Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
T he sun dipped beyond the horizon. Byron watched the solar disc lower while keeping his eye on the stone statue. He was getting impatient but didn’t move away from the table.
When twilight turned to darkness, the statue quivered as if he were looking at it in a heatwave. The stone masonry melted, replaced with bronze feathers and golden bronze hair. Angela stood, stretching her wings as well as she possibly could without knocking over everything in the house. Turning, she saw Byron.
“Hello.”
“Are you hungry? I’ve not seen you eat anything, but I made dinner for us,” Byron gestured towards the table decorated with place settings and illuminated candlesticks.
Tucking her wings back in, she smiled. “I do eat, but I don’t need to do so daily. It’s very sweet of you to do this for me. Unfortunately, I don’t think it will count towards your three acts of kindness.”
“Oh. I already did a couple of those. There was a homeless person. I got him a hotel room and purchased a few meals to be delivered by DoorDash so he wouldn’t go hungry. And I made sure to tell the fairies I was doing it in their honor. I’m unsure what to do for the rest of my selfless acts. As for this?” He pointed to the table, then held out his hand for hers. “I wanted to do this for all you have done on my behalf. Please join me. We can work on my penance afterward.”
Slipping her hand in his, she let him lead her to the table, allowing him to pull the chair out for her. “I have water, but I also have tea if you prefer.”
“Tea? Yes, please.”
Nodding, he dashed to the kitchen and put the pot on the stove. While the water was boiling, he brought out a selection for her to choose from.
“I never knew there were so many choices.” She looked them over.
He came back shortly with the hot water, then produced a steak dinner with potatoes and vegetables. “I hope you like it.”
“It looks wonderful. I can’t believe you went out of your way to make me dinner. I’m honored.”
“You have done so much for me.”
“After we eat, I will take you to find some four-leaf clovers.”
When dinner was over, Angela offered to help clean up.
“No worries, Angela. I’ll just put them in the dishwasher, and we can get going if you like.”
“Dishwasher? I hear things from the streets, but a lot of times, they are often just words I don’t understand.”
“Anything you want to know, just ask. I’ll help you however I can. Come on. I’ll show you the dishwasher, the stoves we use nowadays, and a fridge.” Byron started to get up, then stopped, whipping out his phone from his back pocket. “Oh wait, you have got to see this. These are phones.”
“I’ve seen people talking with them from my perch.”
“But did you know they do more than talk to people? They can take pictures, order food, get a car to drive you around, and look up stuff. Let me show you.” Byron showed her how to work some of the apps. It was two in the morning by the time they finished.
“Only a couple of hours left before we reach the time I must return to my prison of stone. Would you like to try and find a couple of four-leaf clovers, or would you prefer to try and find horseshoes?”
Byron held out his hand. “Clovers first. I’m ready when you are.”
Nodding, she produced her wings and wrapped them around him. When she opened them again, they were standing in a clover field.
“I cannot help you look. That you must do on your own.”
“It’s my punishment. My penance. It’s as it should be.”
Sitting amongst the clovers, he examined them all to find one with four leaves. It wasn’t an easy task, and he understood why they were considered lucky.
Stretching his back and rubbing his eyes, he looked at Angela crouched nearby. She kept gazing around. He realized she was on guard. She was beautiful; he couldn’t believe she was a stone gargoyle. Shaking his head, he returned to his task. Pulling one up, he smiled broadly. “I found one.” He held it aloft so she could see.
She approached him and looked at it, then materialized a small trinket box. “Store it here Once full, you can give them the box.”
He put the lucky leaf inside and returned it to her, “So it doesn’t get lost.”
She magically made the trinket box disappear. The sun is about to rise at home.”
“Then we should go.” Byron stood and brushed off his pants before stepping into her winged space. He couldn’t help kissing her as her wings wrapped around him. “Thank you.”
They returned just in time before she reverted to stone. By her feet was the small trinket box.