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Amrita shook her head as Sylvie trundled up the driveway, barely leaning on the walking stick. ‘Oh dear.’

‘What’s wrong?’

‘Nothing. I just realised something.’

‘What’s that?’ He tucked back the few strands of hair that so often escaped her braid to torment him.

‘That your little town community might be a lot like my extended family at times.’

Jamie stared at her for a couple of moments while he worked it out, then laughed. ‘If you mean that we’re still going to be a source of some gossip, then you’re probably right.’

‘I think it’s kind of nice.’ Amrita smiled. ‘Familiar, and a bit comforting.’

‘Maybe try to remember that.’ He took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his elbow. ‘Because I reckon some of the locals can give your aunties a run for their money!’

‘I don’t believe it. My aunties are a law unto themselves.’

‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ Jamie chuckled, thinking that she was massively underestimating the Hudsbury gossip vine – and that was without considering any of Lily-Ann’s pet plants.

Amrita’s breath caught as they rounded the corner of the tired-but-pretty inn, and her hand tightened as she stared around, wide-eyed. Jamie was more used to Hudsbury and what it could be like, but even he was pretty impressed with what the new owner had pulled off in less than a week. The old inn – which he’d always thought was a beautiful example of turn-of-the-century architecture – felt warm, friendly and alive to him as it cheerfully welcomed its new guests with rattling doors and windows that flung themselves open and glistened in the sunlight in a way that only the more awake residents would recognise and understand.

The mini forest was in full bloom, a beautiful canopy of soft pinks that dappled the spring light that streamed through them. A mismatch of blankets, duvets, chairs and cushions were dotted between the trees, while tables that looked like they should be in the nearby dining room sat huddled around one of the larger trees. Soft music played from somewhere, and the trees were strung with delicate paper garlands and what looked like lanterns. The small lake – usually used for fishing – already had tiny lights floating across it, reflecting off the water.

The scene made Jamie’s fingers itch for paper and paint – though he knew he’d never properly do justice to the scene. Especially when Amrita reached up to sniff some of the blooms, a beautiful, peaceful smile on her face.

‘This is incredible.’

‘It really is. I thought it would be pretty, but it’s bigger than I’d remembered. Then again, I’ve not been up here for years.’

‘Why not? It’s beautiful. I’d be here every season if I had something this wonderful near me.’

‘To be honest, I think most people forgot it was here a bit. The inn closed a few years ago and had been for sale for a while. While it sat empty, it was like it was asleep under a shroud – but now it’s waking up again.’ He realised how close he was to saying something he shouldn’t, and wouldn’t be allowed to, so distracted her by raising her fingers to his lips and kissing them. ‘Besides, ‘I didn’t have you to bring here.’

‘That’s such a sweet thing to say.’

‘I wasn’t trying to be sweet. Just honest.’ He smiled when she kissed his cheek.

This time it wasn’t a strand of hair tormenting him – instead it was the breeze blowing a few lazy petals across their path and placing one so perfectly in her hair that he could have imagined it to be deliberate. Then again, with Hudsbury’s magic, there was no guarantee that it wasn’t. He reached up without thinking to tug it free, and for a moment the world around him slowed and she froze as his fingers brushed her cheek.

If he’d been concentrating on anything but her, he might have noticed that the sudden gust of air that picked up blossoms and swirled them around them had a distinct – almost suspicious – feel. But he was far too interested in kissing Amrita to notice, so he missed what might have been a useful warning.

When they eventually broke apart, magic was buzzing through Jamie’s veins, and he barely noticed the cloud of petals surrounding them. Amrita did though, laughing as she caught some in her hand and they decorated her sleeves, shoulders and hair.

‘This place is amazing. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s magical.’

The word snapped Jamie’s attention back out of the clouds. He really wished he could tell her – preferably without either of them being bespelled. But he knew that would only lead to problems, so he changed the subject. ‘Do you want to wander around? Or should we claim our table first?’

‘Do you really think it’s going to get that busy?’

‘It’s a sunny day, not much else going on, and it’s the first time we’ve had an event like this in years. I’m expecting most will show up. We could pick a table, dump our stuff, and go for a walk?’

‘Will it be OK here?’

‘It’s Hudsbury. It’ll be fine.’

‘Then a walk through the cherry blossoms sounds lovely.’

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