A rush of movement at knee level distracts me as a flutter of kids practically dance past me with cookies in hand before running back toward the other end of the party. This is the closest any of them have managed to get, but they’ve been understandably curious.
They’re adorable. Covered in shining bright scales, their big eyes are filled with wild curiosity. They look so much like Gil when we first met. I offer a shy wave and hear a chorus of giggles and whispers in high-pitched voices.
Rainbow and Violet continue to walk with me, chatting casually, introducing me to dozens of family members whose names I struggle to catalog.
“So, how did you two meet?” I manage to ask, desperate to make normal conversation.
“Gil,” they both answer, laughing with the same happy, yet exasperated, expression on their faces.
“He set you up?”
“I met him a few times at functions in the Dragonfly Court,” Violet explains. “He had mentioned I’d really hit it off with Rainbow here, and I thought he’d be a good match for my niece.”
“The two of them had other ideas, and somehow, we were the ones on the blind date,” Rainbow says with a chuckle before her gaze falls on mine. “I’d say that worked out for the best for everyone.”
I flush.
Does that mean she approves?
“He really is a sweet boy,” Violet says, shaking her head. “I’m glad he finally found someone. We tried to set him up with everyone we could, but you get to a point where there really aren’t any more fish in the sea.”
“Gil never really clicked with anyone—not until now,” Rainbow says, her lips curving into a smile. “He’s never had trouble making friends, but that spark you need for a good romance?” Her hand finds Violet’s, and the two look so content for a moment before she continues, “Seems like he’s found that with you.”
“Mama, the little ones want to head over to the kid’s stage,” a woman with bright orange scales says, nodding politely at me.
Another one of Gil’s sisters—Goldie, if my memory from his scrapbook serves me well. She has three guppies climbing on her legs, and she shares a tired but warm smile with me.
“Goldie, hun, this is Marina—Gil’s girlfriend,” Rainbow says, nudging me in her daughter’s direction. “Why don’t y’all head to the stage together? We’ll all meet you there.”
“Is that alright?” I ask. I don’t want to impose.
“So long as you can keep up with these rascals,” Goldie says, less like an invitation and more like a challenge.
I do keep up, just barely—they leap into the water and begin to swim with such speed, it takes everything I can to not get left behind. I surface the same time as the guppies and Goldie, gasping at the sight before me.
A piano sits in the middle of the stage. There are water lilies carved onto the legs, and the body is made of what appears to be glass.
My fingers twitch, aching to touch the keys or at least watch, but it’s quiet, apart from the sound of a few disgruntled parents and impatient kids. The sign posted on the piano says there’s supposed to be a performance going onnow.
I wonder what happened.
A woman with fairy wings takes the stage, a frown on her face.
The piano gleams in the sunlight.
“Esteemed guests, big and small, I am sorry to announce our talent had to cancel last minute.” She offers an awkward smile as a few people groan.
From the front row, a kid shouts, “No fair!”
“Well, unless someone would like to take their place, our next show will be at—”
Earlier, when I was compelled by the music, there was no choice but to sway. This moment is different. As the woman hopefully gazes out into the crowd, an urge rises in me. Not magic, not this time.
I couldn’t possibly, not in front of all these people, but no one else is volunteering, and the crowd is restless.
What would my mother do?
What would Grams tell me?
