Mr. O'Grady's Magic Box Read Free

his
granddad's features. The old man had dark hair like his once, but
now the strands had turned silver. Ian took after the O'Grady side
of the family with dark hair and Atlantic blue eyes, but his smile
and his stature was more like his father's side. The Quinns were
tall with broad shoulders. His father had claimed they were
descendents of great warriors. There were still a few of his
father's family in Ireland. He spent a summer vacation there once,
traveling the countryside. The best part of the trip had been when
he met a girl. Surprisingly, she wasn't from Ireland, but
traveling, taking in the historical sites before going back to
school.
    She was a vision: beautiful, slim, and
leggy. The moment he laid eyes on her, he wanted her desperately to
notice him and she did. They hit it off from the start. God, her
smile would sometimes make him forget to breathe.
    His granddad hung up the phone. "Now what
were we talking about?"
    Ian cleared his throat, startled where his
thoughts had taken him. The memory of Ireland and Aubrey Jules
seemed a lifetime ago. Yet if he closed his eyes, he could still
remember the smell of her perfume, a pretty fragrance that
whispered over his senses like a caress. He rubbed the back of his
neck. "The magic box," he reminded his granddad. "What magazine did
you say wanted to interview you, Granddad?"
    His hand shuffled through the paperwork and
reservation slips. "I wrote it down. Here it is. Unbelievable
Finds . They write about the paranormal, and peter-something or other beings."
    Quinn tried not to smile. "Do you mean
preternatural beings?"
    His granddad snapped his fingers. "That's
it."
    "I've never heard of the magazine."
    "No matter. They've heard of us. I'll have
to make my mother's scones and tea… Did you purchase the tea leaves
I asked you to get?"
    "Yes, they're in the kitchen."
    "Good, good. We want to make a good
impression."
    Ian had his doubts. Unbelievable
Finds sounded like one of those hokey magazines that liked to
write about alien abductions and Big Foot sightings. He was
about to tell his granddad he shouldn't make a fuss, but then
thought better of it. His granddad looked pleased and was already
making a list of ingredients he needed for the menu.
    He'd corner the reporter the moment he
arrived and find out what his intentions were. If it was indeed a
story for the magazine, he supposed there would be no harm with the
tale of the faeries and magic. His granddad had the knack for
storytelling and the legend of the magic box held a certain
charm.
    "I'm heading out now. I have the plants out
front ready for planting," he told his granddad.
    "Be off with you then. I'll put a pot o' tea
on about two, if you're in the mood for a break. I'll leave the
brew in the kitchen for you."
    "Two it is." Ian took a detour before
heading out to do yard work. The library had tables, chairs and
sofa for the patrons to come out of their rooms and lounge or
partake of the two p.m. teatime where his granddad served his
scones and specialty teas. His gaze lingered on the curio cabinet
in the corner where the magic box rested among other collectables.
He leaned down and stared at the wooden box carved with Celtic
symbols. As a child, he believed in magic and all the tales his
granddad spun. He'd made a wish to find his soul mate.
    You must be worthy for the faeries to
grant your wish, his granddad had told him.
    His lips pursed together. His wish had been
granted and he might as well have spit in the faeries' faces. There
should be a warning to go along with the wishing. Ignore the
faeries' gift and you'll find yourself alone. He touched his palm
to the cool glass. "I'm sorry. I was a fool to have left her." A
tinkling sound of bells chimed like music and laughter combined.
"Hear the bells chime and a faery cannot be far behind." His lips
curved. Perhaps the faeries finally forgave him.

Chapter Three
     
    Aubrey slipped her purse strap over her
shoulder as she stepped out of her rental car. She