Clara and the Magical Charms (10 page)

At the end of that beautiful night, as the tide was turning, the gnomes boarded their boats and said good-bye to the Sheepskerry fairies. As Alasdair flirted (he was asking
all
the fairies for their snail mail addresses) and Ethelrood chatted with Avery, Rowan walked with Clara under the moonlight on Sheepskerry Dock.

“I have something for you,” he said. “It's why I was late to the banquet.”

Clara looked at what Rowan held out to her.

“It's . . . it's a valentine,” he said.

Indeed it was a valentine of sorts, but it wasn't made of shiny paper or delicate lace. It was made of stone.

“This is the stone I found on Sunrise Hill,” said Rowan. “It's in the shape of—”

Clara took it from him gently. “It's in the shape of a heart,” she said.

“I painted it myself,” said Rowan, blushing. “Fairies like pink. At least that's what Hamish and Cam told me.”

Clara smiled at the splash of pink on the stone heart. Rowan was a better swimmer than he was a painter.

“Look at the back,” said Rowan.

Clara turned it over. Carved into the stone were two little words:

YOU ROCK

“Get it?” said Rowan. “It's a rock and—”

“I get it,” said Clara. “And Rowan?” She smiled. “You rock, too.”

eighteen

“H
ere's another one for you, Clara!” said Sylva.

The next morning, the Fairy Bell sisters were opening their valentines over a breakfast of mint tea, crumpets, farmer's cheese, and grapefruit marmalade. They always exchanged their family valentines before heading over to Lady's Slipper Field to give out cards and gifts to others. Clara opened the pretty pink envelope and took out a handmade card from Sylva.

“Don't you love it?” asked Sylva.

“I do,” said Clara. She read it aloud:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Be careful with magic

Whatever you do!

With lots of hugs on Valentine's Day

from your little sister Sylva.

“Oh, Clara will be careful with her magic,” said Rosy. “But you are growing up, aren't you, Clara?”

“It's fine if you grow up,” said Goldie. “But you'd better not move away from us for a long, long time. Who would help me with my fractions?”

“And who would I have to share my secrets with?” said Rosy.

“And who'd keep me from getting in too much trouble?” said Sylva.

“Squeak!” said Squeak.

They all looked at Clara. “You're not going to leave us, are you, Clara?” asked Sylva.

“I'll tell you one thing,” said Clara, “nobody's going anywhere until these breakfast dishes are done.” She grinned. “Sylva, you clear the plates. I'll wash them and Goldie can dry.”

“Or they can air-dry,” said Goldie.

“And Rosy, you'll get Squeakie into her snowsuit, won't you?”

“I certainly will,” said Rosy.

The sisters bustled about, and soon all their work was done. They put on boots and hats and gathered up their valentines to deliver to their fairy friends. Of course Sylva could only find one of her mittens. “I have an extra pair upstairs,” said Clara. “I'll be right back.”

Clara flew upstairs and quickly found a pair of warm mittens to fit Sylva. Before she went downstairs again, she opened up the top drawer of her dresser. In it was the very special valentine Rowan had given her, wrapped in an old brown scarf. She took it out carefully. The pink paint was already flaking off, but nothing would change the shape of the heart-shaped rock, or what Rowan had written in stone.

“Clara! What are you doing up there?” called Goldie from downstairs. “We can't wait forever.”

Clara smiled. “But maybe I will,” she said as she put Rowan's heart back where it belonged. “Coming!” she called to her sisters.

She flew down the stairs, linked arms with Rosy, and opened the door to the dazzling day.

Fairy Secrets

Squeak's Words

A-blay!
: Hooray!

Coomada!
: Love it!

Jojo!
: Hurry!

No lolo
: Don't be sad.

Tutu!
: Me too!

Squeak!
: Oops! or Uh-oh! or Yay! or sometimes,
Yikes!

How to Make Stone Valentines