Page 96 of Fairy Godmothers Aren't Cheap

“Char’s in love and frightened. I tried to summon her here, because she doesn’t understand emotional enhancement wishes, or wishes relating to the behaviours of others. But she can’t hear me or is ignoring me. She doesn’t know that any emotional enhancement wishes that have been granted on her behalf will have worn off by now.” I paused for a breath, feeling panicked.

Gram-Gram spoke up. “We don’t like humans interrupting our work day. These are private offices, and think of the example you’ve been setting with the others by letting her traipse in here?”

“But it’s not against the rules.”

“It hasn’t needed to be,” she said firmly.

I rubbed my forehead, desperate to express all that was weighing on me.

“I need to talk to her. The divine timing is right for old wishes that I granted before the ban. They’re picking up speed and…and…” I could picture how personally Char would take some of the things that were coming down the pipe due to old wishes she’d made. The one about Randy, for one. I’d been so naïve. I had granted her wishes, not fully comprehending the impact they could make when they finally came to fruition.

Being a fairy godmother was so much more complex than I’d expected.

“He loves her, Gram-Gram,” I pleaded.

“Who does?”

“James. And she’s about to ruin the best thing that’s ever happened to her, thinking that I’m behind it all. She doesn’t know what’s real anymore.”

“Estelle,” Gram-Gram said gently. “You’re becoming too emotionally involved in the lives of your clients. You’re losing your perspective.”

“But she needs to know! There’s so much still that she doesn’t understand!”

But Gram-Gram, the head fairy and my boss, acting as stubborn as the stupid, skinflinty old Paxi, simply shook her head. “Estelle, go back to your desk.”

CHAPTER34

~ Char ~

Tuesday and Wednesday had been a blur of work at Temporarily Yours, and the usual new-temp-job thrill had somehow worn off completely. There had been one bright spot, and that was a quick job for CM Enterprises out of Ontario. Connor MacKenzie, some big shot out east, had asked me to do research for a startup in Calgary, then one in Edmonton, which had meant jumping on the bus to head north. I was sure to wear my Flames jersey into Oilers’ territory, even though it normally wouldn’t be considered work appropriate. Although, with both of the province’s NHL teams in the playoffs, a Flames or Oilers jersey was currently everything appropriate.

Sure, it might be June, and late in the year for hockey fever to some people, but the teams had beaten out the San Antonio Dragons with their all-star Maverick Bladees to face each other head-to-head. The Battle of Alberta never rested even outside of playoffs, but this year it was extra insane with both teams vying for the Stanley Cup.

The worst part of my week, though, hadn’t been the cracks from the Oilers fans upon seeing my red and orange jersey in Edmonton, but had been catching myself feeling dreamy and hopeful, envisioning a future with James. Predictably, it was a rude slap to the face every time I recalled that my returned amorous feelings were all due to a wish.

I’d even tried going to Estelle’s office to beg for her help yesterday after getting back from Edmonton, but the witch in reception said she was off for the rest of the week.

Fairy godmothers took vacations? That seemed wholly unfair, especially while I was having a crisis.

I’d asked which day Estelle would return, but the witch had simply told me that their calendar was different than ours. And then, without even moving my feet, I’d found myself on the sidewalk outside YFGM’s front door. Naturally, the door was gone, and wouldn’t reappear, no matter what I did.

On Thursday night, determined to spend time with my roomies before baseball practice, I came home with a giant pizza and called out, “I’m home. I have pizza!”

I opened the box on the kitchen table, and Felipe chittered at me. I cut him a tiny piece of crust and handed it to him. He sat on his haunches and nibbled.

The pie was down a slice, as I’d given one away on my walk home as a good deed. But there was still plenty. I went to the fridge and found carrot sticks and Tamara’s homemade chocolate cake. I put them on the table along with plates.

The house was quiet. “Where is everyone?” I asked Felipe.

I closed the pizza box again; the pineapple reminding me of James. I loved that he hadn’t backed down about me wanting pineapple on the pizza when we’d ordered in the other night. My mom would have just shut up, and then picked it off in order to keep the peace. But James and I had stood our ground and bickered over what we each wanted, finding a perfect compromise. I liked that about us. It felt healthy.

But why weren’t my wishes wearing off on him? It was starting to freak me out.

Tamara appeared in the doorway, appearing slightly grim.

“What’s wrong?” I was up from my seat and across the room in a heartbeat.

She sucked in a deep breath then, blurted out, “I’m moving back home at the end of the month.”

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