by Cee, DW
Sitting beautifully on the bottom of the chest were a pair of glass slippers, and in my size. These were tailor-made for me and quite possibly, may turn me into Cinderella at the ball one day. With a silly smile, I picked the glass slippers and hugged my future grandfather.
“Thank you, Grandfather. You’re too generous.”
“I hope those shoes will make all your fairytale dreams come true, Laney.”
“Even if they don’t, I’ll always remember the sweet man who gave them to me.” I kissed him on the cheek, and let Sam have her turn.
What a magical night for all the Reid women.
March 9, 2013 Cinderella after Midnight
Today was a perfect day for a wedding. Gram and Grandfather looked lovely together and would live a good many more years together as man and wife. Last night’s revelry rolled right into today. All the guests came dressed in their English wedding best—even Donovan and Kate. When they both walked in, they looked like English royalty. Donovan looked every bit the English gentleman attending a society wedding, and with glamorous Kate on his arm, I finally felt like the little girl moniker Donovan continually accused me of being. How could I compete with that kind of sophistication?
“You’ve done a beautiful job here, helping your mom.” Jake came up and kissed me on the cheek as I watched Mr. and Ms. Royalty walk in. “And you look beautiful today—almost as beautiful as my wife and the bride.”
“Thank you,” I answered glumly. “I think she ran away with the beautiful title today.” I pointed my head toward Kate. “How can any one person get everything?”
Jake flashed a comforting smile. “Kate has always been beautiful and she’s a nice person, too. But, you know everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. No one has everything.”
“Who is she, and why is she here?” I knew the answer, but wanted confirmation from my cousin. “I take it she’s the one Donovan wanted to marry when he was in college?”
Jake was surprised I knew so much. “You still keeping tabs on my buddy?” he kidded.
“No...” My heart broke. “I try not to...but sometimes I can’t help myself.”
Jake gave me one of those side-hugs and kissed the top of my head like I was ten, again. “She’s going to be working at our grandfather’s law firm, and as for her status with Donovan, you’ll have to ask him.”
I chuckled cynically. “Yeah. Next time we’re together, I’ll do that.”
“You going to be all right?”
“I’ll be fine, Jake.” I answered with false bravado. “I’m not going to be sad today of all days. It’s not every day a granddaughter gets to see her grandmother married.” I smiled and walked with my head high and my heart pushed into a corner where no one could find it and break it.
“Laney.” Nick called with a voice of desperation. “I can’t dance with both the kids anymore. Can you take one?”
With pleasure! “Come on, Master James. Let’s dance.” I took hold of my favorite little boy and we danced in circles and enjoyed ourselves on this happy occasion.
“May I cut in?” Max already had Ellie in one arm, and he wanted James as well, so I handed him my little man and walked over to get the twins some food.
I tried desperately to walk away from the table where Donovan and Jane were in an intimate conversation, but I just couldn’t help myself. How desperate did I have to be to want to be near him every chance I got?
Nonchalantly walking near their table, I focused on my goal of the food area, and couldn’t help but overhear part of their conversation. Why oh why did I have to be such a masochist? This day would’ve been perfectly fine had I not heard what Donovan was declaring to Jane. “She came back to ask me to marry her, if you must know, my curious Jane. I don’t love her anymore, though the attraction is still there. Maybe what I felt for her back in college was a young buck’s fascination, adulation, obsession. I don’t know if it was love. Plus, there’s somebody holding me back from wanting to explore anything with anyone new. I know you’re with another man. I’m not going to take what’s not mine. But I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to be with you...to laugh with you...to love with you.... A chance with you is what’s holding me back from moving on.... There’s my confession for the day. And now, I better get out of your boyfriend’s seat.”
This confession devastated, overwhelmed, and destroyed me. It was one thing to think I couldn’t compete against a glamorous older woman, but it was another to know that my cousin, who was already committed to an ideal man, held the heart of my ideal man.
“You look like you’re about to cry. What the matter?”
Why was God so cruel to me that he had to send Donovan right here and now, to notice my dejection?
“I guess I’m just happy to see Grandfather find his true love, again.”
“Are you sure? Your mouth tells me these are happy tears, but your face says otherwise. What’s got you so sad?”
“I’m not sad.” Simultaneously, the distress in my voice broke through and I had to wipe the tears that fell. I was such an idiot.
“Well, tears or not, you really do get prettier every time I see you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Taylor.” I decided to change the mood and turn this into a lighter situation. “You don’t look half-bad, yourself.” Half-bad? OMG! He looked striking. I’d never seen a more handsome man in my life. I had to stop and control my breathing—to control the tears that wanted to flow, and to control my ogling eyes that wondered how someone could be so breathtaking.
“I heard you ladies all had a grand time with Roland’s treasure chest.”
“Yes, we did. That was really kind of him to give us all a gift. He only needed to gift my grandmother but we all got blessed as well.”
“What’d you pick?”
“I picked...” I hesitated because I knew he’d laugh at me. I knew my choice would solidify my little girl status.
“Yes?” He quirked his eyebrows in a really cute way. How, even after plundering my heart, could I find this man so irresistible?
“I don’t think I want to tell you. You’re going to make fun of me.”
“Now why would I do that?” He laughed. No matter the pretense, we both knew he had his answer already. He just wanted an admission from me.
“You already know what I picked, don’t you?”
He shook his head no, coupled by laughter that only grew with my silence.
I walked away from him, hurt. Shoot! I was getting seriously tired of this (in)significant man hurting my feelings at every turn. Something needed to be done...and fast! After what I’d heard between him and Jane, I was sick of being hurt.
I stopped, turned around and yelled at him. “I picked a pair of Swarovski crusted glass slippers! Go ahead and laugh at me. I’m sick of you treating me like a ten-year-old. Go back to your sugar-mama or whoever else is holding you back from your sugar-mama and leave me alone!”
By the shocked look on his face—POINT MADE! I was so over him!
March 13, 2013 Heartbroken? You Have No Idea!
I could not face Donovan at softball today, so I told Elle I had too much schoolwork and bailed on the game. William had also been leaving me messages since I ended our “relationship” so not showing up to softball was a double blessing. Sitting at the library, I’d read and reread the same paragraph of my literature book. There was really no point in sitting here, pretending to study since nothing was being accomplished. I packed up my bags to leave.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Donovan!
“How’d you find me?”
“Elle thought you might be here. She said this is the only library you go to.” He gallantly took my heavy book bag and carried it over his shoulder. “You haven’t answered me. Where are you off to?”
“Home. I have much to do. Nothing got accomplished this weekend so I need to get to work.”
“About this weekend...should we talk?”
>
“Nope!” I cut him off before anything else could be said.
“I think I need to explain a few things to you.”
“Nope, nope, and more nope. You and I owe each other nothing. You have your life, I have mine—and our lives do not intersect like a Venn diagram.”
“Delaney, I think...”
“Seriously, Mr. Taylor. I don’t need to know, I’m not interested in knowing, and I have no right to know. What you choose to do as a grown adult is not for me to judge. What I will say is that Max is a great guy. He loves my cousin and I believe she loves him in return. Whatever the hell is going on in her mind and heart as well as yours, I just hope you’ll consider the collateral damage of both your selfishness.”
Shit. That was way too much talking. I just confessed that I’d heard everything that was spoken at the wedding between him and Jane.
“Yeah, I thought you might have heard all that.” He had some sense of modesty and stopped talking...but not for long. “Let me ask you this...” he started again, “does my conversation with Jane have anything to do with why you looked so heartbroken at the wedding?”
Heartbroken? Mr. Taylor, grief-stricken, hopeless, crushed would be much better words for how I felt on Saturday. Naturally, I had to lie. “I’ve told you in the past, I like Max. He was sacrificing enough to let the love of his life go so she could find Jake. He deserves happiness....” I left it at that and took my bag back from Donovan.
Surprisingly, he didn’t stop me from leaving. Stupid me was more hurt that he let me go, than relieved that this conversation was over.
March 30, 2013 Hawaii?
I made a fine mess of my “relationship” with Donovan. He didn’t show up to the last two games and I received no texts this time asking how I played. Somehow, I made myself believe this was the best thing for me, and the less of one Donovan Taylor, the better. Why would he keep in touch with me on any regular basis, and why should I wonder where he was and who he was with? I wasn’t anyone important in his life. This was the break we needed, or better stated, I needed. Emily had texted a few minutes earlier asking me to stop by, and when I got to her home, practically the entire cul-de-sac, ages thirty-five and under, was here.
“Since Jane will be working, maybe Laney can room with you two? It would be sad if we were all away and she was here alone during spring break. Doug, will you buy her a ticket?” My kind-hearted cousin-in-law was always looking out for my welfare.
“Heck no!” My cheap brother looked out for me only when it was convenient. “She has more money than I do. I’m a poor MBA student.”
I was tired of my brother acting like an older brother only when he saw fit. “Quit your whining! I don’t need you to buy me anything. I’ll buy my own ticket,” I said walking into the middle of this conversation. How much could a ticket cost? “By the way, Emily, what am I buying tickets to...a show? The movies? What are we all watching?”
“Hawaii!” Everyone cried out.
Shit! What had I gotten myself into? I didn’t have that kind of money to spare. Every dime I made needed to be saved up for a yearlong trip to London.
“Um...I can’t go to Hawaii. I don’t have money to buy a ticket.”
Jake and Emily immediately stepped in. “We’ll take you.”
“Thank you, but no. I mean, I have the money, but I can’t spend it on a vacation to Hawaii. My dad says he’s not supporting me outside of school, so I need to save up all my money for the next year. You guys have a great time.”
“Come on, Laney. We’ll all chip in and buy you a ticket.” Nick, my good-natured cousin, smiled at me. I wondered why Nick never dated anyone. With his good looks and easy-going nature, what woman could resist him?
“I’ll be fine at home. I can’t do everything I want. My parents think I’m taking a year-long vacation, anyhow.”
“Delaney Reid.” I turned around looking for that voice, but didn’t see anyone matching the masculine sound. “Get on the phone.”
Jake pointed to the phone I was to pick up.
“Hi Mr. Taylor.”
“How are you, Little Girl?”
“I’ve been good. How are you? We’ve missed you at the games.” Shit, shit, shit! Now why did I have to go and say that?
“You have?” At first Donovan sounded surprised, then he sounded like he was smiling when he said, “I knew you’d miss me when I didn’t show up to the game.”
“I didn’t say I have, I said we have, as in the collective group. And plus, you’ve missed two games.”
“So you’ve noticed...” The smile was still there.
“Yeah, I’ve noticed. How can I not when there’s no one to catch for me? We lost the last two games.”
“We can talk about softball later. What’s this about you not joining us next week?”
“It would be fun, but I need to save up my money for London. Some of us aren’t high-powered lawyers charging ridiculous amounts of money per hour.”
“I’ll buy you a ticket. Show up with the group.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because you have no reason to buy me a ticket.”
“My plane ticket, my lodging and all my meals will be paid for by the firm. I want you to join us. I’ll pick up your ticket.”
“Don’t.”
“Just did. It’s in your inbox.”
“Mr. Taylor...!” I groaned.
“See you tomorrow, Little Girl. I’m glad you missed me.” He hung up.
“I take it you’re coming with us?” An astute Jake whispered in my ear while everyone else was oohing and aahing over the property we were staying at in Hawaii. “Did my buddy pull through?”
“I’ll go and pack. See you tomorrow, bright and early.”
“We’ll all have a blast!” Jake sent me off with those encouraging words.
Hawaii. One week. Me + Donovan Taylor.
I smiled.
April 1, 2013 Hawaii!
What the hell was I thinking?
“Hello, Laney,” was the sultry voice that greeted me as I arrived at our gate.
Hawaii. One week. Me + Donovan Taylor?
Ha! It was more like, Hawaii. One week. Kate +Donovan + Jane!
Last night, the excitement of Donovan wanting me to join him in Hawaii was too much for me. Sleep wouldn’t come so I packed, repacked, and thought about the copious activities I’d like to do with him. This morning—REALITY check! Kate stood next to Donovan in all her splendor, and she greeted us with her stunning smile and knockout, fitted couture suit. It made me and my maxi dress look like some hick, billowy, out-of-fashion LOSER.
It was at this moment I hated everyone. I hated myself for living in la-la land. I hated Donovan for getting my hopes up. I hated Jane for being front and center on Donovan’s radar. And I hated Kate for being nice to me. Well...I didn’t really hate anyone, but I felt like a fool. To add to my foolishness, through Kate’s unexpected kindness and an unexpected business meeting, I ended up sitting in her seat with Jake, Emily and Donovan, in first class. The flight attendant offered me a mimosa, and I gladly accepted the drink while calming myself before the flight began.
I also looked for ways to change seats—to sit next to Emily, rather than Donovan, because after throwing a rant at Gram’s wedding, I was embarrassed to be with him. Why, oh why, did I get myself into such predicaments?
“Are you going to go dark on me this entire plane ride?” He was so handsome this morning in his casual pants and button down shirt-look. How could a man look this good?
“I don’t know. Do you have anything stimulating to talk about, Mr. Taylor?”
“I won’t if you keep calling me by my dad’s name.”
“I guess we’ll practice the AMC rules.” He gave me a blank look. “Silence is golden?” He still gave me a blank look. “Don’t you watch movies? You know...silence is golden is strewn across the movie screen at AMC theaters?”
H
e smiled. “I guess it’s been a while since I’ve been to the movies. What have you watched, lately?”
“Well, I’ve seen a lot of movies.”
“Such as? Do these movies have a name?”
“I saw The Last Exorcism Part 2...” I paused after this because I thought about how we ended up asleep and tangled on the sofa the last time Donovan and I saw a movie together. “And I saw Oz, Burt Wonderstone, G.I. Joe, and The Host.”
“You saw all those movies recently? How do you possibly see so many movies in the course of a few weeks?”
“I...” Should I tell him?
“I...?” He expected an answer.
“I went on a few dates last month and we ended up watching movies before or after dinner.”
“With this William guy?”
“No! I had to end things with him.”
“Why?” Donovan laughed at me.
I gave him an ugly look and turned away to talk to Emily instead. I was embarrassed enough with this man; I didn’t need him making fun of my life.
“No matter what kind of funny face you make, you’re adorable, Delaney Reid,” he said as he put his thumb and forefinger on my chin and turned me back around to face him. “Now finish your story.”
I thought about it for a while, then concluded he wasn’t going anywhere. There weren’t too many other options but to speak with my dream man.
“William was too clingy.”
“How was he too clingy?” He imitated my last two words.
“He just was...” I dared him to ask again. Of course, Donovan asked again so I had to explain. “He just hovered all the time and I don’t like guys...girls...people who hover. I need my freedom.” There. I was done with my explanation.
“Then why date anyone, if you need your freedom?”