26. Phil
Phil
“W hat a disaster,” Peaches said as he flew above the trashed remnants of the back garden. “Everything is so . . . wounded.” Peaches sounded bereft as he continued to survey the damage.
“Is it beyond hope?” I’d stayed down on the ground.
Dillon and Ruthie were in the house, their faces plastered to the sliding glass door.
I knew they wanted to be outside with us, but I was too worried, and not because of gnomes this time.
What if Hamish McIntyre came back? What if Arie Belview sent someone else?
Peaches landed beside me in a shimmer of gold dust. “Nothing that still has life in it is beyond hope, Phil.” Peaches’s grin slipped from his face as he stared at the perimeter of thorns.
“Although, admittedly, this task will be difficult.” Peaches sighed, but his smile returned.
“I’ve spoken with the thorn bushes, and they understand this isn’t their place.
I’ll move their roots somewhere they can thrive.
As for the remainder of the plants inside the garden, they are tired and asked me for peace. ”
“What does that mean?” I worried that I knew the answer.
Peaches gripped my shoulders. “Death is a part of life, Phil. You know that as well as me, but as a garden pixie, I’m more familiar with it than you.
Plants die, which helps fertilize the soil so that others might live.
The nutrients from those plants are reborn into something new, something fresh.
In my world, death is often the beginning of new life. ”
I understood what Peaches said, but it didn’t sit nearly as well with me as it did with him. I was glad I’d asked the children to stay inside. They were still raw from losing their parents, and I wasn’t sure how they’d take Peaches’s calm discussion about death.
“It’ll be fine, Phil. I promise.” Peaches gave my arms a squeeze before he lifted off the ground.
Just like the last time, Peaches’s body hung in the air, suspended by his fluttering wings.
Head down and arms limply dangling by his sides, Peaches concentrated on connecting with the plants.
Within seconds, the thorns receded, disappearing back into the ground.
The dirt rumbled and shifted. I lifted off the ground, once again happy that I’d asked Dillon and Ruthie to stay indoors.
With the perimeter of thorns gone, it was easier to see the rutted garden.
The soil rippled and looked more like waves flowing through a lake or ocean as the ground shifted and settled.
The plants that had remained, somehow clinging to a life that was no longer pleasant, were absorbed into the ground, leaving the space rich with brown soil, ready to be planted and renewed with life.
Peaches raised his head and stared at his handiwork as the ground settled. Wings slowing, he dropped to the ground, and I followed. Peaches looked tired but satisfied.
“It will be a lovely garden now, Phil.”
Without thought, I picked Peaches up and held him tight.
His wings danced merrily, and laughter spilled into the late morning air.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” I spun Peaches around. His golden hair flew out behind him, and a subdued tornado of gold whirled around us.
“You’re welcome, Phil,” Peaches huffed, out of breath when I finally settled him back on the ground. “I think we can let Dillon and Ruthie out now.”
I trotted to the door and slid it open. They came running out. Dillon screeched to a stop on the edge of the garden. “Whoa! I can’t believe you did that, in like, five minutes.” I wasn’t sure if it had really been so little time, but if it had been longer, it wasn’t more than ten minutes.
“That’s amazing, Peaches.” Dillon stared up at Peaches in awe.
Jealousy, hot and sharp spiked through my chest.
“It’s almost as cool as what Phil does.”
And just like that, the jealousy faded, leaving shame in its place. Peaches was amazing, and it was even more amazing that he’d agreed to help when I’d asked.
“Can we walk on it?” Dillon’s foot was already raised, and Ruthie was crouched down, poking a finger into the freshly turned earth.
“It’s safe,” Peaches assured. “Go ahead and explore.”
“Cool.” Dillon didn’t waste any time, and Ruthie, as always, followed.
With the children exploring, I released a heavy sigh.
“I know I’ve already said it a hundred times, but I really can’t thank you enough, Peaches.
” I nodded toward the smooth ground, not a hint of previous gnome damage to be found.
“Mr. Belview’s lawyer, a fairy named Hamish McIntyre, stopped by yesterday and wanted to go poking around the garden.
I think he was trying to dig up evidence that Sedrick isn’t a good caregiver, that his home isn’t safe for the kids. ”
My friend’s wings fluttered with anxiety, lifting his bare feet off the ground now and again.
“Goddess. Does Mr. Voss know?”
I nodded. “He was very upset.” That was a mild version of Sedrick’s reaction. “I’m not sure what Sedrick would have done if Hamish had gotten into the house.”
Peaches’s wings beat harder, and a shocked gasp filled the air. “He tried to get into the house? Forcefully?” Peaches’s head swung wildly, as if Hamish might pop up any minute.
I didn’t judge my friend. It was my concern too.
“He wanted to come in, but I told him no. Dillon and Ruthie were there. Dillon transformed into a wolf, and I feared he would attack.”
“Goddess above.” Peaches flew lower and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Dillon is too young. A grown fairy would have made mincemeat out of him. I doubt an adult werewolf could damage a fairy much either.”
“I know.” Yesterday’s fear threatened to consume me again. “I’m not sure why, but Hamish left on his own. Maybe he didn’t think it would go over well with his boss if he hurt his grandson.”
Peaches snorted and threw an arcing arm out toward the garden. “You told me someone doped the gnomes, and I think we all know who the most likely culprit was. Somehow, I don’t think Arie Belview’s idea of hurting his grandchildren is the same as yours and mine.”
“No,” I agreed, even though I’d had very little direct interaction with the werewolf. But that one encounter certainly hadn’t changed any preconceived notions.
Peaches glared at the empty garden, but I didn’t think his scowl was aimed at the dirt.
“I don’t like this.” Peaches’s anger sounded more like fear.
“I hate the thought of you being anywhere near the Belviews.” Peaches’s round, golden gaze fixed on me.
“You’re my best friend, Phil, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. ”
I didn’t want anything to happen, but I wouldn’t abandon Dillon and Ruthie.
Or Sedrick and his home. With each passing day, they felt more and more a part of me, that their existence and happiness had become an integral part of my life, so much so that cutting them from it would do more damage than Arie Belview.
Ruthie’s giggle grabbed my attention and thawed the ice that had begun forming around my heart. Dillon ran through the dirt in his wolf form, Ruthie clinging to his back. I had no idea what had happened to Dillon’s clothes and could only hope he’d thought to safely remove them before transforming.
Watching them scamper around the garden, I knew I was in trouble. I’d allowed myself to get too attached. But there was little to be done about it now. Every part of my body and soul considered the Vosses family.