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“Perfect,” said Amy, clapping her hands together, her eyes dancing with delight.

“Now, I thought we’d put the folk singer there.

” She pointed at the empty spot to the left of the office door on the porch.

“Then we have one bar at the entrance, one by the food, and one in the back greenhouse. What do you think?”

“Folk singer? And three bars? Amy! How much am I paying for all of this?”

“Nothing.” Her words were almost defensive.

“We’ve more than covered the expenses with the tickets sold.

” She took my hands in hers. “Briar, you don’t understand how many people want to hang out here, to mingle and gather.

You’ve done an amazing job making this feel like everybody’s garden. And it’s so beautiful.”

Her words tickled my heart, a quiet pride blooming in my chest. I guess I had never thought about people feeling so at home here. Still, I sighed, throwing my hands in the air. “Fine! Three bars and a folk singer it is!”

“Will you have to move any plants?”

I wondered for a moment if murder was legal as I took in Amy’s saccharine sweet smile, my mind simultaneously cataloging the plants in the greenhouse. “There is the holly, but that will make a fantastic decoration. I think it’ll be fine.”

“Wonderful. Now, let’s talk about you this evening.”

I laughed. “There is no talking about me.”

“Oh, my dear Briar.” She leaned casually against the post, eyeing me with mischief. “It has been forever since you’ve had a boyfriend or even gotten laid. Who have you invited?”

“You can’t be serious,” I said, my eyes wide.

“I didn’t invite anyone. John and I only broke up four months ago!

Besides, when the right person comes along, it’ll be lovely and fine.

We’ll fall into each other’s arms and know we’re destined to be together when we first see each other.

But right now? After this winter with my mother, party planning, and regular springtime ordering, I’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone find someone to take on a date.

” The fantasy of someone sweeping me off my feet sounded like a scene from another life.

But Amy’s teasing sparked a tiny ember of hope—maybe someday.

“We need to fix this.” She swatted my arm, feigning exasperation.

I narrowed my eyes and flipped her off, to which she gasped, her left hand flying to her chest in mock surprise. I shook my head. “Let me guess. You’re bringing Hugh tonight?”

Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled as I mentioned her beau. “Of course I am. Speaking of—”

The sunlight glinted off a deep blue stone on her ring finger just in time. My eyes widened, and I reached for her hand. “Really?” I held her fingertips, looking at the stone flanked by diamonds set in a silver band. My heart soared for her. “Really?”

She bit her lips together and nodded much too fast, bouncing on the balls of her feet as though she had nowhere for the surge of excitement to go. “He asked me to marry him.”

I threw my arms around her. “How can you keep talking about some silly party with this?” I hugged her close, her joy filling me with warmth. Yet as I pulled away, an ache settled in—a reminder of the gaps in my life, the things I yearned for but wouldn’t admit.

“Because this is just going to be a dress rehearsal for when I have my wedding here.” Her voice rose at the end as though her statement were a question.

“Here?” I asked, my hands sliding down into hers.

She nodded. “Yes. Can’t you see it? Chairs on either side of the firepit for all the guests, and the ceremony right where we’re standing.”

I laughed. “You’ve got the whole thing planned out.”

“Of course. And tables for the reception on the pathways by the shaded plants under the canopies. You know, just in case it rains.”

A tingle went down my spine as I saw Amy’s vision unfold. “Absolutely. As long as it is what Hugh wants too, you can have your wedding here.”

Amy squealed and wrapped her arms around me. “Thank you!”

As happy as I was for her, the realization Mum wouldn’t be here to see it slammed into me, and I had to turn away to hide my grief. This was her moment, and I couldn’t spoil it.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, circling in front of me.

Of course she wouldn’t let it go. “I always envisioned that my mum would be here. For your wedding… and mine.”

Amy held me tight, one hand soothingly running up and down my back as I fought back tears. Her voice was soft. “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what it must be like.”

A tear escaped. “I just…” I pulled back and wiped my cheek. “What am I supposed to do every damn day without her?”

“Is that why you’re still searching in that journal?” Amy gestured toward the door.

I turned and looked over my shoulder at the leather-bound tome on my desk. I nodded. It was more than words on a page; it was my last tie to my mother—my promise I had yet to complete. It was the piece of her I could still carry forward.

Amy took my hand. “I know how much it means to you, how much you want to finish her work. But make sure that you’re not putting yourself second. You need to continue to live, to be you.”

“I need to do this for her. It is the only way I’ll ever be able to move on.”

“Did she leave you any notes at all?”

I nodded. “She left me a bunch. They’re all about her theory that the woman was a minor noble and where she’d already searched. How does someone in that position end up murdering someone and being transported? I’ve gone over everything Mum did, and I can’t find anything new.”

Amy bit her lip. “Tomorrow, when Fires in Bloom is over, we’ll focus on the search. But…” She tilted her head and stared into my eyes.

“But what?”

“But from here on out, you’re going to spend at least some time going out with Hugh and me, trying to get into some semblance of living again.”

I squeezed her hand. “Agreed. Living again starts tonight.”