Page 38 of Holiday Hook Up

Emma’s hand went to her shoulder. “We think there might be something inside there for you.”

“Mary’s dress,” Bethany whispered.

“Well, there’s one way to find out.” Caitlin bent down and grabbed the handle.

“Oh, no you don’t.” Abby threw her arms around Caitlin’s middle and pulled her back. “Bethany, needs to open it.”

“Why?” Caitlin asked.

“Because you are already married. If I’m right, it’ll be empty for you just like it was for me this morningandwhen I opened it the night of the Holiday Hook Up to stow the masks and wigs.”

Bethany stood frozen. She knew magic was real in the Stevenses’ world, but it was one thing to know it and entirely another to personally experience it. “That’s why you think the dress wasn’t in the hope chest that night. Because you opened it?”

“Yes, the dress didn’t go AWOL. I wasn’t its owner.” She motioned Bethany over. “Nothing bad is going to happen. We just need you to open it.”

Bethany took a deep breath. Was this really happening?I can do this. I can do this.She stepped in front of the hope chest and bent over, grabbing onto the handle and immediately let go. The same tingles she experienced the first time she’d opened it now radiated from her fingers up her arm.

“What’s the matter?” Caitlin asked.

“You felt it, didn’t you?” Emma came up beside her.

“Yes,” Bethany admitted. “Did you feel them, too?”

“Yes.” Emma smoothed her dress. “And this overwhelming sensation that I had to open it.”

“Me, too.”

“Shall we see what’s inside?” Abby asked.

Bethany blew out a breath and counted.

One. Two. Three.

She opened the lid.

“Oh . . . my . . . God!” Caitlin was the first to acknowledge that, sure enough, Mary’s vintage ivory wedding gown appeared inside.

Reaching down, Bethany pulled out the beautiful cream dress, holding it close to her. “I can’t believe this. It’s Mary’s dress.”

“It’syourdress,” Emma whispered.

“What do you mean it’s Bethany’s?” Caitlin asked, inspecting the fabric.

Abby came up and stood between them. “Emma and I think this hope chest belonged to Mary, and she enchanted it.”

“Oh really,” Caitlin scoffed. “I’m not sure it took two witches to figure that out. Poof there’s a dress . . . poof it’s gone . . .”

Abby rolled her eyes and continued, “We all know Mary’s powers were stronger than what Grandma Stevens was capable of doing. It’s quite possible that in addition to enchanting the mixing spoons, she also cast a spell on the hope chest. And I bet she did it the night she took her life.”

Bethany held on to the dress. “What kind of magic is it?”

Emma reached for her hand, bringing her over to the full-length mirror. There, she pulled it from Bethany’s arms, straightening it so it fell perfectly to her feet.

“I think it can introduce a single woman to the dress she’s meant to wear on her wedding day.”

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