Page 87 of Kiss and Spell
“I have another question to ask you,” Lucy said. Her eyes sparkled. “Will you be my bridesmaid?”
Ursula nodded. “I’ll be your bridesmaid only if I get to make your bouquet.”
It was Caraway tradition that their wedding bouquets were made by their family.
“I’d be overjoyed.” Lucy nodded. “I wish—” She cut herself off and waved her hands. “No more wishing. We’re going to do instead of only wishing.”
Ursula couldn’t agree more. “Can I see your ring?”
Lucy grinned and held out her hand for Ursula’s inspection. The platinum emerald ring glittered underneath the fairy lights of the garden. Joy bloomed in her chest for her cousin. Alex had stepped up and delivered. “This ring is all you.”
Lucy wiggled her fingers. “I know right? Soon, you’ll be next. I can feel it.”
Ursula chuckled under her breath. She wasn’t looking to rush into another commitment anytime soon. The very thought of putting on an engagement ring made her queasy. “I’m done with all that nonsense. I had my turn.”
Lucy pinned Ursula with a tender gaze. It shook Ursula clear to her marrow.
“How long have you been in love with Xavier?”
Her queasiness increased and she wrapped her arms around her stomach. Her brain sputtered to give a response. “I’m not… We’re not… I can’t…” Ursula sniffed. “I have no right to bother you with my problems.”
“I’m asking about your problems,” Lucy said. “Someone once told me spells end.”
Shame coursed through Ursula. “I never should have said that.”
Lucy held her hands and squeezed them. “It’s not wrong. What will you do when this spell ends? Would you ever ask him to stay?”
Ursula felt the tears coming, but she blinked them back. “I don’t want to keep him where he doesn’t want to belong. I learned my lesson with Lincoln.”
She didn’t want to wake up one morning and have him gone.
Understanding flickered in Lucy’s eyes. “I get it. I thought I was holding Alex back by asking him to stay, but I was asking him to share a life together. Do you want to do that with him?”
Ursula’s face sank into a frown. “He’s a whole prince, and I’m a witch. He’s lived in castles and seen places I’ve only dreamed about. What can I offer him?”
Lucy extended her hands to Ursula. “You can offer him whatever you can build with these hands. A home. A life. A love. Offer it to him before you decide for him.”
Ursula cocked her head to the side. “What made you so brave?”
“Love,” Lucy said with a bright laugh. “Love and a strong cup of tea will make you feel like you can solve anything. Besides, I know what you really wished for.”
Ursula blinked. “You looked at my paper.”
“I’ve known you since we had matching onesies,” Lucy said. She grew serious. “I came to the engagement party to remind you of that wish. You, my dear, deserve to live happily on your own terms. I have a feeling he’s the wish you’ve been waiting for.”
An ache moved down Ursula’s throat. “How do you know?”
Lucy smirked. “Remember the chocolate spell we did as kids? I saw the letter X in the glass.”
Ursula laughed and hugged Lucy again.
Callie poked her head out of the door. “I’m so sorry to interrupt. The gnomes are here and there’s a grumpy merman asking for his soon-to-be wifey.”
“I guess that’s me,” Lucy said. She hugged Ursula one more time and went back to the house.
Ursula stood there, thoughts turning over in her mind. How could you live happily ever after when you weren’t your true self?
Chapter Twenty-Five