Lucky had to push that thought out of her head, too, because she thought of the one person who could have controlled it. The one person who had given her her name.
But it wasn’t actually her mother’s fault, either.
It had been a long tradition for the women on her mother’s side of the family to name them after things you wanted for your child. Beauty, Peace, Fortune, and . . . Lucky.
Using voice recognition, she said, “Call Mom.”
“Darling! I hope you’re calling to tell me when you’re coming to visit?”
“No, Ma. I’m at the godmothers’ house.”
“I should be offended you go to visit them more than you do me.”
“You’re always traveling. Just when I find out you’re in Paris, you’re off to Sofia.”
“That’s what trains and planes are for.”
She wasn’t quite sure how to broach the subject, but she might as well just get it over with. “I’m getting fake married on Valentine’s Day, and it would be nice if you could come.”
“Congratulations! This is wonderful news. Who’s the groom?”
“You did hear the part where it was fake, right, Mom?”
“Fake, shmake. Tell me.” Lucky could hear her mother’s dainty shrug in the tone of her voice.
“Ransom. The guy from college.”
“I’ll book my flight now.”
“Don’t you have questions?”
“Like what?” Fortune asked.
“Like why we’re getting fake married? Why it’s on Valentine’s Day? I don’t know. Stuff?”
“I figure you’ll tell me everything I need to know when I get there. I have some things to tell you as well.”
“If it’s about your wedding to my dad, I don’t want it.”
“Of course not. He’s old news. Wait, unless . . . should I find him?”
“I wouldn’t invite him to my real wedding, so you don’t need to go to any trouble for the fake one.”
“If you’re sure. . . .”
“I’m very sure.”
“There’s something in your voice. What’s wrong? Tell me.”
Her mother always knew. It was kind of silly that Lucky was trying to keep it from her. “We’ll talk about it when you get here, okay?”
“Can you find me a cute place to stay? I’m sure with the wedding coming up so soon all of the cottages are rented.”
“They’re turning the castle into a B and B, so I can probably get you a room there.”
“That’s a fantastic idea. I don’t know why they didn’t do that sooner. The beautiful old thing was just rotting up on that hill. Have you heard the story about the owner? The kids used to say he was a cursed prince.”
“Oh, please. That’s taking the Ever After shtick a fairy tale too far.”
“Is it? I suppose we’ll see about that.”
“You know what I’d rather know about? I want to see where you grew up. I don’t know why it’s such a big secret. It’s not like Ever After has a wrong side of the tracks.”
“Oh, it does. But that’s not where I grew up. I suppose it’s time to show you everything.”
“And maybe there will be a clue how to break this curse.”
“Perhaps. If only you’d stop thinking of it as a curse. It’s not.”
“You’re not the one who has to live with it.”
“No, I’m just the one who has to watch the being I love more than my own breath live with it.”
Lucky sighed. “I’ll see you when you get in. Love you, Ma.”
“Love you, too, Lucky Charm.”
The call ended.
Lucky Charm. Her mother refused to get it through her head that she was not, nor would she ever be, a lucky charm. The things her mother chose to accept and incorporate into her thinking were always a surprise.
She hadn’t blinked an eyelash at this fake marriage announcement, or at whom she’d be marrying.
Although, what had Lucky expected? Her mother knew her well enough to know that when she decided to do something, no matter how foolhardy, well, that was just the way things were going to be and nothing was going to stop her.
Lucky sat down on the bank of the creek and took her shoes off to dip her piggies in the cool, clear water of the creek.
It had seemed so much bigger when she was a kid. A lot of things had.
She didn’t know how she was supposed to go back to that room and sleep, with Ransom in the next bed over, and pretend like nothing was wrong.
Although, maybe she just had to convince herself that was the case. Nothing was wrong. Everything was fine. Everything was as it should be.
She hadn’t thought about Ransom Payne in—oh, but that was a lie. She couldn’t lie to herself. That wouldn’t do anyone any good.
She still felt all the old feelings.
And some new ones she hadn’t expected.
Everything came surging back. Like a fever.
That’s what these feelings were, an infection. She needed a cure and she definitely wasn’t going to find that sleeping in the same room with Ransom.
Something else was afoot, though. Lucky just didn’t know what.
Her mother was acting weird.
A naked cherry tree had bloomed to full, and one might even say demonic, life.
Ransom thought that Bluebonnet had added something unthinkable to the chicken....
What exactly could that have been?
Well, she told herself, being unthinkable meant she shouldn’t be able to think of it, didn’t it? Lucky shook her head, trying to rattle those idiotic thoughts out of her brain.
She didn’t know how she was going to get through these next two weeks.
Lucky loved and appreciated her mother, and she was grateful she was coming, but she didn’t know what she’d do without Gwen and the monsters.
She’d left many a care beside this creek, but she didn’t think childhood magic was going to work this time.
Lucky stuffed her shoes back on and trudged back toward the cottage while evening fell soft and quiet.
When she got back to the house, all of the commotion had died down and the godmothers were in the great room with a small fire going.
Petty was pitting and slicing giant cherries, Bluebonnet was carding yarn, and Jonquil was knitting. It made a peaceful and homey picture.
“Did you call your mother, child?” Petty asked.
She nodded and waited for the godmothers to ask about what else had happened with Ransom, but they didn’t.
Instead, Petty said, “There’s some blueberry tart if you’d like to take some up to bed with you.”
“It’s pretty early for bed, don’t you think? I’m grown.” Lucky grinned.
Jonquil giggled. “You do what you like, dear. But we’re going into the office bright and early tomorrow. We need to meet with the publicity people and get this thing on the road. You and Ransom will have meetings with the caterer, dressmaker, you’ll need to pick colors . . .”
“We’re fine with whatever you want,” Lucky said as she snatched up several of the blueberry tarts.
“Oh no. You have to choose. It’ll be good practice for the vendors,” Bluebonnet corrected.
“When are we moving to the castle?” She stuffed an entire tart in her mouth.
The flaky crust melted on her tongue, and the rich blueberry filling was a treat she needed to taste again.
“Already ready to be rid of us?” Petty teased. “They’ll have your rooms ready soon.”
“Hopefully in time for Ma. Otherwise, I don’t know where we’ll put her.”
“Sure, he’ll have room for her. But you two are getting one of the new honeymoon suites. Phillip is doing a whole wedding wing in the castle. There are multiple ballrooms, a giant kitchen, oh, so many amenities. You should go take a bath. You’ll be right as rain,” Jonquil interjected. “Go on, then.”
“And just maybe, you’ll get an ice cream soda when you get up,” Petty added.
Luck
y slid into a chair at the table. “I need one now.”
Petty put the cherries down, Bluebonnet her yarn, and Jonquil her knitting. They drifted toward her, almost like they had wings, and they enfolded her in a gentle, yet still-fierce hug, and then they set about making her an old-fashioned ice cream soda.
Petty got the ice cream.
Jonquil got the chocolate syrup.
Bluebonnet got the soda water.
As she sat at the table, she had the urge to swing her feet as she had when she was a child. Her godmothers doted on her and when they finally sent her up to bed, she was reminded of why she’d do anything for those dears.
Even face the prospect of breaking her heart all over again.
Chapter 6
“Our poor little lovie.” Petunia sighed after Lucky went up to the attic.
“Poor darling,” Jonquil agreed.
“Except, the cherries, sisters. The cherries.” Bluebonnet’s eyes were wide as saucers. “And look at my wand!” She pulled it out of her apron pocket and waved it around like a sparkler, showing off its tiny blue comet trail.
Jonquil pulled her wand out. “Oh look, mine too!”
“That’s because the kids love us,” Petunia said, but then grinned as wide as her face would let her. “But the cherries, that’s because they love each other! I knew we were on target with those two.”
“Then we really need to do something about Lucky’s lack of luck,” Jonquil said. “If Ransom was almost murdered by a mutant cherry . . . I just don’t think we can take any chances.”
“You know we’re immune to her . . .” Bluebonnet seemed to struggle for the right word. “Gifts. So they should be okay as long as they’re under our roof.”
“They can’t stay under our roof, though, can they?” Petunia sighed.
“I don’t see why not. If that’s the only way to give them Happily Ever After, they can stay upstairs forever.” Jonquil trailed a picture with her wand in the air, watching her yellow comet trail dance.
“I’m just glad Fortune is on her way. It’s time for her to tell Lucky the truth. About herself, and about us,” Petunia said. “I feel like we’re lying to her.”
“That’s because we are, but it’s what Fortune wanted. She thought it best.” Bluebonnet looked up the stairs. “Remember when she was little? Her little pigtails bouncing around as she bopped through the house singing?”
Petty began working on the cherries again. “I do. She was the sweetest little thing. I love it when we actually get to know our charges and can be directly involved in their lives. It makes their Happily Ever Afters so much better.” She ate a bite of cherry. “All Happily Ever Afters are satisfying, but these are the ones that really fill my heart.”
Jonquil tapped at her temple with her wand. “Think, think, think.”
Bluebonnet nodded. “I should find my thinking cap. I made one in 1697, but I haven’t been able to find it since 1880.” She turned her head sharply to Petunia. “And not one word out of you about that.”
“Me? I wasn’t going to say anything.” But Petunia smiled.
“I’ve got it!” Jonquil squealed. “Fortune thinks she used up Lucky’s good luck during her delivery.”
Her sisters nodded.
“It was a tough delivery. Without us, they both might have died.” Bluebonnet’s bright-blue eyes welled with tears.
“Never mind that, now. She’s okay. They both are.” Petunia patted her sister’s shoulder.
“Back to the topic at hand,” Jonquil demanded in an uncharacteristic tone that sounded much more like Petunia. “We all seemed to have forgotten that Lucky was born here.”
“We didn’t forget. I just said—” Bluebonnet began.
“She’s been living out of alignment! We don’t stay long in the outer world because of the same things. Our magic gets wonky. So her luck is wonky!” Petunia said.
“But wait, though. If it’s just an alignment thing, why is she still having trouble with Ransom?” Bluebonnet asked.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Jonquil replied.
“What if . . . what if all of this with Ransom isn’t unluck at all? I can’t believe we didn’t think of this sooner.” Petunia’s eyes were alight with mischief.
“That look in your eyes, Pets. What are you thinking?” Jonquil prompted.
“It’s a gauntlet. We’re fairy-tale creatures. Ransom has to prove himself. It’s a different manifestation of True Love’s Kiss. He just has to love her, despite the world falling down around them,” Petunia said.
“Oh, that’s it.” Jonquil waved her hand. “Should be fine. I mean, tornados are fine, right?”
Petunia sighed. “No, listen. It’s all going to be fine. I know it is. We just have to keep pushing them together.”
“Gently, and from far away?” Bluebonnet asked.
“Exactly. I mean, just look at how they powered up our wands. That’s the power of love,” Petunia said.
“I think you’re forgetting that the kids love us, too. It could easily be their love for us that powered up our wands,” Jonquil interjected.
“That’s true, but it wasn’t their love for us that made our cherry tree explode. Oh no, that was all the fire that burns between them,” Petunia said. “By the way, do you have the publicity people on this wedding yet? There are arrangements to be made.”
“I’m getting there. I’ve been trying to handle coordinating with Phillip at the castle, but you know that’s kind of hard since he spends his days in the mermaid fountain. Green.” Jonquil arched a judgmental brow.
“I’m not going to apologize for that. He was being an ass. Maybe I should’ve turned him into a donkey, so then the outside could match his insides. Besides, it’s not my fault he hasn’t found anyone who wants to kiss him.” Petunia crossed her arms over her chest.
“Well, he wasn’t going to help until you agreed to remove the spell,” Jonquil tossed back.
“I’ve long forgiven him, honestly. If there was a way to undo the spell, I would’ve done it already,” Petty confessed.
“That’s what I told him. And also, that every woman in Ever After has already smooched his dumb green cheek and if he wants new prospects, modifying the castle into a B and B is the only way to get there.”
“Jonquil, you’re brilliant,” Bluebonnet said.
“Thank you.” Jonquil grinned.
“Yes, quite.” Petty nodded. “Okay, so plan of attack. Announce to the news outlets that the Chocolate Baron himself—”
“Isn’t he a prince? A chocolate prince?” Jonquil interrupted.
“Oh no, a king. Definitely the King of Cacao,” Bluebonnet said.
“Eh . . . maybe we’ll just go with successful entrepreneur?” Petty decided. “We should get with them about a guest list. And colors. Let’s help them pick colors.”
“No, listen. I have a better idea. Why not a Cinderella wedding? We’re fairy godmothers. Ransom will look so handsome in a Prince Charming getup and Lucky . . . oh Lucky. She’ll look beautiful in pink,” Jonquil said.
“They have to choose it. We have to make them take ownership of this thing. The more real it feels, the better it will be for everyone,” Petunia said.
“That’s a little mercenary, don’t you think?” Jonquil asked. “I don’t like using the kids.”
“We’re not using them,” Bluebonnet spoke out. “We’re killing two birds. Three, actually. We get them to fall in love. Or admit it. Whichever. Their love is the final goal of this whole charade. The fact that it will bring our town back to life is a bonus. And our wands, a gift. We told the kids why we wanted them here.” Bluebonnet pressed her lips together. “Well, mostly. We told them we needed them. They are giving this to us of their own free, and mostly informed, will.”
“Feels kind of sketchy to me.” Jonquil made a moue with her lips.
“Well, what would you do?” Petunia asked.
“Mind my business,” Jonquil answered.
“We are m
inding our business. Our charges are our business,” Bluebonnet said.
“Okay, but when is it a fairy ring too far? We’re supposed to give them the tools to help themselves, not outright meddle. This feels like meddling. I don’t like it.”
“So noted,” Petunia said.
“But we’re not going to slow down?” Jonquil asked.
“No, we can’t. We’ve got two weeks to pull this wedding off and to bring life back to Ever After.”
“Have you considered that maybe our time has passed? Maybe the world doesn’t need us anymore?” Jonquil questioned.
“Honey, I think your blood sugar is low. Let me get you an ice cream soda,” Bluebonnet said, and grabbed a giant cherry. “Yes, cherry chocolate, I think.”
“Oh, me too,” Petunia said.
Jonquil rolled her eyes but didn’t refuse the treat when her sister handed it to her. After taking a sip, she said, “I just want to make sure we’re doing this for the right reasons.”
“There’s no arguing that we will reap rewards from this, but so will everyone in Ever After. I don’t think that’s selfish. Is it?” Petunia asked.
“I don’t think so. No.” Bluebonnet shook her head.
“What if Ransom and Lucky decide they don’t want to do it? Then what?” Jonquil asked, drinking down the last bits of the cherry chocolate goodness. Then she dropped the cup and pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. “Curse it, brain freeze.”
“Put your tongue on the roof of your mouth. It helps,” Petty promised.
“I guess I did need the sugar,” Jonquil said.
“See?” Bluebonnet said in a motherly tone.
“Still need an answer to that question.”
“We’re not going to make them do anything,” Petty said, obviously offended at the suggestion.
“What about the chicken? Did you do something to it, Bon-Bon?”
“Well, I might’ve added some extra seasoning,” she confessed.
“What kind?” Petty demanded.
“Oh, the kind that makes you feel your feelings. It was just a little boost.” Bluebonnet blushed.
“Bon-Bon!” Jonquil chastised.
“It was just a little nudge. It didn’t make anyone feel anything that wasn’t there. You know we can’t manufacture what’s not there.”
A Hilarious and Charming Feel-Good Read Page 6
