Believe (13 page)

Love is here; love is there.

Love is ever present, everywhere.

D
eliah's grandmother awoke yawning and feeling more rejuvenated and refreshed than she had in years. Deliah sat on her lap in Papa's favorite chair and asked Grandma if she'd like to hear a story: a story of a little girl who discovered a whole new world, a magical life just waiting to be explored. Her grandmother listened intently, amazed by her granddaughter's imagination.

When Deliah finished the story, her grandmother asked her if she thought such a glorious place as in her tale truly existed.

“Sure, Grandma, right outside the front door.”

Grandma laughed, hugging Deliah as she looked at the red, purple, and orange glowing fairies waving hello from outside the window.

“Well, my dear, what shall we do today?”Grandma asked.

“Bake cupcakes and make a crown of dandelions!”Deliah shouted.

“Sounds like some of your favorite things, but it hasn't been that long since we last did them. Don't you want to do something different?”

“Uh–uh,”she said, shaking her head hastily. “It feels like forever!”

“Okay then!” Grandma said as she dug in the drawer and pulled out their aprons, handing Deliah hers. “Let's get baking, and then we can enjoy our cupcakes outside while we make our
dandelion crowns.”

After dinner, Grandma tucked Deliah into bed, and as Deliah surrendered to a final yawn, she could swear she saw Ostephen hovering outside her bedroom window. She threw off her covers, ran to the open window, and saw him holding a tiny suitcase.

“Didn't think I'd leave without sayin' goodbye, did ya?” he teased.

“Where are you going?”she asked, frowning.

“A good friend once recommended that I take a special someone on a long–awaited trip.”

Just then, Rosella flew forward, took Ostephen's outstretched hand, and kissed him tenderly on the cheek. Deliah's heart warmed at the very sight of them.

“I'm so happy for you both!” Deliah exclaimed.

“I'll see ya in a few weeks,” Ostephen promised. “Until then, try and stay out of trouble, will ya?”he said with a wink.

They all laughed, and she watched Rosella and Ostephen float toward the mammoth moon, all the stars bending to wave hello as they passed. Deliah crawled back into the familiar warmth of her bed, kissed Papa's picture goodnight, and wished all the fairies a safe flight. She closed her eyes, planning to dream of Cordelia's garden party, which she was going to attend tomorrow.

Deliah tossed and turned in the bed, feeling as though she were lying on something. She got up, turned on her bedside lamp, and felt around the covers but didn't spot anything. Turning, she caught a sparkle out of the corner of her eye. Running to the mirror, she gasped in gratitude. Wings! She turned slowly like a tiny doll in a music box, finally feeling like the fairy princess Finvarra had told her she was.

“Deliah?” Grandma asked, opening the door abruptly. “What's the matter, honey? Can't sleep?”

Deliah was frozen. She could still see her wings in the mirror, but she was in full view of her grandmother, and her grandmother didn't seem to notice a thing! She remembered Maeve saying that the wings could go unnoticed in her realm if need be. Deliah smiled and hopped back into bed.

“I think I'm going to sleep really good now, Grandma.” Grandma tucked Deliah in once more and kissed her forehead while turning out the light.

“Sleep tight,” Grandma whispered and closed the door.

“As the fairies take flight,” Deliah heard Papa whisper.