by Nico Jaye
“Yeah. Let’s see what the conference room looks like.” Trick moved toward the large room nearby.
Drifting closer, Edwin caught Trick’s exclamation and smiled to himself.
“Hey! This… this isn’t too bad.” Trick ran his finger over the surface of the window and looked at it. The expression on his face was puzzled.
Edwin tsked the movement. When Trick looked up, Edwin said, “Now your fingerprint is there, Trick.”
Just in time, Edwin caught himself before he pulled his wand out of his pocket to clean the spot. That was close. Instead, Trick rubbed at the window with his elbow.
Trick turned back to Edwin, his brow furrowed. “I could’ve sworn these windows didn’t look like this before.”
Hiding a mischievous grin, Edwin managed to speak with a straight face. “I suppose they weren’t as dirty as you expected.” Edwin cocked his head and offered a serene smile.
With a quizzical glance, Trick nodded slowly. “You could be right. I should check the other offices.”
Edwin sipped his tea mildly, happy to have helped in this small way.
When Trick returned, he sent Edwin a curious look. “The others are spotless too. Do you….”
Edwin shrugged and offered a small smile. “Perhaps the cleaning persons are actually more thorough than you thought.”
“Perhaps.” Trick was silent for a beat, a thoughtful expression on his face. He shook his head, then moved toward the other door. “Well, the bathroom’s bound to be a war zone. I swear, that asshole Leif wouldn’t know a trash can if it….” Trick’s voice trailed off.
Edwin followed Trick and looked over Trick’s shoulder. “If it?”
Trick jumped. “God, are you a ninja or something? I’m gonna have to put a bell on you. Jesus.”
Edwin had no clue what Trick was saying, and he imagined his face showed that.
Trick’s expression softened, and he patted Edwin on the arm. “It’s okay. You’d look good with a bell. You have the shoulders to pull it off.”
Still clueless, Edwin nevertheless recognized what sounded like a compliment. “Thank you… I think.”
“No prob.” With a quick smile, Trick turned back to look into the bathroom. “This place looks… unexpectedly clean too. It’s not just me, is it?”
Edwin made a show of looking inside, even though he knew the space was pristine. “Not just you. It’s clean. Almost otherworldly clean.” Edwin bit his tongue before he said more—already he shouldn’t have said that.
“I wonder….” When Trick didn’t say anything further, Edwin grew worried. Finally, Trick shrugged and turned around. “Far be it from me to complain when something actually goes my way. I’m just gonna toss the trash and put away the cleaning stuff. Then we can go.”
Trick was quick and efficient in his actions, and Edwin’s tea had barely slipped from hot to warm by the time he was finished.
“Let’s get out of here, yeah?” Trick stood by the elevators and cocked his head. When Edwin nodded, he pushed the button on the wall.
They entered the elevator, and after hitting the first-level button, Trick leaned against the wall, his eyes closed. He took a deep breath and let it out in an almost-sigh.
Edwin cleared his throat. “I believe a tour tonight wouldn’t be the best idea, but perhaps you’d like to have supper somewhere?”
Trick pursed his lips for a moment before he squinted at Edwin. Trick grimaced. “I feel like a total flake, but I don’t think I’m even up for that tonight. I just wanna go back to my place and sleep for a week. Or six hours, if that’s all I’m able to steal,” he said with a wry twist of his lips. “Sorry, Edwin.”
Edwin’s face fell. He’d been so looking forward to this evening and having the chance to get to know Trick better. How was he to help Trick if Edwin wasn’t permitted into his circle? Edwin chewed his lip. He supposed he could see Trick when working at Elixir, but that setting didn’t allow time for conversation. Edwin sighed. He—
“Hey, hey. I’m sorry, really,” Trick said soothingly. “What are you doing Saturday? How about we do the tour then?”
Edwin met Trick’s gaze and didn’t even try to mask his excitement. “Saturday! Wonderful! I would very much like a tour with you, Trick, and Saturday sounds delightful.”
“Delightful. Yeah,” Trick said, a small smile on his face.
There was a ding, and the doors slid open. Once they had stepped into the lobby, Trick turned to Edwin. “So why don’t I meet you in front of Elixir at nine? How’s that sound?”
“I’ll be here! Shall I bring anything?”
Trick sent Edwin a curious look. “Uh, just yourself? And some cash?”
“Right, cash!” Edwin racked his brain. Cash, cash.
“You know, money.” Trick’s expression went from curious to puzzled.
“Yes! I know what money is.”
Trick’s lips quirked with amusement. “Right.”
Edwin grinned, and he was pleased to see Trick’s mouth spread in an answering smile. He and Trick were meeting up after all.
When they exited the building, Trick paused on the sidewalk. “Hey, so I don’t wanna pry, but are you okay getting home? I know you’re new to the city and all.”
“Oh yes, thank you! My uncle lives close to here, so I should be able to find it quite easily. No more subway adventures when it’s otherwise a ten-minute walk.” Edwin glanced at Trick. “Are you?”
“Yeah, I’m way up there, but I’ll be fine.” Trick stuck his thumb toward Elixir. “So I’ll see you there on Saturday at nine?”
“Yes! And likely before then, in fact. I have three more shifts this week,” Edwin said brightly.
Trick laughed. “Right. Okay, see you around.”
When Trick turned to leave, Edwin remembered. “Oh wait! Trick!”
Trick looked back. “Yeah?”
Edwin pulled the sticks out of his pocket and offered them to Trick. “I purchased these earlier. I thought my friend Zinnia would like them.” With a grin, Edwin remembered his own delight when seeing them and spoke without thinking. “She’s a pixie and will love knowing she has her own sticks!”
Oh good Fairy! He shouldn’t have said that!
Trick reached for the colorful straws. “Pixy Stix? I haven’t had these in years. Thanks,” he said, smiling. He then furrowed his brow and shot Edwin an odd look. “Wait, you mean she’s into The Pixies?”
Edwin rushed to agree. “Yes! That’s exactly what I mean,” Edwin said with relief. He was glad there was a good explanation because he was not supposed to perform magic—such as a memory charm—on his charge. ’Twas an unspoken rule of fairy godfather etiquette that he only helped his charge with his or her surrounding circumstances, not directly affect him or her.
“Cool. Well, you know, they’re playing Webster Hall for New Year’s. You should let her know.”
“I will, thank you. Have a good night, Trick.”
Trick smiled and lifted his hand in farewell. “You too. And thanks for these,” he said, as he tore open a green stick.
“You are most welcome.” To that, Trick, and many other things, Edwin added silently.
Chapter Seven
THE WEEK passed quickly, morning to night filled with errands and tasks for Trick’s boss and sons. It kept him busy, and he hardly had a moment to think about his promise to show Edwin around that weekend, but in those few instances, when the day lagged and his mind had time to wander, he found himself looking forward to spending the day with him.
Their late-night cleaning session had been… unexpected. The guy was so weird, and yet there was something about him, like maybe he exuded lightness and kindness—everything the city seemed to beat out of its residents.
Trick had never met anyone quite like him, and he was intrigued.
Friday afternoon, the stars aligned and Trick finished work at a normal time. He shut down his computer and packed up his things, slipping out the office door before someone could catch him and as
sign him more to do. He had plans and he wasn’t going to miss out on a moment of them.
Walking out of the building, Trick pushed open the door and ran headlong into none other than Preston Ward.
“Shit, I’m so sorry,” Trick said quickly, his tongue feeling too large for his mouth.
“Don’t worry about it,” Preston replied, straightening his jacket.
They stood there for an awkward moment before Preston spoke once more.
“If I could just….”
Trick looked behind him to realize he was blocking the entrance to the building.
“Shit, I’m so sorry,” Trick repeated, feeling more like an idiot than ever. He needed to slink away, and maybe Preston would be stricken with a case of short-term memory loss.
“See ya ’round,” Trick called after him and then immediately kicked himself for opening his stupid mouth. He should have just walked away, but of course he had to get one more humiliating shot in.
Convinced he would never have a chance with Preston, he filed it away in the fairy-tales section of impossibilities and walked to the subway.
SATURDAY MORNING dawned bright and sunny. Frost clung to Trick’s windows, and the lack of insulation in his walls reminded him just how cold it was outside. Forcing himself to get up, he then crossed the tiny room and turned the stove on to heat the space before dragging himself to the shower.
He was due to meet Edwin at Elixir Coffee in just under an hour, and he found that the morning routine of getting ready didn’t seem as daunting, knowing he was free from Redden for the day and had the next few hours to spend with Edwin.
Choosing the warmest clothing he owned, Trick dressed in layers. He had a culinary tour of lower Manhattan planned. He didn’t know what kind of stuff Edwin was into, but everyone liked food, right? He figured it was a pretty safe bet.
Trick wasn’t sure why he was so preoccupied with making sure Edwin had a nice time. It wasn’t like he really knew the guy. Edwin was practically a stranger, but deep down, Trick knew he was a good person, and maybe that’s all that mattered.
It had been so long since Trick had made friends with anyone. He wasn’t sure how to even go about it. Was it weird and creepy that he’d offered to give Edwin a tour of the city after knowing him for all of five minutes? Trick wasn’t sure, but he figured Edwin of all people wouldn’t know weird and creepy if it hit him in the face.
He seemed oddly oblivious to everything in a strangely endearing way.
Trick finished getting ready, then hopped on the subway, arriving at the coffee shop just as Edwin was walking in.
“Hey,” Trick called, jogging to catch up to him.
He turned, beaming at him. “Hello.”
“Are you ready for today?”
“I am. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”
The admission made Trick happy. “I have too,” he said. “I hope you haven’t eaten. I have a whole thing planned.”
“No breakfast yet.”
“Good. Let’s grab coffees for the road, and then we can head out.”
They waited in line, Trick grinning when Edwin ordered a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream instead. If he liked sweet things, he was definitely going to enjoy their breakfast.
They set out, walking down Seventh toward the south end of Manhattan. Edwin spent most of the time gazing upward, taking in the jungle of tall buildings that Trick was sure was missing from most of Kansas. Trick spent most of the time gazing at Edwin, making sure he didn’t walk into traffic or fall into an open manhole.
Trick only had to save his life twice by the time they crossed 34th Street.
“It’s so beautiful,” Edwin remarked.
“What is?” Trick asked, trying to follow his line of sight.
“Just, all of it. The whole city is beautiful. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It is,” Trick agreed, remembering the adventures his father used to take him on when he was a little boy. They’d literally spent hours intentionally getting lost and discovering new things they’d never seen before. Excitement lit anew in his veins at the thought of introducing Edwin to everything New York had to offer.
He’d been existing to work for so long, he’d forgotten how incredible it was when he took the time to look up from the daily drudgery. It only took moments spent with Edwin for Trick to be reminded.
“This is where the parade ends in a few weeks.”
“A parade?” Edwin asked, stopping in the middle of the sidewalk and turning toward him.
“Yeah, for Thanksgiving.”
“Thanksgiving,” Edwin repeated quietly before grinning at Trick. “That sounds most interesting. Can we go?”
Trick paused before answering. “Sure. Yeah, we can go if you want.”
“I’ve never attended a parade before.”
“Seriously?”
Edwin shook his head.
“Jesus. Where’d you grow up? Under a rock?”
“Kansas,” Edwin said, matter-of-factly.
“Yeah, I know. You mentioned. But surely Kansas has parades.”
Edwin didn’t respond, just turned and kept walking, gawking at everything he saw.
Although they meandered down the street, pausing every once in a while for Edwin to press his face against a window, they arrived at Doughnut Plant not too long after.
“Here we are,” Trick declared, gesturing toward the front door of the shop.
“Doughnut Plant?”
“Yep. Breakfast. A little sugary, maybe, but what’s the point of being an adult if you can’t eat solid sugar and carbs for breakfast?” Trick pulled open the door and held it for Edwin to enter.
Inside, the air was warm and sweet with the scent of freshly baked pastries. The bright space had a full wall of windows at the entrance and a counter with a large display case of several different doughnut varieties that ran along the right side. A bench along the wall anchored a seating area on the left, and colorful stuffed doughnut plushies decorated the wall above it.
Edwin craned his head, checking out all the doughnuts displayed in the case. Trick knew from experience that he couldn’t go wrong with whichever one, or ones, he chose.
“What do you think?” Trick asked after a few minutes had passed.
“I don’t know. They all look good. Do you have any suggestions?”
“Chocolate is always classic, but I like the coconut-cream-filled one. Plus, it’s square, so that’s half the appeal.”
“That sounds delightful.”
“You just want the one?” Trick asked, surprised.
Edwin thought a moment. “Maybe two wouldn’t hurt.”
“You got it.”
Edwin ordered for them—two coconut-cream-filled and one chocolate—and once the woman handed them the paper sleeves with their doughnuts and Edwin took his first bite, Trick felt the pride bubbling from him.
Edwin closed his eyes, the sound of sweet indulgence rumbling from the back of his throat. Trick knew they were good, but Edwin made them look absolutely magical.
They found an empty table and sat, Trick diving into his doughnut. He barely tasted it, his eyes trained on Edwin as he devoured his own. With nothing but crumbs left a minute later, Edwin returned to the counter and got three more.
Trick chuckled. “You know we’re going to be spending the whole day eating…. You might want to pace yourself.”
“We’re walking to the next place, right?”
“Yes.”
Edwin shrugged. “Then I should be fine.”
TRICK DECIDED, since they had full bellies and weren’t in a hurry, they should take a detour south. Less touristy than the Times Square area, it was filled with interesting shops, restaurants, and galleries, and was absolutely dripping with charm.
Their breath hung in the air, and Trick was suddenly very happy Edwin had returned his glove. He needed it. Edwin didn’t seem to notice the cold, though, as they walked their doughnuts off on the way toward the West Village, where
the buildings were shorter and quainter looking.
The streets were bustling with people as they walked, and despite the chilliness of the morning, everyone they passed was in a good mood. Or at least that’s how it seemed as Edwin said hello and more than a few of them actually responded.
“I love this part of the city,” Trick said absentmindedly as they walked.
“What about it attracts you?”
“I like that it’s quieter, the pace is less frantic, and the buildings are interesting. They’re not as grand as the ones you’d see in Midtown, or as impressive as the skyscrapers that make up most of the skyline of the city, but the little details are noteworthy. I love the history here.”
Edwin nodded, following Trick’s line of sight as though he were trying to see the place through Trick’s eyes. “Are you hungry?” Trick asked, what felt like hours later. The sun was high in the sky, and Trick knew if he glanced at his watch it would be close to lunchtime.
“Definitely,” Edwin answered, and Trick shook his head because Edwin seemed to have a never-ending appetite. He was having a hard time not busting the button on his pants after they’d stopped in for snacks at the German bakery, but Edwin seemed insatiable when it came to food. Trick didn’t want him going hungry.
They picked up a couple of hot dogs from one of the street vendors and wandered around for the next few hours. A lot of the area was a bit too posh for Trick, and it didn’t seem as though Edwin had much use for those places either. He walked past without a second look, and for some inexplicable reason, that made Trick happy.
Wandering through the diagonally connected streets of Greenwich Village, Edwin paused midstride on Bleecker. He froze, then walked backward, stopping to press his face against the window of a tiny shop nestled between a perfumery and a candle shop. Trick glanced up at the sign on the awning above the store.
Away With the Fairies.
It wasn’t the first shop Edwin had stopped to look at, but when he lingered longer than a minute or two, Trick suggested they go in.
“Really?”
“Of course,” Trick said. “We can go into any of the stores you think look interesting.”