Page 61 of Run, Run Rudolph (Fairy Godmothers and Other Fiascos #2)

~ Estelle ~

February

P erfect Trish danced past me on her way back from the head fairy’s office in her pretty little pink ballerina flats with the delicate carnation-shaped ribbons. So far, she’d earned more from her client wishes than I had this quarter, and she was up for more awards, too.

For the first time as a trainee fairy godmother, I was up for none.

To make matters worse for me, I hadn’t been able to talk about what had gone down on Christmas Eve. None of it. And every single one of Tamara’s big wishes had been paid for by Char’s remaining account credits.

Because Gram-Gram and I ignored several protocols when Tamara breached the shroud between our worlds, we’d had to keep everything related to that night hush-hush.

Even the way Mrs. Claus had banished me back to the magical world.

And that had been hard to hide, since I’d sported the evidence of that banishing with my scorched hair and skin.

But I wasn’t allowed to talk about it. And sadly, Gram-Gram hadn’t been able to heal my hair or skin, thanks to archaic rules about using magic on ourselves or on each other.

If I’d been ill, yes. A medic fairy could have helped me. But not ease the mark of a banishment.

In the end, Tamara had saved Christmas, and won the love of her life. Mrs. Claus was happily back at the North Pole with Santa. The reindeer were all fine, other than a bit of scolding from Mrs. C.. In fact, I’d heard everyone at the North Pole was pretty much kissing her butt these days.

In other words, everyone was enjoying their happily ever after.

Except me. And I was suffering my way through a sizeable work slump.

A slump to end all slumps.

Nobody was making wishes, at least not the big ones that required a bit of creativity on my part, or were award earners.

I sighed and leaned against my stupid bubblegum pink desk.

At least my hair had mostly grown out around my face from my banishment, so I was no longer wearing my shame for all to speculate over.

“The head fairy wants to see you, Scorch,” Trish whispered snidely, leaning close and startling me.

My new nickname, however, would never fade like my banishment marks.

I shoved my office chair back, hoping I’d hit the other trainee ‘accidentally,’ but she moved fast in her delicate flats.

“Maybe you’re being summoned to the Magical Court of Rules to talk about that banishment .”

I smirked, knowing it annoyed the fairy lights out of her that I’d clearly been a part of something—something potentially risky and exciting—and she had no clue what it was.

Because the truth of it was that trainees never got banished by another magical being. And only a few high-powered ones could do such a thing.

I loved that not knowing was turning Trish inside out.

I smirked. “Been there, done that,” I said breezily, lying about being in court. Tamara had been there, but that was in a confidential file nobody but the higher-ups would ever see.

Trish paled. And delighted with shutting her up for once, I added sweetly, “Please excuse me. The head fairy is waiting.”

I crossed the bullpen of pink fairy cubicles and entered the large office with the tall gold door.

“You wanted to see me?” I asked, taking my usual spot in front of the head fairy’s rosewood desk. The carpet was plain, no longer animated like it had been on the night when I’d sat in here and cried over Tamara’s possible fate, and my powerlessness to change it.

I supposed it was good we’d let her exercise her own agency, as she’d come up with a result I couldn’t have predicted.

“Yes,” Gram-Gram said, her lavender eyes sweeping over me. “Think you can handle another client being added to your roster? We had someone activate.”

I inhaled, swiftly straightening my spine. “Did Trish get a new client, too?”

“That’s none of your business,” Gram-Gram scolded. “Can you handle another client on your roster? She hasn’t made a wish yet, but she now believes. So, it’s likely just a matter of time.” She caught my excitement and tempered me by saying, “It could be hours, it could be years. It could be never.”

I nodded eagerly.

The head fairy handed me a pristine pink folder. So new, so flat. So unlike Char’s file, which had spilled and burst with all of her old wishes and notes from her former fairy, Paxi.

I’d never had a newbie client before, and it was exciting to be her first contact with the magical world.

This quarter ended soon—the day after Valentine’s Day. I could set the tone with this client, and make the next quarter my best one yet, in terms of granted wishes and client happiness!

“Who is it?” I turned the file to read the name along the folder’s tab.

“I believe she’s a friend of Char and Tamara’s.”

With a growing smile, I read the last name Morales. The most romantic woman in their GAP PAL group: Gabby.

And she was all mine.

Thank you for reading RUN, RUN, RUDOLPH. I hope you enjoyed Tamara and Haden’s Christmas story.

Ready for Gabby’s story? She’s up next. And she’s on a road trip with her crush Lamonte and Cupid! What could go wrong with that combo, right?

Enjoy THE PROBLEM WITH CUPID next.