Page 37 of Fairy Godmothers Aren't Cheap

“I’m not wishing again,” I told Estelle, pulling my hands into the sleeves of my sweater. “Ever. I’m not giving you more opportunities to breach my privacy and charge me fake fees.” I crossed my arms and sat back. “Coincidences happen. So, thanks, but no thanks. The only wish I want to make is to have you and this debt go away.”

She blinked, face falling. “I can’t grant those sorts of wishes.”

“Of course not,” I muttered.

“I want you to believe in me and my powers.” She wiggled in her chair, positioning herself as upright as possible. She tugged at the cuffs of her white blouse. “Make a wish and I won’t charge you for it.”

Josie released an excited gasp, looking at me with hope.

“We already tried that,” I reminded the group. “The James wish?”

Tamara nodded, her expression disgruntled. She’d been pretty bothered that I’d done that to James. So was I.

Josie, however, seemed way too thrilled about the possibility of seeing a wish granted, and appeared to be all in.

“Can I make one?” she asked.

“Shh! No.” I elbowed her.

“Yes, of course.” Estelle beamed at her.

“What’s the loophole?” I asked, knowing there must be one if she was offering free wishes.

“No loophole.”

“You’re going to grant her a free wish?”

“Oh, no. I’m not going to grant it. If I grant it, then I have to charge her. But I’ll tell you what Josie wishes for. Then you’ll know I’m a real fairy godmother, and can hear wishes.”

“That proves nothing,” Tamara pointed out. “You could be a mind reader.”

“Wait!”No. “You charged me to cancel James’s date?”

“Don’t make a wish!” Tamara said, clutching my arm. She leaned forward to glare at Josie, who looked away, cheeks pink.

“I won’t,” I assured Tamara. I jutted my chin in Estelle’s direction. “She and her predecessor seem to enjoy destroying the lives of my friends and family.” I thought of all the crappy wishes that had been granted over the years, and how they’d ruined some really great things.

Estelle gave me a hurt look. “I’m only trying to give you the life you deserve.”

That wasn’t saying much.

“I’ll do it,” Josie said. “And I don’t care if you charge me for it.”

“What! No!” I turned to Josie. Had she only come to help me so she could meet my fairy godmother and make wishes?

“No, I got this,” she said reassuringly, and my anger faded. Maybe her analytical mind had found a way to prove this was all just make-believe.

Estelle perked up, all smiles. “Make a wish—without saying it out loud, and really put your heart into it. I’ll hear your wish and tell you what it is, but won’t grant it.”

“Okay,” Josie said.

“You’re not wishing.”

“Give me a second,” Josie complained.

Then she closed her eyes, and tipped her chin upward like enjoying a sunbeam, and looking even more like Anne Hathaway than usual.

“Something harmless that seems impossible,” I coached Josie, one eye on Estelle. “But is consequence-free. Like a milkshake from Peter’s.”

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