Chapter 21
At Least it Wasn’t a Duck
“Laverna should have probably left the tea shop to you,” I joke to Nadine as we set up our stand for the ice cream social. “I can’t believe you made all that matcha ice cream last night.”
We’re in the fairgrounds, just like we were for the Firefly Festival. Rowan is watching the shop, which we decided to keep open for the tourists who don’t go to the social. This afternoon, Hudson helped us transport several coolers full of ice cream, along with large beverage coolers filled with three types of iced tea. The ice cream went to the big, white event tent that Town Hall set up, and we’re selling the tea at our stand.
Maknihl ambles over. “Does everything look all right? Is the stand okay?”
“It’s great,” I tell him, and then I gesture to the other stands. “I can’t believe how quickly you constructed all these.”
“My boys and I made quick work of them. I was able to reuse a lot from last year’s Pumpkin Fest.”
“Well, they turned out awesome,” I tell him. “Thank you.”
He wanders off to check in with Hazel and Jasper, who have the stand next to ours.
“Pumpkin Fest sounds cute,” Nadine says, and then she stands a smidgen taller. “Oh, look. Jax is here.”
The autumn pixie heads our way, raising a hand in greeting. He’s all smiles…and that smile is focused on Nadine.
She grins back at him, cheeks pink and eyes bright.
“You’re sparkling again,” I warn her.
She rips her attention to me, horrified. In a frantic whisper, she says, “Are you sure?”
I laugh, sympathetic but glad it’s not me for once. “Pretty sure.”
“Do you think anyone can tell?” She glances around.
“Move into the sunlight, and you’ll be all right. It’s bright today.”
She quickly steps out from underneath the stand’s awning, looking rattled when Jax joins us. But if he noticed, he’s a gentleman and doesn’t mention it.
“Hudson said you left this in the wagon.” He offers Nadine her purse. “He asked me to get it back to you.”
“Thank you.” She takes it from him, clutching it to her chest. “I hope you didn’t have to go out of your way to bring it over here.”
“I was in the area.” Looking reluctant to leave, he gestures toward our stand. “Did you reserve a ride for after the social? I’ll ask Hudson if I can pick you up, if you want.”
“That would be great,” Nadine says, beaming.
“We appreciate your help,” I tell him. “Lugging all this back by hand would be quite a feat.”
“Rowan could manage it easily enough. Humans hanging around limit the magical options, though.” He grins. “Which is just fine for business.”
Though the thought of Rowan directing several levitating coolers down the streets of Moss Hollow is rather amusing, it sounds easier to load everything into one of Hudson’s wagons.
Sensing the pair would like more time together, I excuse myself. I walk over to greet Ryder just as the driver assisting him pulls away, but before I reach him, Keira appears from the side of the bakery stand. The elf is definitely her target.
I groan to myself, wishing she’d take a hint and go away.
Ryder doesn’t look any more impressed than I am. His smile falls when he spots her, replaced with an impatient expression I don’t think I’ve ever seen him wear.
Deciding I don’t want to deal with that, I back up…and run right into someone.
“I’m so sorry—oh.” My stomach drops. “Hi, Theodosia.”
