I paced around the kitchen, trying to come up with a plan. 

So the shed was locked. Fine. I could break the lock somehow, or pick it, or find the key. I could even try and recreate it, gather up all the supplies anew. But that required time and money I didn’t have. Which left the shed.

“Now would be a good time for a little ghostly assistance,” I said to the empty room. No one came. Of course not. They were always barging in my business when I was trying to do something else, but now that I actually needed help? Nowhere to be found. Typical.

I sighed and walked back out into the living room, sinking down onto the couch. My stomach cramped again, bringing up that uneasy fear once more. 

Right. I needed to figure that out, too. And time was running out. 

Nellie’s cremation ceremony was tomorrow, and after that? There would be nothing holding him here. He could move on with his life.

But what if he knew I was with child? Would that be enough to convince him to stay?

I groaned. That sounded so...manipulative. It’s not like I got pregnant on purpose just to pull him away from his life in New York!

But I also knew that if I ever tried to live there, I’d probably go crazy. I lived in a small town, hell, on the outskirts of a small town, for a reason. I was acquainted with enough spirits passing by in just the Valley. I couldn’t imagine the overwhelming tides of them in a city as big as New York. 

As much as I wanted to, that would be no place for an omega like me.

Or for our child.

Why did this have to be so complicated? I covered my face with a pillow and screamed, letting out my frustration, anger, and fear. I beat the cushion, wailed, kicked, screamed. 

Did it change things? Not in the slightest. But I felt a little better afterward, if even more tired than before.

There was only one thing to do. I needed to start searching for the key.

An hour passed and I still had nothing to show for it. My knees ached from crawling around looking under counters and furniture, and my stomach rumbled with hunger. So much for my heroic efforts. Any minute now, Seb would return to the Dozing Dragon and find me gone. Would he come looking for me? Would he even like what he found?

I stood up too quickly and lost my balance. I swayed to one side and gripped the side of the couch, but my knees still buckled. I fell down on the couch, my mind spinning, my vision blurring. Everything went black for a fraction of a second, and then...I saw her.

“Hello?” A small voice came from behind me. I knew that voice. Hadn’t heard it since...

“Miss Walker?” I said, the words feeling like mush in my mouth. “Is that you?” 

“Quiet, child. Listen to me.” 

I swallowed. Was I just hallucinating after my fall? Or had I finally found her? 

“Where are you?” I called out again, righting myself. I was still dizzy, but the worst of it had passed. My limbs felt like jello, though, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to make it far. 

I whirled around but the source of the sound changed. It seemed to follow me, almost as if she was speaking to me from inside my mind. “I can’t see you,” I said, still peering into the empty room. Was I looking for something that didn’t exist?

“That’s all right, darling. I’m up here.” I felt a small tap on the side of my skull and yelped, clasping at my head. 

“You’re in my brain?!” I cried, clawing at my hair. 

“Relax, Will! Nothing so gruesome as that. You know I never liked company. I’m just...well, not able to show myself just yet. I’ve been hiding, you see. But I’ve been watching you, even from beyond.” 

My heart hitched at those words. She’d taken such good care of me when I came to Vale Valley seeking refuge. She’d listened to me and believed in me at a time when no one else did. Losing her was one of the hardest things I’d ever gone through.

But she was still here? Watching?

“Yes, I know about your gifts, Will. And I know how much they scare you, too.”

“I—“ I started, already on the defensive. But it was no use. She saw right through me. Maybe I was the transparent one. 

Ever since I was young, seeing the spirits of dead people had been a disability. Not something to be proud of. Something to be shunned, hidden, ignored, at best. Even with all the magic and diversity of Vale Valley surrounding me, I still felt like an outcast. 

I’d never fully accepted my powers or tried to use them for good. I mostly tried to get them to go away.

What if I could actually help, though? What if my ability helped me save the bed and breakfast, the town, and the relationship all in one fell swoop?

I had to try.

I let out a long, cleansing breath. I released my fear and anger. I opened my eyes, and there she was.

Miss Walker.

She looked just like I’d remembered her. Old, yes, but the kind of sweet old lady that’s a mother to everyone. She beamed down at me with pride in her eyes. 

“You can see me now, Will. You always could, really. But you had to allow yourself to lean into it.” 

Seeing her there in front of me, I was suddenly at a loss for words. I had so many things I wanted to say to her. So many things I wanted to thank her for, or ask her...

Vale Valley just hadn’t been the same since she passed away. 

“I think its time we bring a little spark back to the Valley, don’t you think?” Her eyes gleamed with that familiar excitement. “I saw you wrestling with my shed.”

“Do you know where the key is?” I asked. “The one I have didn’t work.” 

“Ah,” she said, a small frown crossing her face. “You know, I’d forgotten I’d replaced the lock on that thing too. It all happened so fast when, you know...” she twirled her hand in a vague gesture. “I wish I could have been there for you longer.” 

I blinked, my eyes wet. A single tear spilled over and down my cheek. She’d been like a mother to me. 

“Tell me, though.” She glided to the other side of the couch and rested her chin on her hands. “What made you so eager to get into them now? It’s been five years, Will.”

I winced. It didn’t feel like that long. Seemed like only yesterday I watched in horror as the firecrackers exploded on the ground, sending debris and fire everywhere. And the screams...

So why had I had a change of heart? I knew the answer instantly. Those warm brown eyes. That maddening smile. The strong arms that wrapped around me so protectively, the ones I never wanted to let go.

“My mate,” I said at last. I liked the way it felt on my tongue. “I’m...I found my mate, Miss Walker. And he loves the fireworks. Loves them. He has just returned to town after so long, and was really hoping to see them, and...” I trailed off, out of breath.

She slid down beside me, sinking into the floor so that she could look up into my downturned face. Damn creepy, but endearing all the same.

“I had hoped it was something like that, sweetheart. I can see it from the look in your eyes. You’re smitten.”

I huffed out a nervous laugh and looked away. No getting away from a ghost stare, though.

“Yeah,” I breathed finally. My hand went up to caress the still tender spot where Sebastian had claimed me. “I guess I am.”

“And that’s what the season is all about, isn’t it? Spending time with the ones you love.”

At her words, something swelled inside me. Something bigger than myself. Even my stomach got in on it, clenching and unclenching in some weird sort of joy. 

“I’ll tell you where the key is. You’ve earned it. Now go on. Bring the Festival of Fire back to Vale Valley. Go get your man.”

I couldn’t believe it. Key in hand, I rushed for the shed, my mind still reeling from the ghostly encounter. I’d actually done it. I’d actually controlled my powers for once. And if this worked, well...it could change everything.

My hand shook as I slipped the key into the lock. I held my breath and turned it.

Click. 

The lock swung open. 

I quickly removed it and stuffed it into my pocket, then stood back as the sturdy doors swung open.

It smelled. That much was a given. It had been locked up for years with no ventilation. I just hoped that the fireworks were still all right and hadn’t gotten too damp. 

I peered into the darkness of the shed and brushed aside a cobweb. My phone acted as a flashlight, and it all came back to me.

The piles of firecrackers. The rockets. The small little jets that squealed and showered sparks all over. And my favorite: the sparklers. They acted like little magic wands, spraying colors and sparks whereever you waved it. Miss Walker used to pass them out to all the kids and light them. When it was dark, you could wave it around and write your name in fire. It was a simple pleasure, but one of my most vivid memories of the old days.

The shed had sealed well. Despite the rains and snows the materials within remained dry. Besides being a little musty smelling, they would be good to go. Now I just had to get Rosemary’s blessing, rouse the townsfolk, and get these down to the square before dark.

This would be a night to remember.

I nearly ran into Rosemary as I caught her leaving Town Hall. She lunged out of the way just in time, and a good thing too, because I was sprinting with such momentum I ran into the now closed door of the Town Hall, jarring my bones. 

“What’s got you in such a rush?” She asked, laughing. “You just about bowled me over!” 

“Rosemary,” I gasped, catching my breath. “The Festival of Fire...I figured it out...the shed...”

“Slow down, Will. Do you need a drink? I was just on my way out but I can go in and fix you a cup of tea if you like?”

“I’m fine. Sorry. Just wanted to come down here as soon as I could. Have you seen Sebastian today?”

A flash of recognition. “I did. He was just here a few hours ago. You looking for him?”

“I’ve got an idea. Something special for him. Can we go in and talk?”

“Well,” Rosemary said, wrapping her shawl around her. “I was just about to go run some errands, but I can tell you’ve got something big to tell me. It can wait. Come on.” 

She turned and opened the door, and I followed her in. 

“I always knew you and Sebastian would make a good match,” she mused before I even got sat down. I stared at her agape, but she simply shrugged.

“Come on, it’s obvious. He comes down here asking for advice, then you show up looking all flustered. Adorable, really.”

“Do you know where he went?”

Rose tilted her head. “Out.”

“He’s...” I started, almost afraid to finish the sentence. “He’s coming back, right?”

I didn’t know what I would do if he didn’t.

“Oh, I think so. He just needed some time to think, is all. He’ll be back, though. I can feel it.” She hung up her shawl and moved toward the kitchen, calling over her shoulder. “Tea?” 

I followed her, not willing to waste time. I was just about to protest again when my stomach grumbled. 

“Maybe you have some snacks instead?” I asked hopefully.

“Hmm...I just sent Sebastian away with the last of the cookies, but I’m sure I can dig up something.”

While she was rummaging through the cabinets in the small kitchen, I reached into my pocket and held out the key. 

“Rosemary. You remember the Festival of Fire.”

“I do,” she said, still peering into the pantry. “Real shame what happened, too.” 

“What if I told you I found the key to the shed? That I wanna bring it back again? For Seb?”

This time, she did turn around. Her whole face lit up. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. What do you need from me?”

“Your blessing,” I stated. “And some helping hands to bring down the supplies from the shed. Think you know some people who can help?”

“You’re thinking of doing it tonight?” She asked. “Such short notice.” 

“No time like the present, right? And I figure, Sebastian might not be here for much longer, and...” I trailed off again. Didn’t want to think of that.

Rosemary considered that for a moment. Then she placed a hand on my shoulder, her eyes far away. Finally, she nodded, as if snapping out of a trance. Without another word, she turned on her heel and went back to the coat rack, bundling up all over again.

“So you’ll help me?” I jogged to catch up with her. 

She turned and grinned, wrapping the shawl tight around her shoulders. Excitement flowed off of her like a child on Christmas. If her smile got any larger I thought she might break. “I’ve been waiting for a moment like this for years. Let’s go, we can round up some helpers on the way.”

And with that, we hurried out the door and up toward my house, where the fireworks were waiting.

After all, the show must go on.