There was a bright light.The three fairies looked around impatiently and shook their heads. Theyheld hands, closed their eyes and concentrated. Sudden...y, there was atinkling of bells, a soft white light and a fairy appeared, identicalto her sisters.To the amazement of the King and Queen and the guests, the fairy seemedto be unsteady on her feet."Hey, girls," she greeted her sisters informally, "what's up?" I wasover at the elves' place. They just finished a new batch of their wine.Those guys. The hockey game was over. Adam and the Tanner men rose to their feet, clapping each other on the back and laughing. My gaze shot back to Nate but the hurt look was gone, replaced by a placid Reverend’s smile once more. The moment was lost. Damn. Nate gave me a polite, frosty nod and crossed the room to sink cross-legged on the floor by the fireplace. His guitar rested against the wall and he picked it up and fitted it under his arm. He ducked his fair head and began to play softly. He didn’t. After Nicole's little peep show, I held back for a week or so. I was still updating my journal, I didn't want to lose the progress I had made. But I also knew Nicole had taken a big step, and was very close to her limit. Honestly, I'm still amazed 20 years later that I was able to get her that far as quickly as I did. But I needed to keep the pot simmering, to borrow a phrase. I knew that if I asked for another show, or if I tried to advance her along, I stood a good chance of her pulling back.. Amy's mouth fell open as Keira seemed totally oblivious to what she hadjust done.Amy's heart began to race. He's still in there! He must be. He knew mynumber off by heart. And so does she!She could tell herself it was just some tiny residual trace. A tinyburnt ember left behind from the obliterative inferno that destroyedhim. But she refused to believe that. If Keira remembers my phonenumber what else of Connor lives in there? If there is enough of him toreach then maybe I can save her from.