“When I was Andy’s age, Mom and I were living in the apartment I told you about. We didn’t have a lot of money, so I used to deliver newspapers to help pay for our groceries. Without the free school lunches, and Mrs. Green’s baking, I wouldn’t have had a lot to eat. The kids in my school used to make fun of me, so I did everything I could to stay away from them. I only talked to one or two people the whole time I was there.”
Aidan’s hand gently rubbed her waist. “That must have been horrible.”
Jackie thought about the times she’d refused to go to school because of their taunts. The mornings her mom had gone to work and left Mrs. Green to convince her that going to school was important.
“They were mean and unforgiving, but I didn’t help myself, either. We moved around so much that I found it hard to make friends. So, I didn’t try. As soon as Mom fell behind on the rent or her current boyfriend left, we’d pack our bags and go somewhere else.”
Aidan pulled her closer. “You don’t have to worry about any of that now.”
She rested her head against his, closed her eyes, and wished it were as simple as that.
* * *
Aidan stoodbeneath one of the towering oak trees, listening to a little girl tell her parents about a small fairy hidden behind some flowers.
To keep the children occupied after dinner, Daniella had organized a fairy treasure hunt. Instead of taking the fairies away with them, all the children had to do was mark on a map where they’d seen them in The Fairy Forest.
Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t only the children who were loving the activity. Many of the adults had picked up a map and were busy scouring the trees, flower beds, and fountains, looking for the elusive fairies.
Jackie stopped beside him. “I only have one fairy left to find,” she whispered. “But I need help with the clue.”
He grinned into her sparkling eyes. “I’m not much of a treasure hunting expert.”
“But you have a quick mind, and you don’t like fudge,” Jackie said, teasing him.
That was news to him. Especially after he’d just enjoyed far too many chocolate-dipped strawberries from the chocolate fountain. “Who told you I don’t like fudge?”
“David. He said to ask you about the clue before someone else does. That way, I don’t have to share any of the prize if I get all the answers correct.”
Brooke, from Sweet Treats, had donated bags of freshly made fudge to give to the first thirty people who found all the fairies. Given how popular Brooke’s fudge was, it was no wonder there were so many people holding copies of the map and staring into the trees.
Aidan turned around and picked up his dessert bowl to show Jackie. The smears of chocolate showed her just how much he’d enjoyed his dessert. “David’s wrong about me not having a sweet tooth, but I’m willing to compromise. I’ll help you with the clue if you give me three pieces of fudge.”
Jackie considered his offer. “One, and I’ll let you choose the flavors.”
“Two, and you choose the flavors,” Aidan countered. He hadn’t tasted a piece of fudge he hadn’t liked, so it was a safe bet.
Jackie looked at the children and adults already lining up to collect their prizes. “It’s a deal, but we’d better be quick or neither of us will be going home on a sugar high.”
Pulling a piece of paper from her pocket, she moved closer to him. “This is what it says: Fairies love to shine and sparkle! Look for any areas in the garden where you see twinkling lights or a magical glow. That’s a sign that fairies might be nearby with their friends.”
Aidan looked at the lights strung between the branches of the trees. “That’s not much of a clue. The entire room is lit up like the fourth of July.”
Jackie sighed. “And you think I don’t know that? Look at all the little children who’ve already found the fairies. They managed to find them, but I can’t.”
Aidan plucked the sheet of paper out of her fingers and studied the clue. “Where did you find the last fairy?”
Jackie pointed to the chocolate fountain. “It was here.”
“Let’s have another look in that area.”
“I already have, and I couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”
Aidan’s eyebrows rose. Nothing about The Fairy Forest was ordinary. He looked at where Jackie had found the other fairies and knew the next one probably wasn’t far from the fountain. “The clue says the fairies are nearby with their friends. There’s only one area you haven’t circled.”
Jackie glanced at the map. “Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You were too focused on eating the fudge. Come on.” Aidan held her hand as they wound their way across the dance floor. This time, she had no trouble following his lead, especially when it involved candy.
