Page 62 of Donut Disaster
“I cried the day you were born,” she’s quick to point out.
“Only because you felt sorry for yourself.”
“You got me there.”
The night wears thin, and Noah finally shows up. I pull him over to the tower of glazed donuts and spur the crowd into singing “Happy Birthday” with me. And just like that, Noah has a birthday party that goes off without a hitch even if it is tacked onto Lainey’s housewarming party.
Soon enough, the tower is dismantled and every guest is feasting on softer than air, scrumptious glazed donuts.
Alex steps over to where Noah, Everett, and I stand.
“Lottie”—he presses out a dimpled grin of his own—“these donuts are to die for.”
“Whoa”—Noah moans at the analogy—“watch what you say.”
Alex raises his arms playfully. “I’m still learning the ropes around here.”
Everett ticks his head back. “Sounds like you’re extending your stay.”
He glances back to where Lily and Naomi stand bickering near the kitchen. “That I am. Things are just getting interesting. And as it turns out, Hook and I are tossing around the idea of starting up our own investment company. Who knows what else the future might hold for me out here.”
A pair of pale arms slinks around Noah’s waist from behind as Cormack pops up beside him. “I have a feeling I know exactly what the future holds.”
Everett boldly glides an arm around my waist and holds up his donut with his other hand. “To the future.”
We hold up our donuts and toast along with him.
“To the future,” we say in unison. The words come out as a question as they leave my lips.
The night wraps up, and Noah, Everett, and I head back to Country Cottage Road.
We park and I invite them both in for tea in an effort to unwind from this emotionally taxing weekend.
We’re about to head up the walk when a sparkle of light shimmers across my front door, and I pause a moment, causing Noah and Everett to stop along with me.
Everett wraps an arm around me. “What is it, Lemon? Are you feeling well?”
“I’m fine,” I say, unable to take my eyes from that growing spiral of stars pulsating to life at the door.
And just as I’m about to put one foot in front of the other, a tiny little creature jumps right out the bottom of the door. It’s a small orange tabby, and I cock my head as I inspect it a moment as it looks all too familiar.
“Oh my goodness,” I say as I realize where I’ve seen her before. “It’s the orange tabby that appeared when Merilee Simonson died. It’s perfectly adorable.” I’m about to bend over and call it to myself as the door ignites with a supernatural sparkle once again and out onto the porch bounces a familiar fuzzy little squirrel. The very same squirrel that helped me with a different case. “There’s another one,” I say breathless.
The form of a man walks through the door, and he looks every bit like the handsome man to my right.
“Everett, your father is back,” I pant in a fervor. “I think I know where this is headed.” Sure enough, Dutch, my precious Golden Retriever whom I grew to love so much steps through the portal. They’re all lining up on the porch as that menacing looking bear ambles through the door, standing eight feet tall at least, then an entire herd of precious little Chihuahuas, Greer Giles herself, Macon the macaw in all his colorful feathered glory, and Maximillian Finmore looking ever so dapper in a suit and tie. He nods my way before taking his place next to Greer, and Macon lands on his shoulder. The door lights up brighter than ever before as Nell walks through it as if it were made of air. I suppose the reverse is true.
“Nell,” I breathe her name in a whisper as she offers a careful smile my way before stepping in line with the others.
Beastie the tiger comes out next. He helped me just last month put to bed, not one but, two mysteries. And finally, Cookie bounds through the door—and runs all the way to me as I bend over to hug his yelping jumping frame.
Nell steps down the porch, and the others file along beside her.
“They’re all here. They’re all back,” I whisper. “Oh, Nell.” I run over and give her a firm embrace. “What’s happening?” I look to Everett’s father, but he offers the same stern look his son is prone to give. I step back and take up Noah’s and Everett’s hands so they can listen in. “Did I do something wrong? Am I about to lose my powers? I’m shorting out, aren’t I? Please, you’ll all have to come inside and join Noah, Everett, and me for tea.”
Nell shakes her head. Her gentle eyes press into mine. “Your powers are growing steadily, Lottie. I’m so very proud of you. But we can’t stay for tea.” Her expression grows serious. “We’ll be back shortly, Lottie. Something very dark is coming to Honey Hollow. And you will need every last one of us. Something very sinister is afoot. Prepare yourself. This will be the fight of your life.”
And just like that, they all blink out of existence at once.
Noah, Everett, and I stand there stunned, holding hands, trying to hold onto our sanity—wondering what in the world is coming our way. And wondering how and if we will ever survive it.