Ever True

In this delightful novella, Miranda Avery is one of those people who seems to be leading a charmed life. Smart and beautiful and rich, she's the CEO of a successful Madison Avenue advertising firm who's never so much as chipped a nail during her blissful stroll through life. Of course, the reason for that could be that she really does lead a charmed life. Literally. Like charmed by fairies. And not just any fairies. Shakespearean fairies. Yes, Miranda is a descendant of one set of lovers from "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the issue of whom was blessed by Oberon himself. Good fortune is fairly encoded on her DNA.

So it comes as something of a surprise when she meets up with a challenge like Sam Armado, known more affectionately around the office as "the guy who waters the plants on Tuesdays." Sam's a lot more than that, actually. And not just because he owns the nursery and landscaping company that takes care of the plants in Miranda's office. In fact, he's a descendent of the other set of lovers from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." (Well, where do you think Shakespeare got such a brilliant idea for a play? It was sent to him in a dream by fairies. Sheesh.)

Sam and Miranda are destined for each other, though neither seems quite aware of the fact. Enter Miranda's assistant Harry Primrose (whose uncle many know as Robin Goodfellow) and a lesser fairy named Ivy. Between the two of them, they'll make Miranda and Sam see the light. All it will take is a Midsummer Night's frolic on the Upper East Side, a little twist of fate, and a sprinkle of fairy dust...

***Originally appeared in the anthology Sprinkle of Fairy Dust in 1998