Kitchen Witch

Epilogue

Fall was back in all its glory, painting the patchwork island with its vibrant, warm tones. The weather seemed to be agreeable, which was most welcome by the fisherman out in their second lobster season of the year. The ocean waters seemed to have calmed, and you could hardly tell it was hurricane season. Charlotte was glad to see the trees holding onto their bright, beautiful leaves; she had a hard time deciding which was her favourite season here on the island. Each is marked by its beauty. The windows were down, her favourite country music playing softly as she pulled up the little red dirt road leading to her home. 

So much had changed in the course of the last year, she mused as she pulled up in front of the old yellow house, which didn't look so old anymore, freshly painted in a sunshine yellow. A number of the fishermen out in North Lake and some from the village had come on by and given her home a fresh coat of paint. They had shown up and surprised her one day and wouldn't take no for an answer. She had kept them hydrated with her sweet tea and fed them in return. She had plenty of baked goods to share as baskets of baked goodness were dropped on her front porch, including the famous blueberry grunt.

Her fingers tapped the steering wheel in time to the chorus playing in the background, smiling at Riley leaning against one of the front porch columns holding a cup of tea. He had made her promise not to tell Sarah that he now preferred her tea over the liquid gold. Charlie sat beside him, wagging his tail, waiting not so patiently.

"Mom! Quit dragging your feet already. Charlie's tail looks like it's going to spin off. Plus, I'm dying to meet that handsome redhead standing at the front door you haven't been able to stop talking about." Bree called from the back, never one to mince words.

"Alright, alright, just give me a moment." Charlotte peeled her hands off the steering wheel and wiped them on her tunic, only to feel a soft hand take hers.

"It's ok, Mom." Airlie's gentle voice reassured her.

Charlotte turned to the passenger seat, taking in her youngest daughter. People had always said they looked alike, even though Charlotte had never seen it. But sitting here now, she noticed the wavy curl in her hair and how it had taken on an almost strawberry-blond undertone. Her heart beat a little faster, and she felt the warm breeze brush her cheek and lift one of Airlie's curls. 

Airlie blew the offending curl away, wrinkling her nose.

Charlotte squeezed Airlie's hand back, "We're home, girls."