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One week later
“I have to admit,” Jack’s father said, “this seems to be working out pretty well.”
Jack smiled up at him, then returned her gaze to the line of cars and trucks extending up the lane and out of sight. Lucy sat next to her, stamping hands and exchanging tickets for money, and her mother sat at a table toward the side of the house, checking out more visitors who were purchasing pumpkins or apple cider.
“Pretty well” was an understatement.
After Jack and Lucy made it back home, they’d shared the whole story—and their plan to save the farm—with both of Jack’s parents. It was simple, really. Since the spirits were there to stay and would return every night, they had a unique site. How many people were willing to pay top dollar for a night in a haunted hotel?
Why not a haunted pumpkin patch?
They spent the whole week spreading the news around town, and now, a week later, they found they were receiving guests from as far as a hundred miles away.
It seemed everyone wanted a piece of the haunted pumpkin patch, especially so close to Halloween. They came to pick out a pumpkin, gawk at spirits, walk among the vines, and enjoy fall fires and cider. Just from that first week, they’d been able to pay the bills that were past due, and with the income each night, they should be okay for the rest of the year at least.
Even more than that, it seemed like as soon as the curse had been broken the pawn shop just... disappeared. The next night, Verity had appeared at the door with the jewelry they’d pawned, returning them to Jack.
“I’m sorry,” Jack said, still watching the patch. “I really screwed things up.”
Her father sighed. “No, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have made you shoulder that burden. You handled everything we should have been taking care of. You’re a kid.”
Jack shrugged. “I still messed it up.”
Her father put an arm around her shoulder, and they both looked over at her mom, who smiled at them. “We all mess up. But you fixed it, and more.”
She turned into him, squeezing him tight. He hugged her back, planting a kiss on top of her head.
Things were okay. They would be okay. The farm would be okay, and they’d get to keep it for the foreseeable future.
Little Lucy suddenly appeared next to them. “I see things are going well.”
Her father jumped, still not used to being addressed by a ghost, and stepped back from Jack. “Yes, thanks to you and Jack and Lucy.”
Little Lucy beamed. “We do what we can.”
Jack looked over at her mom again, feeling a warmth spread through her body. They’d talked it all out already, and it felt good to be on solid footing again with her family. After all, none of this would have happened if she hadn’t messed up in the first place.
Jack looked up at her dad. “I’m going to go start the bonfire. Want to bring out the s’mores?”
“You got it,” he said, smiling at her.
“How about you?” Jack said, looking at both Lucys.
“I’m in,” the living Lucy said. Verity appeared at her side, and they traded seats.
“I’ll come along,” little Lucy said. She sighed. “But no s’mores for me.”
They laughed together as they made their way to the firepit. Taffy darted out of the barn, meowing until Jack picked her up, and Sammi appeared only moments later, tagging along on their heels. Around them, the pumpkin patch spread on and on, and the moon shone down its silver light over everything.
Jack looked between Lucy and her new ghost friends. She wasn’t weak, she hadn’t failed. She had saved her best friend, the farm, and an entire family of ghosts. The old woman’s “key” may have been to trap blood for her spell, but it had turned into a real solution to the family’s problems. A blessing instead of a curse.
As they lit the bonfire, warmth washed over her. Things weren’t perfect, but they were good. She had everything she could possibly need.
It would only get better from here.
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For more seasonal fun, check out the other books in Seasons of Magic:
Fireflies & Faeries
Of the Clouds (Rapunzel)
Carnival of Curses (Frog Prince)
Pumpkins & Shades
Pumpkin Spice Pie-Jinks (Hansel & Gretel)
The Patch (Jack and the Beanstalk)
Flurries & Phantoms
Freeze Thaw (Sleeping Beauty)
Petals & Sirens
All That Glimmers (Rumplestiltskin)
