“They’d be crazy not to lend you the money. If the loan officer could see the potential in a woman dressing as a fairy and serving honey nectar juice with magical meadow cupcakes, they’ll see the benefit of approving your application.”
Jackie laughed. “You had an unfair advantage. The loan officer was looking for a venue for her daughter’s sixteenth birthday and you guaranteed she could have the weekend she wanted.”
“That’s very true,” Daniella said. “But how do you know the loan officer isn’t a knitting fanatic? She could be dying to get her hands on the latest patterns and knitting needles.”
Jackie tightened her grip on Daniella’s arm. “I’m glad I came to see you today. I needed someone to make me smile.”
“Is it the stress of wanting to open your store or the amount of work you have to do that’s the problem?”
“A little of both,” Jackie admitted.
Daniella stopped in front of the ancient oak door and smiled. “It’s your lucky day, then. Did you know this room is full of special magic? It makes you feel better as soon as you step through the door.”
Jackie pretended to be in awe of Daniella’s magical room. “Are you sure?”
“I’m one thousand percent sure,” Daniella whispered. “Come with me and see for yourself.”
Daniella tiptoed through the door and stopped in front of a red, sparkly toadstool. “Hold my hand and close your eyes. I’m going to tell you the secret fairy blessing. As soon as you hear it, all your worries will disappear.”
Jackie smiled. “I didn’t know there was a fairy blessing.”
“That’s because it’s a secret and you haven’t needed it before. Are you ready?”
With her eyes closed, Jackie nodded. “But if it involves pirates with sharp swords, you might have the wrong blessing.”
Daniella sighed. “Sometimes, you have to have a little faith.”
Jackie couldn’t remember a time when she’d believed in something so much that all logical explanations flew out the door. She couldn’t afford to let whimsy carry her through each day. It didn’t put food on the table or pay her utility bills.
“You’re overthinking things again,” Daniella whispered from beside her. “Here comes the blessing.”
With her eyes firmly closed, Jackie blocked her thoughts and focused on the feel of Daniella’s fairy dress brushing against her arm.
Daniella’s hand tightened around hers. “May the twinkling stars light your path, and may the gentle breeze carry your dreams. May every flower petal you touch bring you joy, and may laughter and kindness surround you like a protective charm. With the flutter of fairy wings, I bless you with luck that sparkles and shines, illuminating your days with enchantment and filling your heart with endless delight.”
Jackie opened her eyes and Daniella tapped her sparkly fairy wand on each of Jackie’s shoulders.
With a gentle smile, Daniella asked, “How do you feel?”
“Like all my worries have melted away,” Jackie said slowly. “That’s so lovely.”
“Mom used to tell me the fairy blessing before I went to sleep each night. It’s probably why I wanted to start The Fairy Forest.”
Jackie hugged her friend. “I’m glad she did. After that lovely blessing, are you ready to tell me what ideas you’ve had for the Christmas gala?”
Daniella sent her a contagious grin. “I’m so ready, I’m almost bursting with excitement. I think we can use a lot of the movie props for the event. Come and tell me what you think.”
After grabbing her planner from her desk, Daniella hurried across the room and opened a hidden door. With the flick of a switch, an enormous storage area was filled with light. “I’d forgotten what I have in here, but I found some treasures.”
Over the next half-hour, she showed Jackie some giant snow globes, shelves of over-sized decorations, a collection of blow-up snowmen, and boxes of fairy lights shaped like snowflakes.
Daniella opened a box of table decorations and handed a miniature Santa sleigh to Jackie. “I used these for a Christmas party last year. They looked so pretty with a little tea-light in the center.”
“They look gorgeous,” Jackie agreed. “Let’s use them for the gala.”
Daniella added the sleighs to her growing list of decorations. “I spoke to Ben, and he’s happy to donate a large Christmas tree for the event.”
Jackie frowned. “That’s too generous. BioTech has given me a budget for the gala.”
