by Daisy Banks
“I don’t blame ye, my friend. I’d go too, but I went a while ago and can’t go again yet, which leads me to why I’ve come to see ye.” Yew gave him a grin.
“What can I do for ye?” he asked, though his thoughts had already turned to packing.
“It’s our little Poppy,” Yew began.
“Oh, I remember her, lots of red hair, a tiny little tulip-shaped freckle by her mouth.” He turned back to Yew, full of sudden attention. “She left on fly about a few years ago now.” The memory of her robbed all thought of what he’d pack. Poppy was a very luscious fairy, and if she had been a little more forthcoming, she might have been of far more interest than her brother. He’d missed her.
“I’m surprised yer remember the freckle and not some of her more famous exploits. If ever there was a fairy that should have been named Calamity, why I have to say ’twould be Poppy for sure. Anyway, no matter on that, but I’ll tell ye, I’m worried. I’ve heard nothing from her, and knowing Poppy, she could be in all sorts of trouble. I wondered if ye went, and I thought yer would on hearing the news. Could ye have a scout round on yer way, and see if yer can find out how she is?”
He gave Yew a nod. “Of course I will. If I find any sign of her I’ll let ye know. ’Tis a wide world out there though, and it might take me some time.”
“I know, but I’d like ye to see if she’s doing well, perhaps being a help somewhere or other.”
“Of course, I’ll find out for yer, or at least pick up a lead to her if I can. I’ll send a message back by butterfly. I know they’re slow but they’re more dependable than anything else. And ye? If yer stay, will ye be part of the new fashion?”
Yew gave a soft sigh. “Oh, aye, I expect so, if Violet and her like have their way. One of ’em will get me, I’m certain,” he said and sighed again. “We can’t live on nectar alone for long, can we?”
“May the blessings of Pan protect ye.” He grasped Yew’s hand in a firm grip.
“Aye, and good journey to ye when yer go.” Yew squeezed his hand in return.
“My thanks, and I’ll be off with the dawn tomorrow. I ain’t ready for this new fashion for certain.”
Yew nodded, his expression dogged when he rose to leave. “Fly well, my friend, and maybe by the time yer get back the fashion will have changed to something more palatable.”
Cedar gave Yew a swift embrace before Yew redid the lace cravat and left. Once alone, Cedar locked the door, fearful to be lured into any female’s dream desire of breeding before he had the chance to flee. He bundled some essentials into a small knapsack and sat in wait to escape at dawn.
Chapter 2
Lucy slid into the backseat of the mini. “Keri, honey, I’m so sorry, but I simply couldn’t say no. I’ve been waiting, with the patience of a saint I might add, for James Richardson to ask me out for the last three months. I’m very sorry, darling, but the prospect of a pleasant evening with delectable James is far more preferable to a night scrubbing and cleaning. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“That’s not the point,” Keri snapped. “You agreed to do your share tonight. Bal and I shouldn’t have to do it all.”
“Sorry, love. I’ve had a text from my mom. She wants me this evening. I have to go to discuss this dentist they are trying to set me up with.” Bal gave a huge sigh and did at least appear to be sorry. “Please believe me, both of you,” Bal continued, “I’d rather clean our kitchen, including the oven, than spend the evening in a family conference about something that’s an arranged marriage in disguise, no matter how they try to dress it up.”
“I thought your gran had managed to stop them doing the ‘arranged’ thing,” Keri said as she started the car and edged it out into the end of day queue in the car park. Both she and Lucy exchanged glances. Bal had faced this kind of discussion with her family once or twice before. The talks didn’t happen too often, but every now and then a family meeting occurred, and sometimes the results left Bal tearful and apprehensive.
Bal sighed again. “Oh yes, when she came back from her visit to New Delhi, gran told dad straight, it’s no good trying to live in an era long gone by, nor by his imagined social code of a place he’s never even visited. Gran has really stood up for me, it’s the only reason I’m allowed to be with you guys. Oh, and of course, mom and dad both like you. But dad still thinks it’s his job to try to set me up with someone. And mom keeps on, ‘Come on, Baljeet, you’re twenty-three now. When am I going to have my grandchildren?’”
They laughed. Bal shook her head and slid a slender hand to smooth over her hair. “I know you guys find it hard to believe. My mom and dad both do the whole western act very well, but under it all, there’s a thousand years of tradition they hold dear, and it’s waiting to bite me in the ass.”
Keri couldn’t help but laugh at Bal’s expression, and Lucy called from the backseat, “Listen, sweetheart, Bal can’t turn her family down on such an occasion, you know it. I can’t let my ideal hunk slip from my grasp, and you can’t do all the housework on your own. Why don’t you go to the gym tonight? Get a massage, have your hair done and we promise…” She crossed her heart. “…we’ll have a real crackdown on the place tomorrow.” Lucy’s blue eyes twinkled. “I mean we still have a full evening left tomorrow to get the place ready, right?”
Keri hesitated before giving a brief nod of agreement. A night at the gym might be what she needed to buck herself up from the mood she’d fallen into in the last couple of days.
“I think that’s a great idea and I promise I’ll bring back as much of mom’s best chili spiced pakora as you can eat. Hopefully, I’ll not be presenting a side dish of dentist to accompany it.” Bal patted Keri’s shoulder.
She glanced into the rear view mirror, revved the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot onto the road. “Okay, guys, you win. I’ll drop you off at home then hit the gym and have a sauna. We’ll do housework tomorrow, after work.”
* * * *
Poppy hid behind the broad leaves of a pot of sweet basil on the kitchen window ledge. She’d been stuck inside all night. Her body ached for fresh air, but this morning all three girls had got up in time to have breakfast, so she could listen from her hiding place while her mortals sipped coffee, and they seemed in no rush as they chatted. She longed to join in their conversation. Being one of the girls is so much fun.
“So, Bal, you’re serious about this dentist coming tomorrow night?” Lucy murmured before she bit into her croissant.
Poppy concentrated anxious to hear more.
“I couldn’t think of a way to get out of it. I had to tell mom he could come to the party.” Bal gave a sigh and drank more coffee. “He’s bringing a friend called Jez with him, a kind of chaperone to keep everything okay with the families. I always tell mom if I go out there is a chaperone and mostly there is. I always double date with one of you guys, don’t I? Anyway that’s by the by. I think if I’d tried to fudge an excuse mom would have refused to speak to me. She’s never been so keyed up about an introduction before. I have to say, she bordered on scary.This guy is what she thinks is the perfect catch.” Bal dipped a chunk of croissant into the jar of chocolate spread.
“Why? How come he’s Mr. Perfect? Do you know anything about him at all, except for his work?” Keri asked.
Poppy bit her lip. I wonder what he’s like.
Bal chewed on the chunk of chocolate coated pastry. Once she’d swallowed, she licked her fingers and held one up. “His name is Surjan.” Bal held up another finger. “He’s twenty-eight.” A third of Bal’s fingers joined the others. “He’s a dentist with his own practice, and…” Bal sighed again and lifted both hands toward the other two girls with a helpless expression. “…he’s very well off. He ticks all the right boxes as far as mom and dad are concerned.
“Apparently, his family owns a lot of property both here and in India, they are very wealthy, and right now, he is in the market for a bride.” Bal gave a half smile. “Oh, and the really interesting bit you might like—my
gran said he’s too gorgeous. Gran went on for about half an hour about how good looking he is. She got all excited, said he’s like some movie star she remembers from her youth.” Bal’s smile broadened. “I nearly passed out when she said he’d make beautiful babies! Can you imagine? My gran said that to me! She said the dentist is just like Omar Sharif.
“So, what do you think I could do, other than say yes to him coming to the party tomorrow?”
Who or what is Omar Sheriff? I bet it means he’s handsome. Poppy gnawed at her lip. This is beginning to sound serious.
Keri nodded. “I understand. You were unable to resist such lavish blandishments from your family, the temptation proved too much, you gave in and said he could come to the party?”
“Yes, it was either agree or be dragged to the temple next week and do the formal family introductions. I could see it in mom’s eyes. I have to be careful to keep this on my terms. You know, ‘Yes Mom, I’ll meet him, but nothing formal yet.’ If they get you as far as the temple, the next thing you know it’s Mendhi painting all round and you’re betrothed.” Bal gave a shudder and grimaced. “And that’s enough to send a girl screaming into the night.”
Poppy nodded. It all sounds terrible.
“I’ve always loved those henna patterns. I think they are so cool.” Lucy held up a hand as though imagining the patterns in place.
“Yes, they’re great, so long as mine doesn’t happen to say here comes the bride,” Bal said and jutted her chin as she stared out of the window.
“They won’t make you marry him will they?” Keri asked.
Poppy held her breath. If one of the girls gets married it will break up the whole, happy little household, things won’t be the same.
Bal gave a small shake of her head. “I wouldn’t think so. My dad doesn’t approve of people being pushed together, it’s not part of the faith and he’s always said if couples are forced to marry it causes too much trouble later. But I think I can tell you, if I don’t at least make some effort with this guy, I’ll get the whole letting the family down speech. You know, the big ‘you’ll end up a spinster, be too old, and no one will want you’ job from mom and gran. The pair of them could hardly contain their delight.”
“Frankly, I think you should tell them to mind their own business.” Lucy put her cup into the sink with a frown at Bal’s words.
“I wish I could, but Lucy I can’t, it would cause such a lot of trouble. I’ve always known it was unlikely I’d meet and marry someone who wasn’t vetted by the family first,” Bal said. “Taking in a movie with someone outside the family’s say-so is one thing, marriage is quite another.”
“None of it’s so simple, Lucy,” Kerry said. “I know how Bal feels, even I have to put up with my mother’s complaining ‘isn’t it time you thought about settling down?’” Keri turned to Bal. “Now we know the guy is coming to the party, will we need anything special tomorrow night for him and his friend? And, what about the booze, I mean he does know it’s a party?”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Bal replied. “I don’t know how traditional this guy is, but I expect he’ll be able to stand a glass or two of punch. We’ll have lots of soft drinks as well that I can point to and say, those are for me and you, in case he’s conservative and has strong views on alcohol. As he’s a dentist he’ll probably be more worried about tooth enamel erosion from the sugar than anything else.”
All three of them laughed, and Poppy joined in.
What is a dentist, though?
“You can’t be the first of us to get married, really, Bal, not in this way, you can’t,” Lucy murmured and wrapped her arms around her friend.
“Hey, I’ve done well to make it this far, twenty-three and unwed is a major milestone. I knew girls who were engaged before they finished high school and married before they were nineteen.”
Keri looked at them each in turn. “Well, girls, this is the beginning of the end, perhaps? Certainly, if my mother has her way, before I’m twenty-four I’ll be married, with at least one beautiful grandchild for her, she’s told me she put it on her Christmas list for this year.”
Poppy stared in disbelief. This is awful. The fun and energy the three of them generate will be gone. They’ll move house, and which one will I choose to go with? Love is important, I agree, but do all of them have to go at the same time?
“I know, and it’s us who are supposed to have ticking body clocks. If you ask me, some prospective grandmother, who awaits a rash of grandkids to spoil and send home, came up with the phrase.” Bal dumped her cup in the sink.
Keri grabbed the keys from the shelf. “Come on, before we all get maudlin. Besides it would be a shame to be late for the office on the one morning we all got up early.”
The three of them left, and saddened at their discussion, Poppy shook her head. She slipped out through the gap of an open window and into the garden she thought of as her own. The pots on the deck had a haze of green and there were bright green shoots of daffodils. Will my mortals be here when those flowers bloom? Or will this sudden idea of marriage have taken one of them, or all of them? Maybe I’ll have to go home? I don’t want to go back yet.
She spent the rest of the day deep in thought while she flitted around the garden. Shafts of dull February sunshine filtered through the clouds, but failed to lift her sense of gloom.
* * * *
When the girls returned after work, eager to hear more from them and hopeful the dentist had refused his party invitation, Poppy slipped in and hid behind one of the chairs in the sitting room.
“Right, I’ve already phoned for a mega pizza tonight, so let’s get this clean up under way, ready for the best Valentine’s party we’ve ever had.” Keri glanced in turn at Lucy and Bal. “I mean, this one, it could be our last.”
A quiver of sorrow twitched through Poppy but determination to help them made her think hard.
I have to be careful though, fairy law requires magic be used “in accordance with direct requests.” She gave a tiny grin. But there are ways around the rules. A heartfelt, exhausted sigh, can and should be interpreted as a wish for some energy. Keri never actually says she wishes the knick-knacks in the kitchen would dust themselves, but she seems pleased to find them in no need of more than a brush off with the feather duster. Bal’s concerns over the time it takes to run the vacuum upstairs would serve me well in any court of fairy law.
She spent most of the evening giving a selection of unrequested assistance, so things went a little more speedily for the girls. After all, it’s my job to be helpful where I think I should.
By nine thirty, she sank down behind the sofa, drained of almost all her energy. The girls all seemed relaxed and with the housework finished, they lounged to eat pizza.
While the three girls settled, Poppy roused herself to head out to the kitchen and the fresh air in the garden, but their turn of conversation stopped her midflight, and she made an unsteady landing to hear more. She peeked out to watch them from behind the sofa.
“So, we have the place tidy, garden lights ready. All we need to do tomorrow is get the patio heater onto the deck and lay out the food,” Keri said.
“Yes. Are we all still certain we want to use the garden?” Lucy asked, and she helped herself to a slice of pizza from the box.
“Oh, definitely!” Bal fumbled with her wedge of pizza, caught it before it hit the carpet, and gazed up, a plea in her glance. “Think. The garden will give me space to get away from my dentist, if I should need to.”
Poppy waited, held her breath in the hope the girl would wish for something to help her. But she didn’t, Poppy let out a gasp of frustration and stamped her foot. Unrequested help round the house might be one thing. A serious wish, given in response to the words ‘I wish,’ would be something much more complicated than I’m used to, but it would produce far better results.
“Using the garden will be fine, it’s not rained in the last few days, so the ground won’t be muddy. We’ll have the lights and the
big patio heater out. Everything will be great. We can even put the garden chairs on the deck. The weather forecast’s good for tomorrow, clear and crisp, but no rain,” Keri said.
“I won’t be dancing on the lawn, not in my Jimmy Choos. I’d be two inches deep before you could say mud. The heels would just sink in.” Lucy’s curled eyelashes fluttered. “James has agreed to come over tomorrow by nine. He sent me a text today to tell me he’d be here and wouldn’t miss it for anything. I think he is kind of hooked, at least I hope he is.”
So, two of the girls might be ready to fall in love. Poppy noted the sparkle in Lucy’s eyes. If anyone asked me I’d say she’s the one who’s hooked.
“Is that what you want?” Keri asked, lounging back on the sofa.
“You bet your sweet treats, hon. James is the nearest thing to Adonis I’ve ever met. Tomorrow I want to find out if all those muscles are as firm as they appear and I might get as far as finding out if they all work the way they should.”
“Lucy—” Bal’s almond shaped eyes flashed wide.
Wow, this must be serious! Poppy stared up at the fair-haired mortal, whose cheeks flushed a delicate rose pink as she shoved a handful of hair back behind her ear.
Lucy grinned and offered a wink to both her friends. “We can’t all be Princess Snow White, my dears, some of us have to walk the real world and it’s nicer to do it in Prada if at all possible.”
“Only if you love him, Luce, promise? You won’t skip down the aisle simply because he’s on the board of directors?” Keri asked.
“You have to be joking. He’s gorgeous. James is perfect, it’s not his fault he’s wealthy. Right now, I think he wants me, and I am going to go for it. I mean come on, all this luscious loveliness.” Lucy skimmed a palm over her body. “This won’t last forever. Girls, it’s time to wake up and smell the pheromones. This is the time for us to do it. This is our peak season to find a mate. We’ve had our fun and plenty of it without getting too entangled…” Lucy stood up and paced around to the back of the sofa, where she leaned on the top.
