Gigi hopped down from the machine with unexpected grace. He settled beside her, sequins dimming slightly, as though he could read the room.
‘You didn’t fail because you didn’t love enough,’ he said softly. ‘You didn’t fail at all. Bodies are messy. Life is unfair. None of that makes you less.’
Her eyes burned. ‘I can’t give Kieran a family. Not the way most people mean.’
‘And who told you he wants that?’
‘I don’t know!’ Beth’s voice cracked. ‘But if he does … if I let him in … and then I have to explain that I’m not capable … that I’m broken…’
‘Stop that.’ Gigi tapped her forehead lightly. ‘Not broken: bruised. There’s a difference. And bruises heal faster than you think.’
Beth let out a shaky breath.
He gave her a sidelong look. ‘Besides, you’ve got two wishes left.’
Beth snorted. ‘I don’t even know if the first one counted.’
‘It counted, trust me. Poorly executed, very emotionally charged, zero strategic planning. A classic first wish.’ He ticked imaginary boxes. ‘But wishes two and three? Those could be something else entirely.’
‘Like what?’
‘Wish two,’ he said, raising a finger theatrically, ‘could be for courage. To tell someone how you feel. To believe you deserve happiness. To stop sprinting away from babies like they’re wailing, pooping monstrosities. Which most of them are. And – correct me if I’m wrong, which I never am – haven’t you warmed to Dahlia and Ruairi?’
Beth nodded. ‘But that doesn’t mean everything’s OK.’
‘Noted. And wish three … ahhh.’ He twirled, medallion flashing. ‘Wish three could be what you truly need. Not what you think you need. There’s a difference.’
‘And what do I truly need?’
‘Healing,’ he said simply. ‘The messy, complicated, gut-wrenching, wonderful kind.’
The words hit her with unexpected force. She blinked rapidly, willing the sting behind her eyes to recede.
Gigi smiled gently. ‘Also, a decent night’s sleep. But that might be beyond my magical remit.’
Beth gave a weak laugh. ‘You’re insufferable.’
‘I know.’ He winked. ‘But I’m completely fabulous.’
A soft creak sounded above them. Footsteps. Someone moving quietly across the landing.
Beth froze.
Gigi put his head on one side. ‘Well, are you going to wish for courage? It’s time, Beth. Carpe diem.’
The footsteps paused near the top of the stairs.
Beth’s pulse surged. She rose to her feet, wiping her damp palms on her jeans.
‘Go on,’ Gigi murmured, fading into a shimmer of sapphire smoke. ‘Say it.’
Beth drew a breath. ‘Don’t I have to play first?’
Above, a familiar voice called softly, hesitant in the dark. ‘Beth? Is everything OK?’
And the moment was lost.
For now.
