Haven’t you ever wanted to shimmer?

“What would you like me to do?” Amaryllis propped her chin in her hand, fluttering her lashes.  “Shall I start icing?  Wiping down tables?  Baking?”

“Um…”  Cici trailed off, glancing at Magnolia and Bridget.

“She hasn’t hired you yet!” Bridget exploded, slapping her hand against the table.  “No one asked you to come here!  No one asked you to work here!  Everything I’ve asked you, you’ve ignored!”  She dumped her purse on the table, the boxes with the jewels clattering out.  The box lids fell off, the jewels slapping against the plastic table tops.  “Until you tell me where the hell these jewels came from, you’re not doing anything!”

“Bridget…”  Cici whispered, her eyes locked on the jewels.

“And another thing, don’t you have enough to do with your own store?” Bridget crossed her arms, scowling at Amaryllis.  “Shouldn’t you be there right now?”

“Bridget,” Magnolia muttered, nudging her.

“And why does Magnolia’s aunt know you?  Where was your original store?  What made you come back?  How old are you?”  Bridget leaned forward, her eyes flashing.  “Spill, lady.”

“Bridget, dear.”  Amaryllis smiled, brushing her silver fingers across the table.  “I believe your friends would like you to look at your first gifts.”

“I’ve looked and…”  Bridget trailed off.  “Oh my God.  How are they doing that?”

Just as they had at Magnolia’s uncle’s shop, the jewels were slowly traveling across the table, across the silver streaks left from Amaryllis’ fingers.  Moving around Magnolia’s tupperware and Cici’s salad, the jewels joined in the center of the table, the necklaces and bracelets connecting to form a dramatic necklace.

“That’s a new one.” Amaryllis grinned at their startled looks. “These are Quivering Stones, ladies, mined from the mountains deep in the secret ranges of the Tibet.  Depending on the mood of the owners, they create new pieces every day.  It’s a lot of fun.”

“But they’re so expensive,” Cici mummured, her eyes wide.

“They’re so rare,” Magnolia whispered, stabbing a tomato mindlessly.

“They’re so expensive!” Bridget roared, scooping up the jewels and dumping them back in her purse.  Clutching the top of her bag as if they might leap out, she glared at Amaryllis.  “Why would you give us something so valuable?”

“Did it make you smile?”  Amaryllis stood, flinging the silver scarf behind her.

“Yes,” Magnolia said, smiling up at the woman.

“It was gorgeous.”  Cici looked away from Bridget guiltily.

Bridget smashed her head into the table, barely missing her cupcake.  “I’m going to die from lack of answers.”

Catching Bridget’s chin in her hand before her head could slam down again, Amaryllis cupped her palm’s around the girl’s shocked face.  Stroking her auburn curls back from her temples, she smiled.

“Stop fighting, my dear.  It will make it worse.  The more you fight magic, the more it teases you.”  Silver glitter twinkled in Bridget’s hair, her cheeks smudged with shine.  “All will be revealed on Midsummer’s Night Eve, two Fridays from now.  Until then, I will be here every day.  You can ask me whatever you want, go to my shop whenever you want.  I may answer, I may not.”  Giving her chin a final pat, Amaryllis winked.  “I shall leave you ladies to your lunch, as I know Magnolia has a ton of sorting to do and Bridget has a luncheon order to prepare for tomorrow.”  She turned to Cici.  “So do I have the job? You really would be helping me out.  I have nothing to do in the afternoons.  And I’ve always wanted to learn to bake.”

Cici glanced at Bridget and Magnolia.  “Sure,” she stuttered.  “That’d be great.”

“Wonderful.”  Amaryllis clapped her hands.  “I’ve got a recipe I’ve always wanted to try.  Excuse me.”  Tying her scarf around her waist as a makeshift apron, she disappeared into the kitchen, humming to herself.

“That was weird.”  Cici pushed away her tupperware salad, rubbing her temples.

“Bridget, are you ok?”  Magnolia touched her friend’s arm.

“I’m great.” Wearing a serene smile, Bridget twirled her friendship necklace as she bit into a cupcake. “You know guys, I think this may be a great thing.”

Magnolia and Cici exchanged glances.  “Really?”

“Really.”  Bridget smiled.  “It’s a gorgeous day, isn’t it?”

“Oh my God.”  Cici’s hand flew to her mouth.  “Who are you and what did you do with Bridget?”

Magnolia stared at the silver shimmering in her scarlett curls, the silver streaks on her chin.  “I think I know what’s going on here…”

Stay tuned, Invisible Friends!  We have a new recipe tomorrow! Stay tuned!

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