The Enchanted Hacienda

Praise for The Enchanted Hacienda“The warmth and humor of The Enchanted Hacienda immediately cast a spell over me. A novel full of heart and family, The Enchanted Hacienda is a charming story of family, love, legacy, and self-discovery. If I could have moved in with Harlow and the entire Estrada clan, I would have done so without hesitation.”—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters“The Estrada women will bewitch your heart and make you believe in magic again. A sweeping journey from the flower fields of Mexico to the cobblestones of Montreal. A beautiful reminder to be kind to ourselves as we await our time to bloom.”—Carolyn Huynh, author of GMA Pick The Fortunes of Jaded Women“A radiant tale that satisfies the heart along with the part of us—big or small—that believes in magic. I was easily charmed by the Estrada family and their dreamy hacienda filled with a rich history and woman-powered soul. This bewitching page turner is both a beauty and a delightful treat.”—Diane Marie Brown, author of Black Candle Women The Enchanted HaciendaJ.C. Cervantes J.C. Cervantes is a New York Times bestselling author of books for children and young adults. Her books have appeared on national lists, including the American Booksellers Association New Voices, Barnes & Noble’s Best Young Reader Books, as well as Amazon’s Best Books of the Month. She has earned multiple awards and recognitions, including the New Mexico Book Award.JCCervantes.com For JoeThank you for the unforgettable line. And if you happen to read this, I love you. ContentsChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36EpilogueAcknowledgments 1Life doesn’t always turn out the way you expect it to.Of course, you don’t begin to realize this until it’s too late and you’re sitting in your boss’s office being canned from a dream job.“That’s it?” I say, blinking in astonishment against the afternoon light spilling in through the impressive floor-to-ceiling windows. “I’m just fired?”“Not fired,” Stan says gently as he steals a glance at his watch. “Let go.”I really hate semantics. Ironic for a book editor, I know. Ex book editor. And yeah, it’s at a small indie publisher, but damn if I don’t love it.My eyes fall on the dreadfully limp orange lily on the windowsill behind him. Scientific name, Lilium, a flower with multiple meanings from beauty and birth to magnificence and majesty. But in this color, it can only mean dislike, hatred, revenge.I want to laugh, wondering if Stan knows he’s got a dying bloom of revenge looking over his shoulder. Of course, I say nothing. I rarely tell people I spent my childhood summers on a lush and magical flower farm in Mexico, and I never mention that my family’s land grows enchanted blooms with the power to cast spells. First, people would question my grip on reality. Second, it’s a four-generation well-kept secret.Stan’s gaze follows mine. “Yeah, I know I need to throw it out.”“Lilies are used to break love spells or fend off spirits,” I say matter-of-factly. “Sometimes they’re used to keep visitors away.”Stan turns back to me; an inquisitive expression passes over his pale face. “Did you study horticulture or something?”“Or something,” I say, managing a ghost of a smile. I’m about to tell him it’s bad energy to keep a dying bloom around, but why bother?“You’re such a great team member,” he goes on like he’s reading from a script. “But this is about seniority.” Then, as if he wants to wash his hands of the blood, “A decision from the top...out of my control really.”I quickly do the mental calculations. I’m the only newbie unless you count that Kenny kid in publicity with the fancy-ass pens, who wears his pants an inch too short because he likes to show off his designer socks.I pull my pride up off the floor, swallow, lift my chin and say, “Okay, so how does this work?” I’ve never been fired before unless you count that one time at KFC when I was a freshman in high school. “Do I get two weeks or...”Stan fills in the or part of my question with, “I’m afraid not, Harlow. You need to clean out your desk today.” In my boss’s defense, he looks stricken, like he isn’t in the biz of firing starry-eyed twenty-seven-year-olds from their dream editing jobs. “But you can wait until the end of the day if you like, or...” He clears his throat twice. “Most everyone is out of the office at a bookseller meeting, so now might be...easier.”I feel a cramp in my heart. Is that even possible?“But what about my books?” I just acquired my first adult speculative novel. I imagine the beautiful heart-thundering manuscript sitting in my inbox, catching fire. A small voice rises inside of me. See? This is what you get for wanting too much.“We’ll be reassigning your book.” He emphasizes the singular noun like an insult.Reassign? That can only mean one thing: Charlotte with seniority and cold blood flowing through her reptile veins is going to get it, but she’ll never get it. She’ll never understand the magic sprinkled between each word, floating off each page.A prickly heat rises up my chest, spreads across my neck. I can practically feel the red splotches popping up all over. I suddenly wish I had worn that cashmere turtleneck I just bought instead of this silk blouse.“And I’m happy to write you a letter of recommendation. A glowing one,” Stan says like he just wants me to get out of his office so he can be done with the deed and go about his day of giving away my lifeblood to a lizard.I drag myself to my cubicle and “clean out my desk.” It doesn’t take long. I leave a light footprint and only have a few personal items: a photo of me and my two sisters, Lily