Any resemblance to persons living or deceased is purely coincidental
*****
When two people meet and fall in love, there's a sudden rush of magic. -Tom Robbins
Katelyn valiantly tried to focus on the one sided conversation but her mind insisted on wandering. Subconsciously she even caught herself trying to hear the discussion taking place in the booth behind her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like the food at Italian Garden. No, she loved their dishes. It was her date. The sound of his self-absorbed monologue had already driven her to a second glass of wine, something she never drank in excess.
Katelyn had all but given up on finding her perfect match. Her current date was the result of an online dating service. Actually, her current date was strike three for the dating service. The first “match” was a financial analyst who was obviously married to his job and merely begrudged time for relationships rather than enjoy them. The second “match” was a fitness trainer who had nothing positive to say about her curvy womanly physique. This date however was the pinnacle of yuck. Seymore was a data entry clerk by day, but obviously considered himself a computer gaming wonder by night. Every statement he had made thus far had only involved World of Doom or Quest for the Kingdom. He obviously never even took the time to look at himself in the mirror. His haircut appeared to have been done by a two year old. And he had neck hair swirling down the back of his collar. Long, swirling, animated neck hair. How could he miss that in his daily grooming routine?
Attempting again to pay attention to his endless story, Katelyn found her eyes automatically drawn to said neck hair. A sizeable tendril was curled and waving freely in the air. She blinked twice and looked closer. A fairy was standing on his shoulder. What?!
Pushing her wine glass to the side, she leaned in closer. Seymore took this as encouragement, drawing a breath in a moment of silence, and began bragging about his superb gaming skills once again. The fairy was still there, standing on his shoulder, and smiling mischievously at Katelyn. The tiny creature’s head barely reached his ear lobe and it was wearing a pink tutu that resembled a mimosa tree bloom. In one hand she held a tiny wand, and his hair was responding to the movement of the wand as a snake to a charmer’s flute. Katelyn decided she had definitely drank too much wine, yet could not suppress the smirk on her lips.
Encouraged by her sudden interest, Seymore blurted out “This is going so well that we’ll have our next date at the paintball arena.” He seemed extraordinarily pleased with himself. “I can show you my expert moves in real life.”
Katelyn cringed. Paintball- a woman’s nightmare date where she returns home with bruises on her boobs and butt as men consider those areas prime targets.
The fairy seemed to have the ability to read her thoughts as it wrapped one arm around its chest and held it’s tiny derriere in with the other. It danced a painful little jig across his shoulder with tiny lips forming an “O.”
Katelyn’s giggle blended with the laugh of a child followed by a waterfall of pink lemonade. Her surprise morphed into uncontrolled giggles when she saw the sticky liquid oozing down Seymore’s horn rimmed glasses. His displeasure was obvious.
“Well, I never…” He sputtered loudly. “Kids should not be allowed in public areas. They have no place in society.” He jumped from his seat and exited the restaurant hastily.
Katelyn and the little girl beside her laughed even harder as he stormed out of Italian Garden with a fairy on his back, riding him like a horse and using his streaming neck hairs as reins.
“I am so sorry.” A masculine voice gave Katelyn pause as strong hands dabbed at the pink spots on her white sweater.
“Oh don’t apologize. I truthfully feel like I’ve been given a reprieve.” Katelyn replied honestly as she looked up into the most vivid blue eyes she had ever seen in her life. There were little crinkles at the corners and his lips twitched upward at her statement.
“Miranda.” He commanded. “You get over here and tell this nice lady you are sorry for ruining her supper.”
The little girl who appeared to be about five or six slid between them and stammered “I…I’m sorry.” When she turned up her face to Katelyn, her eyes were equally as blue as what could only be her father’s.
“I mean it.” Katelyn reinforced. “You saved me. Let’s just say things weren’t going that well.”
“I knew he wasn’t the right date for you. The fairy told me so.” Her cherubic face beamed with pride.
“Miranda!”
“Sorry Daddy. But I really did see a fairy.”
“Again, I am so sorry. My name is Eric Bankston. Would you please join us for the rest of the meal? You can order again…”
Katelyn smiled. “No, I am really full now.”
“Oh please, oh please share a dessert with me. Daddy doesn’t like lemon pie and they have the best lemon pie here. Please?” Miranda begged.
Eric’s eyes twinkled in agreement. “What do you say…?”
“Katelyn. Katelyn Watkins.” She extended her hand. “Glad to meet you.”
“Katelyn.” Her name sounded nice on his lips. “Would you please join us for dessert?”
As she spied Seymore’s boring beige sedan speeding from the parking lot, she shrugged her shoulders and agreed to stay. What did she have to lose?
Miranda jumped up and down with joy. It was then Katelyn noted the sticky liquid drying down her cheeks and dribbling on her chin. “Let me wipe that off, honey.”
“It came out my nose.” She stood on tiptoe. “Did you see the fairy too?”
Kately couldn’t lie. “Yes, I did.”
Eric remained politely quiet but was obviously skeptical. “Why don’t you go to the little girl’s room and clean up, Pumpkin?”
“I can go with her and help.” Katelyn volunteered.
“Thanks, but I think Miranda is big enough to handle this herself. It was her silliness that started this situation, and she can clean up after herself.” He used a fatherly stern voice. “But we do come here often and the restroom is just over there. I’m pretty comfortable with her going by herself as long as I can keep an eye on the door and the time.”
“I’ll be right back, Daddy. Time me!” She scurried away.
“She’s adorable.” Katelyn stated simply.
“That she is.” Erick knew what questions needed to be answered even before they were asked. “It’s just the two of us. Always has been. Her mother and I thought we were in love, but her mother just wasn’t ready for a child. Her new and prospering career was her primary focus. She achieved her goal as a successful lawyer. I was the one who couldn’t cast the baby aside. My career goals changed from Chemical Engineer to Medical Technologist. I have full custody of Miranda. Her mother has never even seen her and doesn’t want the priviledge. Miranda assumes her mother is dead. Her mother’s family calls her a mistake, but I feel that mode of thinking is flawed.”
“I am so sorry.” Katelyn answered. “I just cannot understand why some people feel how they do. My date, if you could call him as such, was like minded. I love children. If we are being truthful with each other, the lack of children cost me my marriage. I want them so badly but I am unable...” she trailed off. “No child is a error. God doesn’t make mistakes.”
Gazing into her dark brown eyes, Eric suddenly realized he had been handed a miracle. “We are kindred spirits.”
“Hey! What’s going on here?” Miranda rejoined them, sliding into the booth next to Katelyn.
“Where’s the lemon pie?”
The second half of her evening passed quickly as the discussions flowed easily. Katelyn talked about her dating horror stories and her cats. Eric told funny tales about his job and Miranda. Miranda talked about faires. They ate four different desserts and graded them like judges in a cooking contest.
“Excuse me.” A waitress paused by their table. “I hate to interrupt, but we will be closing in fifteen minutes. Is there anything I can prepare you in a To Go box?”
Instantly the adults looked at their cell phone clocks. Where had the time gone?
“I know a little girl who needs to get to bed soon or she’ll never be able to get up in the morning for dance class!” Eric gathered his things. “Katelyn, can I take you home?”
A strange look crossed her face. She hadn’t even considered how she was going to get home. “I could call a cab.”
“No, I insist on taking you home. It’s only proper.”
“Wait!” Miranda shouted. “It’s back. See the fairy?”
They looked up and saw nothing. Katelyn didn’t even see it this time.
“Wait!” Miranda shouted again. “Sit still!” She commanded. “The fairy is sprinkling little hearts over all of us with her wand. Don’t move! I want us to catch them!” She waved her hands in the air enthusiactically.
Katelyn and Eric looked at each other and smiled. He spoke first. “I really would like to see you again. Do you agree?”
“Oh yes!” Katelyn answered almost breathlessly. Her heart felt full yet light.
“Oh goody! It’s working!” Miranda waved her arms in the air again.
“Pumpkin, do you think we are a farily good match?” Eric winked at Katelyn. “I do have to get approval from the boss you know.”
“Oh Daddy! I think you and Katelyn are a Fairy Good Match!”
******
The story continues with A Fairy Good Fit (Fairy Dust #2) and A Fairy Good Dance (Fairy Dust #3) available at your favorite e-book retailer.
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