Miracles for Nick

by Holly Fuhrmann

  "Like I said, they appeared to me in public places, and I was the only one who saw them. That was pretty convincing. And..."

  "And?” Nick pressed.

  "Well, they knew things,” she said.

  "What kind of things?"

  She shifted nervously in her seat. “Things about me. Personal things."

  "A good detective could find out many personal things about you, but that wouldn't make him a fairy godmother,” Nick pointed out.

  "They knew things that no private detective could find out. Things I dreamed about. Things I wished for. They read my mind. And, yes, after a time I did believe that they were fairies."

  Mentioning dreams made Nick uncomfortable. He had a mental image of Blossom sitting on his lap, but he quickly shut it off. He didn't need to be reminded that the first time he'd met the fairies was in his on-its-way-to-becoming-x-rated dream.

  A little more forceful, Nick said, “So three fairy godmothers burst into your life and promise you your dreams will all come true. I'm willing to concede that they are, as you believe, fairies."

  "What?” asked the Judge.

  "Oh, Nick, we knew you'd believe us,” Blossom said.

  Nick turned and faced the fairies. Glory was sitting right behind them, an incredulous look on her face. Nick hadn't discussed this strategy with any of them. He simply smiled what he hoped was an encouraging smile. “I didn't say I believed my clients were fairies. I believe they're harmless romantics. But for the purposes of this trial, I'm willing to concede the possibility that they are truly fairies."

  "In which case I want my happily-ever-after,” Fiona said. “They promised me my own-true-love."

  Nick moved directly in front of Fiona. There was a splash of color lighting her cheeks for the first time. “Miss Fayette, when the fairies promised you a happily-ever-after did they give you a timetable?"

  Fiona looked startled by the question. “Pardon?"

  "Did they tell you when this happily-ever-after would begin?” he pressed.

  "No,” she answered hesitantly.

  "Did they ask you to do anything specific to help bring about this happily-ever-after?” he asked. Fiona remained silent.

  Nick turned to Judge Fallon. “Your Honor, please instruct the witness to answer the question."

  "Ms. Fayette, this is a reasonable question,” the judge said. “Would you please answer it."

  "They asked me to go to Fairyland with them,” Fiona admitted softly.

  "What?” Judge Bernard Fallon roared.

  Louder this time, Fiona repeated, “I said, Myrtle, Fern, and Blossom asked me to go with them to Fairyland."

  The judge pounded his gavel. “I want to see Myrtle, Fern and Blossom alone in my chambers. Now!"

  "Nick, he can't do that, can he?” Eternally merry Blossom had turned decidedly un-merry.

  "Your Honor, this is highly unusual,” Nick said.

  "This entire case is highly unusual, Counselor. Myrtle, Fern and Blossom—my chambers now. Court is in recess.” The Judge struck his gavel and stood.

  The bailiff said, “All rise."

  The room rose and, as the Judge stalked out of the courtroom, Nick returned to his table.

  "Nick, he can't make us go, can he?” Fern asked.

  "He's the judge. He pretty much rules this courtroom."

  "That's always been Bernie's problem. He's always the boss,” Fern muttered.

  "Well, if we have to go face him, we're taking you and Glory with us.” Myrtle looked grim.

  "I'm your attorney, he can't keep me out. But he certainly isn't about to let Glory in."

  "Just let him try to keep me out,” Glory said. She patted the obviously shaken Blossom's shoulder.

  The admiration Nick had for Glory's defense of the fairies rose another notch. He found himself taking her hand and giving it a quick squeeze. He wasn't sure if he was offering her moral support or seeking it for himself. He'd had his share of strange clients in the past, but these three were the oddest.

  The five of them slowly followed the judge into his chamber behind the courtroom.

  The Judge de-cloaked, then sat at his desk. Pointing at Nick and Glory, he said, “You two—out."

  "I'm sorry, Your Honor, but I'm their attorney and I must insist that I stay.” Nick could see that his answer didn't please the judge. But pleased or not, the judge couldn't legally force Nick to abandon his clients.

  "And I'm their employer, and they've asked me to be here.” Glory stood defiantly, as if she was daring the judge to try to remove her.

  Admiration didn't quite cover what he felt seeing her so willing to fight for the fairies. Something in Nick's chest leaped. She was beautiful, standing arms akimbo, daring the judge to kick her out. If he needed her, would she defend him with this kind of passion? Nick suddenly realized that he wanted her passion.

  "Both of you can stay, but you're to sit there and not make a sound.” The Judge pointed to a couch. “You three, front and center.” The three fairies hesitantly obeyed.

  "So, your Glory and Nick are banding together on your behalf, but that doesn't mean they're in love."

  "That doesn't mean they're not, Bernie,” Fern said, flippantly.

  Nick cringed. No one called a judge such a familiar name, especially when it was obvious he'd like nothing better than to throw them in a cell and a toss away the key.

  "That's Judge Bernie,” the judge said, running his fingers through his hair in apparent frustration. “At least for now."

  "Ha. For now? You've always been of the opinion it's your job to sit in judgement over everyone else. You're condescending, egotistical and...” Blossom paused.

  "Yes,” the judge urged softly.

  Too softly for Nick's peace of mind. He jumped to Blossom's defense. “I think what my client is trying to say—"

  "I think I told you to sit back there and be quiet,” Judge Bernie barked.

  "But—"

  "Nick.” Glory took his hand and pulled him back onto the couch. “I don't think he's fooling around."

  "You're obviously a very intelligent young lady.” The judge gave Glory an encouraging nod. “Sit, young man."

  "Who is he calling young? He's not much older than I am,” Nick muttered to Glory. “I don't know how he can be a Senior Judge."

  "Did you have something you wanted to share with all of us, Mr. Aaronson?” Judge Bernie asked, sounding more like a school teacher than a judge.

  "I'd love to—"

  Myrtle cut him off. “Nick, let us handle Bernie.” She turned to the judge. “This is all your fault, and you know it. That's what you're so mad about."

  "You still haven't given me any proof,” the judge maintained.

  "We've given you enough that you should have at least investigated it,” Myrtle argued.

  "Speaking of investigating,” said Nick, “I think we need to talk about how it is you know my clients, Your Honor. Maybe we should investigate your recusing yourself from this case."

  "That's not going to happen because your clients don't object to my hearing this case. Do you?” he asked, Myrtle, Fern and Blossom.

  "Sorry, Nick,” said Myrtle. “It's a good point, but we need Bernie to hear this case. No one else will do."

  The judge nodded. “They're convinced I need to be here, and there's nothing either of us can do to change their minds.” To the fairies he said, “But I still need proof."

  "Proof of what?” Glory asked.

  "Proof that Fiona's a fairy,” Blossom said. “Though Bernie here would like to believe we're lying, now that he's met her, he knows it's true. And even though he doesn't want to admit it, he knows what he has to do."

  "I'm the judge here.” The judge suddenly didn't look quite so confident. “I don't have to do anything."

  "And would you like to explain to Nick and Glory how many cases—human cases—you've ever heard?” Fern asked innocently.

  "The three of you are treading on dangerous ground. I deserve—and I insist on�
��a certain amount of respect. My position has earned me that much."

  "What you deserve is a good spanking.” Fern said. “Everyone in Fairyland talks about how your mother indulged you and spoiled you."

  "One more word about my mother, and I'll..."

  "You'll what?” Myrtle said, drawing herself up to her full four and a half feet.

  Judge Bernie pointed at Glory and Nick. “I'll hold them in contempt."

  "Wait a minute, we haven't done anything,” Glory protested. “You told Nick to shut up and sit here, and that's just what we're doing, so how can we possibly be in contempt?"

  "That's it. The two of you are in contempt.” The Judge stood and pushed his chair back with such force it thwacked against the wall. He stalked to the door and slammed it open.

  "Judge!” Nick protested.

  "Bailiff,” Judge Bernie called. “Find these two a cell."

  "You've got to be kidding,” Nick yelled.

  "Bernie, you can't put them in a jail with criminals,” Blossom said. “If you try, I'm calling Berrybelle myself and telling her what you're doing."

  The imposing, self-righteous judge suddenly looked a little cowed. “You wouldn't."

  "Oh, I would,” Blossom promised.

  "They're in contempt."

  "No, I'm in contempt,” Myrtle corrected him. “I'm in total contempt of a man who is such a coward he won't meet his destiny head-on. And since I've known you all of my life, I have to admit I can't believe you're this much of a coward."

  "How dare you!” Judge Bernie snarled.

  "Easily,” Myrtle said. “We used to be friends, Bernie. You were only a couple classes ahead of us in school. I hate to see what you've become. You won't even consider the possibility you're wrong. And I dare you to try to put these two in jail. They wouldn't be there long."

  "You wouldn't,” he growled.

  "Watch me,” Myrtle said.

  "And me,” echoed Fern.

  "And me, too,” Blossom added.

  Myrtle's hands were on her hips. “We both know who would win."

  "But—"

  "Let them stay here for the night,” Blossom offered softly. “In your office. They have a bathroom, and there are no criminals, at least not after hours."

  "You know you can make sure they don't leave,” Fern added.

  "The three of you are supposed to be on our side!” Glory hollered.

  "We are on your side, silly. We're keeping you out of jail,” Blossom said.

  "But you're convincing him to lock us up here, rather than to drop this absurd contempt charge.” Nick couldn't believe what was happening. Just a few weeks ago he was a normal, slightly dissatisfied attorney. The only thing he was looking for was a case he could care about, not a case like this—a case with women who thought they were fairies, plaintiffs who agreed, and a judge who was as mad as the March Hare.

  Nick felt as if he'd dropped down Alice's rabbit hole and was beginning to wonder if he'd ever find his way out.

  "This entire situation is absurd,” Nick muttered.

  "Absurd?” Bernie echoed, the word obviously not sitting well.

  Nick didn't give a damn what Judge Bernie felt. The man was a nut-case. This entire case was crazy, and everyone connected to it was as well, including his brother, sister and their spouses.

  "Now, don't go getting upset, Bernie,” Fern said placatingly. “Nick's having a hard time accepting the way things are."

  "I'm not accepting this any better than he is,” Bernie said.

  "But you will,” Blossom promised. “Now that you've met Fiona, how can you not?"

  "The three of you are insane,” Bernie muttered.

  "Finally, you've said something that makes sense,” Nick growled.

  "If we are insane, you'll have to blame Grace,” Blossom said. “Now, about Nick and Glory."

  "Fine.” Judge Bernie looked as if he'd reached the edge of his rope and was hanging on by just a strand. He stood in front of Nick and Glory. “You two are in contempt, and I sentence you to spend the night in here. When I come in tomorrow, I expect an apology."

  "For what?” Glory asked.

  "You can figure that out tonight. You'll have plenty of time. Now sit there and let me finish.” He turned his attention to the fairies. “What's this about the three of you inviting Fiona into Fairyland? You know the rules."

  "You know what they say about the mountain coming to Mohammed,” Myrtle said with a finger waggle. “And it wouldn't have broken any rules. We told you, she's a fairy."

  "Half fairy,” Bernie corrected.

  "Any hint of fairy blood is enough, and you of all people know that, Bernie.” There was disappointment in Myrtle's tone.

  "How dare you bring that up?” Bernie gasped.

  "The fact that Berrybelle loved a mortal and gave him a son isn't anything to be embarrassed by. The fact that you're behaving like an ass is.” Myrtle shook her head in apparent disgust.

  "Bernie, you disappoint me. You disappoint all of us.” Fern shook her head as well.

  "The two of you are making this worse,” Blossom, the for-once-in-her-life-voice-of-reason, said. “Bernie needs time to adjust. You're trying to railroad him into his destiny instead of allowing him to discover it on his own. Remember Terry. You allowed him to discover Pauline wasn't a Paul, and that she was in fact the love of his life."

  "Of course the poor boy spent weeks worrying about his sexual orientation because he was so attracted to Paul, never knowing Paul was a Pauline.” Fern let out a little laugh that didn't sound very sympathetic.

  "I'm done. We'll continue this in court tomorrow. I'm not going to be reprimanded by some egotistical coward.” Myrtle started toward the door. “You'd better leave these two something for dinner, and Blossom, make sure they have clean clothes for the morning."

  "Thanks, Nick,” Blossom said as she trailed after Myrtle. “You did a great job today."

  "You're really not leaving us here,” Glory said in disbelief.

  "I may not be able to control Myrtle, Fern and Blossom, but here I'm the judge and you're in contempt.” There wasn't an ounce of sympathy in Judge Bernie's voice.

  "I'm not an attorney. Why am I here?” Glory pressed.

  "If it weren't for the two of you, I wouldn't be here going through this absurd charade. You've annoyed me. Deal with it.” Bernie started toward the door. “Dinner will be delivered at six. The phone and the door won't work. Have a great night."

  Glory watched helplessly as the fairies and the judge left. She could hear them continue to argue their way down the hall. She turned and faced her incompetent attorney. “Now look what you've done."

  "What I've done?” Nick looked incredulous.

  "Yes, what you've done. We're in contempt and locked in this room for the night."

  "Don't worry. This man is obviously nuts. I'll call the president judge and have him straighten this all out.” Nick strode to the office phone and picked it up. “I can't believe it. He was right. It's dead."

  "What do you mean, it's dead?” Glory felt a sense of panic begin to build. She didn't want to be locked up for the night, especially with Nick Aaronson. Nick, who left her feeling weak and feminine. Nick, who left her tongue-tied. Nick, who made her feel like a frizzy-redheaded school girl once again, unsure of what to say and what to do.

  No, Glory did not want to spend a night locked up with Nick Aaronson.

  And conversely, Glory wanted to spend a night with Nick Aaronson. And that wanting was why she absolutely, positively didn't want to spend a night with him. She had plans that didn't include a fling with a handsome attorney whose entire family believed in fairy tale happily-ever-afters.

  Once upon a time, Glory believed in them, too, but that time was long past.

  "There's no dial tone. It's not working.” Nick slammed the receiver down.

  "You're an attorney. Certainly you have a cell phone.” Glory had to get out of the office and away from the attorney who had her fantasizing about brief
s, and not the legal kind. No, as he paced in the courtroom today she'd fantasized about what kind of briefs he wore. Boxers? Silk? Flannel?

  "Hang on.” Nick opened his briefcase. “We're in business.” He held up a cell phone triumphantly, then flipped the phone open and punched in a number. “Nothing."

  "What do you mean, nothing?” Glory felt as if all the oxygen had been sucked from the room. Carbon dioxide poisoning was the only explanation for her wild thoughts. Thoughts that included sweeping the clutter off the insane judge's desk and having her way with Nick. Her wicked, wild way with him.

  "Glory, are you all right?"

  "Am I all right?” Her mind full of images of what she'd like to do to Nick, Glory nodded, thankful attorneys couldn't read minds like supposed fairies could.

  "Are you going to ask what I mean about everything I say?"

  Glory forced herself to dismiss the x-rated images cluttering her mind and nodded. “Yes. At least until you make sense. What did you mean when you said nothing."

  "I meant, nothing, as in there is no power to this phone.” He tossed the cell phone back into his briefcase.

  "Don't you charge your phone?"

  "Yes. I just took it off the charger this morning."

  "Then it should work.” Forget the briefs. Glory wanted Nick totally briefless. She wanted him completely naked, and the wanting was growing by leaps and bounds with each passing minute.

  "Yes, it should work.” He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.

  Glory wanted to smooth his hair, and then she wanted to continue smoothing her way down his whole body.

  "But it won't work,” she said, no longer talking about cell phones, but of the temptation of starting a relationship with Nick, though he didn't know that.

  "No. It won't work."

  She sighed and tried to ignore her fantasies. They'd both admitted a relationship, even a purely physical one, wouldn't work.

  "So now what?” she asked.

  "It's only four o'clock. The building is still full of people. We'll just hammer on the door until someone gets help. Unless you have a better plan.” He watched her expectantly.