Page 99 of Three Little Wishes

“My last… Are you serious? I won’t be doing the weather after today?”

“Don’t think about that now,” Cami said. “Just enjoy every moment.”

It hadn’t even crossed her mind that they’d be closing down this soon. But it made sense. Cami was right. There’s no way Willow could think about this maybe being her last broadcast without breaking down.

She looked through the glass doors and hiked up her dress. “You’d better pray these bedazzled sneakers have good grip or I’ll be sliding all over the wharf.”

She rode in Don’s car with Megan and Cami to the pier. Willow got a glimpse of the wharf from the parking lot. “Is something going on today? The pier is packed.”

With all the colorful umbrellas, the pier looked like a rainbow.

“I think there’s an event on one of the charters,” Cami said.

“Really? We didn’t announce an event on our community news,” Willow said as she got out of the car. Cami got out behind her and held an umbrella over her head.

The whispers started as she approached the pier, the crowd turning and smiling. But she was distracted by a group of familiar-looking people surrounding a man at the end of the pier. Her entire family was there, including Flynn, who’d arrived the week before, and August and Amos.

She turned on Cami. “What’s everyone doing here? And why are they surrounding that guy like they’re threatening…” She went up on her tiptoes and gasped. “It’s Noah!” She looked back at the crowd behind her, searching the faces under the umbrellas. The Beaches were there? In the rain?

She was distracted from her squad by a woman scowling at her. It was her sister. She was holding Lucky.

Riley, standing beside Sage, grinned. “We didn’t want youto recognize us so we had Sage hold Lucky. You won’t believe how well-behaved he is now, Willow. I can’t wait to show you.”

“I can’t wait,” she said, her smile wobbling.

The older woman beside Riley waved at Willow. “I’m Mrs. D. If you don’t mind, would you rescue our Noah? It doesn’t seem fair he’s so badly outnumbered.”

She nodded. “I’ll see you both in a few minutes,” she said, and then stomped up the wharf to her family.

“Don’t be mad at them. They’re just trying to protect you,” Cami said, fast-walking beside her.

“I don’t need anyone to protect me.” She put her hands on her hips when she reached the outer edges of the group and raised her voice. “Anyone who is a Rosetti, a Monroe, a Sinclair, or a Hollingsworth, take ten giant steps back. Now.”

They all turned to look at her. She felt Noah’s gaze on her but she couldn’t look at him, not yet. She had to rein in the overwhelming desire to run and throw herself into his arms.

“We’re not roughing him up,bella,” Bruno said. “We’re just letting him know what will happen the next time he breaks your heart.”

“And we want to know his intentions,” her nonna said.

“And why he hasn’t called you inthreeweeks!” her mother said. “He sent Cami a letter. It was a beautiful letter, by the way,” she told Noah. “But you never—”

“All right, family.” Willow cut off her mother. “I know you love me, and I know you’re trying to protect me. But I’m twenty-eight-years old, and I can take care of myself.” She waved her wand at her family. “Clear out. Now.”

It took five minutes for them to join the crowd at her back. She got cheek pinches, shoulder squeezes, and a head pat from Amos, who was wearing his yellow raincoat and hat.

“It’s still raining, and it’s almost five. Maybe now you’ll listen to your grandfather,” he said before pointing a stern finger at Noah. “I’m keeping an eye on you.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, sir,” Noah said.

As her grandfather walked away, Willow held out the layers of white fabric that made up the skirt, raising an eyebrow at Noah. “Was this your idea?”

“Riley’s and Mrs. D’s. They ordered the costume from a store in Boston before we left New York.” He looked down at the wharf before raising his gaze to hers. “You made Riley’s and Cami’s wishes come true, Willow. I’m here hoping you’ll do the same for me.”

“I’m the woman you said reeled you in and manipulated you into nearly giving up your dreams. How can I possibly make your wish come true?”

“I said a lot of things that day. I could tell you I was in shock, which was true. I was also furious and felt betrayed, but none of that matters or excuses my behavior. It may have seemed impersonal that I apologized to Cami in a letter, but I wanted her to have tangible proof that she was forgiven, not a phone call she’d eventually forget or perhaps question her memory of what was said.”

“It was a beautiful letter, and I’m sure she’ll cherish it.”

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