A Hilarious and Charming Feel-Good Read

by Saranna Dewylde

  “I don’t want to. This is mine.”

  “Please?” Bluebonnet begged. “You’re such a crunchy old thing and these babies got you right in the feelings. I must know.”

  “Ah, I suppose you must get used to disappointment.” Jonquil flashed a self-satisfied grin.

  “Come now. We love them, too.” Petty nudged her sister with the tip of her wand, poking her in the side just enough to tickle her.

  Jonquil giggled and then slapped Petty’s wand away. “Oh, fine. Brittany knew exactly what I was. She saw straight through the veneers we wear for outsiders. She wasn’t scared, or intimidated. She didn’t doubt herself at all. She not only believed her own eyes, but this adorable child asked me to be her fairy godmother.”

  Bluebonnet put her hand over her heart. “You couldn’t say no to that.”

  “Of course, I couldn’t. Steven got very upset when she told him I wasn’t his fairy godmother. So she told him how to ask me and he did, too.”

  “That’s too precious,” Petty said. “Look, we’re already filling the world with more love. Just look at us. I feel much more connected to you two now after all of this.”

  Bluebonnet feigned clutching her pearls. “Are you saying you didn’t love us?”

  “Silly goose,” Jonquil muttered.

  “I know, things had started to lose their color. Of course, I loved you both. Always. You’re my sisters, but it wasn’t an active, giving love. Even though things went incredibly wrong, this was still a good thing for all of us,” Bluebonnet said. “I’m glad Lucky didn’t wish it away.”

  “Fine,” Jonquil conceded. “You’re right. Me too. We wouldn’t have our new charges without all of this.”

  “What is the update on Roderick’s fairy godmother?” Petty asked.

  “We can wait to burn that bridge when it’s time to cross it,” Bluebonnet said.

  “Is she upset with us?” Petty raised a brow.

  “Oh, more than you know. She doesn’t like Gwen at all. She doesn’t think they’re a good fit,” Bluebonnet replied.

  “If she wanted to be the one arranging things, she should’ve arranged for someone to cover her missing shifts, I would think.” Jonquil sniffed. “But that’s none of my business.”

  They laughed together, the sound causing the herbs in the flowerboxes to grow and the rest of the plants in the kitchen to perk up as if they’d been drinking the best sunshine.

  “I love Lucky’s carnival idea. I think it has real potential to be something fun,” Bluebonnet said.

  “Me too,” Jonquil replied. “I think we should plan it, but I also have a feeling that I haven’t had in a long time.”

  “What’s that?” Petty cocked her head to the side.

  “That everything is going to be okay.”

  Petty’s heart overflowed with love. “I think it will be, too. So you know what that means?”

  “It’s time for your favorite thing?” Bluebonnet grinned.

  “Meddling,” the three of them said in unison.

  “My plan is to get the key players together. In fact, I think we should trot on down to Pick ’n’ Axe for a pint and see if Rosebud, Grammy, and Fortune could meet us there.”

  “Maybe Ravenna, too. I wonder what she knows about kitsune. Lucky said she wanted all of her family at her wedding. Let’s make it happen,” Bluebonnet said.

  “Wait, wait.” Jonquil grabbed her sisters’ hands. “Just because it’s going to work out doesn’t mean that Ransom and Lucky are going to get married.”

  “Yes, it does,” Petty said.

  “Rewind. There’s still a lot of balls in the air.” She cut a sharp look at Bluebonnet. “Don’t do it.”

  Bluebonnet pressed her lips together, but it was no use. “Balls!” she spluttered with a giggle.

  “I told you not to do it. I’m serious here.”

  “Serious is good, but levity is better,” Petty said.

  “I mean it. Ransom still has to summon his courage to do what needs to be done. First, he has to realize he wants her no matter what; and second, he has to make a grand gesture. I don’t think that’s going to happen. He’s currently”—she put her finger up to check the wind direction—“on his way to Ecuador. What’s he going to do from Ecuador?”

  “He’ll be back. Ransom already knows what he wants. He just has to face it.”

  “Okay, we’ll roll with this, but I don’t want to hear any complaining if he doesn’t.” She shook her head.

  “Shall I get The Beast?” Petty asked hopefully.

  “No,” Jonquil and Bluebonnet said simultaneously.

  “You two never want to have any fun,” Petty pouted.

  “You can take The Beast out if Ransom and Lucky get married on Valentine’s Day.”

  A knock on the door surprised them, and they were never surprised by visitors. They always knew when company was coming. Things were changing in Ever After, and Petty could only have faith they would be for the better.

  The sisters looked at one another, each unsure of what to do until Petty sprang to action.

  When she opened the door, she saw that it was Rosebud and Grammy.

  “We heard that the helicopter took Ransom and now Lucky. What’s happened?” Rosebud asked.

  “Yes, I thought the rehearsal went quite well. Where did we go wrong?” Grammy asked.

  “Just the ladies we wanted to see. Can someone call Ravenna?” Bluebonnet asked.

  “Ravenna? Oh, this must be serious.” Grammy hooked her thumbs under her suspenders.

  “I’ll call her,” Rosebud offered. She stepped back outside the door and held up a hand while singing a rather dark song.

  A shiny black raven landed on her fingers and she whispered into the bird’s ear, all the while petting his head. He cawed at her and flew off toward the bank.

  “Thanks. I meant with the phone, but that will work, too.” Petty shrugged.

  “Sometimes the old ways work best.” Rosebud stepped back inside.

  It wasn’t long until a black cloud of smoke manifested on the front steps of the happy little cottage. It formed into the shape of a woman. Ravenna.

  Her black and purple hair hung in waves down her back, and she wore a floor-length black dress and a black crown that looked to be made of claws. A perfectly groomed, precisely arched black brow was raised in obvious curiosity.

  “You called?” she drawled.

  Petty seemed to recall a similar instance the last time they’d all been in the same space. There’d been a royal birth, a missed invitation, and a spinning wheel....

  That was neither here nor there, she supposed. It was ancient history for all of them.

  Except from the expression on Ravenna’s face, she’d forgotten nothing.

  At least they didn’t have to deal with her sister, Corvaxia. She was still mad that when the huntsman was to have returned with Snow’s heart in a box, she’d instead gotten a geoduck. Which apparently was a very large saltwater clam that appeared to be a penis with a shell. So in essence, the huntsman had given her a dick in a box. She had not found it amusing.

  “I don’t actually have all day?”

  “What do you know of kitsune?” Bluebonnet blurted.

  “You’re not even going to invite me in for one of your famous ice cream sodas?” Ravenna asked.

  When no one answered for a long moment, Petty shifted uncomfortably. “Yes, of course. Please come in.”

  She flashed a large, vulpine smile. “Thank you. I’d hate to have to remind you what happens when I’m left out of invitations.”

  “Ugh,” Rosebud grumbled. “Listen, this is about the whole town. Not just us.”

  Ravenna gave a dramatic roll of her eyes. “It’s always something with you do-gooders, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose it is,” Bluebonnet said happily, and scooted over to make room. “Sit by me.”

  Both of Ravenna’s brows slid almost all the way up into her hairline. “Well, okay, then.”

  Jonquil hopped
on board the welcome train, too. “I’ll make you one of our famous sodas. Anyone else?”

  No one said anything, and Jonquil made another for herself and one for Ravenna.

  Ravenna waited for Jonquil to take the first drink and then tried her own. Her stern features softened into the beginning of a smile. “Okay, I’m appeased. So what is it you want to know? Kitsune?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “They’re fox spirits. They used to walk the mortal world, but since the shift, the dying of the old magics, they retreated from the world. Much like us, but for some reason, crossing the barrier is hard for them unless they’re in a human shape, which they can only do a few times. I’m not sure on the number.”

  “Is there any way to communicate with them?” Petty asked.

  “You can give your message to a fox, but there’s no guarantee he’ll take it to the proper kitsune. He’ll give it to the first one he sees.” She sipped her soda. “Why all of this interest in them?”

  “Never you mind that,” Rosebud said.

  “If you want me to help, I need to know all of the situation. For instance, if you were to have, say, a kitsune who had surrendered her immortality, I could use her blood to craft a portal. There are other things I could do as well. Like possibly a potion so that the fox spirits could be seen. They’re all around us, along with other things. They’re simply behind a veil.”

  “That sounds kind of terrifying, Ravenna. We don’t want to set this girl up to meet her family and bring something ugly through. Or you make it so she can see fox spirits, but don’t tell her she’ll be able to see some kind of monster, too.”

  “I wouldn’t do that. You came to me in good faith. You invited me into your home. You fed me. These are the laws of my people. If you’d said that out of any other wish than to protect your new friends, I’d be gravely insulted.”

  “As you should be,” Jonquil said. “But not everyone knows the rules, Ravenna. If you’d like to be more actively involved in Ever After, we want you, but you need to communicate your needs to us.”

  “Oh no. This sounds like an intervention. I can’t.” She shook her head and stood.

  “Don’t leave. Please?” Petty asked her. “All Lucky wants is to have the family she never met at her wedding. Fortune would give anything to see her family. She traded it all for Lucky.”

  She cast a quick glance at Rosebud before looking back to Petty. “All right, then.”

  That’s when it hit Petty with a brick. They’d never understood their own story! Rosebud was Ravenna’s daughter.

  Holy Fairy Dust on toast!

  How had she missed it? Rosebud was a carbon copy of Ravenna. Her sweet, rosy lips were Ravenna’s if they’d been painted black. The same curve of the cheek, the shape of the chin, the same large, wide eyes. Even the same eyebrows.

  Petty couldn’t believe she’d missed the eyebrows. They were the stuff of legend.

  They weren’t so intimidating on Rosebud because she was blond. Except when she furrowed her brow—even though she was all sunshine and light—it put her in mind of Ravenna’s ferocity.

  She couldn’t wait to tell her sisters.

  But first things first.

  “What do you need from us, and how fast can we make this happen?”

  “Wait, wait. I thought the wedding was pretend?” Ravenna asked. “With your groom gone, hasn’t it been canceled anyway?”

  “That was actually my concern. How are we going to pull off a wedding with no bride and no groom?” Rosebud asked.

  “Lucky will be back and so will Ransom. We just have to get them together. Then fate will take its course,” Petty said.

  Ravenna rolled her eyes. “Oh, will it?”

  “Maybe!” Rosebud argued. “How about we defer to the experts on this one? The godmothers have been doing this for a long time. When we need an expert on curses, that’s when we’ll ask you.”

  Ravenna growled, but didn’t say anything else.

  “Oh! Lucky owes me a favor. I can use that to get her in place, I’m sure,” Rosebud said.

  “Good thinking!” Grammy said. “What do you need me to do?”

  “You need to be waiting close enough to know when you should come out and start the ceremony, but far enough away so if things get a bit more . . .”

  “Passionate?” Ravenna offered.

  “Exactly that,” Bluebonnet finished.

  “I can do that,” Grammy agreed. “I can also spread the word. I’ll get everyone else in place.”

  “Ravenna, do you have time to meet with Fortune today?” Petty asked.

  “I suppose, but I need to speak with you. In private.”

  “It looks like we have a plan, then.” Rosebud headed toward the door. “I’ll be in touch to finalize plans. I do love a wedding.” Rosebud hugged her arms around herself.

  Grammy said, “I’ll take that as my cue to skedaddle, too.”

  “This is coming together wonderfully. Thank you, everyone. We couldn’t do it without you. Just wait until I tell you all about the spring carnival.”

  Grammy laughed. “Of course, there’s already more shenanigans on the to-do list. Well, I for one can’t wait. This has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time. See ya, kids.”

  It amused Petty to no end that Grammy called them “kids.” Petty was probably a hundred times her age.

  After Rosebud and Grammy were gone, Ravenna turned to Petty. “Must they know as well?”

  Petty cringed. Of course Ravenna would know she’d figured out her secret. There was no point in pretending she didn’t know. “I wish I could promise I won’t tell them, but I’m already about to pop like an overfed tick. They’re my sisters. I tell them everything.”

  “Can you at least promise that my secret will not leave this room?”

  “Whatever it is, we won’t tell a soul,” Jonquil swore.

  “Promise,” Bluebonnet said.

  “She must never, ever know.” A look of sadness crossed Ravenna’s face and she added, “Not ever.”

  “Far be it from me to meddle—,” Petty began, but she was cut off by her sisters’ cackling.

  “Ooh, that’s the damnedest lie I ever did hear out of your mouth, Petunia Blossom,” Bluebonnet shrieked with laughter.

  “All I’m saying is, maybe you should tell her,” Petty finished. “I assume there’s much she doesn’t know. She thinks you’re the villain.”

  “That keeps her safe,” Ravenna answered. “I’m only going to say one more thing about it and I really don’t even know why I’m explaining myself to you. I don’t need your approval or anyone’s.”

  “No, you don’t, but we all need to be understood.” Petty almost reached out a hand to Ravenna in support, but decided they weren’t quite there yet.

  “The spindle was never meant for her.”

  Petty’s mouth dropped open. She had so many questions!

  “Nope, that’s it. I don’t want to speak another word about it. If you really want to build a relationship with me, you’ll respect this.”

  “Of course,” Petty promised.

  “I’ll get to work and do some more research on the kitsune. I know I have a book somewhere that can help us.” Ravenna disappeared in a shadow of bats that flew out of the window.

  Petty looked out the window and saw that clouds to the west side of Ever After had parted and a new castle rose up behind the darker part of the Enchanted Forest. The Evil Queen had reclaimed her part of Ever After.

  Jonquil coughed. “I think it’s a good thing; I mean, villains are all the rage now.”

  “What’s the secret?” Bluebonnet demanded.

  “You mean you didn’t figure it out? Fluff in your brainpan, Bon-Bon?” Jonquil answered.

  “Rosebud.” Petty conjured a picture of her out of smoke. Then she did the same for an image of Ravenna. “Ravenna. See? They’re the same.”

  “No, they’re . . . oh hell.”

  Bluebonnet slapped a hand to her forehead. “I see wher
e this is going.”

  “What?” Petty asked, feigning innocence.

  “No, absolutely not,” Jonquil said in answer.

  “I haven’t even suggested anything yet.” Petty bit her lip.

  “Yet, the word is yet. I’m not trifling with Ravenna Blackheart. We just broke the ice with her and it’s been how long? No,” Jonquil insisted.

  “But you know why she’s Ravenna Blackheart? Do you?” she sing-songed.

  “Aren’t we busy enough without risking certain death?” Bluebonnet asked.

  “No, you’ve forgotten our most important lesson,” Petty said.

  “I’m sure you’re going to remind us.” Jonquil sighed.

  “Love is always worth the risk,” Petty said. “Always.”

  “Better Ravenna than me, I say.” Jonquil nodded.

  “Why do I let you two talk me into these things? We haven’t had a vacation in at least a century. When is it break time?” Bluebonnet pouted. “We’ve not even finished with Ransom and Lucky.”

  “We will be. I’m sure the wedding will happen on Valentine’s Day.”

  “Wasn’t St. Valentine beheaded?” Jonquil asked.

  “Hush. Ransom is going to have his epiphany in five, four, three, two . . .”

  Chapter 23

  Lucky called Gwen on the ride from the airport to the Heart’s Desire headquarters.

  She was going to text, but realized that was the coward’s way out. If she was going to do this, she needed to actually do it.

  “I heard a rumor,” Gwen said when she answered the phone. “I heard you got on the chopper this morning. Where did you go?”

  “I’m on my way to Heart’s Desire’s HQ. I spoke with my godmothers and Roderick, and we decided that we’re going to tell the investors and the board that the wedding to me was just a publicity stunt that didn’t work out.”

  “Roderick called me. Is this the price that he asked you to pay for his help, because if it is, I don’t want it.”

  “No, not at all. This is me doing what I think is the best thing.”

  “Because Roderick told you it was the best thing?” Gwen asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “He called me and told me how I shouldn’t interfere with what you’re doing, and I told him to go eat two dicks and not call me in the morning.”