I walked out the door, locked it behind me, and hurried to Elsa with the dog under my arm. “Oh, I can and I will. I’ll find a way to hit rewind.”
He waited till Elsa was winding slowly through springs and over bridges before saying, “Window, please. I cannot take the smell another second.”
“Stop that. You’re just trying to make me feel worse.”
Holding his nose to the crack, he chuckled. “You’re doing a fine job of berating yourself without me.”
When we were nearly home, I reached out to touch his back. “Do you regret crossing over for me? You expected something different.”
He turned away from the window and rested his muzzle ever so briefly on my hand. “Never. I’d cross a million times for you.”
As my battered heart started to melt, he added, “I did think you’d smell better. You were so clean the day we met.”
“And you were so quiet,” I said.
His big eyes met mine and we both laughed. “I had enough silence to last an eternity.” Throwing back his head, he howled. “Take that, Wyldwood Springs.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Too buzzed for sleep, I took a long shower and changed. I chose a dress I was willing to throw away, because it would be forever associated with this day. Before leaving my bedroom, I added a few spritzes of the perfume I rarely wore.
“Knock yourself out.” Mr. Bixby pretended to choke on the fumes before collapsing. “And me, too. But for those who can smell magical flatulence, cologne won’t disguise it.”
“Then thank goodness only a few very special dogs will know.”
Or so I thought.
When I walked into the kitchen a few minutes later, Bijou came right over and sniffed with obvious agitation. “Uh-oh. No no no.”
“What’s wrong?” Ren asked, sliding a mug of coffee across the counter to me. “Oh. Oh no.”
Horror washed over me. “Can you smell it too?”
She sniffed. “All I smell is perfume. What’s worrying me is your aura. Yesterday it was the usual rainbow and now it’s… muddy.”
“Muddy? As in black?”
Ren shook her head. “Not black. A sludgy, heavy gray.” She walked over and raised fingertips about a foot from my face. “Feels like guilt.”
“Now who’s the psychic?” I slipped around her and picked up the mug. “You’re dead-on, for what it’s worth.”
She went back around the counter to finish her coffee. “So, you did sneak out in the night. Bijou said so, but knew you wanted to go alone. Dog business, she called it.”
“Dirty dog business,” Bijou said. “Dirty dirty dirty.”
Bixby leaned over my arm. “Shut your yap, poodle. Janelle feels bad enough.”
I took a long sip, feeling the weight of Ren’s stare. She was concerned, not judgmental. “Where’s Sinda? Might as well tell you both at once.”
“Already at Whimsy. And I’m running late with my baking. Can this wait till our usual break? Are you okay?”
My breathing was so shallow it felt like it didn’t go past my throat. There was too much regret lodged in my chest to expand my lungs fully. “Yeah. Or, I will be. There was a dustup at the library and things didn’t go as planned.”
“Did I miss a plan?” Mr. Bixby asked. “Because it sure felt like we were winging it.”
Ren reached across the counter and grabbed my hand. “Anyone die?”
“Only my pride.” My entire sense of self, truth be known.
She squeezed harder. “Did you save the dog?”
I nodded, a smile trying valiantly to surface. “Skye’s awesome. Wait till you see the person she chose.”
Letting go of my hand, she stepped back and evaluated. “Good news. The storm clouds are already lifting from your aura. There’s a bit of indigo around each ear.”
I touched my ears, wondering if I could feel a change. The gold and emerald earrings Sinda made were warm under my fingertips. It was like she was here, infusing me with good energy. That was the magic that permeated her jewelry. “I’ll leave the details for later. I have a pit stop to make first.”
Ren’s brow was still furrowed. “Okay. If you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. But I could use a human shield when Liberty finds me. She had to clean up the mess.”
“Chose to,” Bixby corrected. “And I’d say you’re still ahead in the family support arena.”
Ren stopped to give me a hug before heading to the front door. “Whatever happened, I have your back.”
“Me too, me too,” Bijou said, trotting after her. “Roadkill witch still has a good heart.”
Mr. Bixby chuckled. “That poodle has her moments.”
