Page 86 of Save a Wish

I loved that although her country and family had wronged her, Sadie wanted to help them improve. She truly wanted the citizens that lived there to lead happy, mindful lives. If anyone could bring about that change, I had full faith Sadie Princess Aislinn Rodgers could.

The All Hallow’s Eve Walk began with my mother gathering everyone at the start of the trail.

“We’re so happy to see so many people came out to raise money for both Greenridge Middle School’s nature program and for Hartley’s Nest,” she said, her Cinderella dress sparkling in the sunlight. “If you’ve lived in town for a while, you know how important wildlife is to my family and your generosity in helping us do this work means so much to us.” She smiled. “Mother Nature is pretty happy with all of you too.”

The attendees laughed and as I took in all the smiling faces, I was so honored to be a part of all this. Of my family. Of the work we did here. Of this town.

With Logan blasting a remixed dance version of “Monster Mash,” the costumed walkers set off on their All Hallow’s Eve Walk. My family took up positions in the woods to cheer on the walkers and spook some of them.

“Look at that bear costume!” I pointed to a black bear ambling down the trail toward where Sadie and I stood. “It’s so realistic!

“Oh, and look at the buffalo-plaid dress on the female lumberjack walking with the bear!” Sadie clapped. “They look so cute!”

“Wait,” I said. “That lumberjack is Sarah Faraday!”

Sadie laughed. “That means that black bear is Hank!”

At hearing his name, Hank aka Black Bear turned toward us and raised his paws. He let out a growl, but then he pulled us both into a hug.

“Everyone accuses him of having Papa Bear energy.” Sarah adjusted the fake axe she had resting on her shoulder. “We figured we’d go with it.”

“Your costumes are brilliant,” I said.

Hank bowed then held out an elbow. Sarah looped her arm around his and they continued on their way down the trail.

Upon Sadie’s return to Greenridge with me, Hank had apologized for going to the police about Sadie being missing.

“I didn’t mean to go behind your back, Beckett,” he’d said. “I was just worried about Sadie.”

“It’s cool,” I’d said. “You going to the police prompted me to get my head out of my ass and get my ass to Verdalach. To go after what my heart truly wanted.”

And now I had it. I had Sadie.

We chatted with the walkers who passed by us, scared a couple of little kids by screaming, “Look out! It’s a ghost!” and having Hunter, who had done his face up with a pale, grayish makeup and had donned a colonial-inspired outfit, put a finger to his lips. He didn’t say a word, but the haunting look in his eyes was enough to make a believable ghost.

The walk was a huge success and by early evening, the event was wrapped up. Working as a well-oiled family, we had the nature trail area cleaned of all festive paraphernalia in under an hour.

“Now it’s time for my favorite event of the season.” Mom clapped once then rubbed her palms together, her Cinderella tiara slightly askew. “The Pie Dinner.”

“The Pie Dinner?” Sadie raised her eyebrows at me. “What’s that?”

“It’s where we each bake a pie, bring it to the farmhouse, and eat only pies for dinner,” I explained. “I made a pumpkin pie.”

“You did?” Sadie flopped her hands out to her sides. “When?”

She was right to ask because we’d basically been glued to each other’s sides since coming back from Verdalach.

“I got up early this morning,” I said. “You were still snoring away.”

“So that wasn’t a pumpkin pie-scented candle I smelled when I woke up?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Nope. A real pie was on the premises. And while you were in the shower, Logan stopped by and took my pie to Mom’s house.”

“The Pie Dinner is always fun to use as a surprise for newbies to the Hartley family traditions,” Logan said.

“A delicious surprise,” Hunter added.

“How much stretch does that Daphne dress have to it?” Vanessa asked Sadie. “You’re going to want a lot of room at the belly for this one.” My sister plucked at the waistband of the leggings she’d worn under her tube of artist’s paint costume.