Desi turned, her good mood faltering.“What’s up, Camila?You look like someone died.”
Camila’s lips pressed together.“I think someone did.Briar.”
A chill rippled through Desi.
Ethan muttered, “No loss there,” under his breath.
Camila shot him a venomous glare.“Don’t be heartless.”Her voice cracked.“He’s… gone.”
“Gone?”Desi’s pulse quickened.
“It’s like he vanished into thin air,” Camila said, throwing her hands up.“His number’s disconnected.I went to his apartment, and some stranger lives there, swears he’s been there for months.Nobody’s heard of him.”
The world tilted.For a heartbeat, Desi couldn’t breathe.A hundred pieces fell into place inside her mind, each one reshaping the puzzle of time.Something had shifted.Something big.
Briar was gone.
But Ethan was here.Silvia was here.The shop was restored.
And somehow, it felt…right.
Yet how?She hadn’t used the Ring.She hadn’t gone back.She hadn’t—
Camila sniffed and rubbed at her eyes.“All he had to do was break up with me.He didn’t have to vanish off the face of the Earth.”She gave a humorless laugh that dissolved into a sob.“Guess that means the deal’s off.I’m sorry, Desi.”
Desi reached out, wanting to tell her that she’d decided to never give the Ring to Briar, but what did it matter now?
Camila froze, her gaze locked on the staircase behind them.
Daria was descending the steps, hair tousled, wearing one of Desi’s T-shirts, yawning nonchalantly as if she hadn’t just risen from a deathbed.“Morning, everyone!”she chirped.
Camila’s jaw dropped.Silvia blinked once, then smiled politely.“Good morning, dear.”
Ethan’s grin broke wide.“Praise God.You’re well!”
Daria crossed the shop, radiant.“Yes, I am.Thanks to Jesus, and my sister’s prayer.”
Ethan turned to Desi, eyebrows raised.“Prayer, huh?”
Desi slipped her hand into Daria’s and grinned.“Yup.Finally gave my life to Jesus.Took me a while, I know, but… drastic times call for drastic measures.”
They laughed, everyone except Camila.
“You got a transplant?”Camila asked, confusion creasing her brow.“Why didn’t you tell me, Desi?”
“No transplant,” Daria said simply.“Just Jesus.”
Camila’s confusion morphed into disbelief.“Whatever.”She stepped forward and hugged Daria.“Good to see you well… however it happened.”
“Thank you,” Daria said warmly.“And thank you both for looking out for my sister while I was sick.”
Ethan winked.“Somebody had to.”
Desi laughed.Oh, how she’d missed him.“This calls for a celebration,” she said, brushing her hands together.“Let’s close up shop and grab some breakfast.”
Camila shook her head.“Not in the mood.”
“Come on,” Ethan teased.“He wasn’t that great a catch.”
