Jacinth's giggle drew him from his thoughts. "And has she mentioned anything about her other two wishes?"
Frustration welled up inside him.
Bewilderment and reluctant amusement churned inside him. The situation defied all his centuries as a Wish Bearer. Humans typically rushed through their wishes, eager to grab everything they could. But Mandy...
"It's as if she's forgotten about them entirely," he said, his deep voice carrying his bewilderment.
Jacinth's eyes sparkled with mischief. "So what else has our mermaid been up to?"
With amusement, he recalled Mandy's recent activities. "Shopping for clothing, primarily."
"Well, that's just common sense," Jacinth nodded sagely. "She dropped at least ten dress sizes overnight."
"Indeed." Kieran's lips twitched as he remembered Mandy's organizational approach to rebuilding her wardrobe. "Though her newest hobby is somewhat more... unexpected."
"Oh?" Jacinth leaned forward, curiosity evident in her expression.
"She's been leaving hundred-dollar tips everywhere she goes." He couldn't help but feel amused by the memory of the shocked waitress at the diner when he'd been keeping surreptitious watch on Mandy - unseen by her - the week before. "Coffee shops, restaurants, even the bag boy at the supermarket."
Jacinth's dark eyes went round with surprise. "Hundred-dollar tips? Really?"
"And she's dyed her hair." He shook his head with bemusement at the transformation. "Every shade of pink and lilac imaginable."
"Oh!" Jacinth's face lit up with understanding. "I know exactly where that came from!"
Kieran arched one dark eyebrow, curiosity stirring at her certainty.
"There was this contestant on the Great British Baking Show who had her hair just like that." Jacinth grinned, clearly delighted by the connection.
Kieran pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger. "Of course. I should have known it had something to do with that baking show she's always watching." A reluctant smile tugged at his lips. "She's also added two more potential wishes to her spreadsheet."
Jacinth's dark eyes lit with curiosity as she leaned forward eagerly. "Oh? Do tell!"
Keeping his expression deliberately neutral, Kieran met her gaze with his silvery-blue eyes. "She's considering wishing to become a shapeshifter."
The effect was immediate and spectacular. Jacinth's eyes went comically wide before she toppled sideways onto the cushions, laughing merrily.
"A... a shapeshifter?" she gasped between peals of glee. "Our Mandy? The woman who alphabetizes her spice rack and color-codes her bookshelf?"
"Indeed," he said dryly. "She has an entire column dedicated to pros and cons. The pros include 'wouldn't need to worry about becoming homeless' and 'really great sense of vision and smell, depending on species.'"
He paused for effect. "The cons list begins with 'shedding might be an issue.'"
This sent Jacinth into fresh paroxysms of mirth. She attempted to sit up, took one look at his carefully maintained serious expression, and collapsed into laughter again.
Kieran watched as Jacinth finally managed to collect herself, wiping tears of mirth from her face. He savored the anticipation of what he had to report next.
"She's also devised a solution to her travel difficulties," he said casually, keeping his expression carefully neutral.
Jacinth immediately perked up, her dark eyes sparkling with curiosity as she straightened among the cushions. "Oh? What brilliant organizational system has she come up with this time?"
"Well," Kieran drawled, his silvery-blue eyes gleaming, "since her physical limitations are no longer an issue now she hasn't the disability to contend with, she's concluded that money is the only remaining obstacle to travel."
"And?" Jacinth leaned forward eagerly, nearly knocking over her teacup in her enthusiasm. "She's decided to ask for money after all, so she can travel first class, or charter her own planes?"
"Not at all." He couldn't help but smile as he delivered the punchline. "She's considering wishing for the ability to teleport."
Jacinth's mouth dropped open. For a moment, she sat frozen in shock. Then she toppled once more onto the cushions , howling with fresh peals of laughter.
