But for her? A plain old human? It was like watching a TV show come to life—special effects and all.
But then hello. She was in a place called Shamalot with the hottest guy to walk the planet, no phones, no electricity, no Internet, wearing a pair of purple shoes she’d inherited from some sloshed witch, and now she was on her merry way to a castle to find a happy ending.
The absurd really exists, Scully.
Yet, that wasn’t what she took away from their dinner conversations as Jon had blown out candles nestled in lanterns and they’d all settled in for the night.
What had stuck—or maybe the better description would be impressed her—was how much these women cared for each other. It went deep. You’d never know it by the way Marty and Nina bickered, but there’d been no denying Nina would have taken on Dannan for her friend, had he proven a foe.
While she stared in utter awe like some lovesick teenager at him, they’d shared tales of their crisis hotline adventures with Jon, who had some equally outlandish tales of dragon chasing and fairy catching, and what had stood out the most were the women’s enduring friendships. This bond they and their immediate families shared.
They were all fused together in one way or another by their paranormal accidents, but that they’d chosen to stay together, that they laughed about their alleged trips to Hell and genies in bottles as though they were nothing more than road trips to Vegas, made Toni feel very alone in the world.
She realized it didn’t matter where she was. Jersey or Shamalot, she was entirely alone. That stung just a little this bright morning.
“So, how are we this cold but lovely day, fair maiden Toni?” Wanda asked, looping her arm through hers. “You’ve had a lot to digest.”
Remorse pained her heart and guilt ate at her gut. “I’m really sorry about this, Wanda. Taking you from your families, especially at Christmas. They’ll be worried sick, and it’s not like we can call them or send a message to let them know you’re all right. Who’d have ever guessed throwing a random thought like that into the universe would produce this?”
Wanda patted her arm, her pretty smile clear and bright, her wings especially festive this morning. “I told you, we specialize in situations of this nature. It’s why we come off so unaffected. Marty wasn’t lying when she said we’ve seen some things.”
“How do you guys feel? I mean, okay, maybe you’ve had a crisis or ten, but usually the crisis is about someone else. Not you. You have wings because of me.” Wings. Wanda had wings. She instantly apologized again. “I’m sorry. So, so sorry.”
“Oh c’mon. I have wings! I also have an amazing gown and hair so big I could probably joust with it. It’s every childhood wish come true. They make me a little giddy, to be honest. And this isn’t your fault, Toni. But I’m a firm believer everything happens for a reason. Care to share your reason?”
She swallowed hard, forcing one foot in front of the other as Dannan cleared a path for them with his large feet. “I can’t think of any offhand. I was just having a bad day at the store is all.”
“Ahh. You’re not ready yet. I understand, but I want you to know, when you are, we’ll listen.”
Wanda’s warmth and compassion were almost more than she could bear.
“Why are you being so nice to me? You should be pretty angry—and even though it was an accident, resentment is still up for grabs.”
“Because I get the feeling you haven’t had nice in your life for a long time, Toni. Everyone should have some nice to offset the unpleasant.”
No truer words. But she wanted the focus off of her and the lack of nice in her life. She didn’t know these people, and for all their goodwill—well, except for Nina—she wasn’t a sharer. She kept things close to her vest for a reason. Because you never knew who was listening.
She’d learned that the hard way.
“What do you think’s going on back home right now? Are your families calling the police, sending out search parties? They sound like a pretty tight bunch.”
Wanda grimaced, tucking her chin into a pelt of fur Jon had given each of them to keep them warm. “That’s the one thing that pains me most. Not being able to let my husband Heath know I’m all right. But I can’t fret over what I can’t change, honey. He knows me well enough to know I’m pretty tough. Besides, who’s to say the passage of time is the same here in Shamalot as it is in Jersey? Isn’t it always topsy-turvy in a fairytale? Anyway, enough about me. What about you? Any family who’ll be worried for your safety?”
A tear stung her eye, and she’d like to think it was the harsh wind that had picked up as they curved along the snow-covered path and entered a small patch of what looked like toadstools straight out of a cartoon. But it wasn’t the wind.