The Girl and the Genie by E. M. Lilly Page A

bedroom and had a sunken tub and a small built in sauna.
    The room that she fell in love with was the den. It had a men’s club feel to it with its dark mahogany woods, a plush brownish leather recliner and a working stone fireplace. There was no TV set or stereo in this room, only book cases filled with books and small antique stone carvings. But that was fine. It was a room for unplugging yourself from the modern world, and it would be a perfect place for reading manuscripts.
    Emily found herself liking the owner, Theodore Anderson, as much as she liked the condo. He was in his fifties, and had this very lively and spry quality to him. A man with a warm smile and a twinkle in his eyes. Emily felt comfortable with him from the moment he met her at the door. As he gave her a tour of his condo, his fox terrier, Astor, followed them, and he told Emily how he was a professor of European History and that this opportunity to spend a year in Venice came completely out of the blue.
    “This is like a dream,” he told her. “I could barely believe it when the call came, and when I was talking later with my friend, Nancy, she mentioned how she had met your mother and how you might be a good person to housesit for me, and so I got your phone number and gave you a call. And here you are.”
    By this time they had ended up in the kitchen, and he was making the two of them cappuccinos. While they drank their cappuccinos, they worked out an arrangement in which Emily would pay per month the same amount she was currently paying in rent. Emily hesitated briefly before bringing up the subject of having a dog into the condo. She explained how a friend of hers had an English Bulldog that she might need to take care of from time to time. Professor Anderson had his fox terrier in his lap at this point, and told her that he was bringing Astor to Italy with him, and that her having a dog in his condo was fine with him. They shook hands then, agreeing to their deal.
    Sally was understanding that night about Emily moving out the way she was.
    “It hasn’t been right the way I foisted Mitch on you.” Sally’s smile became wracked with regret. “I’m sorry, Em. I should’ve handled this better. I’ve been a real louse.”
    Emily kept it brief telling Sally that she understood how things happened the way they did, and that she’d always value their friendship. She avoided saying anything about Mitch.
    Saturday was three days away, and it went by fast with Mitch keeping his distance from her. She had a teary goodbye with Sally, but as she left the apartment for the last time all she felt was relief that she’d never have to deal with Mitch again. Sally was going to sell her furniture for her, so she didn’t bring much with her to her new home—just six boxes filled with clothing and other odds and ends, and of course, her antique chest with her genie’s lamp hidden inside of it. Minutes after settling into her new address, she heard Jack’s voice from within the antique chest. It was badly muffled, but as she dug the lamp from the secret compartment, she could hear him more clearly. He had a favor to ask of her, but he needed her to summon him first. She did, and Jack appeared within a burst of blue smoke, a distressed look tugging at his features. He apologized for the intrusion.
    “It’s Winston,” he said. “The poor guy has been miserable since I’ve gotten him back from you.” The genie’s discomfort appeared palpable as he hovered in front of Emily.
    “Would you like me to take him for a few days?” she asked.
    “It will need to be more than that,” Jack said. He smiled weakly at Emily. “I was afraid this might happen if Winston was given enough of a taste of your world, but it’s more than that. He has formed a strong attachment to you, Miss Mignon. I know this is an imposition, but I hate seeing him pining away for you.” He paused for a moment, then added, “It’s been hard waiting for you to move here to make