“Spread the word,” Sofia said in a singsong voice, handing them each a stack. “The hunt starts at noon on St. Patrick’s Day.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
SOFIA
As Sofia sipped her coffee the next morning, events from the previous day began to creep into her memory. She nearly spat out her coffee when she remembered what she had done.
Maybe it was all a dream.She immediately picked up her phone and called her young coworker, Tyler, who was working the morning shift that day. He answered on the second ring.
“Tyler? Please tell me I’m wrong about something. Did we all… plan a St. Patrick’s Day treasure hunt yesterday?”
Tyler laughed. “Yeah, we did. Usually, Ash is the one to come up with those kinds of ideas, but that was all you. Everyone was really into it. I think it’s going to be a blast.”
Sofia grimaced.So it wasn’t a dream.What came over me?
“Maybe no one will sign up,” Sofia said hopefully.
“Nice try. We’ve had people coming in or calling to add their names to the list all morning. We already have thirty participants.”
Sofia sat up straighter and took a deep breath. St. Patrick’s Day was on Saturday, and Holly and Ash were not likely to be back by then—which meant she was running the thing.
“Okay. Thanks, Tyler. Call if you need anything today.”
They hung up, and Sofia sat in open-mouthed astonishment for a moment.
What took over me yesterday?She had a fuzzy memory of gobbling down jingle pops.Did Holly spike them or something?She shook her head. There was no way. Holly didn’t even drink. She could only chalk it up to a temporary loss of mind because of everyone abandoning her at once.
Sofia pushed thoughts of abandonment out of her mind. She still didn’t know what had caused Isaiah to leave. She hated having things be so unfinished between them, but she’d taken the lessons learned from her breakup with Noah seriously.
And she missed Isaiah—fiercely—but she wouldn’t let his presence or absence dictate her happiness like Noah’s had, not entirely. Her mom wouldn’t want that for her again, and she didn’t want it for herself.
So Sofia poured a second cup of coffee and went to her fabric box.If I’m going to run this treasure hunt, I’m going to look darn good while doing it.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
ASH
The reindeer landed in a large field in Helsinki. Their “drive” to the airport had only been for cover. The reindeer were a much more efficient form of transportation, and the creatures were always ready to flex their flying muscles.
Holly led him to the café where Lumi, the oldest elf, worked part time, blending in seamlessly with the humans. He tried to take in the beauty of the city around him despite his nerves over what might or might not be coming. Compared to Emerald Hollow, it still felt cold in Helsinki, and he took Holly’s hand.
When they arrived at the café, they paused.
Holly turned to him. “Ash, if this doesn’t turn out to be what I thought…”
He shook his head. “I’m prepared for that. I’m glad you brought your suspicions to me. If it turns out to be nothing, I’ll know for sure that she left of her own accord, and I can live with that now.”
Hand in hand, they entered the café. Lumi, whom Ash recognized from the tulip festival and witnessing as Auryn restored Isaiah’s memories, came out from around the counter to greet them. She smiled, but wariness showed on her face.
After giving them each a hug she said, “I’m guessing this isn’t a social call.”
Holly shook her head. “Not exactly.” She explained everything they knew about Ash’s mom and her disappearance so many years ago, Lumi listening intently. Then Holly shared something Ash hadn’t heard yet.
“Lumi, I know that you’re an expert snow tunneler now. But is there any chance that back then, you could have left some traces of magic in Emerald Hollow? You’re the only elf I know with a connection to Finland.”
Lumi shook her head. “I told you last year, Holly, I’d never been to Emerald Hollow. The tulip festival was my first visit.”
“I know you’d never been into the town, but what about the woods outside? If you’d been visiting a nearby city and had used the snow there as a tunneling point…”
