A Hilarious and Charming Feel-Good Read

by Saranna Dewylde

  Plus, if he puked, he could just have his fairy godmothers erase the tapes and their memories.

  It would be fine.

  It was all fine.

  Lucky slipped her hand into his and squeezed.

  The air was easier to breathe, the lights were a little less harsh, and his heartbeat found a steady rhythm.

  He squeezed back and they walked into the ballroom to face his tormentors.

  With Lucky’s hand still in his, he remembered to hold his chin high, to keep his back straight, and to look each person whose gaze he caught in the eye, and he refused to be the one who looked away first.

  Hundreds of lights flashed in their faces, and they were led to a wide table with two chairs, two microphones, and two glasses of water.

  He couldn’t help but think it looked like they were about to go on trial, and he realized he wasn’t wrong. They were on trial in the court of public opinion. If they were exonerated, Ever After would have a booming wedding business.

  If not, they might still. Ransom had heard it said by many a marketing professional that all publicity was good publicity, but he wasn’t so sure of that.

  Another wave of relief washed over him when he saw Roderick with a microphone obviously playing emcee. Ransom, with his backup forces surrounding him, was ready for battle.

  He pulled out Lucky’s chair and waited for her to be seated before taking his own seat. As he sat down next to her, he realized he hadn’t told her how beautiful she looked in the green sundress Rosebud had made for her. She looked every bit the happy bride.

  Except for the ring. Damn it. They’d forgotten a ring.

  Gorgeous, he mouthed.

  Lucky blushed and suddenly the cameras started flashing again. She crossed her arms primly in front of her and said into the microphone, “No, you.”

  Ransom found he was the one who blushed.

  Another wave of flashes started, and many of the sea of faces before them were hopeful and entranced. Lucky had won them over with two words. Himself too.

  “Welcome to the engagement junket for world-renowned painter Lucky Fujiki and the founder of Heart’s Desire Chocolate, Ransom Payne. We have a few rules here in Ever After. Like all fairy tales. Don’t stray from the path or the big, bad wolf will eat you.” Roderick laughed. “No, actually, we’ll just have security escort you out, and your employer will get a bill for your stay here at Charming’s B and B, as well as a suit for damages as outlined in the contracts you all signed to be here today. We ask that you respect their time and their answers. Don’t speak over each other, give respect to your fellow journalists. This is a joyous occasion, so let’s keep it that way.”

  Roderick looked to the couple. “Are you ready?”

  Lucky gave him a nod.

  Roderick pointed to the first man who had his hand in the air. His name tag indicated his name was Melvin James.

  “We all want to know, how did you meet?”

  “At university. That was in the press release, move along,” Roderick answered for them, then pointed at a woman in the front.

  “Why did you decide on Valentine’s Day? Isn’t it a cliché?” She had her pen at the ready and waited patiently for Ransom’s answer.

  “I suppose that as there is some truth in any fairy tale, there’s a reason some things are cliché. What better way to dedicate my life to the woman I love than on the holiday where Americans celebrate love and chocolate?” Ransom said.

  “It’s all so fast,” another said. “This wedding seems like it came together pretty quickly. Do you have other news you might like to share with the world? Will there be an heir to your chocolate empire soon?”

  “No!” Lucky blurted out. “Definitely not. We’re just excited to start our lives together.”

  “Everyone is dying to know about the prenup!” A man toward the back said with unabashed glee.

  “The usual,” Ransom said in a bored tone. “She gets everything.”

  Some laughs echoed through the room.

  “No, but really,” the man prompted.

  “What, you want a copy of the thing?” Then he laughed. “Some things are private.”

  “What does it cost to get married in Ever After?” A woman with glasses in the third row asked.

  “It’s different for every couple, depending on how extravagant their tastes are. We opted for something simple. We’re just happy our family and our friends can be here with us. It’s budget-friendly,” Lucky said, sounding like a marketing sound bite.

  “Isn’t everything budget-friendly when you’re a billionaire?” the woman asked as a follow-up.

  “I suppose it is, but these amazing women behind me who own Fairy Godmothers, Inc. are our godmothers. Because we’re both their godchildren, they wanted to pay for the wedding. Just look at those faces.”

  Ransom turned around to look and saw Petunia push her spectacles up on her nose and flash a demure expression.

  “As if we’d bankrupt the dears when all we want is for them to celebrate with us on the happiest day of our lives,” Lucky chastised.

  The woman seemed to accept the answer, but then her eyes narrowed. “A follow-up question—”

  Roderick cut her off. “You’ve already had a follow-up. If there’s time after everyone else has asked their question, we’ll come back to you.”

  “Why isn’t Lucky wearing a ring?” she shouted, even after Roderick had told her not to.

  Roderick nodded and two men in the back came up to escort the woman out. She tried to stop and wait at the doors for the answer, but Roderick motioned for the men to remove her.

  “Bodily, if she refuses to go,” he said into the microphone. “The rules were clear before we began.”

  Once the door was secured, Roderick nodded to the crowd.

  Melvin spoke up. “Well, where is the ring?”

  “We’re nontraditional that way. I didn’t want one,” Lucky said. “As a painter, I’m always working with harsh chemicals and I like my hands to be unencumbered so I can really feel the spirit of my work. I feel jewelry interferes with my process.”

  Some of the people in the crowd were nodding in understanding, but it was obvious from other people’s expressions that it didn’t sound romantic to them.

  Ransom cleared his throat. “I’m gifting her an art gallery instead.”

  “Where? When will it open?” someone asked.

  “We’ll be sure to let you know once my wife decides,” he said.

  So far, things weren’t ideal, but they weren’t bad, either. He could tell Melvin James was going to be a problem. Something about the guy was familiar. Ransom couldn’t quite place him, though.

  “Where’s the honeymoon?” a man in the far-left corner asked.

  Ransom turned to look at Lucky and their eyes met. He could tell she didn’t want to divulge their getaway spot, either. It would be their first date, after all.

  “We’ll let you know when we get back.” He flashed them all a toothy grin.

  “Can we hold you to that?” a woman in the back who’d been quiet until now asked. “Will you give us some pictures to run?”

  Ransom didn’t find that to be an unreasonable request. “Sure. Give Roderick your information and we’ll be in touch.”

  “Honestly,” Melvin began. “I don’t think anyone here really cares about the wedding. We want to know about The Boy Who Missed.”

  Time stopped for Ransom.

  When he had nightmares, he didn’t have the kind where he was in front of his school naked. That had already happened to him.

  His naked body wasn’t what was vulnerable. It was his naked embarrassment, and ultimately the part where the mishap had cemented in his mind that he wasn’t good enough.

  This was the dragon he had to slay.

  If he ran away again, it would still be there in the shadows waiting to pounce on him and tear his carefully constructed armor to shreds.

  Roderick said, “I do believe the instructions were clear—”

/>   Ransom held up a hand to stay his friend. “It’s okay. We knew that they were going to ask anyway. I have nothing to hide.”

  Lucky squeezed his thigh gently under the table.

  Having her near him and knowing that she believed in him made him believe he could actually face this.

  “No, this is stupid,” Lucky said. “I mean, really? This happened years and years ago. It was a college misadventure. There are plenty of people in the public eye who do stupid things in college and you don’t hound them the way you’ve hounded Ransom.”

  “It’s the horror story we all fear,” one of the reporters in the back said. “It’s the train wreck we can’t look away from.”

  “He’s a person. Why can’t you just stop?” Lucky said.

  Melvin snickered. “Maybe if he hadn’t gone into chocolate, it wouldn’t be so funny.”

  “What are you, twelve?” Lucky rolled her eyes. “They don’t deserve our time.”

  “No, they don’t. But you know what? I’ll speak about it. I’m not hiding from it. Like you said, this happened years and years ago. I was a kid. We both were. Now, we’re adults. Successful adults.”

  A clamor washed over the crowd and everyone had questions. Whereas they’d been fairly restrained asking about the wedding, they were practically frothing on one another to get their piece of the story.

  “Is it true you won’t do business with anyone who still banks with the first bank that refused your startup loan?”

  “Yes,” he admitted. “Why would I do business with someone who mocked me? Let them make their money with people they respect. Just as I do.”

  “Tell us the story. Tell us how it happened.”

  “That I will not do. That’s a private moment that belongs to me and my future wife. I wouldn’t disrespect her like that. But obviously, it wasn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to us because we’re still going to spend the rest of our lives together.”

  Ransom wasn’t sure what he’d expected from that, but it wasn’t the reaction he got. Many of the women put their hands to their lips or over their hearts as if it were the most romantic thing they’d ever heard.

  Some of the men did, too.

  Melvin James was the only one who not only didn’t seem fazed, but had a rather nasty glint in his eye.

  Regardless, Ransom realized that with Lucky by his side, he might’ve actually slain this dragon.

  “One more question for Lucky, if you have the time,” Melvin said.

  Lucky raised her brow and indicated for him to ask his question.

  “Do you know a Nancy Slade?”

  Ransom caught a movement out of the corner of his eye and looked over to see Gwen and an expression of horror bloom on her face.

  “No, I don’t believe so. Should I?”

  “I’ve been doing some digging into your life, Lucky. Do you know what I found?”

  “If I knew what you’d found, I wouldn’t be sitting here waiting for you to take your shot at embarrassing me since you weren’t able to embarrass Ransom.”

  Roderick coughed and the rest of the members of the press laughed. It seemed that she’d won them all over.

  Except Melvin.

  “I found that wherever you go, disaster follows. People remember you because the most ridiculous disasters follow you around. Nancy Slade said after she met you that her entire life crashed around her ears. From having her identity stolen, to termites that devoured her home in the matter of a day, to her investments tanking.”

  “That sounds like she had a run of bad luck. It happens to all of us,” Ransom said.

  “I talked to people who went to school with you both. A tornado hit the motel where you two stayed. Only tore the roof off of one room.”

  “You’re ridiculous,” Lucky said. “Do you think I’m some kind of witch who controls the weather?”

  “A woman who was majoring in Equine Management said after you and Ransom spent time in the barn that feral hogs ransacked the place,” Melvin continued.

  “Again, do you think I’m the Bacon Whisperer?”

  The room tittered.

  One woman said, “It sounds like poor Lucky has had a run of bad luck. Why are you bullying her? This guy is why we can’t have nice things.”

  Ransom could feel Lucky bristle. Waves of heat came from her, and he knew exactly what she felt. The shame of being targeted. Of being put on display.

  Well, he wouldn’t stand for it.

  “Roderick?”

  Roderick took the cue. He knew what to do.

  Lucky had other ideas. She stood up. “You’ve hurt my feelings, Mr. James.”

  The reporter arched a brow. “Seriously?”

  “Yes, seriously. What, you think I’m supposed to just suck it up and tolerate being mistreated because I’m in the public eye? No, I won’t stand for it, but neither do I want to be on bad terms with the press. I know you all are just trying to do your jobs. You need stories that are interesting and engaging to keep readers in this age of digital media. It’s a battle. I understand. Can’t we call a truce? We have, after all, offered to give you all pictures of our honeymoon. I’d say we’ve been more than generous. Can’t you do the same?”

  Melvin James snorted. It was obvious he thought all of this was a bunch of crap, but the rest of the room didn’t.

  “Come on, James. What the hell?” a guy said.

  “You give us all a bad name.”

  “You’re being a dick.”

  Melvin was silent for a long moment. Finally, he said, “Okay. Bygones?”

  Lucky flashed him her biggest, most genuine smile. Ransom knew better than to trust it. He wasn’t the only one who got his sense of right, wrong, and eternal vengeance from Petty.

  “Prove it. Give me a hug,” she stepped around from behind the table.

  “Are you serious?” Melvin asked with disdain.

  “As a heart attack, my friend.” That smile was still in place.

  One of the guys who’d seemed to have become Lucky’s champion spoke up again. “Who turns down hugging a beautiful woman?”

  Lucky flashed him a smile. “You’re too kind.”

  Melvin allowed her to hug him, and she held on tight. She even kissed his cheek, leaving a smudge of pink lipstick.

  “Thank you so much. I feel so much better about all of this.” Lucky walked back to her chair and took a long sip of water, and she grabbed Ransom’s hand under the table.

  “I think that’s all for today,” Roderick said. “I have some special passes for a few of you whom we’d like to offer exclusive coverage of the wedding.”

  That hadn’t been part of the plan, but Roderick had a savage business acumen.

  Excitement rippled through the crowd and Roderick dealt with them, keeping them distracted. Gwen pounced on Ransom and Lucky to guide them toward the exit and back to their room to decompress before the rest of the day’s activities.

  As soon as they were in an isolated passage, Gwen said, “I had no idea PTA Nancy would ever connect meeting you with her misfortune.”

  “It doesn’t matter. He sounds crazy.” Concern creased her features. “They all do.”

  “How did he find out we were at the motel?” Ransom asked.

  “Bad luck, I guess.” Lucky exhaled heavily.

  “Hey, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

  “How can you say that?”

  “Because we survived it. Honestly, I thought it was going to be worse.” Ransom took her hand. “I wouldn’t have made it through that without you.”

  “You wouldn’t have been in that situation without me. So I guess it’s only fair.” Although, she did squeeze his hand back.

  “Take the compliment,” Gwen said.

  “Yeah, listen to your friend. She gives good advice.”

  “Just what I need. You two ganging up on me.”

  “Do you not know how amazing you are? I mean, obviously you don’t. But I’m going to tell you all about it,” Gwen promised.

&n
bsp; “I know! The way she handled the crowd? She was honest and forthright, just edgy enough to be amusing without being outright mean.”

  “Oh, I was outright mean, and when everything in that guy’s life goes to shit, hopefully he’ll have lost his job at the paper where he works by the time he realizes it was me.” Lucky scowled. “I just couldn’t sit there and watch him take swipes at you.”

  “You did that to defend me?”

  “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have. Now that I think about it, I probably deserve my bad luck. Good people don’t wish bad things on others.”

  “I guess I’m not a good person,” Gwen said. “Because I think he’ll get exactly what he has coming.”

  “That’s not for me to decide, though. Is it?” Lucky slumped.

  “You didn’t decide. I fully believe that whatever it is that you have is a gift. It does what it wants to. There are so many of us who are close to you who are just fine. Me, the kids, the godmothers, Ransom is fine, too, except when you try to have sex.” She cringed. “Sorry, probably shouldn’t have brought that up.”

  “You know what, I don’t care. It’s going to be in the papers anyway.” It suddenly dawned on him that it wasn’t a big deal. Not anymore. “I’m done hiding from it. It doesn’t define me. Or Lucky.”

  A surge of hope rushed through him. He realized everything was going to be okay. The godmothers were right—there was nothing love couldn’t fix.

  His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see an alert from his plant manager in Ecuador.

  The dam near his cacao farms had failed. Luckily, only a few people had sustained injuries. There had been no loss of life.

  But all of his property, all of his cacao plants, they were completely underwater.

  Chapter 16

  Grammy’s Goodies had become one of Lucky’s favorite places.

  She wasn’t sure if it was simply because she adored Red and Grammy, the seemingly endless supply of sweets, or if it was because this was the happiest she’d seen Gwen and the kids in a long time.

  Lucky was content to just sit at a table in the back while Gwen practiced rolling out dough and the kids practiced using the cookie cutters.