Star pauses for a moment, her gaze searching mine. "There's somethin’ else," she says softly. "A lingerin' presence surroundin' you… someone from your past maybe?"
I feel a chill run down my spine as Austin's face flashes in my mind again. Until the other day at the diner, it had been years since we last spoke, but all of my memories of him have not faded. I’ve never been able to forget the connection I thought we had back then and how lost I felt when it seemed to fade away. The fact I never dared to tell him how I felt about him had alot to do with that as well.Regrets sure do kick you in the butt sometimes, that’s for sure!
"The most important thing," Star says, bringing my attention back to her, "is that you're back here for a reason."
"Why?" I blurt out. “I mean, how do youknowthat?”
She shakes her head but not before I catch something working behind her eyes. "I can't say but what Idoknow is that you'remeantto be here, back home I mean. You were always meant to return."
"Now?"
Her brows furrow. "What do you mean?"
"Was I meant to come backnow? I’ve always thought I left it too long."
She puts the crystal down and rests her hand on my forearm. "I think the only person who knows that is you. I sense you've had a full life, and you've achieved many things. But there's somethin’ that's always been unattainable?"
My lips part as a silent gasp escapes me. How can she read all of that from a crystal and a few moments with me? But more mind-blowing is the fact she’s tellin’ me almost word for word what the old lady in Portugal had said.
Taking a deep breath, I try to process everything Star has said. It's like she lifted the veil and exposed the deepest desires and fears within me. She's right—I've always felt this gnawing sense of unfulfillment, like something was missing in my life. Now, standing here in Happy Auras, it feels like I'm on the precipice of discovering just what that missing piece might be.
"I... I don't know what to say," I stammer, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me. "You've managed to match everything she said. I was awed by how she could capture the essence of my soul with such clarity, and here you are, doing the exact same thing."
Star smiles. "Sometimes all it takes is a moment of introspection and guidance from someone who can sense the energy surroundin’ you to bring out what you already feel in your heart. Life has a way of pullin’ us away from our true path–believe me, I see many people who are lost and tryin’ to find their way–but I can already tell that you’re on track to find that thing you’re missin’.”
Her words strike a chord deep within me, resonating with a truth I can finally accept.
"I stayed away too long."
Star nods knowingly. "Sometimes, we need to venture far from home to truly appreciate its beauty and significance. Believe me, I lived my life on the road as a nomad with my family before I came back to town and put down roots. And if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met my soulmate. But it’s important to remember that goin’ back doesn't mean steppin’ backward. It means you use everythin’ you’ve learned and experienced to move forward. You've got to learn from the past, not let it hold you back."
"You're right."
She laughs as she reaches back for the crystal she put down. "Glad you think so. Might have an issue runnin’ my shop if people didn’t believe me,” she says with a wink. “Here, I want you to have this," she says, turning my hand over and placing the stone in my palm before closing my fingers around it.
"Thank you," I say softly.
"You're welcome. And make sure we arrange that supper at the ranch. I'm sure all of the family would love to reconnect with you."
My eyes widen at her words. "You know, don’t you?" I whisper.
To her credit, she shrugs. "I know that someone has been a little off-kilter since an old friend came back to town, and if I’m bein’ honest, probably for a few weeks before that too. But everythin' happens for a reason, Charlie. Most importantly, sometimes there’s more at play than any of us know. It’s easier to just let it happen–whatever that may be–than fight it. That’s my advice for you today.”
That brings a confused frown to my face. "What doesthatmean?"
"Can't tell you, Charlie, it’s not time yet. But if you didn't believe it already and if you didn’t already feel like you had unfinished business here in town, I'm not sure you'd be askin' me that now, would you?"
6
AUSTIN
The Holly Jolly Christmas Cup is over, and Spring Haven came out victorious. Toby and Starchild got us through to the finals and then the whole town came together to transform Main Street into the winter wonderful of our festive dreams.
Another development that has made everyone happy is Toby and Dee are finally together thanks to a little matchmaking intervention the night of the Woodward Valley Snowflake festival. After a night away together on their way back home and now you cannot pry them away from one another.
With the holidays over, life is slowly getting back to normal on the ranch. For everyone else, that is. Because I've developed an itch under my skin that no amount of scratching has been able to fix.
That’s not all though. There have also been heart palpitations and night sweats, even when the temperature has dropped well below zero. That has meant getting sleep is even harder than it was before. It’s getting to the stage where I’m beginning to wonder if there’s actually something wrong with me.
