Page 20 of Fairy Godmothers Aren't Cheap

“Mrs. C.’s list?”

“Witches. They play by their own rules and interfere with ours whenever they feel like it.”

“How is it okay to grant wishes that ruin everything for others? What about their wishes and their sense of agency?”

“That’s a great question. It has a very complicated and nuanced answer.”

“And that is…?”

“Your life is the product of your wishes. It is made up of your past, future and present all together, all at once.”

“Okay, but you just stepped into James’s present and messed it up.”

“We are all interconnected, and have our own destinies and sense of agency.” She intertwined her fingers. “All of our pasts, presents and futures are woven together.”

“I know, but I just took away his…whatever. I interfered. I did something wrong. Something bad.”

She tipped her head to the side. “Did you?”

“Yes!”

“I can’t grant a wish that will harm someone else.”

“But you granted a wish that ruined my parents’ marriage. That was harmful! Why wasn’t I warned?”

“Oh, that wasn’t me. Paxi was your original fairy godmother. She was very hands-off. Let the chips fall as they may. That was more her philosophy.”

“I’d like to speak to her, please.” I had a few things to get off my chest thanks to her granting that tenth birthday wish that had stolen my family.

Estelle’s lips disappeared for a moment as she chewed on them. “She uh…”

I leaned forward, sensing a clue that, at last, might allow me to pry this whole mess open. “What?”

“Got eaten by a dragon.”

I sighed in defeat. This conversation was ludicrous.

“I’m sorry,” Estelle said softly.

“None of this adds up. How do you know about my birthday wish if Paxi granted it? Why would she devastate my family like that?” The idea of having someone else to blame was a reprieve from my own guilt.

“I can’t know her reasoning, but often, a granted wish creates space.”

“Yeah, it made space for my parents to get divorced, my dad to have his heart broken, and for my mom to find someone new. She moved on to a perfect life with a better husband and daughter. Paxi made space for me to be forgotten about.” My chest was heaving, the hurt fresh like overturned soil in the spring, loamy and moist and oh-so cold. “There was plenty of harm in that stupid, childish wish, and it should never have been granted.”

The sympathy in Estelle’s eyes made emotion well in my eyes. “I promise to do better by you.”

“I don’t care! I want my family back. I want for bad things to never happen. Why would she hurt us like that?”

“We can allow a temporary harmful effect in order for long-term beneficial effects to occur. It’s about energy, karma, balance and putting more good into the world than we take with each granted wish. The reach can last?—”

“Explain James’s ruined date.” I crossed my arms. “Where’s the beneficial effect for him?”

Estelle’s slow smile suggested a secret.

“What?”

“You care for him.”

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