But not everyone was ready to give up on the town. Sabrina marveled at those who decided to stay. Boarman and Swineheart hung up their deputy caps for good and reopened their construction business. They were convinced they would soon be the richest Everafters in town. The former sheriff Mr. Hamstead and his wife, Bess, showed up not long after. It was good to see their friends’ happy faces. He and his wife were over the moon with happiness, as they were expecting their first child.
Charming held an emergency election for mayor but lost to his girlfriend, Snow, who was surprised to find herself a write-in candidate. Charming graciously conceded. Mayor White said her first order of business was to finally rebuild the school. She also hired Goldilocks to be the new city planner, after the woman argued that much of the town’s troubles were a result of bad energies and flow. She promised the new Ferryport Landing would be designed with feng shui in mind and would prove to be the most balanced and serene little town in New York.
Despite Henry’s hourly begging, Granny Relda decided to stay and rebuild. She couldn’t bear to leave the town that had been her home for so many years, though she did promise to come to the city for frequent visits with her grandchildren. As always, Mr. Canis stood by her side, now with Red. He and Granny would raise her, and they offered the same to Pinocchio. The kindness overwhelmed him and he sobbed into Granny Relda’s dress. Later he would discover that he had grown a half an inch for the first time in a hundred years.
As the founders of the new Ferryport Landing made their plans, Goldi took Veronica aside. Sabrina couldn’t help but listen in.
“I know it has been very hard having me around,” she said. Veronica shook her head, though Sabrina wasn’t convinced of her sincerity. “You were a big help.”
“I just wanted to say that you’re good for him. Better than I would have been,” Goldi said. “You make Henry happy . . . which is hard to watch. I still—”
“I know you do,” Veronica said. “He’s kind of awesome, but I think that if you open yourself up, and take a chance, you might find that you will love someone else.”
The women hugged and parted as friends.
One night, with nothing left for them to do, Sabrina, Daphne, Puck, and Red walked down the road toward the marina. The dock, surprisingly, was not damaged, so they took off their shoes and dipped their feet into the chilly Hudson River. They sat for a long time contemplating all that had happened and guessing at what lay ahead. Finally, Puck broke the silence.
“Your uncle is leaving town,” Puck said. “He says there’s magic all over the world that needs to be wrangled. He asked me to go with him.”
Sabrina felt a lump in her throat. “What did you say?”
“I’m probably going to go. This is no place for the master of mischief. There’s nothing left to break in this town.”
“You could come with us to New York City,” Sabrina said hopefully. “I’m sure your mom would like to see you around the kingdom.”
He seemed to understand what Sabrina was thinking. “Don’t worry, I’ll swing by and harass you all the time.”
Sabrina smiled. She knew this boy would be in her life always. Then she laughed. Whether I like it or not.
“Wait, what is that?” Puck said, looking down the river. Sabrina squinted and made out a boat sailing toward the marina. It was the kind of ship that could have drifted from the pages of a pirate novel. Its huge masts snapped in the wind and a fluttering flag smeared with a skull’s grin flapped in the air. The children watched as it drifted down to them and then dropped anchor. Moments later a boy in green pants and shirt climbed onto the rail of the ship and leaped off into midair. A moment later, he was flying toward them. Sabrina looked over to Daphne. The little girl was biting her palm with excitement.
“It can’t be,” Sabrina said.
“It is,” Daphne said.
“Who is it?” Red said.
Puck huffed and scowled. “I’ll handle this.”
The flying boy in green stopped short of the dock and hovered in midair. He had a wooden sword much like Puck’s shoved into his belt and a little green hat. “Hey, you!” he cried. “Sorry to spook you with the ship. My lost boys and I sort of borrowed it from a few scurvy pirates back where we come from. The place is overrun with them, so we’ve decided to start someplace new. We’re looking for a town called Ferryport Landing. We heard it’s a place for folks like us.”
Sabrina eyed Puck closely.
“Never heard of it,” he said.
The flying boy frowned. “It’s got to be around here somewhere. I hear it’s filled with magic and fun.”
“I think someone gave you some bad information, kid,” Puck said. “This town is as boring as it gets.”
The flying boy shrugged. “All right, well, thanks.” Then he flew back to his boat.
“That wasn’t very nice,” Sabrina said.
Puck stuck his tongue out at her. “I hate that kid.”
Sabrina looked up the road at what was left of Ferryport Landing, the once-sleepy river town nestled on the banks of the Hudson River. There was hardly anything left of it. Sabrina felt like she was mourning the loss of another dear relative. But maybe one day it would live again.
“Is that it?” Daphne said. “Is that the end?”