Katherine raised her wineglass. “I can’t disagree with that. I’d even call him a chili pepper.”
Megan said, “And you have the cutest dog ever.”
Also the best fucking house in all Moonstone Cove. Megan wasn’t going to mention it again. Her lust for Katherine and Baxter’s oceanfront view was starting to get a little weird.
“Okay, Ms. Alston, your turn.” Toni locked eyes with Megan. “Are you happy?”
Megan took a deep breath and smiled before she answered.
Was she happy?
Well, she had two of the best friends imaginable, three happy kids, and a boyfriend with really great lips, a good imagination, and a lot of patience.
She had to nod. “Ladies, despite the past few months of drama, I am doing all right.”
The woman who’d tried to ruin all their lives was currently under house arrest at her apartment at La Delphine resort, awaiting trial for attempted murder, theft, and a second-degree murder charge relating to the death of Shawn Silva, a small-time criminal and car thief from Santa Maria whose body had been found in a remote hilly area north of Moonstone Cove.
While Alice Kraft had returned to her software development work in Silicon Valley, Angela Calvo hadn’t stopped renovations on the property where she’d tried to murder Megan. La Delphine was gaining more and more attention in San Francisco and Los Angeles for its historic nature, beautiful gardens, and its notorious owner.
The notoriety hadn’t seemed to hurt Fairfield Family Wines either, though the opening of the Dusi Wine Caves and new tasting room had eclipsed all its neighbors’ summer promotions. Nico had hired three more people to handle the traffic to the new buildings.
Less notorious and sadder was Rodney Carpenter’s case. Megan had helped him get a decent lawyer who was currently negotiating a plea agreement with hopes of avoiding jail time for Rodney’s role in the vine theft and the murder of Mr. Silva. By cooperating with the police and the district attorney in their case against Angela, the lawyer was optimistic that Rodney could avoid jail.
The district attorney was far more interested in nailing Angela Calvo as the ringleader despite pressure from the state government to settle the case quietly.
But while Rodney might avoid jail time, his social status in Moonstone Cove would never recover. He was seriously considering a move back to Georgia as soon as he was able. On the bright side, all three of his children had been in touch. Adam, especially, had been trying to encourage his father and repair their relationship.
“I’m hoping that my ex-husband avoids jail, and not I’m not looking forward to testifying in a messy criminal trial, but it could definitely be worse.”
“You could be dead,” Katherine said. “That would definitely be worse.”
“Exactly.”
Toni finished her red and held out the empty glass. “You better have more wine over here, because I pumped for a week straight so I could get tipsy today.”
Megan reached over and refilled Toni’s glass with a bottle of Dusi Red blend. “I trust you know which one this is?”
Toni tasted it. “It’s red wine my awesome husband blended.” She pointed at Katherine. “Hey! You’re not the only one with an awesome husband now.”
“I know. Baxter is very happy to have another unicorn to hang out with.”
“You’re welcome. I’m sure Megan will join the club soon enough.” Toni cackled. “Though Nico’s never going to be as awesome as Henry.”
“Just because you’ve known him since you were literal infants.” Megan shrugged. “No rush there. If I ever get married again, I’m going to take my sweet time.” She gestured to the wildflower bouquets, dozens of decorated tables, and fairy lights hanging from trees. “Can we instead just talk a little more about how I made all this magically appear in ten days?”
Katherine nodded. “You are amazing.”
“I really am.” And her bookings were proof. Alston Event Planning had quickly booked events through the following year, and Megan was currently looking for a second agent to expand the business. “I’m just glad all you Moonstone Cove people like partying so much.”
Toni nodded. “Alida’s baptism pictures are going to rock. And did you see Henry showing his grandma the new vines they planted? They’re all flowering right now, and they look incredible.”
“I missed it!” Megan felt like she might cry. “Did you get pictures? Tell me someone got pictures. Henry’s grandma looks like a classic-film star, and he looks like Cary Grant, and I need that picture in my portfolio!”
“Chill. I got pictures,” Toni said. “According to Henry, all the vines are doing well except for three variants, and that is very amazing. If he tells you the news, prepare your amazed face.”
“It’s so amazing!” Megan said. “I will be astonished!”
“Exactly,” Toni said.
“That result is very promising.” Katherine raised her glass. “To successful scientific experimentation!”
“Hear, hear!” Toni raised her glass too. “In fact, you might call all this one big experiment.”
Megan smiled. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” Toni said. “What happens when you take three complete strangers and add sudden psychic powers, life-threatening experiences, and hot men into the mix?”
Katherine nodded. “That is an unusual set of variables.”
Megan raised her glass, and Toni and Katherine clinked the edge of their wineglasses with hers.
She looked at her two best friends, then out at the gathering of family and friends as the party spread over the sunny hills. In the distance, cresting waves tipped into bubbling surf along the curve of Moonstone Cove. The wind lifted a set of wind chimes in the distance, sending out a trill of music over the flower-strewn vineyard.
Megan looked at the gathering of farmers, surfers, vintners, bikers, academics, eccentrics, and children running around the hillside. Despite everything that had happened in Moonstone Cove, no other place had ever felt quite so much like home. There was a little bit of everything she’d ever wanted along with a sizable helping of nothing she’d expected.
“An unusual set of variables,” Megan admitted, “but it seems to be working out all right.”
Want to read more Elizabeth Hunter? Turn the page for a preview of her romantic fantasy series, Cambio Springs!
Preview: Cambio Springs
You may have visited Moonstone Cove and traveled to Glimmer Lake, but have you visited Cambio Springs?
Jena Crowe narrowed her gaze at the old man, whose eyes were twinkling with mischief. The corner of his silver mustache twitched a moment before the air around him began to shimmer like asphalt on an August day.
“Joe Quinn, you better not.” She lunged a hand toward him, but only caught the edge of an empty shirt before it fell to the tired, red barstool where Old Quinn’s pants had already pooled. An empty straw hat was the last thing to fall to the ground. “Quinn!” Jena darted out from behind the counter.
The bell on the diner door rang, and a scurrying shadow darted toward it. Jena’s grandmother almost tripped over the tiny creature as she made her way into the air-conditioning with four pies balanced in her hands.