’s head.

Which might have been a wee bit out of line but, good God, the woman had picked four different colors of cream!

“Can I just say,” Fern started, glancing at Mikey and Annie, “I actually like the cream on cream.”

“What?” Mikey cried, openly aghast.

“See, this has a little salmon,” Fern said, separating swatches on the table they were sitting around, “this a little blue, this a little more blue and that one, well, that one’s just cream.”

Annie tilted her head to the side and pointed. “Well, that one is blue and that one is kind of blue but the rest just look like cream to me.”

Fern was gazing at the swatches and her eyes went funny. “Actually, I’m thinking it would be kind of brilliant, subtle, fresh, clean, bright but with hints of color making it warm and interesting.” She looked at Bella and grinned. “I really like it.”

“You do?” Bella asked quietly.

“Aye. I could work with this, definitely,” Fern replied.

“Really?” Bella breathed.

“Let me put some ideas together,” Fern offered. “I’ll work on it tonight, come over to see the space tomorrow and we’ll talk more.”

“I’d like that,” Bella smiled.

“But it’s all cream!” Mikey exclaimed.

Bella bit her lip and her eyes slid away, clearly tentative and worried.

Fiona watched Bella. She hadn’t seen that look from Bella in awhile.

This decorating business was for some reason causing her anxiety so Fiona decided to lay off and she also decided to get Mikey, who was the naysaying ringleader, to do the same.

Shut it, mate, she shouted at Bella’s friend.

“Seriously, girlie-girl, those rooms are huge filled with windows, you can so go bold,” Mikey, clearly not like his friend and unable to hear voices from beyond the grave, declared.

“Bold,” Bella whispered and looked at Mikey. “Fiona was good with bold, the rest of the house –”

Mikey paled at her words, having been informed of why they were on their errand, and he turned to Fern instantly. “Cream. Cream is good. Work with the cream.”

“No,” Bella said, her gaze had slid beyond Fern and she got up, scooted around the small space and pulled out a roll of peacock blue fabric. She turned to her audience and said, “This is gorgeous.”

“I love that,” Fern said, getting up to join her and touching the fabric. “No one’s ever used it and I’ve always wondered why because I think it’s lush.”

“It’s bold,” Mikey announced.

“It would be great for toss pillows or something. Just a splash of color,” Bella replied and then looked at Fern and asked, “Don’t you think?”

“Oh I do!” Fern said excitedly. “All that cream framing these bright flashes of blue. Only toss pillows or maybe a bedroll. Perfect!”

“I like it too,” Annie declared.

“Is someone going to wait on me?” They heard asked peevishly from the door and everyone turned to see Hattie Fennick standing there.

Fiona turned too and when she did, her ghostly body went completely still.

Hattie Fennick was glaring at Bella with such hate, if Fiona had breath, that look of frank, open hostility would surely have stolen it.

Danger, Fiona thought.

Then Hattie scowled at Fern with such ill-will that Fiona thought she was being silly about the way Hattie glared at Bella.

Hattie hated everyone. She was a notorious cow.

And Hattie was also incapable of being dangerous. She was just a bitter, little nobody who no one liked because she took out her bad temper on anyone who was unlucky enough to cross her path.

“Hattie, we’re getting some ideas down for Prentice and Bella’s bedroom. Can you wait just a tick?” Fern enquired.

Hattie’s eyes went back to Bella and her lip curled.

“You’re using Fern to decorate Prentice’s bedroom?” she asked as if she wouldn’t ask Fern to paint the house number on her recycling box.

“Prentice and Bella’s bedroom, darling,” Mikey corrected and Hattie sliced a derisive glance at him before she looked back at Bella.

“So, if you’re redecorating Fiona’s house, can we assume you’re going to stay longer than a few months before you run away again?” she queried and Fiona watched Bella brace as both Annie and Mikey shifted into defense mode.

Really, Fiona thought, Hattie was such a cow.

“Hattie,” Fern said in a low voice.

“Well, everyone’s thinking it,” Hattie snapped.

“No, everyone isn’t,” Fern snapped back. “In fact, you’re the only one who is.”

“This is the one who sold Prentice and Bella’s story to that magazine,” Annie talked over the byplay, informing Mikey of Hattie’s duplicity.

“Really?” Mikey asked then raked Hattie top-to-toe with his eyes. “You obviously didn’t negotiate a good enough fee or, perhaps, you like that handbag?”

“Mikey,” Bella said softly.

“Americans,” Hattie muttered in xenophobic abhorrence.

“Poorly-accessorized, small-minded Scottish people,” Mikey muttered back, using nearly Hattie’s same tone.

Fiona giggled.

So did Annie.

“I’ll just take care of you now, Hattie,” Fern offered but Hattie walked in, slammed the candle she was holding on the wee table and glared at Fern.

“Don’t bother. I’ve decided I don’t want it,” she declared, cast a venomous gaze about the room and stormed out.

Mikey snatched up the candle and smelled it, exclaiming loudly enough for the departing Hattie to hear, “Oo, meadow, my favorite scent! I’ll take it!”

Annie and Fiona were still giggling but Fern was looking at Bella.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

Bella shook her head but said, “Yes, fine. It’s not unusual from her, Hattie’s never liked me.”

“Hattie doesn’t like anyone,” Annie proclaimed.

“I don’t know,” Fern whispered and her eyes were on the door.

“You don’t know what?” Mikey asked.

“It’s just…” Fern started then she glanced again at Bella. “I grew up with her, we were in the same year as Prentice at school. She really liked him.”

“What’s not to like?” Mikey enquired then declared, “The man is hot.”

Fern grinned at Mikey. “Aye, well, he always was a fine looking lad. It’s just the way Hattie liked him.” She looked at Bella. “It always spooked me.”

Annie and Mikey (and Fiona) leaned forward as Annie asked, “How so?”

Fern shook her head. “I can’t say, can’t put my finger on it. But it was just…” she paused and shivered, “strange.”

“You. Are. Creeping. Me. Out,” Mikey stated flatly.

“Sorry,” Fern whispered on a grin to Bella.

“You know, Dougal said something once,” Annie put in softly and everyone turned to her. “Something about how he heard Hattie say something about Fiona. Something very Hattie, just mean. But Dougal said something like, ‘Reckon it’s Prentice, Hattie always hated anyone who caught Prentice’s eye.’ I didn’t think anything of it but it’s true.” Annie looked at Bella. “She barely knows I exist except to be passably nasty but she’s always been actively spiteful to you and I saw her look at Fiona once and it was downright chilling.”

Fiona’s ghostly body shivered just listening to Annie and thinking that Hattie looked at her like she’d caught Hattie looking at Bella just now which, evidently, she had.

“She made a play for him once,” Fern threw in, everyone looked at her and then instantly moved closer. “I only know about it because I overheard Old Lady Kilbride talking about it.” Fern tilted her head to the side and looked at Bella. “Sorry Bella, but it was just after you left.”

Bella gave her a small smile and Fern carried on.

“I, personally, saw the first part but I didn’t know she took it further. See, Prentice was getting pissed at the pub and everyone saw her sidling up to him, even me. It was kind of sad, really because everyone knew Prentice was upset, sorry Bella,” she said again and when Bella shrugged and gave her a small, encouraging smile, Fern forged ahead. “And everyone knows when he’s upset he gets kind of moody and they should leave him alone.”

“You can say that again,” Mikey put in and Fern gave him a grin.

“Apparently,” Fern carried on, “she made her play when he was walking home. I don’t know what happened but Mrs. Kilbride said Hattie was in fits. Mrs. Kilbride heard her from the pavement, shouting the house down over at her Mum’s. Her friend was there, what was her name?” Fern paused. “The one who moved to Dundee?” When no one answered, Fern carried on, “Anyway, she was saying something about Prentice being good enough for toffee-nosed Americans, sorry Bella,” she repeated on an embarrassed grimace and went on, “But not good enough for the local lasses and demanding to know what was wrong with her.”

“I’d need a whole week, twenty-four seven, to detail what’s wrong with her,” Mikey muttered.

“I hardly think Hattie Fennick is worth this kind of intense conversation,” Bella remarked.

“You’ve got to admit, it’s weird,” Annie replied.

“Okay, so she had a crush on Prentice back in the day and, because of her unrequited love, she doesn’t like me and didn’t like Fiona. That’s understandable. We have or had what she wants or wanted. And this is Hattie. It’s can’t be a surprise that she’d be poor loser,” Bella explained.

“This is true,” Annie said.

It was true, Fiona thought, but it still was spooky.

And Fiona was on the lookout for spooky.

Because spooky could become dangerous.

Watch out for Hattie Fennick! Fiona shouted at Bella.

“But, I’ll watch out for Hattie Fennick,” Bella announced and at this dramatic statement everyone looked at her funny so she grinned. “I mean, I wouldn’t want the likes of Hattie Fennick messing up my Scottish fairytale come alive, now would I?”

Mikey slid an arm along her shoulders and tucked her into his side. “Nothing’s going to mess up your Scottish fairytale come alive, especially not the likes of Hattie Fennick,” he assured and gave Bella a squeeze.

“All right,” Bella said decisively. “Now, I’ve got a bedroom to decorate. We need new furniture. And bed linens.” She turned to Fern. “Do you deal with that too?”

Fern smiled and replied, “Absolutely.”

Fifteen minutes later, Bella had warmed to her theme and was standing in the store discussing ideas with Fern on how to redecorate the sitting room whilst Annie and Mikey were perusing her wares when the bell over the door rang and Prentice’s sister Debs stormed in.

She was breathing so heavily she was wheezing, her hand held to her throat.

“Debs, what on earth?” Bella asked, hurrying to Debs while Fiona floated along.

“The… you… Mrs. Kilbride…” Debs panted, “said you were here. I ran here the minute I saw it.”

“Saw what?” Bella asked and without another word Debs opened her big bag and pulled out a magazine.

“Oh crap,” Annie breathed as everyone got close.

“I thought they’d gone,” Bella whispered as she looked at the magazine as if it might grow teeth and bite her.

“Apparently, they had, into hiding!” Debs declared and showed Bella the cover.

On the front was a photo of Laurent and his strumpet, a bright yellow jagged line separating them, an announcement above them stating, “It’s over!”

In the bottom corner there was a photo of Bella and Prentice snogging.

Actually snogging.

Not a peck on the lips but a full on snog.

The small title by their photo said, “While Isabella Lives Happily Ever After”.

Fiona stared as Bella groaned, “Oh no.”

“Girlie-girl!” Mikey hooted. “They got a picture of you and Mr. Broody-Hot making out! Look at that! It’s gorgeous! I love it!”

Bella glared at Mikey while Annie asked, “How on earth did they get that?”

Bella took the magazine from Debs’s hand and started flipping through it.

“Remember a week ago, you, Dougal, Pren and I were at the pub?” Bella asked Annie, still flipping. “Well, Pren kissed me by the car.” Her head came up. “We thought the photographers had all gone.”

“Well they hadn’t,” Mikey commented.

“Yes, Mikey, I can see that,” Bella snapped.

“Oh, wow, hey Mikey. You’re here,” Debs smiled at him in belated greeting and Mikey returned her smile.

“Why are you so happy about this?” Annie asked Mikey with narrowed eyes.

“Because Bella’s making out with a handsome man, living the life of her dreams and that ass is alone, as he should be. And there isn’t any way he can escape this, he’ll see it and I love it. I think it’s brilliant!” Mikey answered.

“Well, Pren isn’t going to think it’s brilliant. Look!” Bella exclaimed and turned the magazine around for everyone to look.

They closed in and Fiona floated above them to have a look.

There was a spread, mostly Laurent and his floozy but also photos of Bella and Prentice. Photos taken recently, more shots of them snogging by Prentice’s Rover and the inside shots were far more intimate. They were really going at it, Prentice even had a hand cupped tight on Bella’s ass. And there were also pictures of Bella dropping the kids off at school.

“Yeesh, did you two do it in the Rover or what?” Annie asked.

“No! We didn’t do it in the Rover! Still, this is, it’s…” Bella paused and finished with, “Oh. My. God!”

Annie got close and slid an arm around Bella’s waist. “Prentice doesn’t care about this stuff, sweetie.”

“Yes, well he’s never had pictures of him making out published yet,” Bella returned. “Look at it Annie!” She shook the magazine at her friend. “He’s got his hand on my ass!”

“Mm, that’s my favorite part,” Mikey murmured.

Debs took the magazine out of Bella’s hands and examined it while muttering, “He’s my brother and I still think he looks fit.”

“Sick,” Fern giggled and Debs giggled with her.

“This isn’t funny!” Bella shouted as her handbag rang; she dug into it, pulled out her mobile and stared at the display in horror. Then she looked at her audience with an expression that could only be described as dire, hit a button, put it to her ear and said, “Hey Pren.”

There were collective giggles (including Fiona’s) and Bella glared daggers at them as she wandered away. Fiona wandered with her and got close to listen in.

“Are you at Fern’s?” Prentice asked.

“Yes,” Bella answered.

“While you’re with her, talk about the sitting room,” Prentice ordered, sounding distracted.

“We already did.” She hesitated. “Listen, Pren –”

“Sorry, baby, I’ve got a staff meeting in five minutes and we’re breaking ground in the New Year on that job. There’s loads of shit to sort.”

Bella sucked in breath. Prentice heard it.

“Elle?”

“Um…” she began.

“Elle,” he cut in, “are you with Annie?”

Bella’s shoulders went straight and she snapped, “Yes, and would you stop asking if I’m with Annie when you think we’re misbehaving?”

“Oh crap,” Annie mumbled in the background.

Prentice obviously didn’t appreciate her tone of voice and Fiona knew this by his tone of voice when he answered.

“Were you with Annie two weeks ago when the police pulled you over for drag racing?” he countered.

Fiona giggled to herself because she thought that Bella drag racing was funny, especially Prentice’s reaction to it when Fergus called and told him it happened. Bella didn’t get in trouble, only a warning but the whole village had heard about it and thought it was a scream.

“We weren’t drag racing,” Bella replied. “I just got my new car and we were testing it out.”

“By racing each other in the streets?”

“Well –”

Prentice interrupted her, “And last week at the pub when you two challenged the rugby team to a game of quarters.”

“Quarters is like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it and Annie and I are good at quarters. The rugby team was smashed and we were only a little tipsy,” Bella defended.

“You play quarters when you’re in uni,” Prentice returned.

“And when your forty and having fun!” Bella snapped.

“I don’t have time for this,” he ground out, sounding like his patience was at an end.

“All right, fine. Just so you know, that night at the pub with the rugby team?” she informed him. “Later, when we were necking in the parking lot, there was a photographer. There’s, like, five pictures in a gossip rag of us going at it. Have a good staff meeting.” Then Bella pressed a button on her phone, turned to the group and announced, “Honestly, it’s like he’s an old man.”

“Actually, it seems to me it’s like twenty years haven’t passed,” Debs whispered, Annie, Fern and Mikey grinned at her and Bella’s phone rang again.

She answered without greeting, simply reminding him, “Pren. Staff meeting?”

Prentice didn’t greet Bella either.

Instead, he demanded, “Don’t put the phone down on me.”

“I… what?”

“Don’t ever put the phone down on me.”

Bella went still at the tone of his voice. So did Fiona’s spectral body.

He sounded serious and he sounded angry. Not Bella-and-Prentice-having-a-tiff angry.

Something else entirely.

Bella turned her back to her spectators and started, “Prentice, I –”

Prentice interrupted her.

“You could get in a car wreck, I could get in a car wreck and the last thing you did was put the phone down on me.” Fiona saw Bella’s face pale as Prentice continued, “When you’re done speaking, no matter how frustrated you are, you fucking tell me good-bye.”

“I’m not going to get in a car wreck,” Bella assured quietly.

He ignored her. “We fight, it’s what we do and as fucking daft as it makes me, I love that about us. But when you’re separated from me and I’m talking to you on the fucking phone, no matter if we’re talking or fighting, you say good-bye.”

“Pren –”

“Twenty years ago, I walked out of a room and neither of us said good-bye.”

Bella pulled in breath and her eyes squeezed tight.

“People who care about each other always say good-bye,” Prentice finished.

She opened her eyes and replied softly, “All right, Pren, I’ll say good-bye.”

“Always, Elle,” he demanded.

“Always,” she whispered.

“Now, I’m late. Don’t, for the love of Christ, get into trouble with Annie.”

“I won’t. I promise.”

He expelled an audible breath, his voice got soft and he said, “Love you, baby.”

Bella’s face got soft when she heard it; she started to say something and then her body jerked.

“Pren?”

“Aye.”

“Are you mad about the magazine?”

“I don’t give a fuck about the magazine.”

“Really?”

“Really, baby,” he replied, still using that soft voice. “Now, I have to go.”

“Bye, Pren.”

“See you soon, baby.”

He rang off and Bella turned back to her friends.

“Pren didn’t like me hanging up on him,” she announced.

“Broody,” Mikey declared and then finished, “Hot.”

Bella giggled.

So did Fiona.

And Fern.

And Debs.

“I need coffee and one of Bella’s Christmas cookies,” Annie declared.

“You made Christmas cookies?” Debs asked, eyes wide, clearly having had Bella’s Christmas cookies (Fiona hadn’t, but she’d heard about them and she’d seen the ones Bella made with Sally at the weekend and they looked delicious).

“She’s Bella. It’s Christmas. That means Christmas cookies,” Mikey confirmed.

“Fern, can you come over for coffee and cookies?” Bella asked.

“I’ll have cookies tomorrow,” Fern replied. “My girl is in to help then. I’ll be at your place at eleven o’clock?”

“Works for me,” Bella smiled.

They said their good-byes and Fiona floated after them as they walked down the pavement toward Bella’s new Land Rover.

While Fiona drifted after them, she thought of her husband, who was good at brooding normally but had honed it to a fine art when Fiona died.

Fiona also thought about it being Christmas.

They’d always had great Christmases except last year which was a disaster although Prentice tried everything he could and had help from both their families.

And although he was definitely happy to have Bella back and Fiona’s family was whole again, Fiona reckoned Prentice was apprehensive about Christmas.

And maybe, even though he had the love of his life back in his life, it seemed he was still missing his wife a little.

This made Fiona both happy and sad.

She forgot about danger and magic and got close to Bella as Bella hit the button on her keyfob to open her Rover.

Take care with Prentice! she shouted, He’s worried about Christmas.

Bella moved to the driver’s side door and whispered, “I know. I will.”

Fiona wished she could hug her.

As they all piled in, Fiona felt a shiver go through her body.

She turned and looked down the street and then stared, her ghostly eyes narrowing, not believing what she thought she’d just seen.

She wasn’t sure because she’d disappeared around the corner but Fiona could have sworn she saw Hattie Fennick standing there.

With a camera.

Annie didn’t have one of Bella’s cookies.

She had five. Fiona counted.

Bella, Annie, Debs and Mikey (and Fiona) were all at the kitchen bar, sitting on stools, Bella and Mikey on one side, Annie and Debs on the other and they’d made their way through a serious amount of cookies as well as righted most of the wrongs in the world.

But mostly they chewed over the idea that Hattie was in a perpetual foul mood because of her unreciprocated love for Prentice.

It was nearing time that Bella had to go pick up the kids and Fiona saw her glance at the microwave clock.

This was one of the many reasons why Fiona found Bella being there a gift, knowing her kids would be picked up from school by someone they looked forward to seeing. And knowing that Prentice didn’t have to arrange it and could go about his business knowing his children were looked after by someone they cared about.

On Fiona’s thoughts, Bella’s purse, sitting on the counter beside her, rang. She put down her mug, dug through her purse and her brows knit as she looked at the display.

“What’d I do now?” she muttered, Annie, Mikey and Debs grinned at each other and Bella put her phone to her ear as Fiona drifted close, “Hey, Pren.”

“Elle, don’t go to the school. I’m picking up the kids today.”

Bella’s head tilted to the side and she said, “That’s sweet of you, Pren, but I’m good. It only takes a few minutes and Annie and Debs are here to keep Mikey company.”

“No, baby, I have to go. The Headmaster called, Jace has been in a fight.”

Fiona’s spectral body got stiff just as corporeal Bella’s did.

Fiona’s son was not a fighter.

Okay, that was a lie, he’d stick up for himself and, if he believed in something, he’d defend it. But he’d normally do this verbally not get in a fight.

“Jace got in a fight?” Bella whispered and Mikey, Annie and Debs’s grins died.

“Aye. I’ll pick up Sally then talk to the Headmaster. We’ll be home soon.”

“Do you want me to –?”

“No, baby, I’ll take care of it.”

“All right, see you soon.”

“Aye, see you.”

Fiona was about to transport herself to the school as Bella stared at her phone after Prentice disengaged.

Then Bella looked at Debs and asked, “Has Jason ever fought at school?”

Fiona stopped herself and looked at Debs as she shook her head. “No, never. He’s like his Dad, he’s got a temper but he’s a smart lad, knows how to keep his cool. I haven’t seen him lose it since he was wee. It would have to be something really bad for him to fight.”

Bella pulled in a deep breath and whispered on her exhale, “I think it’s Christmas. Prentice is on edge too. Holidays can be bad if you’ve lost a loved one.”

“Yes, darling,” Mikey replied softly, “but now they have you.”

Bella smiled a small smile at her friend and said in the sad tone of someone who knew, “No one plugs the hole left by a dead parent, Mikey.”

Mikey, always quick with a retort, had none for that. He simply pressed his lips together and looked at Annie.

They dropped the discussion but Bella got quiet and started fidgeting and although Fiona wanted to go to the school, instinct told her to stay with Bella.

And her instinct was right.

In half an hour, Fiona watched Bella clench her hands into fists.

Mikey caught it too.

He reached out, forced Bella’s hand open and held it on the counter, murmuring, “It’s going to be fine.”

Bella turned to him and said quietly, “You know, I’ve never been happier not even the first time I was with Pren.” Mikey squeezed her hand and she continued, “But even knowing what it would mean, that I would lose them, if I had magic, I would use it to breathe life back into Fiona so I could give them all back what they lost.”

Fiona’s ghostly heart clenched.

Debs made a noise that sounded like a swallowed sob.

Annie whispered, “Oh sweetie.”

Mikey shook Bella’s hand then gripped it tighter. “Well, girlie-girl, you don’t have magic and you’ve taken on this job so now the only thing you can do for those kids is be the next best thing.” He leaned in closer to his friend and went on, “And you know better than anyone that the next best thing is a whole lot better than nothing.”

Bella pulled in breath through her nose and on the exhale, she nodded.

It was then the front door opened and Prentice, Jason and Sally walked in.

Fiona stared, her ghostly heart hammering in her chest when she caught the look on Prentice’s face.

She’d never seen it before but the only way to describe it was enraged.

The coffee klatch all tensed as Jason ran up the stairs not looking at anyone, his face mottled red and Fiona, his very own mother, couldn’t read if he was angry or upset.

Everyone (and Fiona) watched as he disappeared from sight and then their eyes turned to Prentice when he said, “Sally, upstairs.”

Even Sally look subdued but she still opened her mouth to protest.

“Upstairs,” Prentice ordered in a tone that sent Sally scurrying upstairs.

“Prentice, what on earth?” Bella asked and Fiona turned to see Bella was standing.

Prentice made it to the kitchen and with an irate flick of his wrist, he flung a bunch of magazines on the counter, magazines Fiona had been too surprised to notice he was carrying. They skidded through the cookies and coffee mugs and Debs, Annie and Mikey’s hands flew out to limit the damage.

Bella didn’t notice; her eyes were on Prentice.

Prentice didn’t notice either; he was stalking to the phone. He yanked it from its receiver and punched in a number while Bella walked to him and Fiona floated close.

“Pren –” she started, his eyes sliced to her and he lifted an angry hand to stop her from talking.

Bella froze and stared at him.

“Alice,” Prentice said into the phone, “get me Hattie Fennick’s number.” He paused and clipped, “I don’t give a fuck, home, mobile, whatever. Just find a way for me to call that bitch.”

Then he slammed the phone into the receiver.

Fiona couldn’t believe her ears.

Alice was the administrator at his offices. She was a sweet young thing, efficient and organized and had been with Prentice since he started his firm. Fiona had never heard Prentice speak to her like that.

And Hattie was in the picture.

What had that cow done now?

Bella edged closer and asked, “Prentice, why are you calling Hattie?”

Prentice tore his hand through his hair as his gaze cut to the magazines Debs, Annie and Mikey were all flicking through, their faces tight and angry.

Then his gaze came back to Bella. “Davey Fennick came into school today with half a dozen gossip rags, all of them with stories and pictures of us which he shared, apparently gleefully, with Jason.”

“But,” Bella replied, “he’s seen us and even himself in magazines.”

“No’ the ones which talk about how we were together twenty years ago,” Prentice returned, light dawned and Bella grew pale.

Fiona wished she had figured out her magic so she could go zap Hattie Fennick a good one.

“Oh my God,” Bella whispered and her hands clenched into fists.

Prentice noticed it instantly and in an effort to control his rage his jaw tightened so much a muscle ticked there.

But his hands came to hers, he forced them open and laced their fingers. “Elle, he’s upset but he isn’t upset about that.”

Bella stared up at him. “What’s he upset about?”

“Davey didn’t only bring the magazines, he also brought stories, likely heard at home, about you and me and Fiona.”

Bella’s brows drew together and Fiona glided so much closer she nearly drifted into Bella.

“What stories about you and me and Fiona?” Bella asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Prentice replied.

“I do want to know,” Bella returned.

I want to know too! Fiona shouted.

“Elle –” Prentice began.

Her fingers tightened in his and she gave his hands a gentle jerk. “Tell me, Pren.”

Prentice sighed, dropped one of her hands and pulled his fingers through his hair again as he brought Bella closer.

“Davey told Jason I never loved Fiona. Davey told Jason I only ever loved you. Davey also told Jason that if I had to choose between you and Jason and Sally, I’d choose you because I love you more than I love them. And lastly, Davey told Jason that Fiona knew this and it’s what made her sick, it was why she died.”

Bella gasped.

Fiona did too.

They both stared at Prentice in horror.

Then Bella’s face got red.

Then she opened her mouth.

And then she shouted, very, very loudly, “I’m going to fucking wring Hattie Fennick’s neck!”

Prentice’s body jerked and his face went blank before he realized he wasn’t dealing with Isabella Austin Evangahlala.

He was dealing with Elle Austin and Elle was a whole lot less predictable than Isabella.

“Elle –” Prentice tried to pull her even closer but she snatched her hand away and paced into the kitchen while everyone watched her.

She halted in a jerky way and whirled to Prentice.

And she shouted (again) and (again) it was very loud, “That insufferable bitch! I’m going to conk her on the head and shove her over a cliff!”

Prentice moved toward her saying, “Elle, calm down.”

“Calm!” she yelled, scooting away from him and pacing, her hands moving around angrily. “Calm! I can’t be calm! Hattie Fennick is a malicious bitch and,” she stopped, twirled and glared at Prentice, “apparently, her son is a little snot!”

“Baby –” Prentice came at her again, she tried to avoid him but he caught her with an arm around her waist and pulled them together front to front then he repeated, “Calm down.”

“I will not be calm!” Bella was still shouting. “Anyone who had a brain in their head knew you loved Fiona! What is Hattie thinking, filling her son’s mind with that garbage!”

“Elle –” he started but Bella kept right on ranting.

“I was gone, you didn’t know I would ever come back. You went on with your life. Of course you loved her. She was Fiona! Everyone loved her! You thought you were going to spend the rest of your life with her. And you can’t get a brain tumor from thinking bad thoughts! Hattie Fennick! What a bitch! And her son, repeating it, even if he is ten years old, what a little snot!” Her body jerked and her eyebrows snapped together. “What did the Headmaster say?”

“Due to the circumstances, he’s being lenient with Jason,” Prentice answered.

“He better be.” Then she snapped, “Is he being lenient with the Fennick boy?”

“They think both boys learned their lesson and –”

Bella cut him off by announcing firmly, “Davey Fennick should be expelled.”

“Elle, Jason hit Davey. What Davey did was wrong but Jason knows better.”

“That may be so,” Bella clipped, “but I don’t care. I’m glad he hit him, I only hope he hit him hard!” Bella yelled.

Annie giggled.

Mikey chuckled.

Debs was grinning, huge.

Fiona was with Annie, she was giggling herself silly.

Even Prentice’s mouth was twitching. Gone was the anger, he looked like he was trying hard not to laugh.

It was then Fiona felt it and her eyes went to the top of the stairs.

Both Sally and Jason were sitting on the top step watching the show. Sally looked confused and maybe a little worried. Jason’s face was red but this was not anger or upset, he was nearly choking himself from holding back laughter.

Bella swung her gaze around the lot of them and snapped, “I see nothing funny about this.”

It was at that Jason lost his battle with his hilarity and snorted.

Everyone’s eyes moved to the stairs.

Prentice won his battle and with a firm voice, he ordered, “Rooms.”

Jason and Sally scampered.

Bella pulled back in Prentice’s arms and jerked her extended hand across her neck, declaring, “I’ve had it up to here with Hattie Fennick.”

Prentice’s eyes cut to her and they narrowed just as his body grew tense.

“What else has she done?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she replied dryly. “She came into Fern’s today, said a few choice things and they were vile. And Annie told me she gave Fiona dirty looks. And I’ll remind you, she sold our story to a magazine for money.” Bella threw her arm out. “Now she’s got her son causing trouble for Jason at school!”

“I’ll talk to her,” Prentice replied.

“No, when you get her number, I’ll talk to her,” Bella shot back.

“Elle –”

“No, Pren. I don’t like the idea of her talking to you. Now she’s creeping me out with all this venom. This is all because she has a screaming crush on you. She has since you were in school,” Bella announced. “Fern said so.”

Prentice blinked.

Then he asked, “I’m sorry?”

“Fern told us she’s liked you since forever,” Annie chimed in.

“And, looking back, she totally has,” Debs added.

“Which, I don’t blame her,” Mikey declared. “But there’s a fine line between being forlorn at unrequited love and being, well, her.”

Prentice released Bella and turned to his audience, announcing, “Hattie Fennick doesn’t have a crush on me.”

Bella crossed her arms on her chest and demanded, “Did she or did she not make a play for you when you were walking home from the pub after I left twenty years ago?”

Prentice’s head turned to Bella and he opened his mouth to speak.

Then he closed it.

Then he muttered, “Fuck.”

Bella looked at Mikey, Debs and Annie and nodded sharply, stating, “She did.” She looked back at Prentice and demanded, “I’m talking to her. Hattie Fennick and I are getting a few things straight.”

Prentice turned to face Bella fully. “Elle, you aren’t saying a word to that woman. Neither am I. I’ll talk to Nigel.”

“Nigel can’t control her, never could,” Debs put in.

Prentice turned to his sister and leveled his very, very serious gaze on her, replying, “He’s going to have to learn.”

Annie made a face at Mikey, her eyes rounding and her bottom lip curving down in a non-verbal, “Eek!”

Bella still had her arms crossed on her chest and she was glaring at Prentice.

Prentice turned to Bella and asked, “Are we agreed?”

Bella nodded her head jerkily but said, “She messes with Jason again or her son does or if Sally enters this mix, she and I are going to have words. No!” Her hand came up, index finger extended to the ceiling. “I’m going to have words. She’s said quite enough.”

Prentice gazed at her a moment then he grinned then his arm shot out and hooked her around the waist, pulling her to his body right before his mouth came down on hers hard.

“They do this a lot,” Annie whispered to Mikey, her face tender.

“Aye, it’s relentless,” Debs muttered, her face smiling.

Mikey just watched the couple, his face soft and he didn’t say a thing.

Prentice’s head came up and he looked at the group, completely unembarrassed about semi-snogging Bella in front of them but he didn’t let Bella go.

Bella curled into him, putting her head on his shoulder as she looked at the crowd.

Bella’s face was happy.

“Who’s staying for dinner?” Prentice asked.