Healing Hands (The Queen of the Night series Book 2) by Laura Emmons Page B

overwhelmed.”
    “I’ll help. Let’s put a plan together, starting with a list of everything we need to get done.”
    I drafted Corey, reminding him that we owed Aunt Rose a lot. Once we worked together with a strategy in place, we easily finished all the tasks.
    ***
    Pat came over around dinnertime with wood for the fireplace. He and his brother Craig stacked the wood in a rack right outside the back door. They covered it with a tarp. He cleaned out the fireplace and made sure a fresh set of logs and kindling sat in the fireplace and on the hearth.
    The boys ran down to the grocery store to buy last minute items for the party while Rose and I baked shortbread and fruitcake. Rose had family recipes which had been used to make these Hogmanay treats for generations. She and I had fun learning how to bake together in our new kitchen. Ginger and Rock did last minute cleaning in the garage. Rock was quite skilled at weaving pine branches into beautiful wreaths. Ginger decorated them with things she’d found around the garden. Together, we hung them on the porch railing and the front door. Pat and Craig left, saying they’d be back later, and I went upstairs to get dressed.
    I took a look around my new bedroom and decided I liked it very much. Although the same size as my room in Santa Monica, the huge window made it seem larger as it overlooked the pretty garden in the backyard. I’d moved my desk in front of the window so I could see the flowers as I did my homework. I hadn’t had time to investigate the garden yet. Since it was winter, I didn’t expect much, but knowing how beautifully Fiona and Rose kept the garden behind the cabin, I looked forward to Spring.
    I dressed in my new indigo dress and leggings, brushed my hair and left it down around my face. I thought I looked pretty good.
    “Wish you were here, Mom,” I whispered to the mirror.
    ***
    Rose had explained that the party didn’t really start until midnight, so Corey and I played video games in his room for a while. A few minutes before midnight we heated the cider, lit candles and put on music. I helped Rose carry platters of finger food out to the living room.
    Just as we’d finished our party preparations, the doorbell rang. Both Rose and Corey looked at me.
    “What?” I asked, but then I shrugged and said, “Okay, I’ll get the door.”
    To my surprise, when I opened it Evan stood on the threshold with a big grin on his face.
    “I’m your first footer!” he said triumphantly. That meant nothing to me. I looked at him curiously before I stood aside to let him in the house. He was holding a canister of salt, a small bag of charcoal briquettes, and a bottle of scotch. Behind him on the porch stood Duncan and his four sons, Pat, Ken, Mike and Craig.
    Even though I’d stood aside to let Evan in, he didn’t move past the threshold. Rose reached around me and took the strange gifts from his hands.
    “I’m waiting…” he said mischievously.
    “…for what?” I asked suspiciously.
    He didn’t answer. He just pointed to the ceiling. I followed his finger with my gaze.
    A sprig of mistletoe had been nailed into the transom over the door. When did that happen ?
    Evan still looked at me and the others shivered on the porch.
    I stepped forward and offered my cheek.
    He turned my head back to face him. We looked at each other as if silently discussing how much of a kiss he should give me in front of all these people. After a moment, he chose to give me a quick peck on the lips.
    “Happy New Year,” he said playfully.
    I rolled my eyes and turned to greet Duncan. When everyone had made their way into the living room I asked the obvious question.
    “Okay, what’s up with the salt and charcoal?  Are we grilling steaks or something?”  Everyone laughed. Rose spoke up and answered the question.
    “It’s considered good luck for your household if the first person to cross the threshold after midnight on the New Year is a tall, dark man. The