Page 140 of Lucky In Love

“I’m not sure what an Oreo is.” She peered over at the strange, dark, circular object. “Water, however, would be most appreciated.”

“This is an Oreo. A cookie that I’m addicted to. Try one.”

He bounded off to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, loosening up the cap for her. It was something he did for his wife, who hadn’t had the strength to open some of the bottles on her own when she’d been given chemo.

“Thank you.” She took a sip of the water before setting it aside. “For now, I’ll pass on the cookie. In answer to your question, I was cursed years ago. I used to be human. I was in a small county in Ireland about three hundred years ago. A sickness came through my village. My father died of the illness, and then my mother got sick. As I tended to her, my husband accused me of not being with him. I wasn’t aware that while my mother was dying, my husband fell ill. I often prayed at the fairy tree near my property. I left them offerings to protect my family from the scourge that afflicted many in the area. Yet, still, my family perished. I was so furious that the fairies did nothing to help me or my kin, that I kicked their fairy tree and swore at it. I fell asleep that night, and when I awoke, I was perched atop St. Colman’s Cathedral in Cobh County, Cork. At first, I didn’t understand why or how I got there. I was looking down on the world, and when I moved, suddenly I had wings. I realized I had been cursed by the fairies in retaliation for my ruining their sacred tree.”

“Cursed?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Three hundred years? You must have seen a lot of changes since then.”

“I have. It amazes me the technology that exists in the world today.”

Sitting down next to her, he looked at the empty space where the gargoyle had sat before he turned back to her. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured. “Sorry.”

Angela smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve heard anyone say that. Thank you.” Sobering up, she pulled the package to her. “I can take us anywhere, even back to Ireland, to return the stone. I believe a ritual must be followed when putting the stone back.”

“And your curse? Can you be released from it?”

She looked at him, surprised. “No one has ever asked. I don’t know.”

Reaching out, he gently cupped her cheek. “I would like to help you however I can. I owe you that much.”

She lowered her head. “I don’t know. You owe me nothing. However, I can help and protect you.” She stood. “I need to check on the ritual. Will you be alright while I’m gone?”

Byron nodded. “I’ll be fine. Just be careful.” He added, then watched, stunned, as she disappeared before his very eyes. “Great. I’m absolutely losing it. I’m caring about a piece of statuary, an inanimate object, and I’m talking to myself. I’ve finally cracked up.”

Chapter Six

He picked up the water bottle. It was missing some from when she had taken a few sips. She. Like she was real. Byron wished it were true. He wanted to know her and have her be a part of his life, not this imaginary friend he had just dreamed up, but that is probably why she seemed so perfect.

Walking back into the kitchen, she reappeared, startling him so much he dropped the water, the cap coming off and spilling everywhere.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to alarm you,” Angela looked around for something to help dry the water from the floor.

Byron grabbed a few paper towels and threw them over the puddles to sop up the wetness. “It’s okay. I’m just not used to my imagination being so active.”

She laughed. “You still think I’m a fabrication you’ve created. Yet, you don’t have the statue you bought from the antique store on your table or in the hall. You have the bruises from fighting last night. What more proof do you need?”

He shook his head. “Things like this just don’t happen.”

“You didn’t believe in fairy rings, and yet they’ve punished you since you took the stone. Others won’t touch the rock to return it to its rightful place, yet you still don’t trust what you cannot disprove. You believe you spilled water and cleaned it up. You believe you took a trip to Ireland and have yet to unpack fully. Yet, you don’t believe me.”

By listening to her, Byron knew she was right, even if he didn’t want to admit it. He stepped up to her, gripping her by the upper arms, and kissed her solidly on the lips. Pulling back slightly, he looked a bit surprised. She wasn’t the cold stone he’d anticipated kissing. Instead, her lips were soft and supple.

Breaking contact, he looked deep into her golden eyes. “I hope you’re real. I hope you can help free me from this curse. Yet, I feel lucky that if not for the curse of the wee people, I might not have met you, and I really want to get to know you better.”

She smiled at him. “I’m not human, Byron James. I cannot be with you. I, too, am cursed by the fairy people, and I’m not sure I will ever be free.”

“Have you tried?”

“At first, I apologized. I fixed the tree to make sure it didn’t die. Eventually, I stopped trying.”

“How did you end up in an antique store here in the States?” he asked, leading her back into the dining room, where they could sit and talk.

“Church renovations. I was sold to other places, put on a ship and brought to the Americas. As buildings were renovated or demolished, I got moved around.”

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