If she’d been at home, she would’ve kicked like a mule because it was obviously the demon under her bed that had terrified her as a child. So much so, she had to sleep with her blanket tucked under feet.
Only this was Ever After. It was probably some well-meaning broom come to life trying to help out with the day’s festivities.
“I don’t wanna.” She tugged the blanket back and pulled it up over her head.
The birds continued their chorus and the tug came again.
This time, Lucky shot straight up in bed and glared around the room, looking for the culprit who dared disturb her wallowing.
She didn’t see anyone or anything.
Whelp, she decided. Must be the demon. She exhaled heavily. “Bring it on, you bastard. I’ll just rub my bad luck all over you, too.”
A small squeak answered her and she crawled down to the end of the bed to investigate.
It was the family of little mice she’d seen in the godmothers’ house. They were tugging on the blanket with all of their might.
When their eyes met hers, all of their little noses twitched and flicked.
“You guys are incredibly adorable. But it’s not going to work.” She flopped back on the bed.
The tug came again.
She scowled, narrowed her eyes, and fisted the blanket in both hands before she pulled with all of her might.
The blanket came free, but with it, her fists slammed into her nose and knocked her the rest of the way back.
“Why me?” she mumbled, and lay there like a lump.
A breakfast tray wheeled itself over to her where a pot of steaming coffee waited for her. She poured a cup and took a sip; the warmth of the cup in her hands and the aroma of the freshly ground beans perked her up.
Exploring the tray further, she found cheese, fruit, toast, oatmeal, and bacon. The mice looked up at her balefully. Lucky laughed and shook her head.
“You guys are too cute.” She took a saucer and loaded it with a bit of fruit and all of the cheese for her new friends. “Here you go.” She put it on the floor for them.
Lucky figured she might as well feed the birds, too. She held up the toast. “Hey, guys. If you want it, come get it. Just please, please don’t shit on me.”
The birds took turns singing and coming to get bits of toast. Finally, she saw one she recognized and she held out her hand for him. The fat red cardinal landed in the palm of her hand.
“Tweet, tweet, huh?” She raised a brow.
“Eh, fuggedaboutit. Didn’t mean to scare youse, though.” He cocked his head from side to side.
“Yeah, yeah. Okay.” She handed him some toast.
“Thanks, doll. Rosebud will be here any minute with your rehearsal dress. Up, up,” he said. “Don’t back out now. We’re all countin’ on youse.”
“Bronx, I don’t think I can.”
He flapped his wings at her and there was a knock on her door.
“Lucky, it’s Rosebud.”
Bronx didn’t wait for her to answer. He and the rest of the birds flew over to open the door.
“Thank you, friends.” Rosebud took one look at Lucky and asked, “Why are you still in bed? You haven’t even had your breakfast. Where’s Ransom?”
Lucky shrugged. “He didn’t come back last night.”
Another bird sidled up next to Bronx. The fat cardinal bristled and tried to scoot away from him, but he wouldn’t stop.
“Hey, man. Whaddya doin’?”
The bird chirped, twittered, and squawked, and Bronx nodded along.
“Yeah, okay. Ladies, he was at Pick ’n’ Axe late with the best man. They slept there.”
Rosebud scowled. “Go get them, please. We have a full day ahead of us.” She turned her attention back to Lucky.
“I have a new dress for you.”
Lucky was intrigued by a new dress, but wasn’t as thrilled at the prospect since she didn’t have anyone to wear it for.
Rosebud seemed to know. “Don’t be down in the mouth. When I was a girl, I had an old heifer that made that face whenever I tried to get her to do anything besides eat. You are going to look beautiful in this dress. Problems in paradise notwithstanding. You know, you can dress up for yourself. Feel your power.”
“My power? That’s the problem.”
“No, it’s not. I promise to shut up for five seconds if you try it on.”
Lucky flopped backward again. “Of course, I’ll try it on. I’ll do everything the godmothers asked me to. I’m just going to pout about it for a minute.”
Rosebud laughed and it was a merry sound. She flopped backward on the bed as well.
“Okay, how does this pouting work? Tell me. Why are we pouting? Because the groom spent the night at Pick ’n’ Axe without you?”
“Because he’s about to lose his company and it’s my fault.”
“That’s a lot of responsibility, don’t you think?” Rosebud took her hand and squeezed. “Did you try to sabotage him?”
“No.”
“Then how is it your fault.”
“Surely you’ve heard the stories about me. That I’m bad luck. Natural disasters follow me wherever I go.”
“Hmm. Woodland creatures follow me. They do my bidding, mostly. Sometimes I have to bribe them. Especially the tough-talking cardinal. So, does your bad luck do your bidding?”
“Sometimes. When people hurt people I love, I rub my luck on them.”
“Did Ransom hurt someone? Did you rub your luck on him?”
“No.”
“Then why do you think your luck is responsible?”
“Because the people I did inflict it on are causing him a problem,” Lucky admitted.
“Hmm. Sounds like you need to just let nature take its course and not do that anymore.”
“You’re right, but it makes me so mad. I feel so helpless and that makes me feel not helpless.”
“But you didn’t like the consequences.” She nodded. “I had to learn that myself. You need to make amends, as uncomfortable as it may be.”
“Ugh. I don’t want to.”
“That’s the trick, isn’t it? Doing the right thing not just because it’s right, but because you want to.”
“Gross.”
“Totally,” Rosebud agreed. “Are we ready to get you gorgeous now? Will you come along without a fight?” she teased.
“Yeah.”
She allowed Rosebud to shovel her into the new creation and Lucky had to admit, she looked amazing.
The dress wasn’t something she’d have chosen for herself. Not at all. It was pink, with tiny bluebell flowers embroidered around the scoop neck, the scalloped sleeves, and across the empire waist. The contrast with her black hair was on point.
Rosebud slipped a comb with blue and pink flowers into the side of Lucky’s hair and then presented her with a pair of satin ballet flats with the same embroidery.
When Rosebud was done, Lucky did feel like a princess.
“I feel absolutely gorgeous,” Lucky said, looking in the mirror.
“Your mother helped choose the design. She has fabulous taste, I must say.”
“Mostly,” Lucky agreed.
“Are you ready to face the firing squad?”
“I don’t even know where we were doing the vows,” Lucky confessed. “I left all of this up to the godmothers.”
“Darling, this is going to be wonderful. There’s a pumpkin carriage waiting outside the front of the castle. It will take you through a manicured park to a cathedral made entirely of trees. It’s stunning and sort of humbling. You’ll love it.” Rosebud turned away to rummage through the boxes she’d brought with her. “I’ve almost forgotten the most important part of this ensemble!”
She pulled out a delicate lace shawl. The lace tatting was in the design of the bluebell flowers, and Lucky was afraid to touch it.
“I’ve never had anything this nice. I’m afraid I’ll ruin it.”
“Nice things are for wearing and enjoying. If it
gets ruined, that’s okay. It’s meant to be worn, not to sit in a box.” She draped it around Lucky’s shoulders. “Much like life. It’s meant for living.”
“Yeah, okay. I see what you did there.”
Rosebud kissed her cheek. “Go forth and shine!”
“Will you settle for a slight flickering? I think I can manage that.”
“No, I will not. Neither should you.” Rosebud shoved her toward the door. “You’re going to be late. Do try not to lose a shoe on the stairs down to the carriage. That’s not your story.”
Lucky cackled. “Well, now that you mention it . . .”
“When the clock strikes noon, the carriage will turn back into a pumpkin!”
“Will it really?”
“No, but don’t be late.” Rosebud grinned but moved her more forcibly toward the door. “Go, go!”
Lucky allowed her to shuffle her off and she looked down at her dress. It really was a piece of art. No matter what happened, she decided she didn’t want to wear any other clothes except what Rosebud made for her.
The halls of the castle seemed too quiet, too bare. She almost felt like she wasn’t supposed to be there. Like maybe she’d run into a beast in the halls.
Also not the right story. Not her story.
Lucky wondered what she meant by that. Did Rosebud think Lucky was a fairy-tale princess who was going to get her Happily Ever After? As things stood now, that wasn’t on the menu.
She tried not to think about it as she ran down the steps toward the carriage, mindful to keep her new shoes on her feet.
The carriage itself was exactly as Rosebud described it. It was large, with a round, metal frame that had been wrapped with ivy and tiny white lights. Much to her delight, the mice sat up on the plush seat with the liveried driver.
She grinned at them and they waved their tiny paws at her in greeting.
Lucky stepped up into the carriage and once she was seated, the team of white horses with pink flowers in their bridles pulled the carriage onto a path at a sedate, yet still high-stepping trot. These horses obviously wanted to strut their stuff.
As a child, Lucky had never been up to the castle. She’d never made it farther than the fountain, so this was a surprise and a delight to discover the grounds. Shrubs that had been cut into mythological animal shapes stood sentry along the wide, manicured path.
The path led them farther and farther from the impressive castle toward a different part of the Enchanted Forest. From the carriage, Lucky could see the cathedral Rosebud had been talking about.
It was majestic and magical. Almost as if she’d stepped from this world into the next. She supposed that this might actually be the case. Ever After was magical, after all.
Much to her surprise, everyone else was already there and waiting for her.
Her mother was exquisite in a white wrap dress with blue foxes and pink flowers embroidered just on the sleeves. She stood, waiting at the end of a green mossy carpet waiting to walk her down the aisle.
She rather imagined that the godmothers had used magic to get Ransom and Roderick into shape, because they stood up on a green moss-covered platform, resplendent in their wedding attire.
Lucky tried to look away from Ransom. She didn’t want to notice how good he looked in his suit. Or the way those breeches fit his incredible ass. The way his Hessian boots made her want to faint like a heroine from some old book.
She looked over at where the godmothers sat, in the first row, with their gossamer wings out and on display, and expressions of warmth and love on their faces.
How could she have even considered not showing up today? She was better than that. Lucky could definitely do better.
Gwen had moved to stand by Fortune, with Brittany and Steven in tow. Gwen’s dress was white as well, with delicate yellow flowers embroidered on the sleeves and at the sweetheart neckline.
Brittany was a little fairy princess, wearing fake glittery wings, and a pale-pink and white dress and tiara. From the way they sparkled, they looked like real diamonds.
Steven’s outfit matched Ransom’s.
Her eyes were drawn back to her fake groom and she found no matter what she did, she couldn’t look away.
Everything she ever wanted was wrapped up in this moment. She wanted to run up the aisle and fly into Ransom’s arms. She wanted him to tell her everything was okay. That he loved her anyway. He didn’t care about anything but the two of them being together.
It was a pretty fantasy.
A childish fantasy.
One that didn’t allow for the real world to intrude.
Her mother held out her hand to help her down from the carriage and she stepped down, focusing her full attention on her mother. She reached out to run her fingers over the fox embroidery on her mother’s dress.
“It’s beautiful. I hope you save it and wear it if I ever do get married,” Lucky said.
“I will.” Fortune brought her in close to whisper in her ear. “I love you, Lucky Charm. I’m proud of who you are and everything you’ve accomplished. This day may not be real, but let us celebrate you and the love you give like it is.”
Tears pricked her eyes. “Stop it, Ma. I’m going to cry like it’s real.”
“Me too.” Fortune sniffed.
“Stop it,” Gwen said. “Or I’m going to cry, too.”
“Well, we can’t have that,” Lucky said. “It’ll ruin all of our makeup.”
Grammy, dressed in a gray suit with a satin pink bow tie, stepped up to the center of the platform. She was officiating!
“Grammy!” Lucky cried with joy.
“How do you like that? I got Internet-ordained.” She adjusted her bow tie with obvious pride.
“I love it!”
Once again, all of this made Lucky wish it was real. She looked up at the cathedral of branches and Lucky decided if she ever did get married, it would be here. She felt safe, cradled, and part of something much bigger and more magical than she could’ve imagined.
“Okay, places, everyone!” Grammy said, taking charge. “Lucky, when you arrive, it will be much like this. Everyone will be in place. The band will start playing. Brittany and Steven will walk down first, throwing fairy dust. Roderick, you will walk Gwen down the aisle and then you’ll take your places on the platform. Fortune, you’ll walk Lucky down the aisle and then you’ll sit in this first row of chairs. Then we’ll begin the service. Let’s practice.”
Roderick had been up on the platform by Ransom’s side, so he quickly moved to Gwen to offer her his arm. She took it hesitantly and then gently pushed Steven and Brittany forward when the band started playing the “Wedding March.”
The kids took great delight in throwing the fairy dust, giggling and skipping down the aisle. Lucky loved that no one corrected them or tried to make them be anything but what they were: children enjoying being children.
Gwen and Roderick were next.
Fortune linked their arms and put her hand over Lucky’s. Then she led her down the aisle toward Ransom.
Lucky moved slowly, but her brain had completely disengaged. She wasn’t even sure her body was moving. It was like she was floating on a cloud and it decided where she would go. She was rattled from her stupor only when her mother let go of her arm and kissed her cheek.
There were two more steps she had to take up the stairs to Ransom, but she couldn’t make her feet move.
He reached out to take her hand, and that was exactly what she needed. His touch grounded her, steadied her. His hand was so warm, solid, and real.
When their eyes met, she didn’t see any of the regret she’d seen that day at Grammy’s, but if she wasn’t mistaken, there was sadness there.
Still, he smiled at her and kissed her hand.
Lucky did a quick scan of their surroundings for mutant cherries, wasps, feral hogs, God forbid leeches, and finally, checked the sky for tornadoes.
He snickered and she realized he knew exactly what she was doing.
“Just
checking,” she whispered.
“We’ve got it covered,” he said.
Grammy, looking very officious, said, “That’s very good, but no whispering day of. M’kay?”
She and Ransom laughed together. “Got it,” they answered.
Grammy cleared her throat. “Dearly beloved, we’re gathered here today . . .”
Chapter 19
Ransom didn’t hear anything else that Grammy said.
He knew that he responded when he was supposed to. He knew he said the correct things, because the ceremony progressed until he found himself slipping a golden band on Lucky’s slim finger.
“You may kiss the bride,” Grammy said.
He was supposed to kiss her.
He wanted to kiss her.
He just didn’t know if he should kiss her. This all felt too complicated.
“Thought you said you had the disasters covered?” she finally whispered.
“We do.”
“Then what are you waiting for? Oh my God, this is embarrassing.”
He realized everyone was looking at them, waiting for him to kiss her. Ransom pulled her close and he meant to brush his lips across hers. Something sweet, romantic. Something entirely faux-wedding appropriate.
Only that wasn’t what happened.
The moment his lips pressed against hers, all thoughts of sweet romance burned to smoking cinders. She responded, melting against him and kissing him back with all the fire that burned between them.
Cheers went up from those present and he broke the kiss. Immediately sorry for what he’d done. This wasn’t fair to either of them. He shouldn’t be sending her mixed signals.
Yet, there was nothing mixed about his body’s response to her, or his heart.
“That’ll make a great promo shot,” Petty said. “Be sure to do it just that way on the day of the wedding.”
“Yes, wonderful. Who’s ready for brunch?” Jonquil asked.
“Everyone is ready for brunch,” Roderick answered.
Ransom looked down at Lucky and realized he was still holding her hands. He forced himself to let go.
She didn’t say anything, she simply walked toward her mother, who fixed him with a hard glare, that he supposed he’d earned.
A Hilarious and Charming Feel-Good Read Page 18