She finished with the customer, said her good-byes, then summoned the next customer.
Ted walked up to the counter. “Hello, Isla.”
“Mr. Coles. Ted. H-hi, uh, how are you?”
“Fine. You?”
“Okay.” She paused a moment, feeling nervous. “I wanted to apologize again for the way Thanksgiving happened.”
“Don’t worry about that,” Ted said. “It’s water under the bridge. I enjoyed your company. We enjoyed your company.”
“Is everyone getting ready for Christmas?”
“Oh yeah,” Ted replied with a chuckle. “Lorna is the queen of Christmas. We hadn’t finished the leftover turkey, and she was putting up the first Christmas tree. She puts up two. I spent the last three weekends stringing lights around every window and door in the cottage.”
“Sounds wonderful.”
“Every year we look like the beach retreat Santa goes to after Christmas. Even if it takes up most of my time.” There was an awkward silence before Ted spoke. “I don’t have any presents. I just wanted to give you this.” He handed her a piece of paper. “Parker told me you were a secretary in your last job. A friend of mine may need a secretary in a few weeks. His secretary is going on maternity leave in February, so he’ll need someone then. My friend has a hunch she won’t be back, so this could become permanent.”
“Thank you so much.”
“My friend said he would like to talk to you. It’s a trucking company, not finance—”
“That won’t be a problem. I wasn’t in finance. That was Margo.”
Ted took a step back. “Anyway, I thought it was worth a shot.” He waved. “Bye. Have a nice holiday.”
“Thank you again.”
Isla was busy the rest of her shift. She didn’t have a chance to look at the paper until after she was home. Ted’s friend needed a secretary and accountant. Isla wasn’t an accountant, but she could learn. Maybe she could take a course at the community college after the first of the year. How hard could it be?
Isla pulled off her boots and flopped onto the couch. Her stomach growled, but she was too tired to fix any food.
There was a knock on the door. She opened it. “Parker.”
He looked yummy with his half-smile and casual stance. “You should really find out who it is before you open the door.” He paused. “May I come in?”
Isla crossed her arms. “Why?”
“Please.”
Isla stepped back. Parker passed her, then she followed him inside.
She stared at him, pleased that she had remembered the details of his face and the broad shoulders.
“How are you?”
“Fine.”
He hesitated. “And how is the…um, your…?”
“Fairy?”
“Sure.”
“I don’t know,” Isla replied, a lump forming in her throat. She swallowed. “I haven’t heard anything since, well…they took her away.”
“They? You mean other fairies?”
She nodded. “Yes.”
“If you say so.”
“Actually, you said it.”
“Wiseass.” He pulled a check from his pocket. “I have your money.”
“I already said I don’t want any money. We weren’t successful.”
“We sort of were, just not the in the way we planned. My mother and I had a long talk. We got a few things straightened out. I think I bought myself some peace for a while.”
“That’s good. But I still don’t want your money.”
He searched her face a moment then shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He walked toward the door. “I’ve been thinking over things the last week. We can’t deny there was a connection happening between us on Thanksgiving. And it was damned exciting.”
Isla’s pulse picked up.
“It’s just…I’m a rational guy. I deal in science. A plus B equals C.”
“That’s actually math, not science.”
“Don’t be a smart ass.”
“I’m just pointing out—”
“You know what I mean. I’m saying that I don’t want whatever you have going on in your life in mine. That whole business with that fairy thing. I still don’t know what the hell that was.” He gestured as if erasing something in front of him. “I don’t want to know. It’s way too crazy. I have enough crazy. I don’t need to invite more.”
Isla stared at him. “Okay.”
He stared back. “That’s it?”
“What did you want? Me crying and yelling to give us a chance?”
“No.”
“Then what? I have a fairy in my life. It’s not something anyone else is supposed to know, but it’s too late now. If it helped Sparkle be okay, I would do it all again.” She looked down. “No matter what the outcome.”
“And you don’t know what happened to it?”
“Her. Sparkle is a girl.”
“Whatever, it’s too much fantasy and unicorns for me.” His cellphone signaled. He looked at the screen. “I have to get back to the ER.”
Isla opened the door. “Have a nice holiday. And thanks again for your help with, well, the fantasy and unicorn thing.”
He stopped in front of her and looked as if he was going to say something. Instead, he closed his mouth then gave her a small wave before leaving her apartment.
She pushed the door closed and blew out a long breath.
“That’s that, I guess.” Though it really would have been great to kiss those lips again. Or a few hundred times. A thousand?
Isla blinked a few times as a sense of having company opened her eyes. It was dark—only three in the morning. Flashes of light by the ceiling of her bedroom caught her attention. A moment later, three fairies descended from the ceiling.
Isla sat up. “Sparkle?”
“No,” one of the fairies replied. “But Sparkle is well.”
Isla flopped back on the bed. “Thank heaven. When can she come back?”
Silence alarmed her. She narrowed her gaze, wondering if the fairies had disappeared. “Hello?”
“Sparkle has fully recovered. But the council has decided not to have her return to you.”
Isla flew out of bed. “What, I’m getting a new fairy? But Sparkle and I have been together for as long as I can remember.”
“You misunderstand. You are not being assigned another fairy. You are not being assigned any fairy.”
Tears stung Isla’s eyes as a sob clogged her throat.
“The fairy-human relationship is a serious one. Fairies, despite their magic abilities, are still quite vulnerable. We expect the human to be protective. There is no room for you to compromise a fairy’s health or safety. You and Sparkle were lucky this time. Next time could be disastrous. The council won’t take that risk.”
“But.”
“Sparkle wants you to know that she is going to miss you.”
There was a silence before Isla said, “Would you tell her that I’m glad she is alright.”
They vanished in a fall of glitter. Isla’s tears fell a moment later.
Chapter 6
Parker looked at his watch. Fifteen minutes and his shift was over. The ER was quiet for Christmas Eve. Thankfully. These last few weeks had been long on work and short on sleep.
The holidays were responsible for the first part. Distracted, busy, sometimes inebriated, people produced a lot of accidents and therefore trips to the ER. But Isla was the reason for the last part.
She invaded his thoughts every moment he wasn’t working. Her smile lit up everything, her laugh was a cross between bells and a song. The smoothness of her skin, the scent of lemons in her hair, her soft, curved body made sleeplessness a part of his life. Damn, he wanted her. The daydream of sliding into her wet heat made him hard in an instant.
He had dialed her number dozens of times in the last few weeks but never let it connect. The fairy incident stopped him every time. Parker fluctuated between he knew what he saw, and he had no idea what he saw. Between fai
ries are real, and I need to stop drinking.
“Are you out of here, Doctor Coles?” The shift supervisor asked.
“As soon as Dr. Shelton gets here.”
“Consider me here,” Dr. Shelton said from behind him. “Are you working tomorrow?”
“I always take the Christmas morning shift so that people with kids can have that time.”
“That’s nice, doc,” the nurse said.
Parker shrugged. “Not a big deal.” He wished everyone a good holiday and went home.
He poured a drink.
“Hello.”
Parker spun around to see a tiny flicker of red hair and opalescent wings. He cursed before taking a long drink.
“I’m a member of the fairy council.”
He grabbed the bottle and sat on the couch. “Okay.”
“The council has determined that because Isla introduced you to Sparkle prematurely, which is a grave violation of fairy law, she will no longer be a companion to Isla.”
“So much for small talk. That seems a bit harsh.” He thought a moment. “Wait? Prematurely, what does that mean?”
“I’m not finished. Sparkle has also been stripped of her powers and is unable to communicate with Isla.”
“Since you didn’t answer my initial question, I assume additional questions will go unanswered as well.”
The fairy flew in front of him. “Sparkle has an opportunity to regain her powers if she obeys all the council’s edicts. Also, there is a way to facilitate Sparkle reuniting with Isla.”
He stood mute, waiting for the rest.
“Marry Isla.”
“No.” Parker almost dropped his glass as he shot to his feet. “What the hell?”
The fairy flew near his face and narrowed her gaze. “Then, the council has a request.”
He finished his drink. “What could possibly be more outrageous than telling a person he has to marry someone or that someone will be punished? You do realize how crappy that demand is, right? The position that puts me in?”
“When a human loses a fairy connection, it can be a hard transition. Can you keep an eye on Isla? Help with the transition?”
“Why don’t you do it yourself?”
“The council would prefer to stay away.”
Parker shook his head. “Fairies. What bullshit. You have rules that people don’t know about, so we have no idea when we break them. You meddle in people’s lives then leave. You’re like tiny bullies.”
“Are you saying you won’t keep an eye on Isla?”
He glared at the fairy. “I’ll do it. For Isla, not your precious fairy council.”
# # #
Isla marched up the sidewalk toward her apartment, the snow stinging her cheeks. Mr. Stevens, the store manager, gave her a bonus for not missing any time during the holiday season. Twenty bucks. Yea. Almost enough for a burger and fries.
Her mother phoned earlier in the day to tell Isla that she was staying in Florida for the next four months and sublet her townhouse until then. Isla was relieved that she wouldn’t have to answer her mother’s questions, but that created a huge problem. Homelessness.
Isla had no job lined up and, after running the numbers, she didn’t have what she needed to cover the rent.
When Isla told the landlord a few weeks ago, he put her place on the market and rented it in ten minutes. February one. Christmas would be spent packing boxes this year. Without her mom’s place as a backup, Isla would be watching fireworks through her windshield turned living room window this New Year’s Eve.
“Don’t be such a drama queen,” Isla whispered to herself, “you won’t be homeless on New Year’s. That will happen by Valentine’s Day.”
Isla released a long breath. Her first Christmas without her best friend would be the worst part of everything. She missed Sparkle so much it hurt. It wasn’t just friendship and love. Sparkle gave Isla advice and shared her opinions. That sassy, glittery fairy was Isla’s conscience.
Isla unlocked the apartment door. She dropped her keys on the table and looked up. “Hello. Hello? Fairy council, I want to talk to you. I need to talk to you. Please?” She flopped into a chair. “Come on. Please talk to me. What can I do?”
Nothing.
She looked around. There wasn’t much left to pack. She sold most of her things, given other items to charity, and had a few clothes that would end up in her back seat.
“Christmas in a skimpy apartment. Pathetic.” She rubbed her hands over her face. “Come on, Isla, it could be a whole lot worse. You still have a month to find a job and a place and nothing but time to find both. There are plenty of people in worse shape.”
Isla fixed herself a cup of tea and opened a package of peanut butter cheese crackers. “Gourmet dining at its finest.” She opened her tablet to read the headlines.
There was a knock on the door. “Coming.” She opened it.
“You really should find out who it is before you answer the door.”
“Parker.”
“Hey.”
“What do you want?”
“Merry Christmas to you, too.”
They stood looking at each other for a moment before Isla released a long breath as she stepped aside. He walked in, turned to her, turned to her dinner on the table, turned back to her. “Dinner? Do you make a habit of eating crackers instead of cooking a meal?”
“I’m eating light.”
“There’s light, and there’s starvation.”
She put her hand to her hip. “You just show up after weeks of no communication, with a holiday hello, and to criticize my food choices?”
“No.” He scanned the room. “Where’s your couch?”
“In someone else’s living room. A den, perhaps.”
His eyes widened. “Isla, what’s going on?”
Isla narrowed her gaze. “I sold my couch.”
“Why?”
“I’m sure it will come to you eventually.” She crossed her arms. “What did you want, Parker?”
He paused. “I saw your friend.”
It took her a moment. “Sparkle?”
“No. A member of the fairy council.”
“And?”
“She’s fine. Sparkle. She misses you.”
“I miss her. She couldn’t come and tell me that herself, I guess.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
He sat at the dining room table and gestured for her to sit too. He rubbed his forehead, then leaned back and closed his eyes. “She doesn’t have any more powers. Whatever the hell that means.”
She jumped up. “Oh no.”
“What?”
“A fairy without fairy powers is just a tiny person. With no wings. Doing the filing at fairy headquarters.”
He scowled. “Oookay. The council fairy said that if Sparkle follows all the rules, she could get her powers back.” He shrugged. “Like probation.”
“That’s something, I guess.” Isla sat again.
“But that’s not everything. The fairy council said that Sparkle could return to you under one condition.”
She leaned forward. “That’s great! Let’s do it.” When Parker remained silent, Isla scowled. “Wait, what’s the condition?”
“Something I have to do.”
“You? So, do it. Whatever it is, just do it.”
“I’ve been trying to figure out the best way to say this.”
“I want my fairy friend back in my life.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Just what is it you have to do? Rob a bank or something?”
Parker stared at her.
She jumped up. “You have to rob a bank?”
“No, that would be ridiculous.”
“Then what is it?”
“I have to marry you.”
Isla’s eyes widened. “That’s not ridiculous to you?” Isla dropped back into the chair. “A council fairy came to you and said that the only way Sparkle can be my fairy again is if you ask me to marry you?�
��
“Yup.”
“Why?”
“She didn’t elaborate. From our conversation, it seems fairies are big on giving orders and short on explanations.”
Isla’s shoulders drooped. “I think I would prefer that you had to rob a bank.”
He took her hand in his hands. “I’ve thought about this from every angle, and I can’t do it.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t let you.”
“You agree?”
“Of course, I agree.” She stood then paced a few steps. “In fact, I think it stinks that the fairies would even put that out there. It’s pretty manipulative.”
He stood. “That’s what I said to the fairies.”
“Owww, way to diss the whole fairy realm in one broad stroke.”
“But you just said—” He released a long breath. “I don’t know what the hell is going on. And frankly, I don’t want to know. Fairies. Conversations with fairies. Powers. Glitter. The only thing I know is that I am not the marrying kind.”
“So you’ve said.” Isla lowered back down onto the chair. “That’s it then.”
Parker knelt in front of her. “I know this must be a lot to take in. I’m sorry I’m not more help. Tomorrow is Christmas. I have to work until three in the afternoon, then I’m going to the cottage. Why don’t you come with me? Relax, think about something else.”
She scoffed. “There’s a great idea. Let’s go back to the scene of that crime.”
“It wasn’t a crime.”
“It was a crime to treat your family that way. We lied to them. We weren’t fair or kind. It seemed harmless, but obviously, it wasn’t. I realize that now.” She stood, and he followed.
“That’s harsh.”
“And costly. Parker, thank you for coming here to tell me everything the council said. I appreciate it. I do. But,” she said, walking to the window. “All things considered, I wish I had never met you.”
“Isla. Come on.” He came up behind her, though he stopped short of touching her. “You don’t mean that.”
“I’d like to be alone right now.”
He touched her shoulder. She didn’t react.
“Okay,” he said, “If you change your mind about tomorrow, call me.” He walked to the door. “And for the record, I am very, very glad I picked you up off the pavement last month, even if you don’t feel the same right now.” He opened the door. “I know you’ve lost your friend. I’m going to help you get through it.”
A Fairy Crazy Thanksgiving Page 7
