The Happy Endings Book Club (22 page)

“Yes, they’re close. We used to be, but our relationship has been strained since I divorced her father. Not sure why. He was hardly father of the year.” Paige stopped walking and turned to Arley. “What does this mean for her? Are your kids quarter Fey?”

Arley looked thoughtful. “That’s a tough one to answer. Quarter, half, percentages don’t matter. My son identifies with being Fey. My daughter doesn’t. But it’s not even that simple. My daughter has gifts that she rejects for now, but in time I hope she accepts them.” Arley placed his arm over Paige’s shoulder and they once again followed the others. “How do you think Linda will react to all this?”

Paige gave a loud laugh. “Oh Arley, she’ll have a shit fit.”

They caught up to the others and walked deep into the woods.

“I can’t see a thing. We should have brought a torch,” said Paige.

“Won’t need one soon,” Calypso called over her shoulder.

They continued farther into the woods. Ferns and flowers rustled around their feet. Echoed whispers chimed through the darkness. And then Paige heard voices.

“She’s back.”

“She’s here.”

“Welcome, Calypso.”

“Helloooo, Taran.”

“Oooh, Nell.”

“Arley.” Like a sigh in the night.

Suddenly lights darted before them. Golden orbs floated around them, illuminating the way. Paige heard a symphony, the sound of flowing water, melodic as it descended. Eventually they stepped into Tintagel’s natural glen, St. Nectan’s waterfall.

“This is one of the most powerful sites in Great Britain,” whispered Calypso. “It’s a sacred well, and guarded by the Fey folk … as you can see.”

Paige would have had to be blind to miss the hundreds of orbs that lit the sky. Some floated; some perched on branches; some even came over for a closer look, allowing Paige a glimpse of the exquisite faces within the glowing orbs.

“Hello, Paige,” one said.

“You know my name?”

“We know you.” A thousand giggles tinkled through the air, making Paige feel that she’d just missed a joke.

The trees beside them rustled and parted and suddenly a handsome half-man, half-goat stood before them.

Just when Paige thought she was coping remarkably well with all the talk of fairies, and then the appearance of the talking orbs, this creature showed up and toppled her. She sat down and put her head between her knees, willing herself to not be sick.

“She is ill?” The faun looked annoyed by Paige’s weakness.

“She’s had a difficult few days, Adelein,” Calypso said. “She’s discovered she’s half Fey.”

“We know who she is. Daughter of Cadoc, stand before me.”

Paige pulled herself together and did as she was told, clambering to her feet in front of this beast she’d only ever seen in children’s books.

She looked at him. He was about her height but seemed so much taller. So much larger, stronger and alive in every way. She felt unworthy in his presence, until he lowered his head and bowed before her.

“Do
you
know who you are?” he asked, not unkindly.

“Not anymore. Perhaps I never did.”

“You will learn.”

Adelein glanced at the others. His eyes rested on Nell. “Your sister gave you my message?”

“Yes, she did. I don’t know what
Cane Cata Juel
means, though.”

“Because you’re not ready yet.”

Finally, he turned to Arley. “Cadoc thanks you.”

Arley nodded and Adelein turned to leave.

“Wait,” Paige said. “Will I meet my father?”

“He has been informed you are here.” And the faun stepped behind the tree and vanished.

“Always fun meeting the faun,” Taran whispered.

Calypso slapped him, giggling. “Shhh. Have some respect.”

“He didn’t even say hello to me.” Taran pretended to be hugely offended.

Paige turned to Arley. “Why did he thank you?”

Arley cleared his throat a little. “I know your father.”

Paige paled. “Please tell me we’re not related.”

Arley blanched. “Oh, Paige, I would never … I just kissed you.”

Paige looked relieved but she still stepped back when Arley tried to touch her.

Arley looked unapologetic. “I was asked to go to your mother. Cadoc knew she was planning to tell you about your background. I was sent to keep an eye on you.”

“Sent from their world?”

“No, from London. Everything you know about me there is real. But I also visit my mother fairly regularly.”

Paige felt dizzy. “
Fairy
regularly?”

“
Fairly
regularly,” Arley said. “I was six when I was handed over to my human father. I remember my other home very clearly.”

Paige took a deep breath. It was all too much to absorb. “Where the hell do I go from here, Arley?”

“Forward.” He pulled her close again. “And I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

Paige looked around. “So where is my father?”

Calypso and Nell glanced at each other. “He’s around.”

“Doesn’t he want to see me?”

“Paige,” Arley said, “he sees you. But until you believe, how will you see him?”

*

Paige couldn’t sleep. She crept out of the room, grabbing her warm clothes on the way, so as not to wake Nell. Downstairs, she dressed, pulled on her boots, and slipped out the back door. Then, using her flashlight, she began to walk. Her mind was awash with fairies and werewolves and magic. She felt as if there were two versions of herself, one sitting on each shoulder.

“What a ridiculous situation you’ve got yourself into, Paige. These people, their beliefs, why don’t you just sign up for a cult while you’re at it?” screeched one self.

“Don’t listen, Paige. Trust your gut. You know in your heart that there is truth here.” The other voice was convincing too.

“Truth here? Fairies? Magic? Are you nuts?”

“No, I’m not. And that’s the point … I’m practical. I’m intelligent. I’m no pushover. If this is happening to me, then there must be truth to it.”

And on she walked, her breath coming out in clouds.

She thought about her childhood, something she rarely did. If she was honest, she had been a rather … unusual child. But her mother had been strict. She’d been like a watchful hawk. Any glimmer of eccentricity in her daughter and she’d swoop.

Paige stopped. A strange language echoed through her mind, like a whisper from her past. She’d been so young, and she’d sit in their garden, singing and chatting to her invisible friends, in a language that would infuriate her mother. So much so that she’d moved them to an apartment with no garden.

And then there were the lights around her bed at night. Not unlike the orbs in the forest.

Wait a minute! The orbs. The faun. She’d seen them.
She’d seen them.

Paige turned around and hurried back to Ash Cottage. She ducked around the side of the house to the back garden. She knelt down by the lemon tree and took her phone out of her pocket. Using the flashlight app, she pointed a thin beam of light at the ground.

Right there were two unusual plants, the likes of which she’d never seen before. One with yellow leaves, the other all the colors of the rainbow.

“How did I miss that?”

“You can’t see what you don’t believe,” came a deep voice behind her.

Paige reeled back and shone the light up toward a man.

“Don’t be afraid.” He raised a hand to shield his eyes. “And perhaps you can turn that off. I have brought my own light.”

Paige scrambled to her feet. It took her a moment to absorb the situation she was in. There were a number of orbs lighting the garden. In front of her stood a man who physically appeared younger than her, yet she knew he was her father.

She felt all of five years old in his presence.

His eyes shone. “I have been waiting for this moment.”

Paige just stared at him, taking him in. He was tall, with black hair and almost translucent skin. His eyes were pale blue and sparkled like diamonds. He was beautiful, and left her feeling quite speechless. She knew that her reaction was probably a let-down, but she had no idea how to respond to him.

He tilted his head to one side, studying her. “Are you ill? You have a strange look on your face.”

“That’s just my face,” Paige said. “And I’m shocked to meet you. It’s a moment I always wished for, but now that it’s here I have no idea what to do.”

“We’ve met before. And I have always been here for you.”

“Yes, thanks for the Christmas cards and child support,” Paige snapped, but was then embarrassed she had.

He laughed. “You are just like your mother.”

Paige was surprised. He meant that as a compliment. “Why was she scared of you?”

“She wasn’t. She was scared of how she felt.”

He smiled and Paige understood why her mother had fallen for him. He seemed to know what she was thinking.

“And I loved her. She is still my love,” he said.

This surprised Paige. “I think you’ll find there’s a bit of an age gap now.”

“Paige, child, human time does not exist where I am. How you see things is not my experience. I see things as they are here.”

And with that Cadoc stepped toward her and kneeled, and Paige was about five again, standing in the garden of her childhood home. He embraced her, and she hugged him back.

“Mummy’s moving us, Daddy.”

“Don’t worry, I will see you again.”

“But what if I don’t see you?”

“It doesn’t mean I’m not here.”

A voice called out from the house. “Paige, stop that babbling nonsense language. Everyone will think you’re touched.”

Her father gave her a wink. And suddenly, she was an adult again, standing eye to eye with him.

“Dawn is coming. I must go,” he said.

“Will I see you again?”

“If you look properly.”

Cadoc turned and walked toward the tilting back gate and Paige now saw the path beyond it that led into the forest. Orbs floated nearby. A warm light glowed beyond the trees. She could hear rustling, whispers and laughter. And at that moment Paige heard a familiar laugh above them all.

Her mother’s laugh.

Jean appeared at the gate. She looked all of twenty, with loose hair and a flowing dress. She joined Cadoc, her face filled with happiness. Paige was frozen to the spot. Her mother blew her a kiss and then slipped her hand into Cadoc’s before following him barefoot into the forest.

Paige blinked. The gate was closed again. The forest path gone. She noticed that there were lights on in Ash Cottage. She could hear voices. The sun was coming up, but surely it was still too early for the others to be awake.

“Paige?”

She turned. Arley was standing at the back door.

“Are you okay? Did they call you first?”

Paige shook her head. Her thoughts were jumbled. “What are you talking about?” She shivered, suddenly cold.

Arley was holding a blanket and wrapped it around her. “I just got a call from work. Paige, honey, I’m so sorry. It’s Jean.”

“Yes, I saw her.” Paige’s eyes sparkled.

“What do you mean, you saw her?”

“Here, with my father. I saw them.”

Arley reached for her and held her tight. “Paige, your mother passed away last night.”

*

Jean woke in agony. She felt like she was being pressed under a rock. The pain shot down her arms and back. Christ, she needed Arley to do something about that. And then she smiled. He was with Paige.

It was enough to calm her for just a moment. But then it hit her chest.

She began to panic. She’d known for a while that her time was up. Her doctor had argued with her about telling Paige, but she couldn’t. Paige would’ve acted like the dutiful daughter and remained by her side, and she’d exit this world knowing nothing had changed. It was only staring death in the eye that had made her re-evaluate everything. And that had been tough.

Jean knew she’d done what she’d thought was right, at the time. How could she ever foresee that by doing so, she’d color her daughter’s world in grays and beige, when the world should be seen draped in rainbows. It was only then, when she finally admitted to herself what a dreadful mistake she’d made, that Arley had shown up.

Cadoc had sent Arley to her. And not only was he an excellent physiotherapist, he was exactly what Paige needed. It had taken her daughter a while to see it, but then seeing things clearly had never been Paige’s strong point.

Jean’s whole body lurched. She couldn’t reach the buzzer. She tried to call out but her voice was locked in her throat. And just as fear was starting to truly grip her, she felt the shift.

A breeze entered the room. Lights danced around her bed. She could sense him near. The hands of the only man she’d ever loved lay softly on her. She opened her eyes, and he was there, leaning close, looking at her.

“You came for me.”

“Did you ever doubt I would, my love?”

“No.” She sat up. “Am I wearing lipstick?”

“You are. And you are beautiful.”

Jean smiled. And with that, she slipped off the bed and into his embrace. And then together, they stepped into the mists.

*

The women all sat in silence for a moment. They looked around at each other.

There had been tears, laughter, and moments of disbelief as each member of the book club told their story.

Paige was still quite fragile from losing her mother, yet her life was unfolding in ways she’d never thought possible. Eva was keeping an eye on her. The clutch of Eva’s own grief had eased, so she was able to support her friend more now.

Clementine was curled up close to Michi. Both she and Debra were ecstatically happy at the moment, but that happiness was marred by Michi’s announcement that she was moving back to Australia.

Amanda and Sadie both had a glow about them. Sadie was crazy about this guy she’d met, and couldn’t wait for the others to get to know him. Amanda was taking things a little more slowly than Sadie, but then she was getting to know and love three people again.

And Tilda was barely recognizable to the others—although unlike most people, and certainly unlike Tilda herself, they had always seen her clearly. She was a valued and very much loved member of the group.

Paige grabbed a stack of books and handed them out. “I’ve taken the liberty of choosing the first book. Not long released, and I love the name.”

Sadie took her copy and read out the title: “
The Happy Endings Book Club
.”

“How appropriate,” Clementine said.

Michi turned her book over. “Who wrote it?”

“Jane Tara,” Paige said.

“Never heard of her,” Michi sipped her wine.

Tilda turned the book over and read from the back cover. “How do you see the world? Happy endings come not through events but through a shift in perception.”

Sadie lifted her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”

“You’ll drink to anything,” laughed Amanda.

Clementine sat up, as though something had just occurred to her. “Do you realize, we all got our happy ending this Christmas?”

“Or beginning,” Sadie said.

“Same thing,” Tilda said.

“I’m just happy being here with you all now, in this moment.” Eva looked across at Paige and smiled.

“So am I,” said Paige.

“Let’s toast this moment,” said Amanda.

Everyone held their glasses high, and in unison said, “To this moment.”

Paige nodded, feeling both the grief and utter joy of the past few weeks. She accepted them both for what they were, right now. It was all good. She looked around at her friends. “To happy endings.”