Page 16 of Clearly Charmed

‘There can’t be.’ The way she bit into her lip, frantically tapped her nails on the counter, warned this was going to be bad. ‘Your color… it’s unique. It’s like persimmon with a gold outline. I’ve never seen that color except for with you.’ Her gaze darted to Bryce. ‘And, well, now him.’

‘But you swore Max was her match,’ Lia insisted.

I hated thinking about Max, but flickers of him kept creeping back into my life. We’d met the second day of veterinary school. When Aster came to visit a month later, she revealed that he and I shared a color. That small nudge made me brave enough to ask him out on a study date. For the next four years, we were hardly ever apart.

When I decided I wanted to return to Harvest Moon to set up my own clinic after we graduated, Max had other ideas. One minute we were sharing our lives, and a little bungalow in Fort Collins, the next he was making a dozen excuses about why we wouldn’t work. Two days later, he was on a plane to Cheyenne to join an established vet practice. Heartbroken does not begin to describe the crushing weight of what I felt in the following months and even years.

I spun Aster’s stool until we were knee to knee. ‘More of an explanation. Now!’

‘Max was the same orange shade as you… but… well, but he just did not have the golden outline,’ she said meekly. ‘I was younger back then. My skills weren’t as honed, and…’ She broke off and dipped her quivering chin.

‘Finish what you were going to say,’ I urged.

‘You’ve always looked out for me and Lia. Never had a life of your own thanks to Mother. I didn’t want you to be alone, and I thought Max’s color was close enough.’

Close enough.

This was worse than a punch to the gut. It was a penetrating cleaver to the heart. All this time I’d thought Max had been my one true love and that against every part of fate in the universe, he’d walked away from me. This news should have made the ache in my bones lessen, but it didn’t.

I pulled Aster’s birthday gift wrapped in sparkly purple paper out of my messenger bag and shoved it across the counter toward her. ‘I have to go.’

‘Dani, wait!’

I couldn’t listen to her for a minute more. The walls were closing in, and the air – there wasn’t enough of it.

I raced past Bryce and headed for the door. Once I was outside, I bent over and pulled in as much oxygen as I could.

What was I supposed to do with this information?

For over seven years, I’d believed that the man who was supposed to be my one true love had chosen to walk away from me. That I was forever cursed to be alone. Now, this guy I barely knew, the one who kissed me like it was his sworn mission, was here to report on my town? My family? He out of all people was supposed to be ‘The One’?

Another thought walloped me in the chest. Last night he knew who I was, and he didn’t say a word. Didn’t confess the real reason he was in Harvest Moon.

Now I was sure I was going to be sick.

I had to move. Shake off the feeling of ants crawling beneath my skin.

Tourists crowded the narrow sidewalks, darting into the outdoor gear and Western-wear shops that lined the main path through downtown. The scent of charred burgers and green chile cornbread floated out of the Black Cat Brewhouse. Next door, two children raced out of Charm’s Candy Shoppe, each holding one of their signature caramel apples. Families carried bright yellow bags from Magic and Mischief, the T-shirt and souvenir shop. I tried not to wince at the logo – a wand with sparks flying out of the end.

I headed for the corner where the familiar white spire and neon lights marked Spirits and Spells Tavern. An older man to my left stumbled as his pit bull tugged on his leash, dragging him straight in my direction. Further down the street, a mini schnauzer let out a frenzied bark when I walked past.

A simple walk downtown could be chaotic for me when people were out and about with their animals during the final days of summer. The chatter around me rose as people questioned what had gotten into their animals.

I kept my head down, passing by Mara, the deputy mayor’s daughter, who sat on a bench outside Ghoulishly Good ice cream. She let out a startled cry when her beagle yanked free from his leash.

‘Come back, Banjo!’ she cried.

The dog cantered toward me and flung his compact body into my arms. Sweet and slobbery kisses covered my cheeks.

‘Hello, Banjo.’ I laughed, despite my foul mood.

‘Gosh, Dr McGuire, I don’t know what’s gotten into him.’ Mara gave me an embarrassed smile. ‘I haven’t seen him run like that in a long time. He’s almost thirteen, and my dad says age is slowing him down.’

I held out the dog to get a look at him. Nice wet snout. Clear eyes. I was happy that not a single shock raced through my body. Banjo had helped Darren, the deputy mayor, and his pre-teen daughter through some rough days over the last few years, and I was thrilled he was in such good shape.

‘You obviously take great care of him.’

‘Thanks. He’s my best pal.’