“Well, I’m glad to hear that I shall be invited, at least.”
“Of course, dear cousin. We would never forget about you, the one who was so instrumental in getting us together in the first place.”
“About that –” Irving stood up from his plush red chair, making his way over to the counter. “Sylvan and I have a request of you.” He put his arm around Sylvan’s waist, drawing him in closer. “We would like you to be our…what did you call it, Sylvie?”
“Fae of honor – or best fae, whichever you prefer.”
My cheeks flushed, a smile spreading across my face. “I must say, I’m flattered – my first ever matchmade wedding, and I have the privilege of being in the wedding party!”
“So, that’s a yes?” Sylvan looked at me hopefully.
“Yes, of course. I could never decline an offer as tantalizing as that. I only hope my other matches don’t think it’s standard to include me in their future weddings.”
“I’m sure they will,” Irving said, “but you can cross that bridge when you come to it. Now, Sylvan, I think we should leave and let the Librarian get back to work.”
“I suppose so. You can keep those maple seeds, cousin. They’re the perfect treat during a long day of work.”
“I’ll remember that. Goodbye, both of you. Enjoy your day together.”
“You know we will,” Sylvan called back before the door shut behind them with a cheery jingle.
As soon as they were gone, I swept the maple seeds off my work surface and into the bin before anyone else came in. I loved my cousin, but Irving was right about those seeds – not the best if one wished to eat something that didn’t taste as though it were meant for the birds and other tree-dwelling creatures. I sat back in my chair and sighed, pulling out the big book of matchmaking from under the counter.
“Another successful match, and one of the most surprising ones yet, if I know anything about my cousin.”
I glanced up at the small painting Sylvan had brought as a gift. It was of him and me as children, playing in the creek by the houses we grew up in.
“Yes, this couldn’t have worked out better than if I’d planned it – which, in a way, I did.”
