goodnights?” I teased. Then, I sat down next to him and kissed him on the cheek.
“We did, but I wanted to make sure you were ok. I can't believe everything
that happened today. It seems so surreal." Cole hugged me. “We have a big day
tomorrow. You should get some sleep.”
When he let go of me, I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him long
and passionately. “Can you sleep up here with me? I don't want to be alone,” I
murmured in his ear.
“I don't think Gram would be a fan of that, Mara.” Cole slipped out of my arms.
“I meant you would sleep in Meg's bed. Gram shouldn't have a problem with
that arrangement.” I smirked. “I just don't want to be alone.”
"She shouldn't have a problem with that arrangement," Cole agreed.
I took my robe off and slipped under the covers. Cole tucked my blankets in
around me before he kissed me tenderly. “You should be warm enough now. I love you, future Mrs. Sands.”
Once he had climbed through Meg's mound of stuffed toys and snuggled
under her blankets, I called over to him, “Sleep sweet, future Mr. Stone.”
Drifting off to sleep, I heard his soft laugh as he called back, “We'll need to
discuss that later.”
Chapter
Thirteen
Iwas woken by the gentle shake of my grandmother. “What time is it?” I
asked, wiping the sleep from my eyes.
“Shh, don't wake Cole.” Gram motioned at my sleeping boyfriend. I
waited for her to say something about our sleeping arrangement, but instead, she
handed me a long red sweater and motioned for me to follow her. “We need to be
quick if we want to make the memory potions. It will be sunrise soon.”
The kitchen was warm, and the smell of fresh bread and muffins filled the air. Gram had clearly been up for hours, baking. Today was the day of the Lunar
Festival.
“Gram, this can wait,” I said, feeling guilty. My grandmother had so much to
do already. She shouldn't have to worry about this. “Let's just do this tomorrow.
One more day won't change anything.”
“Shush, we don't have time for you to overthink the situation. I have
everything gathered.” She patted a white wicker basket. “Bread is baked and everything else is loaded in the truck. Let's go."
My grandmother led me through the backyard. We walked past the large tree,
where my magical picnics had been held, to the edge of the property, and into Starten Forest. Suddenly feeling scared, I grabbed Gram's hand and held it
tightly.
“It's ok, love,” she comforted. “Just a little way further. You're safe.”
The dark green trees of our backyard ended and the crimson timber of the
eastern Starten Forest began. The woods had twisted and gnarled with long,
black limbs. Black flower petals and red leaves blossomed along the darkened branches. The ground was covered with the color of blood where the red leaves
of summer had been shed.
