Blue Fairy

Chapter 1

Lucy's hands shook as she tried to shove the key into the lock, wondering if she's made a terrible mistake. She stood at the side of the freeway trying to open the trunk of her black rental car. She couldn't stay there for long. She needed to be quick.

They might find her. They might find them.

She finally managed to open the trunk and pull out the replacement tire.

Her heart sank. The tire is flat.

She checked her mobile phone again. Still dead.

She threw the tire back into the trunk and slammed it shut. She saw a pair of huge dark eyes staring at her from the car's back windshield, and willed herself to breathe and smile.

"Sorry about that, baby," she said as she opened the door. "It looks like we'll have to walk."

The boy thought his name was Chris – it was a good COMMON name. He was born with another one, a much better one, and Lucy's insides contracted at the memory of that old name.

She sat next him in the back seat, kept the door open so they won't suffocate. "Is it okay if you carry Mr. Grandvi while we find someone who'll help?"

The boy's eyes shone with regal seriousness as he nodded and picked up his knapsack and teddy bear. "I can carry your bag too, Momma," he lisped.

Just then, a car parked in front of theirs. A large man disembarked, strode to their car. He leaned over the hood of the car, casting a long dark shadow.

"Hey," he said casually. "Need any help?"

Lucy could only stare at the purple whorls peeking out of his collar and cuffs.

Oh no. They've FOUND her. They've FOUND the boy.

She licked her lips, trying not to panic. She glanced at Chris. His eyes were on her, steady and trusting and true, and knew that she had to approach the situation carefully. She flicked her gaze back at the man, who was peering at them patiently.

He didn't seem hostile. Her heart beat faster. He didn't KNOW. He doesn't recognize them. She wanted to sob in relief, but opted to clear her throat instead.

"Uh. Hi," she managed to croak out. "I need to change the tire of this rental car. Except the spare tire they provided me with is not...functional."

"Ah," the stranger responded with a quirk of the mouth. "Let me guess. You rented that from the Jessie Crisco's by the airport."

She blinked at him. "Does...this happen a lot?"

He snorted. "Eh. Let's just say you're far from their FIRST accidental victim on this highway. I take it no one's answering your calls?"

Wordlessly, she held up her phone. He whistled.

"Lady, this really isn't your day."

She sighed. "You have no idea."

"Luckily," he continued, "I just finished helping an old friend tow some old muscle car he's restoring over to his new house."

Lucy looked past his shoulder to a rust-red tow truck parked just ahead of them. She tried to gather her thoughts, but she could barely hear them through the fresh wave of panic that seized her nerves.

"Hey," the man said, voice more gentle. "I promise, I'm not going to hurt you. Or the kid. Here," he pulled something out of his pocket.

It was a phone.

"You guys hang on to this. If you think I'm trying anything shady, you can call the cops on me. Okay?"

She tried to respond, but Chris beat her to it. "Mr. Grandvi says we can trust you, even if you're weird," he said, holding up the stuffed animal.

The man smiled, but didn't laugh. "Much obliged, Mr. Grandvi. Though I have to admit, I've been impolite. Forgot to introduce myself--the name's Jimmy."

"I'm Chris!" the boy responded happily before turning to her. "Momma, Mr. Grandvi likes him. Can we keep him?"

She was still reeling from Grandvi's approval. It's...very irregular. But the bear's judgement is nothing to scoff at. She nodded at the child, looked at the man by her window, swallowed, and spoke.

"And...I'm Lucy. We appreciate the help, Mr. Jimmy. Thank you."

The man grinned at both of them. "Right, then. Let me hook this thing up."