his temples. His shirt had an apple on it and said Pierce Acres. Like Henna, he wore a crystal around his neck, along with wide-legged jeans and a pair of brown Birkenstocks.
“Oh my god, they’re here,” I breathed. “How?”
Gibson spoke quietly. “I called them. Hope you don’t mind.”
“No,” I said, tears already stinging my eyes. “Thank you.”
Gibson stood and helped me up. I waved to them and Henna noticed me first. She grabbed Quincy’s arm and pointed at me excitedly.
I ran toward them, Cash barking at my heels.
Henna’s open arms caught me. “Sunflower. Oh, my sweet girl.”
I hugged her, sniffing with happy tears. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“There’s our girl,” Quincy said.
Henna let go and I hugged him. “Quincy. You’re speaking again. Is your vow of silence over?”
He squeezed me tight. “Sure is. Just in time, too.”
Gibson stood behind me, one hand in his pocket, the other holding Cash’s leash. He watched us with a little smile on his lips.
“You must be Gibson,” Henna said, her smile wide. She grabbed his face in both hands and planted a loud, smacking kiss right on his lips. She stepped back and he blinked in surprise. “Aren’t you just wonderful. Look at his aura, Quincy. So strong and balanced.”
“I’m sure it is, my blossom,” Quincy said, his eyes crinkling with his smile.
“Sir,” Gibson said, holding out a hand toward Quincy.
Quincy seemed amused and shook his hand.
Gibson turned to Henna, hesitating like he was afraid she might kiss him again. “Ma’am.”
“No need for all that sir and ma’am stuff,” Henna said. She flicked her hands around, like she was getting rid of the bad energy of formal titles. “Henna and Quincy are just fine. What a beautiful town this is.”
Quincy parked himself right on the ground and Cash rushed over to lick his face.
“Gibson called you?” I asked.
Henna beamed at Gibson. “He sure did. Such a good man. He told us the whole story. Sunflower, I’m still not sure what to think. I’m so happy you’re all right. As soon as we heard, we knew we had to come down here. After all those terrible events, I thought you could use my help cleansing your energy. But look at you. Your aura’s so bright and lively. I’ve never seen you look so good.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I’ve never felt this good.”
She looked past me to the still-partying Bootleggers. “This looks fun.”
“Yeah, this is… well, that’s pretty much everybody.”
She clasped her hands at her chest, her wrist bangles dangling. “Oh, good. I can’t wait to meet everyone.”
Gibson and I took Quincy and Henna into the thick of the party. I introduced them to all the people I knew and loved here. The people from my past and my future. They spread hugs and their own brand of love all around. Henna gave out hugs and kisses like they were candy. She gushed about people’s auras and the beautiful divine energy the town emitted into the universe.
Quincy zeroed in on the moonshine, happily drinking and playing with Cash while his wife socialized.
“So that’s them,” Gibson said. He put his arm around my shoulders while we watched Jimmy Bob Prosser trying to teach Henna to square dance.
“That’s them,” I said.
More lights twinkled as the sun went down. Bootleggers clapped to the lively music and people still ate and drank. Talked and laughed. Hugged and had good-natured arguments. I even saw Gram-Gram give Myrt a big hug over by the impromptu game of horseshoes someone had set up.
This day, this place. It all felt like a miracle. It reminded me that good people—truly good people—still existed in this world. In fact, most people were. But in this place—in this funny little town tucked in the mountains of West Virginia—amazing things had happened. The good guys had won. Love had overpowered darkness.
And my future stretched, bright and beautiful, before me. A future with family and friends. With holidays spent around a crowded dinner table. Weddings and baby showers and new babies being born. A new generation of little Bootleg kids who’d grow up here, among these wonderful people. With sunshine summers and snowy winters. With a family that loved them so much, they’d never have reason to doubt it.
As if he could feel the love trying to burst right out of me, Gibson gathered me in his arms. He took a deep breath, smelling my hair.
“I love you, Callie,” he said quietly. “I’m real glad you’re home.”