It’s #BookQW and ‘stones’ are always part of the Solstice!
More from Chapter 1:
Inside their cabin, Fern laid her box reverently on the couch and opened the flaps. Shredded paper nested tissue-wrapped objects. She unwrapped one and held up the lacy six-pointed star of clear filaments, more spider gossamer than glass.
He whistled. “Lady Heather made that snowflake?”
“With me helping!” Fern said with what he now recognized as pretend annoyance. “And it’s a star.”
“Six points, a snowflake. But a spider couldn’t have done better.”
She laughed. “That was our inspiration.” She set it back in the box and retrieved a flat box like a pie carton, which held more paper shreds. “My favorite is made of ferns—for me, obviously.” Tiny, curled, glass fiddleheads bracketed each of the central fronds, and others angled into a fancy, repeating design in the middle.
“It’s like a fractal,” he said. “It must have taken forever.”
“So long, it was the only personal piece she made us that year. We decided it had to go on the top of the tree. And it will again this year.” Fern nestled the star back in its box, but couldn’t fit it into the main box after her rummaging. She lifted it to the mantel stretching across the stonework behind their woodstove, but he reminded her that Lady Lark was bringing holly to decorate, so she set it on top of the stack of firewood.
“Do we nae need to build the fire once everyone gets here? For the Solstice lighting?”
“You’re right.” She slid the star beneath the couch. “It’ll be safe there while we bring the trees in.”
In the kitchen, Merlin was removing a tray of cookies from the oven and replacing it with another. He’d dressed for the celebration as he would at home—a linen shirt and leather trousers—but he’d rolled his sleeves and wore his leather apron overtop. It looked brilliantly efficient.
“Happy Solstice!” he called. “Thought I heard you, but my timing was too close.” He picked up a spatula and began lifting cookie squares to a rack. “Hope you don’t need me? Your Gran is worried we won’t prepare things to Heather’s satisfaction, so I canna burn the cookies.” He glanced at the clock. “When did Heather say she’d be in?”
“Don’t count on her appearing until she’s called.” Fern picked up a cookie. “What kind is this?”
“Traditional Scottish shortbread—”
A sharp wheek sounded from the floor.
They all jumped, even Beri, and he was used to the cries of Lady Lark’s guinea pig.
“Hilda! Dad, what’s she doing over here?”
Merlin peered around the bar at the long-haired, gray and white guinea pig. “Begging, I suppose. Lark and I have the portal open to ferry the food back and forth. I’m baking the gingerbread in her oven. Don’t tell your mother.”
***
A new wizard boyfriend.
Different holiday traditions.
First gifts for each other.
’Tis the season to be jolly…and anxious.
Fern & Beri navigate their first holiday together–with Hilda the guinea pig, too!–following The Witch of the Meadows. You don’t need to have read Book 1 to enjoy this bonus story…though it will contain minor spoilers!
Pick up Solstice Gifts today for .99 from my Payhip store or on your favorite retailer.
If you love Hilda the guinea pig, learn how she came to the wizard isle in Double Rescue, free with my newsletter sign-up.
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