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Hyacinthe looked down at her underwear and called out, “Can you bring me some clothes, too, please, Mom?”
Very soon Melusine was back with a long, flowing skirt and halter top for Hyacinthe and wearing a halter top herself.
Beverley looked up for the first time and asked, “How does this work? I mean, if there are half-fairies or quarter-fairies or whatever flying around, why haven’t people noticed?”
“We diminish. I’ve never done it, though as a child I tried and tried,” answered Hyacinthe.
“Watch, Beverley.” Melusine stood in the center of her kitchen, arms and wings outstretched. She held the pose, standing quite still, and gradually her body began to shrink. When she was the size of a tiny child she flew up onto a chair, stood there, and diminished farther, becoming no taller than a cell phone.
Then gradually, she grew again until she reached her normal size. “That’s why. People think we’re a bird or a bug or something, if they do see us. Although there are so few fairies around now likely it’s not a problem. Come, Hyacinthe. I’ve waited all your life to take this flight with you.”
Hyacinthe was excited and terrified. Her body was such a maelstrom of emotions she couldn’t think anymore. But she did want to fly. For so many years wings had been what she wished for at every birthday, on every shooting star.
So she stood beside her mom, stretched out her arms and wings and did as she’d done so many times before. Diminish, she thought. And this time, this time she could feel her body compacting, growing smaller and smaller. Suddenly the world seemed so much bigger. The refrigerator was huge, Inigo unbelievably tall, the table a mountain. She knew instinctively when to stop and hesitantly flapped her wings thinking, fly. And she flew. It was amazing. She glided and swooped and fluttered. She soared across the room and buzzed around Beverley’s head, hoping to make her dearest friend smile. She perched on Inigo’s ear and lightly flicked it with her wings, and then she glided all around the room, swooping and diving.
Her mom joined her and they played aerial tag, buzzing around like a couple of children. Joy flowed through her as she rose to perch on the curtain rail, then dropped to spin around inside the sink. The feel of the air flowing under her wings, the lightness, the freedom, was amazing. It was the most fun she’d ever had in her life.
But I’ll give it all up in a heartbeat if Beverley and Inigo will love me again.
Chapter Four
Beverley couldn’t sleep. She’d paced the floor, she’d taken two showers, she’d even pulled all the food out of her pantry, cleaned the shelves, and put everything back in order by size. It’s much too early but I’ll go to work. Being with the plants will soothe me.
She knew she was being immature, maybe even irrational, but she was terribly hurt by Hyacinthe’s actions. Okay Bev hadn’t believed in fairies. Well, still didn’t believe in them really, even though she’d seen Hyacinthe and Melusine with her own eyes. But Hyacinthe should have told her first.
Oh dear. That was her problem. She wanted to be Number One. Wanted to be king pin, the center of the universe. Logically she knew Cinthe loved them both equally, but Bev’s insecure, childish inner self still wanted to be special. The best. The preferred one.
Grow a brain. And a backbone, she told herself sternly. But she hadn’t slept and had no more security and self-esteem than she’d had yesterday or the day before. Actually that was a lie. When she’d been with Hyacinthe and Inigo yesterday morning she’d been secure and happy. The happiest she’d felt in a long time. And she’d been one of a team, not the center of the universe.
Bev sat cross-legged on her bed. At work she liked to be invisible, quietly caring for the plants she understood so well. They never criticized her, or told her she was fat and ugly. Instinctively she always knew if they needed more water, more nutrients, or to be shaded from the sun.
But so contrary was her nature that she expected her friends to think she was special and to treat her preferentially. Underneath everything, she’d still hoped Hyacinthe would love her best. That was not just unrealistic, because Hyacinthe had always treated her and Inigo equally, but it was also grossly unfair to Inigo, who was a good man and had been more patient with her than likely she deserved.
Yesterday she’d been perfectly happy as one person equal with Inigo and both of them sharing even-handedly in Hyacinthe’s love. She loved Hyacinthe, therefore what did it matter if Cinthe was one hundred percent human or only seventy-five percent?
I’ll go and dig up the west garden bed and get it ready to plant the new seedlings. Some good, hard labor may help me get my head on straight.
****
I’m in love with a fairy. I believe in fairies. God, I hope no one finds out or the men in white coats will be along to take me away and lock me in a padded cell. But it’s true. Insane but true. I love a fairy.
And more than that, I do believe I’m coming to love Beverley. Not in a sexual way, but as a friend. Now I know why she hides herself away at work. I can even see where her insecurities come from. She called herself fat and unlovable. Whoever the asshole was who gave her all those hang-ups about her body needs a punch in the nose. There’s nothing wrong with her body. She’s not fat, not ugly, just not skinny. She’s got good muscle definition from the work we do. Those stick-thin models would never be able to lift ceramic planter pots! She never complains when she gets stuck with the hard jobs. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll go dig the west garden bed for her.
Inigo looked at the clock. 5:00 AM. I’ve got time to get it done before she arrives at eight. I’ll do it as a gift to her, to show her I care and want her to accept her place as an integral part in our threesome.
He jumped out of bed and grabbed his clean underwear before heading for the shower.
****
Hyacinthe had set her alarm clock for five, but was awake by then anyway. She wanted to fly around the Botanical Gardens, to view all the trees with her enhanced fairy vision, to explore her workday environment from the air and see it with fresh eyes.
Her mom had reminded her about the key points to remember when diminishing and growing, the necessary hints about flying and pacing herself, but Hyacinthe was sure a trip around the gardens was not too much for her first outdoor solo venture. Besides, she would dress in clothes that would be suitable for flying without drawing undue attention to herself should she need to appear as her normal self. It would be an adventure!
****
Dawn was just beginning to lighten the sky when Beverley pulled into the Botanical Gardens staff parking lot. The staff lot was around the side, not near the public entrance. There was a small work gate with a punch-code entry for staff use, although during the day they usually entered and exited via the public gate.
She was surprised to see a large truck pulled up right beside the gate. The tailgate was down and two men were carrying plants out of the gardens and loading them into the truck.
