FAE-ted

By

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and
events described herein are products of the author's imagination or
are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any
resemblance to actual events, locations, organizations, or persons,
living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

ISBN 13: 978-1-60174-172-1

FAE-ted
Copyright © 2013 by Linda Palmer

Cover Design
Copyright © 2013 by Linda Palmer

Little Fairy
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"Hello and welcome to our Faerie Garden." I smiled as yet
another adorable child in a tutu entered the door, all dressed up for
today's birthday party. The sixth to arrive, she held a gaily wrapped
present with a big pink bow on it. "What's your name?"

"Lily Grace."

"Do you have a favorite color?"

It took her a second to reply, and I could barely hear her.
"Purple."

"Then you'll be Faerie Lilac." Pulling a lavender tiara out of
the basket, I set it on her blonde hair. I helped her slip her tiny arms
through the sparkly straps that would support the sheer tulle wings
she'd get to take home with her. "You're so beautiful!" I turned her to
look in our full-length mirror.

Lily Grace's eyes lit up. She gave me a shy smile.

"The other faeries are over there."

The cutie and her mom headed to the north end of the room
that was reserved for girl parties. Decorated with silk greenery,
vibrant flowers, and tons of twinkling lights, it was one of two
celebration areas in my Mom's new party supply shop, Festivities.
We'd recently decorated and now rented out the rooms along with
we-do-it-all party packages.

The other celebration area, which we called Boy's World,
was more diverse and had four distinct corners: Hero Central, Sports
Zone, Dino District, and Outer Space. Designing and setting them all
up six months ago had been the most fun I'd ever had. And each day I
spent at Festivities was super special, which was why I could be
found there after school and most weekends. I so loved my job.

For me, nothing beat dressing up for the occasion, whether
in a sparkly white gown with my own gossamer wings or in a
crime-fighter's mask and cape. I even had an astronaut suit, which was hot
and clunky to wear but still a lot of fun.

Feeling a tug on my hem, I turned and glanced down at the
next wannabe faerie, a little girl with riotous ginger curls and the
biggest brown eyes I'd ever seen. "Welcome to the Faerie Garden.
What's your name?"

"Anna Faith Davis. You can call me Anna."

I bit back a smile. "Do you have a favorite color?"

"Pink."

"I love pink, too!" I dug into the basket and pulled out a pink
tiara that clashed horribly with her hair, but there were no fashion
police at Festivities. Noting that she held a package almost as big as
she was, as well as a stuffed unicorn, I reached for them. "And who is
this?"

"Sparky."

I eyed the blue unicorn, which reminded me of one I'd had
years ago named Blaze. I'd dragged that thing everywhere until I lost
it at a shopping mall. To say I was devastated didn't begin to go
there. I was sure I cried for a week. "Can your dad hold Sparky and
the present so I can put your wings on?" I automatically glanced at
the male adult who'd brought her.

But he wasn't an adult at all. He was the teenage boy who'd
starred in my wildest dreams since the ninth grade. My heart
dropped straight into my stomach, and I was suddenly fifteen again,
with big red hearts in my eyes.

"I'm not her dad, but I'll take them," he said with that wicked
sexy grin that still haunted my sleep every now and then.

My knees wobbled. "Nate Marshall. Wow. It's been a
while."

His dark eyebrows shot up. "Do we know each other?"

"Kinda, sorta, but not-ish. We were on a committee together
when you were a senior and I was a junior. Spring dance, maybe?" I
pretended I didn't recall the details, though I well remembered every
magical moment we'd spent in the gym. The fit of his pea coat, the
scent of his cologne, the dimple that came from nowhere when he
smirked--all cherished memories. Who cared that we'd barely
spoken to each other and there'd always been a bunch of other
students around us, one of them his gorgeous steady?

He frowned at me for several seconds, obviously trying to
recall my girl-next-door face. "Lulu, right?"

"Close. Leeloo. Leeloo Brantley."
Thanks again, Mom, for
giving me the most forgettable name in the history of girl
babies.

"I remember now."

As if. Shifting my attention from his beautiful green eyes
with difficulty, I focused on Anna, who wore a white leotard and
tights under her silver tulle tutu. I slipped her wings into place. "Is
this your...uncle?"

She shook her head. "My big brother. For always and always,
happily ever after."

Nate playfully tugged one of her curls. "
Step
brother,
actually, as of this morning. My dad and her mom just left for their
honeymoon in Branson."

"That's so cool. Congrats. Now you'd better come with me,
Faerie Rose." I glanced at Nate. "That's f-a-e-r-i-e, by the way. We're
old school here." Since Anna was the last guest, I ushered her into the
party room via the mirror, enjoying her gasp when she saw herself
and then again when she took in the gorgeous sights and sounds of
the Faerie Garden at Christmastime.

I especially loved her reaction to the filigreed gazebo with
its twinkling lights, miniature chairs and a table that held all the
makings of a tea party. Leaving Nate to handle the present and
Sparky, I got busy with the task at hand--celebrating! He could find
his own way to the parents' bench lining the east wall. If he was
staying, that is. I wasn't sure I wanted him to since it might cramp
my style.

Some of the people who brought kids to parties sat quietly
and played with their smart phones. Others merely dropped off and
picked up, especially lately since it meant they could get in some
secret shopping. Still others hovered, often underfoot in their
eagerness to take photos or be involved in everything their children
did. I didn't fault anyone for that. In fact, I planned to be just like
them when I had kids of my own.

With a backward peek that revealed Nate had stayed, I
self-consciously began the usual games, one after the other--pin the ears
on the pixie, faerie chairs, and who's got the magic wand? I soon got
lost in the fun and led them in a freeform hop, skip, and jump to a
piece from the
Peter Pan
soundtrack appropriately named
"Fairy Dance" while Mom blew bubbles into the air.

Our guests were hilarious, from the ones who could barely
wiggle their butts to the wannabe Beyoncés that went all out.
When they'd had enough of that, my mom served them a fancy cake
and fruit punch. Then came the presents. Since the birthday girl's
mother stood up to supervise, I stole a moment to lean against the
wall and catch my breath.

"Hey."

I turned and found Nate standing right beside me with
Sparky tucked under his arm. "Hey."

"I just wanted to say that you're very good at this. As in
really. You should do it for a living."

I looked at him in disbelief. "I do."

"Oh yeah. Duh." He laughed heartily at himself, so it took
him a second to realize that Anna had left the presents and
approached us.

"I need to poop."

That got him. "Oh, um, sure. The bathroom is--" Red-faced,
he looked all around.

"Over there," I said, pointing to the little girl's room.

Anna never took her eyes off Nate. "I need help with my
leotard, sil-ly." She dragged out the word. "And you have to wipe
me."

Nate choked and sputtered a reply that didn't make sense.
So I jumped in. "May I do it this time?"

"Uh-huh."

With brand new big bro sagging in relief, I led her to the
bathroom, where she did what had to be done. After washing and
drying our hands, we returned to the fun. But she hung back a little
before joining the others.

"Do you have one of these for Nate?" She pointed to her
tiara. Her stepbrother's eyes widened in horror.

"Actually, those are only for girl faeries. Boys don't get
them."

"'Cause we're specialer?"

"You've got it, sister."

"What color of faerie are you?" she next asked.

"Indigo. That means blue."

With a solemn nod, she ran back to the party.

Nate sighed. "Thanks for saving me. That's twice now. I
definitely owe you."

Didn't I just wish? "I'll remember you said that."

He gave me the oddest look and another of those grins.
"Looking forward to it."

Flustered, I tried to think of something clever to say but
never got the chance before a wail of dismay made every parent
spring to attention. I quickly spotted the source, Anna, who'd spilled
red punch on her pristine outfit.

"Oh man." Nate took an uncertain step in that direction.

I saved his ass again. "We'll take care of it." And, used to
spills, Mom and I did, quickly wiping up and wiping down. Anna's
leotard, though damp, was barely stained when we finished. I walked
back to Nate. "Her clothes need to be washed ASAP."

"I'll make sure they are."

"So who's keeping her while the parents are in
Branson?"

I got another one of those looks. "Me, of course. It's only for
two nights."

My jaw dropped. "Dude, you're not up for this."

"I resent that."

I instantly regretted my thoughtless blurt. "Sorry. It's just
that five-year-old--"

"Four. She's four."

Wow. Even worse. "Four-year-old girls can be very
complicated."

"So can teenage girls," he said with a laugh, blowing me off.
"But I somehow managed to date a few. Anna and I will be fine."

Did that mean he wasn't dating now? "Look, I babysit all the
time, and I'm telling you from the bottom of the heart that if you
have a problem with wiping her butt, you are not prepared for
twenty-four-seven times two."

"And
I'm
telling
you
we'll be fine."

I gave up with reluctance and only because I thrust one of
my brand new business cards at him. Giving him my cell number
would've been a wildest dream come true if he'd actually asked for it.
Unfortunately, he hadn't. "Promise you'll call me if things get
crazy."

"They won't." He sounded so sure, but still pocketed the
card.

I didn't argue further, instead returning to the party, which
had begun to break up. Handing each pint-sized guest a shiny bag
filled with goodies, I waved all of them out the door. As Nate and
Anna left, he turned and gave me one last grin and mouthed,
I've
got this.

I couldn't help but grin back, as glad he wasn't pissed, as I
was certain he didn't
have
anything.

"Cute," Mom said, walking up. "As in very."

"Isn't she a doll?"

"I'm talking about the guy. Who is he?"

I told her.

"The same Nate you been crushing on since ninth
grade?"

"That'd be him. Totally hot; totally clueless."

"About your feelings?"

"About them and babysitting his stepsister." I gave her the
short version.

Mom shook her head. "He's not up for it."

"I know, right? Maybe we should go with apple juice instead
of punch for the parties. less stains."

"Great idea," Mom said, heading for the vacuum cleaner so
she could clean up all the cake crumbs on the floor. And since we had
another faerie gala in thirty minutes, I began wiping down the table
and chairs.

Saturdays with the faeries were like that.

* * * *

We got home two parties later and only after driving
through a weather phenomenon I called thunder snow that had
compromised the roads. That's when the sky produced rain that
turned to sleet, snow, or both because the temperature hovered
around freezing point. We occasionally ended up with the special
effects of an electrical storm and the inches of a blizzard. Good ol'
Arkansas. Winter mornings that began in the low twenties often
ended with afternoons in the sixties, and tornadoes in December
were nothing unusual. But the weatherman had promised that this
year we'd have a week of winter mix, with nothing worse.