who suggested we hire Zuri.”
“All true,” Bluebonnet agreed.
Petty considered. “You’re correct, Jonquil. We don’t give you enough credit. I think mostly because you’ve always been the grumpy one. I’m sorry. I’m more than happy to let either one of you take the reins whenever you’re feeling motivated. I guess I always do it because I’ve always done it. But we don’t have to do it that way.”
“Thank you,” Jonquil said, and stuffed her hands in the pockets of her smock. “I do see now why you drink so many more ice cream sodas than Bluebonnet or me. This is stressful.”
“Why thank you, sister.” Petty sighed. “I think this all turned out perfectly. It was a bumpy ride, but we got there. And thank you both so much for helping me right that wrong.”
“We just have to keep remembering that we don’t teach lessons. We hand out the keys to Happily Ever After,” Bluebonnet said.
“And we try to get the clods to use them,” Jonquil added.
“Hey. Hey. FGI?” a voice yelled at them.
“I’ve never been addressed so,” Petty said.
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear it.” Jonquil shrugged.
“He’s not going to stop. It’s that Alec guy,” Bluebonnet said.
“Oh no. This isn’t going to end well for any of us, is it?” Petty asked.
“FGs! Hey, FGs!”
“Lord help me not to turn that man into a frog,” Petty grumbled.
“He’s already a frog. A slug, really.” Jonquil sniffed with disdain.
“What?” Bluebonnet snapped. “Couldn’t you come into the office like a normal person instead of yelling at us from across the square?”
“I wanted to ask you if you provide matchmaking services along with wedding planning,” he asked, as he approached them out of breath and wheezing from running across the square.
It had obviously taken him more effort than he was used to expending, but Petty rather thought anything he tried to do in Ever After would yield him that sort of result because he was anathema to Happily Ever After.
The town itself didn’t like him.
Petty was fine with that.
“No, we hadn’t thought of it.”
“I’d like to be your first client. I can pay,” he said.
“It’s not about money, dear.” Petty took a step toward their offices.
“Look, I know you might be miffed with me but, I’ll do anything,” Alec said.
“Anything?” Bluebonnet cocked her head to the side.
“Whyever would you make that kind of offer?” Jonquil asked.
“I want what Phillip has,” he said.
And just like that, without any of the godmothers so much as lifting a pinkie, Alec Marsh was a frog.
“Petty!” Bluebonnet gasped. “What did you do?”
“I did absolutely nothing,” Petty swore. Then looked at their other sister. “Jonquil?”
“It wasn’t me!” Jonquil looked around. “Is Zeva here?”
“Not that I know of.” Petty did a quick scan. “It looks like Ever After gave him his wish. He wanted what Phillip had. That’s what Phillip had.” She shrugged.
“Mm-hm. Pays to be specific,” Bluebonnet said, and scooped him up to put the blorping frog in her pocket.
“Put that down. You don’t know where it’s been,” Petty said.
“I have my own plans. You just wait and see,” Bluebonnet replied.
“Now, let’s see. We still have to plan three more weddings. We have to finalize the spring carnival, and figure out where Lucky and Ransom are going stay. Maybe the castle, they’ll definitely be here for the carnival.”
“Oh, I’m so excited to see them!” Bluebonnet squealed.
“Guess who else? Juniper said she can definitely make it for Samhain!” Jonquil added.
“Really? I can’t wait to see her. I’ve missed our little boo so much,” Petty said.
“Me too,” Bluebonnet said. “Everything is coming up roses.”
Petty would’ve agreed with her until they rounded the corner and saw that everything was not, in fact, coming up roses.
It was coming up frogs.
There was a line of frogs that started outside the door to Fairy Godmothers, Inc., and wrapped around the block.
They were single file, as if they were waiting to come inside.
As soon as one of them saw the trio, they all turned and began to ribbit incessantly.
“Well, it looks like the frog-kissing booth is back on for the carnival,” Jonquil said.
“A fairy godmother’s work is never done,” Petty said. “We might as well get started.”
“Who knew there were so many cursed frogs?” Bluebonnet asked. “I was sure we only did the one.”
“Me too,” Petty replied.
“Looks like it’s another adventure.” Jonquil shrugged.
Indeed, another adventure.
Petty cast one last look over her shoulder, and she saw Gwen and what she so loving referred to her as her little monsters walking toward the grassy center of the park in the