The rainbow was gone. Kate could have kicked herself for losing it.

She called her mother, only to find out that all the toy-drive presents were gone. “The volunteers delivered the last ones today,” Mrs. McCrady explained. “Is something the matter?”

“Lainey’s dad accidentally gave away the wrong box,” Kate told her.

“Oh no. Was there something valuable in it?” her mother asked.

“Yes. Very,” Kate said.

Her mother sighed. “Well, let me find the list of addresses. We’ll probably have to check with a few different families. Hold on.”

She heard her mom set down the phone. As she waited, Kate pictured herself knocking on strangers’ doors. “Excuse me,” she imagined herself saying. “I think you got something that belongs to me by mistake.” She pictured a little boy or girl handing back the box—maybe the only present he or she would have that Christmas.

“Here it is,” her mom said, when she picked up the phone again. “Can you tell me what the box looked like? I’ll start calling the families—”

“Never mind,” Kate said. “I was wrong. I guess we don’t need it back after all.”

She hung up and went back to the kitchen table where her friends were waiting.

“Well?” Lainey looked up expectantly. “Did you find out where the rainbow went?”

Kate shook her head. She made a silent wish that whoever found it would share its magic.

Lainey sighed. “It’s my fault. We should never have stopped to eat lunch.”

“No, it’s my fault,” Kate said, feeling furious with herself all over again. “I shouldn’t have left it sitting there.”

Gabby looked up from her second cup of hot chocolate. “But can’t Iridessa and Silvermist just make another one?” she asked.

Why didn’t I think of that? Kate thought. She looked hopefully at the fairies. “Can you?”

“We could,” said Silvermist. “We’ll just need a crashing waterfall.”

“And several blazing sunbeams,” Iridessa added.

Kate’s face fell. “But we don’t have any of that. Can’t you just do it with magic?”

“We have to start somewhere. Even our magic isn’t strong enough to make a rainbow out of thin air,” Iridessa explained.

“We’ll have to go back to Pixie Hollow,” Silvermist agreed.

“What will you tell Queen Clarion?” Kate asked anxiously as they walked back to the portal. She didn’t want the queen to know she’d wasted the fairies’ magic—she might not let the fairies come back to the mainland again.

“Don’t worry. We’ll think of something,” Silvermist promised.

Kate watched the fairies fly through the door, into the lush green world of Pixie Hollow. She longed to follow them. But it was late in the day. She knew her parents would be expecting her.

“Come on, Gabby,” she said. “I’ll walk you home.”

They said goodbye to Lainey. Outside, late-afternoon light was fading from the sky. As they started down the street, they saw Mia and Angelica returning from the bus stop. Mia had a pink shopping bag looped over one arm and was talking to her cousin.

Kate felt a sudden flare of anger. She stormed over to them. “Have a nice day?” she snapped. “Why didn’t you tell us you were—” She stopped and stared. “What did you do to your ears?”

“Oh!” Mia reached up and touched the small gold earrings. “I got them pierced today.”

“They look cute, don’t they?” Angelica said.

A feeling that had been boiling in Kate all afternoon suddenly spilled over. “Getting your ears pierced!” she exploded. “That’s what was so important?”

“That’s not what I—” Mia started to say.

But Kate was too worked up to listen. “I’m trying to help Pixie Hollow. Lainey’s trying to help. Even Gabby’s trying. You’re the only one who isn’t doing anything. All you care about is shopping and…and your dumb earrings!”

The look in Mia’s eyes went flat. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know anything,” she said. She turned toward her house. “Come on, Gabby. We’re going inside.”

Gabby looked from Kate to Mia. Mia shrugged and started off without her.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Gabby whispered to Kate. Then she turned and chased after her sister and cousin.

“What was that all about?” Kate heard Angelica say as they walked away.

“Nothing,” came Mia’s reply.

Kate stood frozen to her spot. She had the sudden, terrible feeling that she’d said everything wrong. But as Mia, Gabby, and Angelica turned up the steps to their house, she couldn’t stop herself from shouting, “I hope you’re happy. If their magic dies, it’ll be your fault!”

Mia didn’t even look back. Without a word, she went inside and closed the door.