Page 60 of Toxic Apple Turnovers

“Hello, Noah,” I say, choosing to ignore Carlotta as she scuttles to the counter to load up on treats right alongside my mother. “What brings you this way?”

He flexes a quick smile. “Just wondering if you were up for heading to Hollyhock to check out that lodge I’m hoping to purchase.”

My mouth opens, eager to say yes, just as Keelie and my sisters walk in.

“There she is.” Keelie points an accusing finger my way. “The best friend a girl could ever ask for.”

I flash a smile up at them. “What are you three up to?”

Keelie shrugs. “I just wrapped up lunch with Bear, and I’m back to finish my shift.”

Lainey raises a hand. “I thought I’d get an early jump on Christmas presents and dragged Meg out with me.” She frowns over at me. “Are you ever going to have a Saturday off?”

“No. And I hope you got me something good.” I give a sly wink before cringing. “You’re not still afraid of me, are you?”

She twists her lips as she shuffles my way, and I rise as she hugs me.

“You’re my baby sister, Lottie. I want to protect you, but I can’t.”

Meg belts out a laugh. “She’s got two beefy boyfriends who can’t protect her. Join the club, Lainey.”

“Sit down and I’ll get everyone something hot to drink.”

“I’ll help,” Keelie offers.

We’re just about to take a step in that direction when Hazel Wellington strides in with a smile on her face. Her red hair is heaped on top of her head in a bun, and she’s wearing a cozy red sweater and long suede boots that are to die for. She looks so much like her sister, it sends a pang of grief over my heart.

“Here you are!” She waves a large white envelope my way. “I bet you’ve been waiting for this. Or not.” She shrugs as she hands it to me. “I guess the actual marriage is a lot more exciting than staring at a piece of paper. But you’re all legal now. I guess you could frame it or put it in a safe.”

“What is it?” I say as I pull it out, and my mouth falls open.

“It’s your marriage license. It came to the rectory, and I said I’d hand-deliver it to you. I’m the town clerk, so when you and Noah signed the paperwork, I took it in to be filed and certified. I called the bakery to get the other information I needed, and Keelie gave it to me.”

A bustle of words gets locked in my throat. “But we didn’t get—I didn’t think…”

Everett hops to my side, as does Noah, and Everett takes the paper and examines it.

His blue eyes flit to mine. “Lemon, this is legal.”

Meg breaks out into a cackle. “I guess it’sFox, then, isn’t it?”

“What?” I look up at Everett. “Wait, there were no witnesses. We were investigating Pastor Gaines,” I practically whisper that last part.

Everett takes a breath, his chest expanding for miles. “You don’t need a witness in Vermont. I’m sorry to break it to you, but this marriage is legally binding.”

I gasp as I look to Noah, and his dimples press in. That disbelieving look on his face quickly dissipates as he quickly acquiesces to the idea.

“Legally binding?” I say absentmindedly. “That must mean…”

Noah nods. “You’re my wife.”