“As in, a night of fire in the sky.” I continue speaking and hold Katie’s gaze. “All kinds of magical things could happen today.”
Jess shakes his head next to me. “You and your make-believe.”
“Us fairies know of what we speak.”
Katie’s eyes widen.
“Oh, did I forget to mention my fairy abilities?” I wink at her. “Three secrets shared and the strength to give a secret in return.”
I tip my head, acting all-powerful like the great Wizard of Oz, who wasn’t a wizard at all.
Jess chuckles.
“Your castle needs a king,” Tricia says, still teasing her niece.
“I’m the king,” Jess declares, reaching out to playfully tug at his daughter’s braid.
“A beast is more like it,” his mother states. I laugh and recall reading Katie the story of Beauty and the Beast. On that day, her little head tilted toward the kitchen where her father worked as if she’s heard him referenced as a beast before. Now, I understand the connection.
“Perhaps the castle needs a queen?” Tricia states. She raises an eyebrow as she stares at her brother, who shakes his head again.
“I’m surrounded by estrogen.” He sits up and brushes the sand off his backside, then holds out a hand for his daughter. “Let’s swim, baby girl.” She stands and takes his hand, and I watch them walk to the water. What princess needs a prince when her daddy is such a great king? I’d never known such things since my father left when I was still young.
“He doesn’t know it, but he needs a queen. Just not the pretentious kind he had before.” Mary Carter snorts. “Maybe this time, he needs one with a gentle spirt and a good heart.” I blush at her indirect compliment. I’m no queen, but I admit, there’s a rightness to the thought of being a part of this royal family. If only . . .
We fall into easy chatter as women can until Katie returns from the water with her father, who glistens like a Greek god. His hair is slicked back, and water ripples down his tight abs.
“If I tell you a secret, will you tell me one?” I say to Katie once she returns to the beach. She’s snuggled in a towel to dry off the water, and I tug her to my lap. She doesn’t answer me, but I knew she wouldn’t, and I continue despite her silence.
“Princess Katie has the best father king,” I say into her ear. “He loves her very much but so does this fairy.” Katie shifts in her seat to look at me. “Your daddy is strong on the outside, but people can be strong in here too,” I say, pointing over her heart. “You are one of the strongest people I know, Katie bug. Inside you is love and happiness and hope, and sometimes we need to share those strengths with other people. Do you know what I mean?”
I keep my voice low, but I sense Jess listening to me from his position at my side.
“Katie, let’s get some ice cream,” he interjects, pulling his child away from me and my serious tone. He hops to his feet without looking at me and takes her hand once again, walking away from me.
You’re pushing, I warn myself.
But I have nothing to lose.
I’ll lose them both come tomorrow.
Rule 19
Having a heart is magical.
[Jess]
She’s so fucking pushy and just can’t leave shit alone. More fairy this and princess that, and I saw how Katie stiffened on Emily’s lap. She’s my child. Why does Emily think she’s the one who can get Katie to break? If it hasn’t happened for me, it won’t happen for her.
Despite my frustration, Emily feels more familiar to me after a few short weeks than Debbie ever did, and I’d known Deb most of my life. And Katie’s taken to Emily in ways I could never have expected.
Still, she’s so relentless.
After ice cream and an afternoon of lazing in the sun, we leave the beach to clean up, and I tell Emily I’ll pick her up around seven. The fireworks are a big thing tonight and mark the end of the festival, and in many ways, the end of summer. Although school won’t start for another few weeks, the summer season will slowly roll to a halt as tourists exit, summer homes board up, and permanent town residents return from their summer visits elsewhere.
Katie and I pick up Emily and walk the few blocks to the midway, a set of carnival rides set up in a