“Shoot.” Sonja gave her a warm smile as she gestured to the chair across from her desk.

And suddenly, Charlotte was babbling. “Well, this is really awkward for me to have to ask. I don’t even know how to start and I don’t want Jillian to think I’m using her baby for my own gain–”

Sonja said kindly, “It might be better if you just got to the point, Charlotte.”

“Do you think Jillian would be willing to donate some of the baby’s eggshell after he or she is born?” Charlotte blurted out.

“Are you going to do some sort of weird science experiment with them?” Sonja asked. “Because she would have some objections to that. Oh honey, please don’t turn out to be evil, we just don’t have the emotional energy to deal with another supervillain.”

“What?!” Charlotte exclaimed. “No. I’m trying to remove Leonard’s fairy curse and my mama thinks it’ll require a potion made with a dragon’s eggshell.”

“Oh! That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard!” Sonja cried, rounding the corner and hugging her tight. “Yes, of course, she would be willing to donate some of the eggshell to helping Leonard. We love him! And just think of how much better he would be at his job without potential disasters.”

Sonja ran for the door and shouted, “Jillian!”

“What!” Charlotte exclaimed, following Sonja out of her office, past a glaring Jessica. “Wait, I wanted to approach her carefully.”

“It’ll be fine,” Sonja assured her, pushing Jillian’s door open.

Jillian was perched on a big rubber yoga ball, reading an academic journal while she rubbed a hand over her bulging belly. She smiled beatifically. “Hi, Charlotte, did Sonja send some sort of childbirth emergency text? Because I’m fine. I swear it was just a little heartburn after my lunchtime pie.”

“Jillian! Charlotte has a small favor to ask. Would you mind sharing a little bit of the baby’s eggshell after the birth?” Sonja asked.

Jillian removed her reading glasses, which Charlotte suspected were more for familiarity than for correction. Phoenix eyesight was damn near perfect. “Are you going to do weird science experiments with it?”

“Why is that everybody’s go-to?” Charlotte asked, throwing her hands in the air. “Do I have ‘weird scientist’ written on my forehead?”

“No, it’s just an unusual request.” Jillian said.

“She’s going to use it to try to lift the curse on Leonard,” Sonja squealed. “It’s so romantic! Curses and dragons and fairies. I freaking love living in Mystic Bayou.”

“I never said it was a romantic thing!” Charlotte cried.