by Dara Girard
“Maybe you can’t see it because of the baby,” he said. “Maybe that’s interfering with it.” He patted her hand. “Don’t worry about it and go to sleep.” He put his headset back on.
She didn’t want to admit defeat. She didn’t want to admit that the problem wasn’t his gift, but her. It made her question too much. Was this why her life hadn’t followed the timeline she’d planned? Was this why they were still living in a little green apple colored colonial instead of the grand Georgian she’d thought she’d be living in by now? Would she be a good mother? Did he think she was a good wife. A good worker? Did he know how hard she tried to make it all work?
Tangible. He’d said it was real and tangible. She’d never tried to touch it before.
Tamara left the bedroom and returned to the gift box she’d left under the tree. The box felt so light, how could anything possibly be inside it? She lifted the lid, reached her hand inside and felt nothing.
Then something, soft like a feather or the wings of a butterfly, brushed against her fingers. Or was that just a breeze? She tried again and felt it again. She yanked her hand out. There was something inside, but why couldn’t she see it? What was it?
She pretended to sleep that night, but cried instead. She cried quietly so that Ross wouldn’t notice. She let the tears fall and bit her lip hard so she wouldn’t make a sound. It was supposed to be a happy day—a happy season—but her heart felt shattered.
“I didn’t mean to make you cry,” Ross said the next morning at breakfast as he set a plate of seasoned eggs, spinach and baked plantain in front of her.
“I don’t know what you mean,” Tamara said, lifting her fork.
“Don’t lie to me.”
She set her fork down ashamed. She’d tried to hide her red puffy eyes with makeup. Clearly her attempt at camouflage had failed.
“One lie is enough,” he said before she could apologize.
She blinked shocked. “What lie? When?”
“When you told me you believed in them.”
Tamara felt her blood grow cold as she met his steady, penetrating gaze. Suddenly she knew what she should have seen: A sula. A fairy that only appears to believers. They never show themselves to those who pretend. They reveal a person’s true heart. And she’d been exposed as a fraud. She’d heard the stories about them as a child, learned that their presence had first been noticed centuries ago in a village located off the tip of West Africa. No one was quite sure which country—it shifted depending on the storyteller. Most Westerners disregarded them because they were quiet, shy and didn’t travel in groups as other known fairies tended to.
She opened her mouth desperately wanting to say, “I saw it a little bit,” but closed her mouth knowing that would be a lie. And she didn’t want to lie to him again.
A shot of anger coursed through her. How could this be happening? Why had he tested her? Why had he used such a big box for something so small? How could she have guessed? But just as quickly her anger disappeared, the fact that she couldn’t see it wasn’t his fault. He’d tried to surprise her. Just as he had when he’d proposed to her on her birthday, presenting her with a big box with a tiny engagement ring inside, tied to a red rose.
Her sister was right—it was an amazing gift. Sulas only appeared around the holidays to special people. But it hadn’t revealed itself to her. What did this mean? How would Ross look at her now? Would he trust her again?
She hadn’t exactly lied when he’d first asked her whether she believed in them. She was so in love, everything seemed rosy and possible then. She’d loved him and didn’t think that it mattered. But would he trust her again after this?
“I used to believe once,” she said, desperate to fill the silence. “When I was a child then...I let it go.”
His gaze fell to his plate but not fast enough to hide the glimmer of sadness hidden there. “They only stay three days and then disappear. I had hoped you’d get a wish, but I guess...”
“I will. I’ll get a wish. Please give me a chance.”
He reached over and patted her hand in the same reassuring way he had last night, but instead of feeling comfort, it stung. “Never mind. I’ll get you something else tomorrow.”
She didn’t want another gift. She wanted this one. This mattered more than anything he could buy at a store.
Later that day, Tamara knelt in front of the box. “Please show yourself to me, I do believe. I have to believe.” After a moment she added, “If not for me then for Ross. He means so much to me and it would make him so happy.”
But no matter how much she begged nothing appeared.
She felt a light touch on her shoulder. “Darling, come to bed, you’ve been here nearly all day.”
She hadn’t noticed. It didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Tamara.”
“If Carrie can see it, I must see it too.”
“This is not a competition.”
Yes it is, she wanted to say, but he wouldn’t understand. She couldn’t have her sister achieve something else she couldn’t. She had to prove that she was a good wife; didn’t he know how much his disappointment hurt her?
She shrugged his hand away. “Please, just leave me alone.” I have to do this! She only had one day left.
She felt a feather-light kiss on her forehead then heard his footsteps fade away upstairs.
She wanted to believe again. She wanted to feel the magic again and trust in it. She closed her eyes and willed her heart to see what was there, but when she opened her eyes the box was still empty.
She clasped her hands together in a plea and squeezed her eyes shut as night swallowed up day until only the glow of the tree dotted the room with tiny lights. “I need just one look. One glance. I wish I could see you if only for a moment.”
She heard nothing move, she felt nothing happen. She opened her eyes, her heart sinking at the sight of the still empty box.
“I’m not in there anymore you know,” a tiny voice said.
Tamara glanced up and saw a tiny brown fairy sitting crossed-legged on a branch, her wings a shimmering green gold, her skin the color of chestnut, her dark hair coiled into an elaborate braid.
Tamara stared wide-eyed, her heart racing. “You’re real.”
“Of course I’m real.”
“And beautiful.”
“Naturally, and I don’t have much time either.”
“Yes, I know. I get to make my wish,” Tamara said with eagerness. What should she wish for first? Something for her baby or for humankind or…?
The sula swung her foot. “You already made your wish.”
Tamara frowned. “No, I didn’t.”
“You wished with all your heart that you would be able to see me.” She opened her arms wide. “And now you can.”
“But—”
She wagged her finger, a little gold bracelet swaying on her arm. “Those are the rules. I made your wish come true.” She folded her arms and shrugged her tiny shoulders. “It’s not my fault you wasted your wish on something so simple.”
Tamara waited for a feeling of anger to hit her—yes she’d wasted time, so much time—but instead she didn’t feel anything, but relief. The sula was right, it was her fault that she’d lost the ability to see what was there. It was her fault she’d stopped believing.
But that evening, she’d been given new eyes. Eyes to see all the gifts that surrounded her in brilliant glory: Her husband. The new life that would soon join them. Her family. Instead of a house that was too small, she saw a beautiful home--with its dark shutters and snow dusted driveway--that was just right for them.
Soon her gaze sharpened to extend beyond her and she now saw that’d she’d been running a race of her own making, that life wasn’t a competition; that being amazed by her sister’s accomplishments didn’t make hers—a thriving business and growing customer base—any less wonderful. And beyond herself and her town she heard it speak—Peace. Peace in its silence—fr
ee from the sound of bomb blasts, gun shots, screams, cries, roaring tanks, police and ambulance sirens—filled her being. Peace amid life’s horrors restored her.
Her eyes filled with tears of joy mingled with shame. She’d been blind to so many things. She’d been blind to true happiness. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.”
The sula smiled then stood and bowed before disappearing. Lights suddenly flooded the room.
Tamara looked around as if waking from a dream.
“Are you talking to yourself again?” Ross asked behind her.
She jumped to her feet and hugged him. “I saw her! I saw her and she’s wonderful.”
He held her close.“Really?”
“She had a tiny little voice, gold bracelets on both wrists, white slippered shoes and soft fairy wings.”
Ross didn’t reply, but she felt the tension in him—between them—relax. “I’m glad you saw her.”
She drew back and looked at him. “Now I see so many things.” She cupped his face. “I see how lucky I am to have you. To have this,” she said motioning to the room and everything that it meant. “And so much more. Your gift is something I will never forget.”
And four months later when her baby girl was born, Tamara saw a special sparkle in her daughter’s brown gaze and knew she’d never be blind to life’s magic again.
About the Author
Dara Girard, the award-winning, bestselling author of more than thirty novels, continues to gain new readers with novels such as Just One Look, Dangerous Curves and The Amber Stone.
* * *
Sign up for her newsletter and be the first to find out about current and upcoming releases.
For more information
DaraGirard
www.daragirard.com
Also Available
If you enjoyed the short stories in this collection you may also enjoy Dara’s novels.
* * *
If you liked The Perfect Christmas then try…
The Sapphire Pendant (Book 1 in the Clifton Sisters Series)
The Amber Stone (Book 2 in the Clifton Sisters Series)
* * *
If you liked The Special Guest then try…
The Daughters of Winston Barnett
* * *
If you liked A Cup of Cheer then try…
Table for Two (Book 1 in the Henson Series)
Gaining Interest (Book 2 in the Henson Series)
The Henson Brothers (Includes the novels Table for Two and Gaining Interest)
* * *
If you liked New Year’s Surprise then try…
Playing for Keeps (Return of the Black Stockings Society, Bk 1)
After Hours (Return of the Black Stockings Society, Bk 2)
A Private Affair (Return of the Black Stockings Society, Bk 3)
Just One Look (Return of the Black Stockings Society, Bk 4)
* * *
If you liked A Fortunate Mistake then try…
Illusive Flame
* * *
Discover these books and more at www.iloripressbooks.com
Copyright Information
10 Holiday Stories: A Collection
Copyright © 2016 Sade Odubiyi
* * *
10 Holiday Stories is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
Published by Ilori Press Books LLC
Copyright © 2016 Cover and Layout by Ilori Press Books LLC
Cover Photo © 2016 Natalia Perevozchikova/123rf
* * *
The Special Guest
Copyright © 2015 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
The Special Guest is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
A Cup of Cheer
Copyright © 2012 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
A Cup of Cheer is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
New Year’s Surprise
Copyright© 2012 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
New Year’s Surprise is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
Something New
Copyright© 2013 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
Something New is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
The Other Woman
Copyright © 2016 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
The Other Woman is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
The Perfect Christmas
Copyright © 2015 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
The Perfect Christmas is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
A Song to Remember
Copyright© 2015 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
A Song to Remember is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
A Mother’s Day Wish
Copyright© 2013 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
A Mother’s Day Wish is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
A Fortunate Mistake
Copyright © 2013 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
A Fortunate Mistake is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
The Gift Box
Copyright 2016 Sadé Odubiyi
* * *
The Gift Box is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed herein are fictitious and are not based on any real persons living or dead.
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any fashion without the express written consent of the copyright holder.