The Fairy-Tale Matchmaker (23 page)

Noodles started whining while she was changing her clothes, so she took him outside and let him wander around the yard for a few minutes while she kept a close watch. He walked in circles, making little moaning sounds, so she wasn't surprised when he threw up everything he'd eaten for breakfast. As soon as he looked a little better, she took him to her room and sat down for a minute to pet him. She thought she still had
some time before she had to leave to meet the pigs, so she collected all his toys, setting them beside his bed, then went into the bathing room to finish getting ready. When she came back, Noodles had thrown up again.

Cory sighed and went to fetch the cleaning supplies, annoyed because she'd already used up most of her extra time and really needed to go. She was on her hands and knees, cleaning up the mess, when she found a hard object about the size of a gold coin.
That's odd
, she thought, wiping it off with a rag. It was an onyx buckle, the kind you might find on expensive clothes. Apparently, Noodles had eaten something he shouldn't have, as he so often did. Because no one in the house had a buckle like it, Cory wondered if it had belonged to his kidnapper. She wrapped the buckle in a clean rag and set it aside to look at later. Once she had put the cleaning supplies away and said good-bye to Noodles, she locked the house and was on her way.

Olot had given her good directions to the cave, so she was there before the pedal-bus. She always liked watching the pedal-bus, even more when people she knew were riding it. Finding a large rock by the side of the dirt path that wound around the mountain, she sat down to wait. She heard the bus long before she saw it; the jingling of the bells was distinctive in the clear mountain air. Olot must have heard it, too, because he
came strolling down the path before the pigs slid off their seats.

Eight of the ten seats on the bus were occupied. A satyr and a goblin girl were in charge of the bus and they both looked expectantly at the pigs, who were struggling to dismount. Once the pigs had gotten off, the only riders left were three flower fairies and a brownie with a large sack propped in his basket. The bus had just started to head back down the mountain when the bells sounded a different note. The goblin girl, who was in the front, consulted a disk affixed to the bar in front of her. A moment later they were headed up the mountainside. Apparently, someone else wanted a ride.

When Cory turned to the pigs to begin introductions, she was afraid that they might be leery of the ogre. Olot was big and could look frightening when he wanted to, but he was actually a gentle being who loved animals of all species. Animals seemed to know this and the pigs were no exception. They looked less afraid of him than they had of Cory when she'd visited their house the first time.

Olot smiled when Cory introduced him to the pigs. He crouched down so he was talking to them at their eye level. “Cory told me about the trouble you've been having, and I thought this cave would be ideal for you. I know this is a bit out of the way, but there are actually
more beings living on the mountain than you might guess. I would be your next-door neighbor and if you ever needed anything, my wife and I would be happy to help. Now, you can't see the cave from the path, which is one of its security features. Come with me and I'll show you.”

Cory trailed behind as the pigs trotted after Olot. Although she was unable to hear what they were saying, Olot soon had the little pigs talking and laughing. She had come to make sure that everything went well, but she'd already begun to feel as if they didn't really need her there.

After rounding a group of tall saplings and a patch of thick underbrush that grew at the edge of the path, they followed another, narrower path that angled back and forth until they reached a massive door set in the side of the mountain. Olot opened the door with a key and the pigs followed him inside. They had taken only a few steps into the pitch-black space when Olot flipped a switch on the wall, turning on fairy light.

“I had the fairy lights installed last year when I began to think about selling the place. Some friends helped me install the plumbing,” Olot said as he led the way down a wide tunnel. “The cave has its own spring and the water is always fresh and clean. This is the main room.”

The pigs gasped when they stepped into the cavern.
Cory could understand why. Smaller than the cavern in Olot's cave, it was prettier with layers of different kinds of rock creating multicolored stripes in the walls. The ceiling was lower, too, at only a few feet above Olot's head. Cory thought that made it cozier, although the pigs exclaimed over how high it was.

“What's behind all the doors?” asked Alphonse.

“That one leads to the kitchen,” said Olot, “and those five are bedrooms.”

“Five bedrooms!” Bertie said, quivering with excitement.

“The bathing room is back there,” Olot said, pointing to the back of the cavern. “There's a shallow pool that you could swim in if you chose.”

The three little pigs squealed and started running toward the back.

“It looks as if you have everything under control here,” Cory told Olot before he could follow the pigs. “I don't think you need me anymore, so I'm going now.”

“That's fine,” said Olot. “I'll make sure they get on the pedal-bus safe and sound. See you later at Sprats'.”

Cory nodded. With all that had happened that day, she'd forgotten that the band was scheduled to play at the restaurant. When they heard the sound of splashing coming from the bathing room, Olot excused himself and hurried after the pigs.

“I'll just let myself out,” Cory called after him. She started to the front door, happy that at least this time the Tooth Fairy Guild hadn't tried to interfere. The door swung open silently and she was making sure that it had closed behind her when a swarm of gnats descended on her, getting in her eyes, her nose, and her mouth.

“Bleh!” she said, spitting out some gnats. Batting at the tiny insects with her hands, she hurried down the path. She was certain that the gnats would disperse as soon as she left, so she couldn't help laughing to herself. This time the Tooth Fairy Guild had been too late to do any damage.

When Cory returned home, the thatched roof was repaired and her uncle was kneeling in the garden, weeding. She landed on the grass and resumed her human size before sitting cross-legged beside him. “You're home early,” said Cory.

Micah set down the trowel and wiped the perspiration from his forehead. “A novice water nymph blew out all the pipes in the school. Everyone was sent home until the pipes are fixed. They say we should be able to go back in by tomorrow. The roofer was here when I got home.” Micah sat back on his heels and turned to look at the roof. “I think he did a good job. He left just a few minutes ago. Oh, Johnny Blue stopped by as well.
He was sorry he missed you and said he'd see you at Sprats' tonight. How was your day?”

“Mother came to see me this morning,” said Cory. “She tried to talk me into rejoining the Tooth Fairy Guild again. Then she said something that I thought was curious. She compared me to my father's father, but she talked about him as if he was still alive.”

Micah picked up the trowel and began jabbing at the roots of a stubborn weed. “Really? That's interesting.”

“Well?” Cory said. “Is he?”

“I don't know,” Micah told her as he jabbed the weed again.

“Oh, come on! You have to be able to tell me something about him. Mother certainly hasn't. She used to get mad at me if I mentioned him, so I stopped asking questions about my father's side of the family when I was a little girl. Now the only time she refers to my father's father is to say something unkind or that I'm as stubborn as he was. You met him, didn't you? Can't you tell me anything?”

Micah turned to face her. “Yes, I suppose I can. I think your mother has taken things too far. I understood her justification for cutting off ties with him, but I never approved. I liked your grandfather; most people did. He was strong-willed and very self-assured, but he did know his job.”

“Why did Mother dislike him so much?” asked Cory.

“Because your grandfather didn't think your parents should marry. He told them that they weren't right for each other, and that the right people for each of them would come along if they waited. Your parents were young and thought they were in love, so they refused to listen to him and ran off to get married. When they came back, they were already expecting you, so your grandfather didn't say anything more. The damage had already been done, however, and when your father left, your mother refused to see your grandfather or even hear his name mentioned. I've always thought it was because she didn't want to admit that he had been right. You know, I might have something for you. Come inside while I look for it.”

“What is it?” Cory asked as they walked toward the porch.

“You'll see in just a minute,” her uncle replied.

Cory made them each a cup of tea while her uncle rummaged through the desk in his bedroom. When he came out he was carrying an envelope made from papyrus. “Here, you can have this,” he said, handing the envelope to Cory. “You and your mother were staying with me when your grandfather sent it. Delphinium threw it in the trash without opening it, but I fished it out and kept it for you.”

Cory Feathering
, it said on the outside of the envelope. Ripping it open, she pulled out a pretty card decorated with flowers and baby bunnies.
Happy Vernal Equinox
, it said inside, along with the signature,
Lionel Feathering
.

“That's my grandfather's name, Lionel Feathering?” said Cory. “I never even knew that much. Mother refused to tell me his name.”

After examining the card, she returned to the envelope. Along with her name and her uncle's address, there was a return address. “Do you think he still lives there?” Cory asked her uncle.

“As far as I know he does,” said Micah. “It's the only address I have for him.”

Cory glanced out the window at the sundial. She'd have to get ready to go to Sprats' soon. “Then I guess I'll find out tomorrow.”

Sprats' was packed when Cory arrived, and people she didn't know greeted her as she made her way to the stage in the back of the room. Olot and Chancy were there and Cory's drums were already set up. Cheeble was there as well, and he gave her a quick wave and a grin before returning to his conversation with a cute, young brownie woman who was sitting by the side of the stage.

“He's in a good mood,” Cory said when Olot came to see her.

“Our success is going to his head. He's gotten a following already. I heard him telling Skippy that he might quit his day job soon.” The ogre gestured to the satyr, who had taken a seat in the audience to talk to a table full of beautiful nymphs. “Skippy said he might quit as well.”

“Are we making enough money that they could do that?”

“If things go the way they have been, we will be soon,” said Olot. “By the way, the pigs are buying the cave. They take possession next Thursday.”

“I'm not surprised. They seemed to love it.”

Olot laughed, a great booming sound that had people turning to glance at the stage. “Love it! I had a terrible time getting them out of the pool. I bet they'll spend most of their time there once they move in. They were talking about adding mud to make it a mud bath.”

Olot had gone to talk to Chancy when Priscilla Hood approached Cory. “I know you're busy,” said Priscilla, “but I just wanted to tell you that I went on that date with Jack Nimble. He's very nice, but he isn't right for me. He likes the outdoors like I do, but he isn't at all interested in hunting. At dinner last night, he said he'd rather climb mountains to catch a glimpse of rare creatures than take a nice leisurely walk through the forest to shoot them. I ask you, what's the point of looking for
animals if you aren't going to get a trophy? Anyway, do you have anyone else for me to meet now?”

“I'll have to think about that,” said Cory. “I'm sure we'll find the right person for you, but it may take some time.”

Priscilla returned to her seat with Marjorie, who smiled when Cory looked her way. Johnny Blue was seated by himself at a table not far from theirs; he waved when he saw Cory glance in that direction. She grinned and waved back, but her smile disappeared when she saw Daisy enter the restaurant with Tom Tom.

He had his arm around Daisy and they were talking with their heads together. When they reached the edge of the stage, he kissed her and left to find a seat, striding across the dance floor in front of Cory. She watched him for a moment, noticing the arrogant way he moved, his new-looking leather pants and shirt, and … Cory gasped when she saw Tom Tom's scuffed boots. If the band hadn't been about to start playing, she would have gone to talk to Daisy, but Olot was giving them the signal to warm up. The conversation would have to wait.

The audience talked and moved around while the band warmed up, but the moment Olot struck the first chord on his lute, everyone grew silent and all eyes turned to the stage. A new song, “Drifting Snow,” was
the first piece they played. After that they turned to some of their favorites, including “Morning Mist.” Whistling and applauding, the audience showed how much they loved Zephyr's music.

The band members basked in their praise, but the moment the break started, Cory headed straight to Daisy and practically dragged her to the back room, where the Sprats were offering cool fruit drinks and dried figs for snacks. Cory glanced at Tom Tom as she hustled Daisy between the tables and saw him scowl and get to his feet.

“You didn't tell me you were dating Tom Tom!” Cory said as soon as they were in the room.

Daisy shrugged. “I didn't know I needed to.”

Cory sighed, exasperated. “Listen, you've never asked me for advice about choosing a boyfriend, and I can respect that. I've never tried to tell you who to date either, although I have thought you've made some questionable choices. However, I have to say that I think you're making a mistake with Tom Tom. He's not a good person, Daisy. He kidnapped a pig once, he doesn't help his own family, and he was very rude to me the day I met him.”