Felicity scampered to do so and stared in horror at the salad bar.
More than just wilted, the lettuce was slimy and dark on the edges, like something forgotten in the back of a refrigerator that you found a week later. It was a glaring flaw in the fresh offerings of the salad fixings. A guest was poking at it with the tongs.
“Oh, don’t eat that!” Felicity picked the pan up out of the chiller, and took the tongs for good measure. “I’ll be right back out with something much more appetizing! Don’t miss the fresh buns!” Theodora had refilled the pan and handed it to her. Could she have accidentally done this? Felicity simply couldn’t believe it was purposeful.
Breck didn’t ask her any questions as she dumped the bad lettuce, washed the pan, and tore up several fresh heads from the walk-in cooler. “Do you mind if I duck out a little early?” Felicity begged.
He gave her an appraising look. “That Robert guy? You’ve been asking a lot of questions about him.” His look managed to be playful, encouraging, and suggestive, all at once.
Felicity blushed. “No, not that. I just...wanted to catch Theodora for something.”
“We’re not busy,” Breck said with a chuckle. “Put that lettuce out and be on time for the dinner service.”
“Yes, sir!” Felicity said smartly. She tore up another few leaves and hauled the platter out to the buffet. She looked wistfully around for Robert, but he had eaten quickly and already left. Felicity looked for him down at the bar and the pool, but there was no sign of his golden hair among the guests.
* * *
“Theodora!” Felicity always called her friend by her full name, because any time that someone called her Theo, she winced a little. Not so much that you’d notice, if you weren’t watching for it, but enough that Felicity had gleaned that she didn’t like the nickname even a little. Felicity, on the other hand, answered to Felly or Flicker, or Fel, or anything else that someone wanted to call her.
Theodora slowed and waited for Felicity to catch her on the trail back to the staff apartment.
Felicity didn’t think she looked guilty, but she did look a little sad. There was simply too much of that for the day before the day before Christmas and Felicity lost her resolve to ask questions about the lettuce in her desire to cheer her up instead. “I heard from the airline that they’ve tracked my bag down. It got sent to Ecuador, can you believe it? It’s on its way back to Mexico City and might be here by Christmas.”
“That’s good news,” Theodora agreed with a smile. “It will be nice to have your things at last.”
“It hasn’t been quite as hard as I thought it might be,” Felicity said. “But Iamtired of having to do laundry every three days because I run out of underthings.”
“If you ever need me to throw something in with my clothes, let me know,” Theodora said. “I don’t mind.”
“I’m happy to return the favor,” Felicity said, squeezing her arm. “You know, the funniest thing happened after you left the kitchen just now. That pan of lettuce you gave me? I took it out to the buffet and just a few minutes later, it was wilted and slimey.”
Theodora looked at her with convincing astonishment. “Like the shrimp? That is so weird.”
Felicity took a chance. “You’re a siren, aren’t you! That’s why you don’t like to sing with us! Did you accidentally hum and that’s what turned the shrimp and wilted the lettuce? It was you, wasn’t it?”
Theodora’s expressive face took on a look of panic. “It’s not that. I didn’t do that. I’m not…”
“I’m not saying you did it on purpose, or that you’re out to sabotage the resort,” Felicity quickly added. “I know that you’re a good person, and I trust you. It was just an accident, right?”
“No!” Theodora said. “I’m...nota siren.”
Felicity should have let her end with that, but she was too wild with curiosity. “Well, you’re hiding something,” she persisted. “I can tell…and I should know.”You get trust by trusting,she reminded herself. “Look, I’m not a shifter,” she blurted.
Theodora stared at her. “You aren’t? But…”
“I know, you have to be a shifter to work here. I lied on my application. Sort of. I said I came from a family of mouse shifters, which I do, and I justdidn’t mentionthat I’m not a mouse shifter. I’m not saying that it wasn’t a lie just because it was a lie of omission—I’ve been absolutely riddled with guilt!—but yeah, basically I’ve been just sort of hoping that no one will find out.”
“What are you, then?” Theodora asked. “I mean, youfeelsort of magical. I’d have guessed you were a shifter.”
“I feel magical,” Felicity explained, “because I am. I’m a brownie.”
Theodora’s eyes went quizzical. Not disbelieving, just confused.
“A house elf,” Felicity added. “A gnome. My dad’s family is mouse shifters, my mom’s is all elves. A lot of us work in hospitality services, and we can do things like instantly dry shoes and clothes. Our beds are always comfortable, our food is always fresh. We can make supplies stretch, in a pinch. So, magic. But not a shifter. Please don’t tell anyone yet.”
“I don’t think that anyone here will care,” Theodora said thoughtfully. “Guests are allowed to bring non-shifter companions if they are willing to vouch for them. Anyone here would vouch for you. I would!”
Felicity felt a sizzle of delight. They really were friends. “But you, if you aren’t a siren, whatareyou hiding?”
