Caroline brought Diane to a nearby restaurant. Diane was a diabetic, so she had to watch her carbs closely, which often resulted in her ordering small portions. Caroline frowned. "I understand you have a medical condition, but you're so thin. I wish you could eat more."
Diane shrugged. "It is what it is, love. Besides, I like being slender, so if that means I'm always about a sandwich away from being malnourished, well, beauty is pain, no?"
Caroline shook her head. "I guess it wouldn't be so bad if you didn't make me look like a glutton by comparison."
Indeed, Caroline had always had a hearty appetite, and so worked out regularly to burn off the excess calories.
"On the contrary, you take enjoyment from eating, and I'm happy to witness anything that gives you pleasure." Diane reached across the table to place her hand on Caroline's.
"You're such an odd girl. I don't know what to make of you, Diane."
"But you love me, don't you?" Diane smiled slyly.
"Very much. Don't doubt that."
As the two girls finished their respective meals, the server, a strikingly beautiful and youthful young woman, came up to them. "Excuse me, sorry to bother you, but the gentleman over there," she gestured to an older and distinguished looking businessman, "was wondering if you wouldn't mind joining him for a glass of wine."
"I'm afraid I'm too young to partake, but if you are interested, Caroline my dear, why not?"
Caroline bit her lower lip for a moment. "Well, sure, what could it hurt?"
The server smiled. "He also says he'll pick up your bill, so feel free to join him at your leisure, ladies."
Diane raised an eyebrow, her expression neutral. "Curiouser and curiouser."
Caroline chuckled. "Remember what the Dormouse said."
"Indeed, let us go 'feed our heads', as it were." Diane rose, and offered her hand to the smaller woman. Hand in hand, they walked over to the table. The businessman wore a very fine suit, and had salt and pepper hair with well-groomed facial hair. His blue eyes sparkled as he got up and pulled out chairs for the two. "Ladies, thank you for accepting my invitation. My name is Gerald Grant."
"How alliterative, I approve." Said Diane, as she sat, and allowed Gerald to push in her chair for her.
"You'll get used to Diane shortly, Mr. Grant, you'll find she's a little odd and old-fashioned in some ways, but I think that makes her interesting. My name is Caroline, thank you for your hospitality."
"Indeed, we are quite honored by your charity, Mr. Grant."
Gerald pushed in Caroline's chair before sitting down. The server arrived with an expensive looking bottle of wine, and poured three glasses for the trio.
"A pinot noir, I'm surprised this restaurant has any in stock." Diane sniffed the glass.
"Well, it's not for just anyone. I actually own the restaurant, and when I have business meetings here, I only serve the best."
Caroline sipped the wine. She wasn't much of a wine drinker, really, but after the day she'd had, she felt she could use something alcoholic. "Um, Diane, you know you really shouldn't drink that."
"I was merely savoring the aroma, my love. Although I do find it more than passing strange that the server poured me a glass, since I'd already informed her of my lack of years, so to speak."
Gerald grinned. "Well, as to that, you'll find that if you do wish to sample my offering, no one will report the infraction. My dears, I must admit to having ulterior motives for inviting you over. I'm a contractor of sorts. I could tell the instant you both entered my domain that you were both enchanted, and very much in love- love of a sort that is frowned upon by many."
Diane's right eye twitched. "Enchanted, you say?"
"I am very familiar with the supernatural, and I know magic when I see it. You were both very different people when this day began. A powerful artifact was used to transform you both, rearranging your memories and lives. I immediately thought to offer you my services."
"What...kind of services?" Caroline seemed cautious. "And at what cost?"
Gerald chuckled. "I don't deal in souls, I'm no serpent or devil, I assure you. I'm a broker of sorts, I suppose you could say. My clients are very interested in certain commodities, and are often willing to purchase them in exchange for...miracles, I suppose you could say."
"Miracles." Diane didn't conceal her dubiousness as she sipped at her wine. "So how would such a transaction be commenced?"
"Simply put, you tell me what you want, and I'll see if any of my clients can offer that. Then I come back with their price. They can ask for any sort of thing, really, and sometimes it's trivial- possibly even beneficial. It's all in the eye of the beholder. For example, let's say you're the sort of woman who fears the onset of age, and the diminishing of her beauty. She would naturally wish to regain some of her lost youth- and she might be told the price is the vibrant hue of her hair, or a few inches of her height. In fact, there was one case, where a client asked for no compensation, but instead offered to take away a few more years than the lady had asked for."
Caroline blinked. "How many more?"
"Well, she was nearing the age of 40, and she thought it would be wonderful to go back to being 20 again- my client instead offered her the chance to be 15 once more. Obviously, that presents certain...problems, but she couldn't pass up such a good deal."
"And then what happened to her?" Diane pressed Gerald for more information.
"Well, she suddenly found that as a girl of 15, she no longer had assets, nor could she prove her identity. She ended up young but destitute. I offered her a job, and she's been working for me ever since. You met her in fact, surely it didn't escape you that your server was exceptionally pretty for her job?"
"I did notice, in fact. But far be it from me to comment on another's circumstances. And if we refuse the deal, no harm or foul?" Diane seemed thoughtful.
"None at all. So, the only question is, what do you want?" Gerald smiled.
"Do you actually believe him, Diane?" Caroline seemed nervous.
"We have proof magic exists, so while this could be a scam, what would the purpose be? As long as we have a written contract that I may inspect, we merely have to decide if the price is worth paying. What would you ask for, my dear Caroline?"
The young woman seemed to think about that for a moment. "I'm not really sure I want what I lost back- I gained you in trade, and that's the greatest bargain I could ask for."
Diane smiled softly at her lover.
"But..I suppose being able to resolve the issue of my husband without a confrontation could be worth something. Or even..." She grinned. "Something more impossible. Mr. Grant, I want to be married to Diane here instead of my current husband."
Diane's eyes widened. She didn't object, but she was surprised that Caroline was ready to move their relationship forward to such a degree at this time.
Gerald nodded, and seemed to snatch a piece of parchment out of the air, presenting it to both ladies. "Your contract."
"That was fast!" Caroline blinked, even as Diane grabbed the paper to persuse it.
"Well, sometimes my clients have a bit of foresight in these matters."