“Ah, it wasn’t nothing,” she said, nodding to Pierce’s wonder. “You look like you need a break is all.” She wedged open a pocket to show a handful of bills. “You dunna owe me anything. Once a leprechaun is given money, it’s hers. All she got was some dried oak leaves.” She laughed then, sounding like a delighted child. I found myself smiling, not begrudging her all three thousand. Ivy had deep pockets.

My head came up fast when the door to the coffeehouse jingled and Nick stumbled out. He had a wad of environmentally conscious brown napkins against his nose and Mark at his side. The kid was apologizing profusely, shoving a bag of something at him as Nick tried to get away. He never even looked at us as he wedged Mark’s hand off him and staggered to his car.

Mark gave up, standing forlornly in his apron as Nick started his car and tilted his head back against the headrest to wait. Mark went back inside, his steps slow.

“I be thinking that’s your ride,” the leprechaun said, indicating Nick’s rusty car with her pipe.

“Only because the fool woman wouldn’t get on the bus,” Pierce grumbled,and I gave him a dark look. Seeing it, Pierce took a loud, slow breath, then started across the lot to Nick, his head down and his hands in the pockets of his long wool duster.

It worked, I thought, but it could easily have gone another way. Knees shaky, I started to follow Pierce, hesitating when the leprechaun tapped her pipe against the Dumpster and said, “I’m not an oracle …”

“But,” I prompted.

She looked up at me, fingering the money I’d told her to keep. “Trust your judgment, baby witch. No one else’s. You’ve got good instincts for someone flakier than my mum’s pie crust.”

Pierce waited impatiently by the open door, Nick behind the wheel. “Rachel …”

My judgment sucks, I thought. She’s got to be kidding.

The leprechaun’s smile faded and her fingers left the money. “I never did say thank you for letting me go. I would have lost my accreditation. I don’t do that stuff anymore. Illegal, I mean.” Pierce made a pained noise, and she added, “Hey, you want a wish?”

My heart seemed to stop. A dozen thoughts flashed through my mind. Jenks and Matalina living forever. Me not on the run. Ivy’s soul. “No. No, thank you.” I looked at Pierce beside the open door, frantically motioning for me to get in. “Thanks. But I’ve got to go.”

“No, really. Take it!” she said, holding out a coin with a hole in it. “You could use it.”

I held my breath, staring at it. Slowly I smiled. “No thank you,” I said softly. “Give it to someone who needs to learn a freaking life lesson. I’m done.”