Finn tried to muster a smile, but he was worried and he sat down in a chair, his whole body tense as he tried to think of how they could make this possible. “Congratulations, Pearl. I’m proud of you. It’s just…”
“The full moon shift. I know. It’s state college, Finn. I can come home for those cycles. Thankfully the moon cycles are fairly predictable.” Pearl smiled. “I’ve got to do this.”
The tension slightly melted out of his shoulders. “Well, that’s a plan I never really thought of.”
“It’s a full scholarship, Finn,” Pearl said, excitedly. “As long as I keep my marks up, I can come out of there with minimal debt. I might need some help with books and scrubs or something.”
“And my sales at the farmer’s stand and online can help with that,” Hetty proclaimed, reaching out and tucking Pearl’s hair behind her ear. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom.” Pearl then turned to Finn. “Well, what do you think, big brother?”
He gripped the armrests of the chair. “I’m worried about you going, but I know I can’t hold you back. You need to go.”
Pearl jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you, Finn.”
Finn nodded. “I’ve been saving a bit too, to try to give you an opportunity to go to college.”
“You need to save that money for your own family,” Hetty announced.
“What family?” Finn asked quizzically, although there was no point in lying to his mother. She had a sixth sense about this.
Pearl rolled her eyes. “Don’t be an ass, Finn. Margaid. Everyone in town knows about you two. It’s clear you’re both completely in love.”
Finn sighed, but smiled. “I love her. She wants to stay in Harmony Glen.”
“That’s fantastic,” Hetty remarked. “Why doesn’t that seem like good news?”
“I don’t want to hold her back,” Finn admitted.
“I don’t think you are,” Hetty stated softly, reaching out to take his hand.
“My past relationships were a bit one-sided,” Finn stated bluntly. “Besides, I have to take care of you both still. Dad would’ve wanted it that way.”
“You can take care of us by being happy,” Hetty said. “We’re fine. I ran this business alongside your father for years, before you were born, Finn. We’re okay.”
“Margaid cares about you too,” Pearl said. “Take a chance, Finn, and be happy.”
“We all just want you to be happy,” Hetty assured. “If Margaid makes you happy, don’t let that slip away. Your fatherand I were very happy and we were together before the Great Revelation. We made do.”
Finn stood up. “I better go make this right.”
“Good,” Pearl stated.
Finn turned to leave and then spun back around on his heel. “Magnus has one of the motorboats. I doubt someone will try to rent it, but I wanted to let you know.”
“Why did Magnus need a rental?” Hetty asked curiously.
Finn shrugged. “Something about the witch being back?”
Hetty’s eyes widened. “Oh. That’s…odd.”
“Well, he’s a bit strange.” Finn left them and headed back to his truck. Then he stopped and walked to the end of the dock where the brass charm was nailed. His father had put it there to proclaim his love for Finn’s mom. Now, Finn would give it to Margaid. He was going to make sure that Margaid knew exactly how he felt, that he was falling in love with her. It wasn’t a marriage proposal, but he wanted to give this relationship a real shot this year and maybe she’d be willing to stay.
He was scared to take the chance and open his heart, but if he didn’t, he would always regret it.
Finn drove his truck straight back to Cool Beans, but Margaid was no longer there. So he turned around and headed to where she was staying on Verdant Street. He parked his truck and headed up to her front door; he didn’t even knock, just burst in. She was curled up on the couch with her laptop in her lap and her glasses sliding down her nose.
“Finn?” she asked, surprised.
