by Tara Lain
“You are most welcome.”
When the ladies walked away, Delly looked back to the wand case and sighed. She didn’t even glance up and see Nate. Ophelia appeared beside her. Delly said, “I was so sure today was the day, Miss Ophelia, but I still don’t know which one is mine.”
“Don’t give up, Delphine. The night is full of magic.” She hurried away, and Delly kept staring.
Nate walked up beside her. “Hi, honey.”
She looked up, a short break in her concentration. “Hi, Daddy.” She sighed again. “I thought I could choose.”
“Want some more hot chocolate? It’s good for decisions, remember?”
“Okay.” She stared back in the case.
Nate walked to the counter, where a big pot of chocolate was steaming. He poured a cup, then saw Ophelia staring raptly toward the side wall of the shop and the door where Nate had seen her appear from a couple times. He followed her line of sight.
Delly was walking toward the door.
He started to move to stop her, but Ophelia didn’t, so he waited.
It was more like the world waited.
Slowly, Delly turned the handle on the door and opened it.
Her hand flew to her mouth.
Nate stepped forward—to grab her. To protect her.
But she stepped into the room.
Nate ran to the door and looked inside.
Whoa. The house stopped spinning, it fell on the witch, and everything just changed to Technicolor….
In the center of a medium-sized room sat a large workbench lighted by big dangling lamps. The bench was covered with every kind of wire and ribbon and sparkling gemstone. Racks of fairies and hobbits and even an orc or two sat along one wall, obviously waiting to be taken into the store to be sold.
Nate’s mouth opened.
Enter Glinda, the Good Witch of the North….
At the workbench, with a pair of tweezers in his hand and jewelers’ eyeglasses over his head, sat Asher, his tattooed arms gleaming as brightly as the fairies he was making. Every fine movement of his big hands added another delicate detail to the little doll.
Delly walked slowly toward him. For a second, he didn’t seem to see her, but then he glanced up. He flipped up the glasses and gazed at her.
“Hello.”
She cocked her head. “You’re the man who was in my house. My daddy’s friend.”
“Yes.”
“You hit the man who scared me.”
“Yes. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he drank too much. You know what that is?”
She nodded. “My daddy never drinks too much.”
“That’s good.”
“Are you the Fairy Master?”
His pretty lips turned up. “I guess you could say I am.”
“You made all those fairies?”
“Yes.”
Nate leaned against the doorjamb. Neither of them could see him there, even if they’d been looking.
Delly said, “Why? Why did you make all those fairies and unicorns? That’s most unusual for a grown-up.”
Nate pressed a hand to his lips.
Asher said, “Well, you see, I used to be afraid too.”
“You did?” Her voice was full of awe, like Nate’s heart.
“Yes. I had to go fight in a place a long way away, and things happened to make me afraid. But I discovered if I made fairies and unicorns, I wasn’t very afraid anymore.”
“Did you find your wand?”
“Yes. Yes I did.”
“May I see it?”
“It’s at my house, but you could come there anytime you want.”
“Could you help me find my wand?”
“Well, you know the rules. But I could come with you.”
Nate wiped the tears dribbling from his eyes and peeked in as Asher rose and stepped beside Delly. She led the way to the door.
Asher’s eyes met Nate’s, and he smiled with such joy it could have powered a million wands.
Delly said, “Daddy, did you know your friend was the Fairy Master?”
“No. No, I didn’t.” He stepped to Delly’s other side, and the three of them walked to the wand case.
She peered through the glass, and then Asher opened the case. Several people crowded behind them, but no one said anything. It was like the whole shop got quiet, but it might have just been him.
Delly cocked her head as she inspected each shelf. Suddenly, she looked up at Asher and flashed a million megawatt smile. “Well, of course.” She reached in and grasped a brilliant red wand with red and golden feathers and tons of glitter. “It was right there all along. At first I thought it was way too grand for me, but now I see.”
Asher nodded.
She held it up. “See, Daddy.”
“It’s beautiful, sweetheart.”
A few people clapped, and she smiled, and then her face got serious. She looked into the case again, carefully set down her wand in its previous position, and picked up a brown-and-gold one. She looked at Nate. “Can we get this wand, Daddy?”
He cocked his head at her. After all that? “Did you change your mind?”
“Yes.” She looked longingly at the red wand, but then she nodded at the wand she held. “This is Bob’s wand. He chose it. And maybe if he has it, he’ll let someone give him a house and he won’t be cold or afraid anymore.”
Nate grabbed up Delly into his arms. “I’m sure we can afford to buy both wands, and we can give that one to Bob as soon as we see him.”
Asher came a step closer, and Delly didn’t even flinch. “Better yet, why don’t I give you and Bob your wands as a gift from the Fairy Master?”
“Really?”
He smiled.
“That would be excellent. Will my wand make me not so scared?”
“No.”
“Oh.” Her dark eyes got huge.
Nate couldn’t help it. He frowned.
Asher said, “You see, that wand will only go to someone brave and strong, so it knows that you’re not really scared at all.”
“Oh.” She considered it for a moment. “So I’m brave like you.”
“Yes, I guess you are.” He looked at her, and in that second, the tiny girl and the giant man were one being.
Nate went in for the group hug.
An hour later, after Delly helped take care of all the other customers with a little assistance from Ophelia and her assistant, they closed the shop. Delly seriously thanked the Fairy Master for her wand and gave Ophelia a hug, then took Nate’s hand.
Nate cast a longing look at Asher, but he didn’t want to press his luck. Delly had come a mile that day. A million miles. It wasn’t fair to ask her for more.
They walked quietly. She swung his hand but clutched her wand to her chest with the other and seemed to be focusing hard.
At home, Nate said, “How about you get in your pj’s and we have some mac and cheese with some roast chicken for Christmas Eve? You can even open one present if you want.”
“Okay.” She wandered toward her room. Interesting. Usually mac and cheese got a much larger response, and presents were better than ice cream.
All through dinner, she ate with good appetite, so it didn’t seem like she was sick or upset, but she acted distracted. When Nate brought out the orange-and-vanilla ice cream bars, she switched her wand to the other hand and munched, but she still stared into space.
Finally, Nate said, “Penny for your thoughts?”
“What?”
He grinned. “It’s an old-timey expression that means what’re you thinking about so hard?”
She frowned. “Dad, this is kind of a different Christmas, isn’t it? I mean, I was just little last year so I don’t remember so good, but I know I spent it at Mama’s house and you came over.”
“That’s right.” His stomach tied in a knot.
“But now—” She looked up and met his eyes. “Will I see Mama?”
He’d kind of been avoiding this topic, which was selfish. “I’v
e called your mama and told her we’d love to see her on Christmas, but she can’t bring her, uh, friend. He’s not welcome here anymore, ever. I’ll be honest, Delly. I don’t know what she’s going to do.”
She nodded and took the last bite of her ice cream. “So here’s what I’m thinking. I know it’s almost here and maybe they have kids of their own, but I’d like to invite Miss Ophelia to come over for Christmas.” She took a big breath. “And I want to invite the Fairy Master.” She looked through her lashes at Nate. “Do you think he’d come?”
Nate exploded in a slightly hysterical laugh. “Yes. I mean, maybe he would. Do you want me to call him and ask?”
“Yes, please.”
Blinking against the flood of love and relief, he pulled out his phone and dialed.
Asher answered before it completed the first ring. “Hi.”
“Hello, Fairy Master.” Nate grinned. “I’m calling on behalf of Miss Delphine, the fairy princess, who’d like to invite you to spend Christmas with us.”
Silence.
“Uh, Asher?”
His voice sounded choked but still happy. “A thousand times yes.”
Nate turned his head. “Delly, he says yes!”
“Yahoooo!” She leaped in the air with wand in one hand and bare popsicle stick in the other.
Nate laughed. “You heard the reaction.”
Delly said, “Don’t forget Miss Ophelia.”
“Uh, Fairy Master, Miss Ophelia’s included in the invitation.”
“I’m sure she’ll be delighted.” He chuckled.
Delly whispered in Nate’s ear, “Daddy, ask him if I can see his wand.”
Nate spoke into the phone. “We’re also wondering if there’s a slight, teeny, tiny chance that we could see your wand?” Oh my, he didn’t even want to consider all the naughty images that conjured.
“Well, yes. What if I were to come over very early and bring breakfast? Maybe I could even bring a present or two?”
Nate said, “You don’t have to do that.”
“But I want to do that.”
Delly tugged on his sleeve. “What? Do what?”
“Asher’s going to bring us breakfast tomorrow so we can concentrate on present opening.”
“Wow! Excellent.”
Nate could hear the excitement in his own voice. “So, uh, I guess I’ll see you Christmas morning. I mean, tomorrow.”
“You couldn’t keep me away.”
“Hey, how come you never told me? What you build, I mean.”
“Oh, it’s just hard to explain why a guy like me would spend his life making wands and unicorns.”
“It’s way better than a lot of things people make.”
“Like war?”
“Yeah.”
“Believe me, making wands is better than anything except making love.” He chuckled that low, sexy rumble that tightened Nate’s jeans on the first note. “And considering my particular orientation, you’ve got to admit it’s worth anything to have a store called the Fairy Shop.”
They laughed until Nate hung up to put Delly to bed, still holding her wand.
Chapter Eight
DELLY BOUNDED around the living room waving her wand. “Abracadabra!”
Nate wiped the last of his shaving cream away and yawned. It was dark outside, but then the sun didn’t come up until nearly seven thirty in December, and Delly sure couldn’t wait that long. “Want some juice while you open presents? I’m going to need coffee.”
“Da-ad.” She flopped on the couch, still in her Frozen pajamas.
“Well, one question. I know presents are super-important, but remember, you invited guests, and we don’t exactly know when they’re coming. Do you want to meet the Fairy Master in your pj’s?”
Her eyes got big.
Nate grinned. “Didn’t quite think of that, right?”
She looked longingly at the stack of presents under the tree. “Okay, make your coffee while I change.”
She ran into the hall, and Nate took a breath. Bean juice required.
In the kitchen, he scooped beans into his grinder and his phone dinged. Whoa. Heart beating. That was the signal Asher said he’d send when he was on his way, and that was only a few blocks’ walk.
Delly was excited about the Fairy Master showing up, but Nate had her beat. Having a guy over for Christmas was—what? Nice? Serious? A declaration? He didn’t have a lot of experience, but it seemed like all of those things to Nate. Maybe it wasn’t to Asher, but hell, Asher had vanquished a villain for Nate. That seemed important.
He remembered to pour the ground coffee into the machine, added in a bunch of water, and hit start.
The doorbell rang and Delly yelled, “I’ll get it!”
By the time Nate made it back to the living room, Delly was at the door and the tableau was priceless. She’d dressed herself up in an outfit that would challenge Ophelia for extravagance—flowered tights, a blue tutu that went with one of her Halloween costumes, and a Wonder Woman long-sleeved T-shirt tucked into the tutu and showing below it. On her head, she’d added an Oregon Ducks cap. She was bouncing up and down, waving her wand and chanting, “You’re here. You’re here.”
Standing in front of her was—deliciousness on the hoof. Asher wore black jeans, boots, and a muffler to his chin under a heavy wool peacoat. He was weighted down with bags.
Nate called, “Delly, stop bouncing and let Asher in. It’s cold.”
“Oh. Sorry!” She backed up as Nate ran to grab some of the bags that emitted warm, delicious fragrances and made clinking, clanking sounds as Asher moved.
When Nate had captured two of the bags, he headed toward the kitchen. “You poor thing. You didn’t have to get up this early.”
“Hope it’s okay. I didn’t want to miss the fun.”
Nate turned in time to see the pure honesty and luminous joy on Asher’s face. He walked to Delly. She took a step back, and it was easy to understand why. Even with the sweet smile, the man was formidable. Then he knelt down. “Merry Christmas. You haven’t opened your presents yet, have you?”
That seemed to remind her she’d forgotten something special. “No. I’m about to.”
“Well, good. I hoped I didn’t miss it.” He stood, and this time she didn’t step back. “I’m going to put all the food in the oven to keep warm, okay?” He pulled off his coat and muffler, revealing a blue cable-knit sweater, left a bag by the couch, and then grabbed the other food bags.
“Sure smells good.” Delly inhaled loudly.
“Ophelia gave me some of her hot chocolate for this morning. She’ll be here later, but she figured we’d need it for all the present unwrapping.” He walked to the kitchen, and amazingly Delly followed him, not even waylaid by the packages.
Nate leaned against the counter while Asher put dish after dish into the oven and set it for low. He looked up and smiled as he closed the oven door then walked to Nate—and kissed him!
Nate was so stunned he just stared as Asher pulled away. It had been a short kiss, but not at all platonic.
Delly said, “You kissed my daddy.”
“Yep, sure did.”
“Why?”
“Well. You know your daddy likes boys, right?”
She nodded seriously. “He told me about how if he ever got married again, he’d marry another boy like him.”
“Well, there you go. I’d like to be his boyfriend, which is something you do before you get married.”
She frowned. “My mommy has a boyfriend and he’s not nice. He tried to hit my daddy and he yells at Mommy.”
“That’s because he’s not really a boyfriend, or not a very good one anyway.”
“You’re sure right.” She scowled.
“But I’d like to be a good boyfriend to your daddy and maybe get to hang out with you too.”
Now the sun came out. “You would?” Her dimples flashed.
“Yep, if you wouldn’t mind.”
“Heck no. You’re the Fairy Master.”
“I’m mostly just a guy who really likes your daddy and you a lot.”
While Nate’s heart expanded out of his chest, Delly gazed at Asher steadily, then raised her arms.
Asher scooped her up and spun her. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes!” She laughed.
“You know what we forgot?”
“What?”
“A whole treeload of presents.”
“Yayyyy!”
He grabbed Nate’s hand, and they trooped into the living room. Then as Delly began to tear into packages, Asher served them all hot chocolate and marionberry scones.
Nate sat on the couch, and Asher sat next to him, their thighs pressed together. He whispered, “Sorry about the sugar rush, but we’ve got eggs and turkey bacon for later.”
“Hey, it’s Christmas.” And just because it seemed he could, he leaned in and gave Asher a quick kiss.
Delly ripped through her presents, ignoring her new pajamas and underwear, admiring her new outfit briefly, and madly hugging her unicorn and her fairy. When Nate rolled in her first two-wheeler—a tiny one—she cheered and wanted to ride it immediately, but Nate persuaded her to wait for a few degrees’ rise in temperature.
Asher smiled at Delly. “I made you something.”
Nate shook his head. “No fair. You already gave her the best present ever, her wand.”
“That’s true, Asher.” Delly cradled her wand against her chest.
“You asked me to bring my wand to show you.”
“Yes. Oh yes, please.” She bounced.
“I keep my wand in a special case.” He reached into a bag he’d set beside the couch and pulled out a beautiful box made of different shades of wood woven together with inlaid stones so deep a blue they almost looked black until the light shone through them—like his eyes. He opened the case to a simple wooden wand carved with some figures that might be words.
Delly pointed without touching. “What is that?”
He smiled. “It says happy and blessed. It’s the meaning of my name.”
“Oooh.” It came out on a rush of breath.
Asher looked at Delly with the gentlest smile. “So I thought you might like one too.”
“Me?”
From the bag he pulled another box, this one carved all over with dolphins and delphiniums and inlaid with brilliant red stones.
