by Olivia Swift
The dancers had all stopped to watch the show, and there were oohs and ahhs from around the room and then a burst of applause.
“Oh, my Lord,” Magda said. “Did you see what I saw?” Carrie and Josh came over to them.
“I saw him,” said Carrie. I saw the Viking and his wife, and he blew his warm wind over us. They swept us around in a circle.”
“We saw them as well,” Magda told her. “What a magical way to end the day. That darn cat was right again.”
The caller with the band had seen lots of Merle’s light effects before, assumed it was one that she hadn’t mentioned, and took the microphone.
“I hope you enjoyed the romantic light show, folks. You’ve had enough time to get your breath back. We’re gonna speed things up again.” The band went into a fast-tempo number and Magda dragged Sam back to their seat.
“Too much for me. I want to sit.”
“Me too,” Sam said, and the others obviously felt the same.
“I think that was a great big thank you,” Merle said.
“They have gone completely,” Josh added. His aunt nodded.
“We did the right thing,” she said, and put her hand on Carrie’s arm. “You know that love exists in the other world as well.” Carrie Starling had tears on her cheeks but a smile on her face.
“We will all remember this wedding for the rest of our lives.”
“Did you realize,” Declan asked her when he came over, “that your wall hanging really did look like him?”
“It hasn’t sunk in yet, but you are right.”
“And I can draw both of them,” Katie added. “What a dream that will be. I actually saw them myself. I can see the twining of their hair and the beams of light. It’s waiting to be put on paper.”
The evening wore on with lots of food, drink and dancing, and in the end, everyone eventually stopped dancing and sank into seats.
In twos and threes, people started to come and say their goodbyes and thank yous to Sam and Magda. They thanked Merle as well, and some said they would come back to see the ranch properly.
“Give me a call,” Merle told anyone who mentioned it. “Either Branston or I’ll give you the grand tour.”
Branston nudged Magda and said that Merle never missed a chance to do business.
“She deserves to be congratulated. This place is fantastic.” She laughed. “Could easily picture a few days here myself with the hot tub on the veranda.”
“I think,” Sam said as he overheard, “that you have indulged yourself quite enough for one day.”
“See, he’s being bossy again already.” Magda gave him a friendly punch. “It was wonderful though.”
The last of the guests drifted away.
“Thanks,” Magda said to Rula, “You were a fantastic bridesmaid.”
“And she looked exquisite,” Mikey said.
“Hmm,” Magda said, “Are you two admitting to being a couple then?” Mikey gave Rula a squeeze.
“Sure thing,” he said.
“Okay, yes,” Rula agreed as she smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
Sam thanked Declan for the day and the speech and the wedding gift. “I’ll hold you to that promise,” he said.
They all drove away, and Merle stood in her gorgeous red satin and said she would leave the cleaning up until the next day.
“I’m with you there, Boss,” Branston said and she smiled.
“We are really good at this sort of thing, aren’t we?”
“We sure are,” he answered and offered his arm to walk her across to the main building.
At last, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes arrived, and they were finally alone in what would be their new home together.
Magda kicked off her boots and then made her way to see how the cats were doing in the new extension. She stopped in her tracks. Sam came to see why. He put his arms around her waist and saw the raspberry leaves and rose petals on the floor.
“Well that was a lovely idea, Sam. Thank you,” she said and turned around in his arms to kiss his lips.
“I didn’t do it,” he said. “Honestly. I didn’t do it.”
They both stepped into the room and gazed at the pretty foliage on the floor. The cats were all high up on the spiral staircase and came down step by step.
“Maybe one of the others did,” Sam said. Magda shook her head.
“I just know it was Utric. He might have been a warrior, but he was a romantic as well.”
She wrapped her arms around Sam’s waist.
“I love you, Sam Barnes. Always have and always will.” He took her lips with his own and then picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.
“This, I did do,” he said, and she saw the candles flickering and the soft, pink rose petals on the bed.
“Oh, Sam. I am so lucky.”
“If only you had gone out with me when you were fifteen, we could have done this years ago,” he said as he dumped her unceremoniously on the bed. “Enough. This is you and me.”
She laughed and pulled him toward her.
The kiss that he gave her was so gentle and so tender that she knew his heart was in it. “I do love you, Sam, and you know what? I can say it and know it is real. I can love you until death do us part and then go on loving you in the next world as well. I already knew that I would love you till the end of time. Thing is, I knew it when you were fifteen.”
She started to giggle. The cats made their presence felt by joining them on the bed.
“Life is back to normal, I guess,” she said contentedly as she settled into his arms. “I am where I want to be.”
“Me too,” he said. “Happy ever after, Magda. Happy ever after.”
THE END….until their next adventure!
Afterword
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About the Author
Olivia Swift loves writing cozy mysteries! Her stories are inspired by her varied interests…gardening, spirits, crystals and so much more. Of course, there must be a romance or two in her books and a happily-ever-after ending!
Growing up in a small English village, Olivia is only too familiar with the various characters that make up a community. There is always an event, drama, or mystery amongst the village folk.
Only a few years ago, Olivia and her husband chose to take an early retirement and moved to the Aquitaine region of France. There, in her sun-filled study, she is able to sit and write her books. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the window overlooks her lovely French country garden.
Find Olivia Swift here
liriospublishing.com/books-by-olivia-swift-cozy-mystery.html
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