A Cinderella Story

by E K Woodcock

  The next few clues lead me to different people who know both me and Carter. They each tell me how sorry Carter is about what happened last night. Finally, Jake walks up to me with his own envelope and hands it to me with a shrug. “You know what to do.”

  I grab the envelope with my tenth clue. This envelope takes me back to the entrance of the store, where I see Bridget and Everly.

  "Hi, ladies, how are you today?" I beam at them.

  "I missed you, Skylar.” Everly jumps and hugs my legs.

  “Oh, I've missed you too, pretty girl." Even though it's been less than twenty-four hours since I've seen her last, it wasn't necessarily the best goodbye we've shared. As I give her a big hug, the realization hits that she’s wearing the necklace I gave her yesterday, and once again, I'm fighting with my emotions and tears that so want to spill out of my eyes.

  I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Now, now," Bridget says, handing me my eleventh envelope, "before all that teary, snotty business, you need to open your next clue."

  "Eleven of twelve:

  I've never meant to hurt you, Skylar, and I really hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me tonight. I understood the meaning behind your gift late, but I want you to know that no matter what your decision about me is, I will never forbid Everly from wearing it."

  Tears, lots and lots of tears streaming down my face. This night has been a roller coaster of emotions. Suddenly, I remember the conversation I had with Santa at the beginning of the night, about a fairy tale and my own happily ever after, and how he'd insisted it's a magical night and things might just happen under the magic of the stars.

  I look at Bridget. She's videotaped my entire reaction and is busy posting it online. When she realizes I've caught her, she shrugs. "Go and find your final clue."

  Smiling, I roll my eyes at her and flip card number eleven. The map is gone but there's a handwritten note instead. “Your frog awaits where there was a peck shared."

  I know exactly where he's at. I run to the fireplace and find Carter waiting in a tux with the final envelope in his one hand and a red rose on the other. With tears of joy and the airiness of a bird, I leap to his arms.

  He catches me easily and smiles. "I'm sorry, Skylar, for everything. For not realizing your intentions sooner, for not realizing you’re everything I need, for not realizing how deeply I've fallen for you and for not realizing that I've been in love with you all this time."

  He holds me tight, giving me a gentle kiss on the top of my head. With shaky hands, he gives me the final envelope. He reaches over and wipes a stray tear away from my face and watches me as I open the envelope to find the same tarot card Aubrey picked with the glass shoe on the silver platter.

  "B.. b.. but… how?" I stammer in shock and I catch a glimpse of my mother in the corner, wearing a joyous smile. “Is there anyone who wasn’t in on this plan?”

  He lifts a finger, put it on my lips to silence my stammering, and points to the card. I read the final note:

  "Twelve of twelve:

  We are under a mistletoe, beautiful.

  Look up and remember,

  It's bad luck not to kiss under a mistletoe."

  I finally look up and see the very same sparkly purple rain boot I found in the parking lot of the mall three months ago. I don't have to doubt myself anymore. I've been waiting for this moment since I realized the notes, poems, and gifts were from Carter.

  "You don't have to tell me twice." I jump into his strong arms and put every emotion I'm feeling into the kiss.

  I kiss him with passion, with desperation, with so much love pouring out of me that it’s hard to look away. It’s a kiss that’s going to shake the earth with its power, its explosiveness, its forgiveness, all at the same time. It's a show of sparks, lightning, and fireworks. When we finally pull apart, we’re deafened by the cheers around us.

  Carter looks at his watch. "Hey, everyone, in about five minutes, the light up will happen. I want to thank you all for making this night magical for us and helping a poor soul like me out by delivering gifts and clues and making us go viral."

  I arch an eyebrow at him with a smirk on my face. He gets closer, wraps an arm around my waist, and places a chaste kiss to my temple. Hand in hand, we move toward to door, but a gloved hand stops me in my tracks.

  "Mr. Aveyard," Carter says with surprise, "how was your night?"

  "Oh, Carter, you know, I can hardly feel my legs, and my throat is coarse from saying ‘ho ho ho’ but it was a truly magical night, and it's not over yet." He winks

  "Now what are you two plotting behind my back?" I sass with an arched eyebrow.

  Mr. Aveyard laughs. "Nothing, dear. All the scheming is done."

  I'm on cloud nine. Nothing can bring me down from the high I'm feeling. Before Carter and I leave the store, Mr. Aveyard says, "Wishes and dreams on magical nights always get granted, dear," with laughter in his eyes and voice.

  I give him one last glance and an understanding smile before Carter and I leave the store, once again hand in hand.

  The countdown is on, and everyone in the crowd joins in.

  "10...9...8...7…"

  Everly and Bridget come to join us, both vibrating with excitement and happiness.

  “Hi, Daddy.” Everly jumps up and down

  “Hi, sweetheart.” I go down to eye level with her and kiss her temple just as the countdown comes to an end.

  "3...2...1!" the mayor yells into the microphone, and at one, he plugs in the lights and we’re officially ready for Christmas in Cochrane. The lights on the grand tree come to life all at once, making for an awe-inspiring sight.

  Skylar turns to me with stars dancing in her eyes. "This is the most magical of nights. I'm so happy to be sharing this night with you and Everly."

  "Me too. I don't think I've been this happy and at peace with myself in a while. And you're to thank for that, Skylar." As if on cue, light snow flurries start to fall from the sky.

  She lifts her head up and looks at me with so much emotion pouring out of her every cell, I feel like I'm drowning in her happiness. I reach over to her, and she comes willingly. We embrace in the softest of kisses. It's that kiss, in front of the pine tree that's lit up, with the snow falling on us, that I know our futures are connected.

  Once we break apart, she gazes deeply into my eyes and sighs. "Prince Charming at last."

  Two months later

  I wake up to a beautiful January morning. The sun is shining bright, and there isn’t a single cloud in the sky. Giddy with excitement, I jump out of bed and hop into the shower.

  After two months of planning and organizing, the day is finally here. Carter and I have been working so hard for this day, and it needs to be perfect for his sake. Quickly getting ready in my usual ensemble of black skinny jeans and a fun sweater, I pull my winter jacket on and head out to The Best Draft.

  Jen and I spent the entire evening after closing the store setting up for today. There are beanbag chairs crowding the library room, and I have a table set up with the copies of The Willow Tree and Its Fairies plastered all over it. Lastly, I set up one of the leather chairs in the middle of the beanbag chairs for Carter to sit in.

  It’ll give him the perfect view when he opens the book up to read to all the tiny humans who’ll be there to support Willow in her last wishes. A while back, when Carter first mentioned Willow had always wanted to publish her work but had never gotten the chance, I had offered to help him publish it on her behalf.

  Together, we contacted illustrators, cover designers, and social media experts. Combined with my event planning knowledge, we managed to get it all done. The Best Draft will exclusively sell the children’s book.

  I stand in the middle of the room and smile at our hard work. Reaching over to the table, I grab a copy of the book and flip it open. Just as I start to read it, the bell at the front door dings, alerting me of an arrival. I place the book back down and head to the main area to see a
very nervous looking Carter staring at me.

  “Hi, sweetheart.” I smile, walking toward him.

  “Hi,” he breaths. As he glances around, the corners of his lips start to pull up in a nervous smile.

  “Hey, are you all right?” I push, trying to get a read on him.

  “I just never thought this day would arrive.” He pauses for a second, shaking his head. “And I never thought I would be this nervous about it.”

  Reaching over, I pull him into a tight hug. “It’s going to be perfect.”

  He wraps his arms around me, and we stand there for several long moments, taking comfort in one another. One we break apart, I pull him inside the store with me.

  “Come and see this room. I am so excited!”

  When we get to the library room, he looks at me with amazement in his eyes. “This is so much more than what I expected. There are no words to explain how I’m feeling right now.”

  He pulls me closer and gently kisses me, communicating all his feelings through the kiss. I’m a greedy girl, and I want more. I want to swallow his worries and anxiety, and leave him with love and excitement.

  I grab ahold of his hair and gently pull, opening to him. He wraps an arm around the small of my back and dips me while supporting my head with his other hand. His lips are punishing in their urgency to get more; mine are forgiving in their movements. We stay in that position, making out, until we hear the dinging sound of the bell again.

  Sighing, we break apart. “Saved by the bell once again, my beautiful Skylar,” Carter murmurs in my ear.

  Smiling, I leave him to get organized and head to the main entrance one more time. We have thirty minutes until the event officially starts and the guests of honor have already started piling in with parents attached to them. Greeting them all, I lead everyone to the library room where the reading and signing of the book will take place.

  Each child gets a juice and a healthy snack prepared by Trevor, and after the reading, the parents can purchase a copy of the book. Carter and I decided to donate all proceeds from this reading event to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and any future sales from The Willow Tree and Its Fairies will go into an account for Everly.

  Once everybody is here and settled, I walk in the middle of the room. “Hi, everyone, thank you very much for being here and sharing this amazing event with us. As you know, Willow was a lovely woman and was taken too early from those who loved her.” I glace at Carter. His eyes are shining with pride for his late wife. Pointing in his direction, I continue. “Carter and I decided to fulfill her last wish and publish this book.”

  A few people who knew Willow are wiping their eyes at the sentiment. I smile brightly at them. “Without further ado, I give you Carter Montgomery. He’ll be reading this lovely book for you all and then will be at the signing table for those of you who’d like to purchase a copy and have it signed.”

  The excited claps grow loud as Carter steps to the middle and smiles awkwardly to everyone. He picks up a copy of the book and flips the page open. In the total silence of the library, he starts to read.

  The Willow Tree and its Fairies

  Once upon a time, in a faraway forest where all creatures lived happily and harmoniously with each other, there were three good fairies. These fairies each had a little cove in an ancient Willow Tree. This tree was so old that its long green branches almost touched the ground.

  Every springtime, little white flowers bloomed on the branches, and the fairies came out to play on them. They would jump from one branch to another, and giggle and giggle endlessly when the little white flowers tickled their noses.

  One day, a little girl with brown curly hair and doe eyes walked into the deep forest. She was a sweet little girl, but the forest wasn’t always friendly to those it didn’t know. She came across the ancient Willow Tree, and she tripped on one of its roots and scraped her knee.

  The fairies saw the little girl crying at the bottom of the tree. One by one, they flew down to check on the girl. Each fairy told the girl to be careful in the forest, for she didn’t know what dangers or beauties lie in it.

  The girl nodded her understanding and smiled at the fairies. “Want to play?” she asked.

  The fairies look at each other in silent communication and nodded their hands in unison. “Yes! Let’s play.”

  Before long, they all realized the tree couldn’t handle the girl’s weight, and she wished she was light as a fairy, so she could continue playing without harming the beautiful tree.

  The oldest of the fairies had magical powers and could grant three wishes to the pure-hearted. So she smiled at the little girl and swished her wand three times, and the girl grew pink and purple wings. She could now fly with the fairies and not hurt the tree.

  Jumping from branch to branch, she made another wish. She wished her brother was there to witness the beauty of this forest and the fairies. The old fairy swished her wand again and granted her wish. Her brother appeared out of thin air and looked around with amazement.

  The little girl waved at her brother. “Hey, come and play with us!” the little girl cried in delight. And the brother jumped from branch to branch alongside them.

  Just as the little girl opened her mouth to make another wish, the fairies stopped her. “Remember,” the elder one said, “this is your final wish. Use it wisely.”

  The girl thought for a while and then said, “It has been amazing playing with you lovely fairies, but I think it’s time for me and my brother to go home.” She stopped and looked at all three fairies with a sad smile on her face “I hope to see you all again.”

  Then she grabbed her brother’s hand and made her final wish. “I wish to go home to my parents and see you all again one day.”

  With smiles on their faces, they said their goodbyes. The older fairy swished her wand again, and the little girl’s wish was granted.

  Carter looks up from reading to the smiling faces of each child and parent. I steal a glance at him and see the memories dancing in his eyes. As if feeling my gaze on him, he turns toward me. Eyes shining with happiness, he gives me a smile. It’s the smile of a man who’s let go of the past and is deeply in love. Butterflies erupt in my tummy. This man is my forever.

  “I love you, Skylar,” he whispers across the library.

  “I love you, Carter,” I whisper back.

  Thank you!

  Guys, this has been an amazing journey. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this if it wasn’t for the very supportive people in my life. I will try and keep this list short but shooed off the stage for taking too long. Who knows?

  First, a huge thank you goes to my family for constantly supporting me at every step of the way. I don’t need to list every one of you. You all know who you are.

  Second, major thanks goes to the book community. Without you by my side, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. Your constant you-can-do-this attitude is the reason I am able to write these stories.

  Third, none of this would have happened without you, the reader. I am forever grateful for you all and this will never change.

  There are a few people I can’t help myself but mention by name.

  Sara Burgess, my amazing editor, without your encouraging words and helpful touch, I wouldn’t be here writing thank-you notes today.

  Callie Rae, my amazing designer, sounding board, and friend. You are amazing, and I am so happy to have met you. You are an amazing designer and an even better friend. Thank you so much for always being there to lend a helping hand and a sane mind.

  My lovely beta readers, Adrianna and Skye, I am so appreciative of your suggestions and honesty. You made this book better.

  Enough of my mumblings, I hope you love Skylar and Carter as much I have, and I hope to see you in another book.

  Xoxo, Ebru

  Ebru Kartal is a book blogger turned into an author. She is currently working on publishing her very first novel “A Cinderella Story”.

 
When she isn’t writing, you can find her reading, blogging, or running after her gang of hooligans at home.

  Ebru lives in Cochrane, Alberta with her two lovely children and husband. She was born in a land called “Turkey” and became Canadian in May 2015. She loves to travel and hopes to travel the world one day.

  To contact Ebru, please email her at authorekwoodcock@gmail.com

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