Philippa Fisher and the Fairy's Promise (18 page)

“Are you angry?” Alya asked.

“Not at all,” Chara replied. “You?”

Alya shook her head. “Surprised?”

“Not even a tiny bit. As soon as she came back to ATC, I
knew
she’d find a way to get back to Earth.”

Alya laughed. “Me, too.” Then she wrinkled her forehead. “She will be all right, though, won’t she?”

“Are you serious? She’ll be absolutely fine. It even works out. I mean, without her powers, what could she do here, anyway?”

“Just — I mean, will she stay on Earth forever? Is that it? Is it all over for her as a fairy godmother?”

Chara smiled. As she did so, the light from a star high up in the sky shone down on the earth more brightly than any other. Even though it was the middle of the night, anyone who saw it had to shield their eyes.

“What?” she said. “After she’s just made the kind of sacrifice only the most special fairy godmothers ever make?” She laughed lightly. “Oh, I doubt it.”

This was it. I checked the address again. I definitely had the right place. It had taken weeks to track her down. It wasn’t easy when I was constantly on call and sometimes had to rush back to the portal with a minute’s notice.

But I’d done my research, and after about fifty dead ends, I was sure I had it this time.

I took a few deep breaths. What if she’d forgotten all about me? What if she thought I’d been a figment of her imagination? It had all been such a long time ago, and she’d been so young.

Should I back out?

I took another breath. No. She’d remember me. There was
no
backing out. I’d made a promise, and now, finally, I was going to keep it.

I waited until the receptionist at the elderly people’s home had her back turned, then I slipped inside the door and whizzed through the foyer. I flew down the first corridor and around a corner. And then I saw it. Room 251. Her door.

My heart was beating even faster than my wings. The door was open. I could hardly breathe, I was so nervous. What if, what if . . .

Just do it.

I flew into the room. The old lady looked up and saw me. For a moment, she looked startled, taken aback. Shocked. And then her face broke out into the biggest, widest smile of recognition and joy that I could ever imagine seeing.

“Hello, Elsie,” I said, smiling back at her. “Remember me?”

Once again, there are people I’m very lucky to have in my life who helped get this book from the idea in my head to the pages in your hands. Special thanks go to:

Linda Chapman, for always knowing what I’m trying to do with my stories and always helping me do it better;

Mary Hoffman, for coming up with the perfect title;

Jen Alexander, for introducing me to some of Cornwall’s most beautiful stone circles;

The Scattered Authors’ Society, for helping me grow as a writer;

Catherine Clarke, for always being there for every kind of support along the way;

Judith Elliott, for still and always being the best, nicest, most fun, and most supportive editor in the world;

Fiona Kennedy and everyone at Orion for being all-around wonderful;

Karen Lotz, Kate Fletcher, Tracy Miracle, and the whole team at Candlewick who have done such great things with my books;

And Laura Tonge, for being the perfect person to share a journey with — whether it’s the journey of a van, a boat, a board, or a book!

LIZ KESSLER
is the author of the best-selling series about Emily Windsnap as well as the Philippa Fisher books. She decided she wanted to be a writer at the age of nine, when her first poem was published in the local newspaper. She has also worked as a teacher and a journalist. Liz Kessler lives in Cornwall, England.