The Truest Heart

by E. D. Baker

  There were four animals ahead of them in the waiting room when they arrived. A flower fairy was cradling a frightened chipmunk in her arms, glaring at the black leopard that Cory recognized right away.

  “Hi, Selene! Felice, what’s wrong with your sister?” Cory asked the brown-haired girl sitting on the bench behind the leopard.

  “Nothing,” said Felice as Selene began to purr. “We’re here for our checkups.”

  The big cat’s loud rumble seemed to frighten the chipmunk even more. Squeaking, it ran up its owner’s sleeve.

  A little girl with long, blond pigtails was sitting in the corner with her mother. When a bright red snake poked its head out of the basket she was holding, the girl said, “Not now, Ruby,” and poked it back in.

  While Cory signed in at the front counter, Macks took a seat beside a tall, thin man with a nervous white rabbit on a leash. “It’s okay, buddy,” the man kept assuring the rabbit. “Our turn is next.”

  “Mr. Carroll!” called the elf maiden behind the counter. “The doctor will see Mr. Rabbit now.”

  When the man took his rabbit into the examining room, Cory sat in the seat beside Macks. Taking off the knapsack, she found Weegie curled up in a ball, asleep. Cory didn’t want to disturb her, so she left her there and held the knapsack on her lap.

  Mr. Carroll and his rabbit weren’t in the examining room long before he came out looking worried. Selene and Felice were called in next. Macks fell asleep soon after that, so Cory started reading old issues of The Fey Express. Other than Selene and Felice, she barely noticed who came and went. She was about to fall asleep herself when the elf maiden finally called her name.

  Weegie woke with a start when Cory stood up, and was moaning about her back again when Cory and Macks walked into the examining room. The woodchuck started telling Dr. Dickory all about it as soon as she saw him. Cory held the woodchuck’s paw while the doctor examined her. When he was done, Dr. Dickory shook his head and said, “I’m afraid there isn’t a thing I can do.”

  “You mean I’m going to die?” Weegie squealed.

  “No, of course not!” said the doctor. “I mean you shouldn’t be here. What you need is an animal chiropractor. Your back is out of alignment and a chiropractor can fix it. I believe there’s one around the corner. Fur and Feathers Chiropractic, or something like that.”

  “Do you mean to say that we waited in your waiting room all that time just so we can go wait in another waiting room?” grumbled Macks.

  The doctor shrugged. “Looks that way.”

  “This isn’t right,” Macks announced as Cory urged him out the door.

  “It is what it is,” Cory said, ignoring all the curious faces in the waiting room.

  They found Fur and Feathers easily enough because it really was right around the corner. This time there were only two people in the waiting room. Two gnomes, one male and one female, had brought in a pure white deer with silver antlers. He was a beautiful animal with a regal quality that even Weegie seemed to notice. She kept quiet as long as the deer was there, but the moment he went to another room, the woodchuck began to complain about her back again.

  Cory and Macks didn’t have long to wait before they were called as well. A middle-aged human woman showed them to the next room, which was empty when they arrived. Only a few minutes passed before the door opened and the chiropractor walked in. “I’m Quince Brookfield,” she said. “What seems to be the problem?”

  Cory’s mouth opened, but no words came out. “Hey!” said Macks. “Isn’t that the name of—Oof!” Cory elbowed him hard in the stomach before he could say any more.

  Fortunately, Weegie was already taking charge of the conversation, giving Cory time to study her uncle’s match. Quince had curly pink hair and vivid green eyes just like in her picture, but where she had looked young and cheerful, she now looked older and a little tired. Cory watched as Quince examined Weegie, noting her long, elegant fingers and how gentle she was with the woodchuck.

  At first Cory was delighted to have found her uncle’s match, but she soon started to worry. Unlike all the other matches Cory had made, this one would affect her directly. If Micah married Quince, she would move into his house. Cory had no intention of staying there if that happened. She had no choice; she would have to move out, but the question was, where should she go? Her grandfather had made a very kind offer, but should she really take him up on it? Knowing how awful the guilds could be, did she really want to bring it all down on Lionel? Micah had handled it very well, but then he wasn’t as old as Lionel, nor did he have such a big secret to hide. If the guilds were snooping around Lionel’s house, how long would it be before they discovered that he was a Cupid?

  The important thing is Micah’s happiness, she reminded herself. I’ll have to figure something out.

  Cory was still turning this over in her mind when she realized that Quince was talking to her. “. . . back tomorrow. I think she’ll be fine with one more treatment. If that works for you, you can schedule tomorrow’s appointment on your way out.”

  Cory thought that was perfect. Micah could come with her and she could shoot them both.

  “Thank you,” she said out loud as Macks picked up Weegie. “She looks better already.”

  Cory didn’t feel like talking on the drive home. Instead, she mulled over her options. She could find a place of her own, although she really didn’t like the thought of living by herself, or she could accept her grandfather’s offer. She was still thinking about what she should do when Macks pulled up in front of Micah’s house.

  “You seem upset,” he said as he took Weegie out of the basket. “Is something wrong?”

  Cory shook her head. “No, everything is fine. I just need to make a few decisions.”

  She spent most of the day thinking while she cleaned. She started a load of laundry first, then scrubbed the bathing room. When it was spotless, she made a vegetable and cheese casserole before she began to clean the kitchen. If she was moving out, she wanted to leave it cleaner than when she’d moved in.

  By the time Blue arrived, Cory knew what she had to do. She was hoping to talk to him before supper, but he was so preoccupied that she couldn’t bring it up. Micah was home earlier than usual, which meant that there were three of them for supper. When Cory set the casserole on the table, Micah served himself, but Blue still seemed distracted. Even after he had food on his plate, he didn’t seem interested in it. When he took a few bites and set down his fork, Cory finally asked, “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  “What? Oh, no,” said Blue. “It’s just the trial.”

  “Is it going against us?” Cory asked, setting down the pitcher she had just picked up.

  “It’s hard to say,” said Blue. “And I’m not really supposed to talk about it.”

  “Surely you can tell us something!” Micah said.

  Blue sighed and nodded. “I can’t tell you anything specific, but I suppose I can tell you this much. Today they questioned the people who had harassed you, Cory. Tom Tom and Lewis the wolf were there. So were some flower fairies, a couple of frost fairies, and two members of the Housecleaning Guild. They couldn’t deny what they had done, and everyone I talked to told me that it sounded awful in court. Normally I’d think that the trial was going our way. But the guilds have been spreading lies about you and a lot of people believe them. They’re saying that you deserved to be treated the way you were. I just hope the jury doesn’t agree with them.”

  “That doesn’t sound good,” said Micah.

  “No, it doesn’t,” said Blue. “And the trial should be over soon.”

  Cory wasn’t happy about his news, but she had something else to worry about now. “I took Weegie to the vet this morning. He sent us to the animal chiropractor for help with her back. We have another appointment tomorrow morning. I’d like it if you could both go with me. That way the chiropractor can show us all what we need to do for Weegie.”

  “Do I really need to go?” asked her u
ncle. “I didn’t tell anyone that I needed to take off tomorrow.”

  “Couldn’t you learn whatever it is and tell us about it tomorrow night?” Blue said.

  Cory shook her head. “I really think it’s important that you’re both there. I got the first appointment of the day, so it shouldn’t take too long.”

  Neither Blue nor her uncle looked happy about it, but Cory didn’t care. They were going, and that’s all she needed. Micah had to be there so she could make his match. She needed Blue because Macks couldn’t take two passengers on his solar cycle. Although she hated lying for any reason, she couldn’t tell them the truth, at least not now.

  After supper, Cory and Blue had to hurry to leave for her rehearsal. They were on their way up the mountainside when Cory brought up the chiropractor again. “I couldn’t tell you everything at supper because I didn’t want Micah to know, but I found his true love and I’m going to make the match tomorrow. Her name is Quince Brookfield and she’s Weegie’s chiropractor.”

  Blue turned his head enough to ask, “Are you sure?”

  “I saw her, so yes, I’m sure. I need you to go tomorrow so you can drive Micah there.”

  “This should be interesting,” Blue said with a laugh. “Now that I know what it’s about, I wouldn’t miss this for anything!”

  CHAPTER

  14

  Cory was dressed and ready to go before she went into the kitchen for breakfast the next morning.

  When she walked into the room, her uncle had propped a message against her plate.

  Cory,

  Chancy and I really like Shimmer, but we are unable to keep her. Please be prepared to take her with you when you come to rehearsal tonight.

  Olot

  “Oh, no,” said Cory. “Not again!”

  “What’s wrong?” Blue asked as he set a platter of pancakes on the table.

  “Olot can’t keep Shimmer. Now I have to find another home for her! Do either of you know anyone who would be good to her and give her a good home?”

  “I can put up a note in the teachers’ lounge,” said Micah.

  “And I can ask around at the station,” Blue told her.

  “That’s nice of you both. I hate the thought of giving her to a stranger,” said Cory. “I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  Macks showed up just as they were finishing breakfast. Micah looked irritated when Cory reminded him of the chiropractor. “I already sent a message to the school office,” he told her. “They expect me in as soon as I can make it.”

  “That’s not a problem,” Cory told him. When she saw that Blue was grinning like crazy, she almost wished she hadn’t told him about what was really going to happen. Hoping that Micah wouldn’t see his smile and get curious, she hurried them out the door and onto the solar cycles.

  Cory rode to the chiropractor’s office behind Blue while Micah rode behind Macks. Once again Weegie was curled up inside the knapsack, but this time she didn’t fall asleep. Instead, she grumbled to herself, shifting around now and then as she tried to get comfortable.

  They were parking their cycles when Micah glanced up at the chiropractor’s sign. “Huh! The last time I was in this part of town, this was a cobbler’s shop. A couple of nice brownies ran it; brothers, I think.”

  “The sign does look fairly new,” Cory said as she led them to the door.

  There was no one in the waiting room when they arrived, so they sat together where they could see the door into the inner rooms. Cory was just beginning to wonder if she should have brought a book to read when the door opened and a young woman gestured them in.

  “I don’t think you need me in there,” said Macks. “I’ll wait out here, if that’s okay with you.”

  Cory nodded and the others filed in behind her. While Blue shut the door, Cory set Weegie on the examining table. Micah was studying the diplomas on the walls when Quince walked in. She was looking at Weegie as she approached the table and didn’t notice Micah or Blue. Although Blue seemed mesmerized when she started to manipulate the woodchuck’s muscles, Micah’s eyes never left Quince’s face. She didn’t look up until she was finished.

  Quince looked surprised when she saw Micah standing there. “Hello!” she said, her voice sounding odd.

  “Hi!” Micah said in a softer voice than usual.

  They paused then, neither saying anything as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Cory could have sworn she felt an electric tingle for a moment and knew beyond a doubt that she was doing the right thing.

  Bow! Cory thought as she reached out her hands. Time stood still for everyone else as a bow appeared in one hand, a quiver in the other. Taking one of the two arrows from the quiver, Cory read the name “Quince Blossom Brookfield” printed on the shaft. After nocking the arrow on the bowstring, she pulled the string back and let the arrow fly. It hit Quince’s chest, releasing a shower of sparkles.

  The next arrow read “Micah Oakwood Fleuren.” When she let the arrow loose, it hit Micah so hard that he swayed on his feet. Sparks shot between Micah and Quince, obscuring them for a few seconds. Cory held out the bow and quiver, which disappeared just before Micah blinked.

  “You’re . . . ,” Micah began.

  “So are you,” whispered Quince.

  Cory grabbed Weegie off the table and got out of the way as Quince and Micah began to walk toward each other. They met by the end of the table where they fell into each other’s arms as if magnets were pulling them.

  “Thank you, Quince. We’ll be going now if you’re finished with Weegie,” said Cory. “Uncle Micah, we have to go. Are you coming with us?”

  Neither of them answered her, but then they were so busy gazing into each other’s eyes that she didn’t think they would. Blue was grinning like crazy again when they left the office.

  “Isn’t Micah coming?” Macks asked as they walked outside.

  “He’ll come home when he’s ready,” said Cory. “He has something else to take care of first.”

  “That was incredible!” Blue said as he got on his cycle. “Is it always like that?”

  “Pretty much,” Cory told him.

  “So are you going to shoot me someday?” he whispered into her ear.

  “Do I need to?” she whispered back.

  Blue gazed into her eyes. “No, you don’t. Our first kiss was enough to tie us together for life.”

  Leaning down from his seat on his cycle, he pulled Cory close and kissed her until she was breathless. When he let her go, she staggered back and bumped into Macks. “See that she gets home safe and sound, buddy,” Blue told his friend. “She means everything to me.”

  Cory watched Blue ride off before getting on Macks’s cycle. “What happened in that office?” Macks asked her. “Everyone was fine when you went in, then Micah didn’t come out and you and Blue started acting all lovey-dovey.”

  “Nothing unusual,” said Cory. “And how do you know Blue and I don’t act lovey-dovey all the time when you’re not there to see us?”

  “You don’t . . . I mean, I just . . . Never mind,” Macks said, sounding even more confused.

  After shouldering the knapsack with Weegie inside, Cory put on her sunglasses and helmet. They had scarcely started down the road when she had a strong vision of her mother beside a vision of Officer Deeds. At first visions like that had disturbed her. She’d even found them funny for a time. Now they made her wonder if she was doing something wrong by not making the match. “Only one more thing to worry about,” she muttered to herself.

  By the time they reached Micah’s house, Weegie was squirming in the knapsack. Cory let her out and the woodchuck ran off to find Noodles. Cory didn’t see their reunion, but she heard them squealing and a moment later the two were racing around the house.

  “I guess she’s feeling better,” said Macks.

  Cory knew precisely what she needed to do next. As soon as she stepped into the house, she wrote a message to her grandfather and placed it in the basket. A few minutes later the reply cam
e; he would love to see her the next day.

  Cory started cleaning again. This time she took down the curtains, washed them, hung them out to dry; swept the floors; and cleaned off the mantel under the nest of the finch that told the time. She was tidying up her bedroom when she realized that Blue would be back soon, so she made a simple supper of sandwiches and sweet potato chips.

  Micah wasn’t home in time for supper. Cory wasn’t sure if he was still with Quince or had gone to work, but she saved him a sandwich when she and Blue ate. She also wrote a note reminding him that she would be bringing Shimmer back with her, at least for the night. After Blue helped her bring in the curtains and hang them again, Cory grabbed the knapsack and they hurried to get on his cycle.

  The weather was beautiful when Cory and Blue drove up the side of the mountain to Olot’s cave. So many things were going on in her life that she really enjoyed the normalcy of rehearsals and was looking forward to losing herself in her music. On the way there, she almost forgot about her problem with Shimmer and wasn’t reminded until she walked in the cave door and the baby dragon flew at her.

  Cory caught Shimmer, laughing, and hugged her close.

  “I’m sorry we can’t keep her,” said Chancy, “but she really needs to be able to fly outdoors. And there’s her breath, too. I’m afraid that it makes me sick to my stomach. But then so many things do these days. Seeing you together like this makes me think that she really belongs with you. Is there any way she could live with you?”

  Cory shrugged. “Not at Micah’s house, but I may have to move soon. He has a new girlfriend.”

  “Really?” said Chancy as they walked down the hallway. “That’s wonderful for him, but not so wonderful for you, I guess. Where will you go?”

  “I’m still working on that,” Cory told her. “Is everyone here yet?”