I'm Not Cinderella (The Princess Chronicles)

by Montgomery, Tarrah

“Sorry.” Dennan cleared his throat. He stood grandly in the doorway wearing a green jacket, with his hair combed back. “I hate to interrupt, but I searched my mother’s closet in search of shoes for four damsels in distress.”

  He stepped into the room, and when he moved to the side, his grandmother also entered.

  “Girls, you look radiant,” she said with a smile.

  I was delighted to see her again. My fairy godmother, as I liked to think of her, had made it possible for Katie, Amanda, and me to go to the ball the week before, and now she was helping us again, as well as Gabby.

  “Shoes make the dress, is what I always say.” She flicked her hand.

  Four servants walked in, each carrying a basket of shoes. Gabby Amanda, and Katie gasped excitedly and began looking through the selection of shoes.

  Dennan said to me, “You look magnificent.”

  I kept my eyes on my girlfriends. “Thank you,” I said flatly, my hands fidgeting at his nearness.

  He placed his hand on my lower back, sending shivers down my spine and goosebumps up my arms. I was grateful my curls hung low to cover my still-bandaged neck, or he would’ve seen the flush on my skin.

  I felt his breath on my neck as he said, “Red is my favorite color on you.”

  I looked down at his mother’s stunning red dress. “Thank you.”

  “I need to talk to you.” His mouth was just inches from my ear, his hand still on my back.

  Not going to happen. Being alone with him only spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E, so I pretended not to hear him.

  He huffed and grabbed my arm. “Thus, I will speak with you.” He led me out the door and continued his mad pace down the hall. After pulling me around a corner, he finally let go of my arm. He turned to face the opposite wall and began to rub his temples.

  “Dennan . . .” I started, wanting to apologize. I couldn’t stand to see him upset.

  He abruptly turned and held my face between his hands. “Don’t talk.” He held my face hard.

  I saw the conflict and passion in his eyes, causing tears to spring to my own. Oh, how I loved this man! He was more beautiful than I could comprehend, and I’d never understand how I held his heart the same way he held mine.

  His grip softened as he began to trace my lips with his thumb. I closed my eyes and heard him mumble, “Just one kiss.”

  He pressed me against the wall. I gasped slightly, and he took full advantage of my parted lips. Tears escaped from my closed eyes. I would tuck this moment away in my heart until the day I died.

  Soon, my shattering heart interrupted my bliss. I tried to push away from Dennan.

  “Don’t go, Brinlee.”

  He knew me well. He’d recognized my fear when he followed me through the magic door. I remembered the adamant look he gave as he said he wasn’t going anywhere without me.

  My tears fell freely now. It was too late to save myself, but it wasn’t fair to let him continue to feel something for me.

  “Dennan . . .” I started.

  It was evident by his clenched jaw and tight grasp that he wasn’t going to let me go easily.

  “I wasn’t looking for a change in my life,” he said. “I used to run in circles, taking one step forward and two steps back.”

  Stop, please stop.

  “I didn’t count on you.” Tears streamed down his cheeks. “From the moment I found you in the forest, you sneaked right into my heart.” He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. “I remember every look on your face. Everything you do or say takes my breath away.”

  If a heart can break twice in the course of a minute, mine broke again.

  “I saw myself deep in your eyes,” Dennan said. “You saw the man, hidden under a stupid disguise. Everything I thought I knew has been redefined by you.”

  This isn’t fair! I screamed in my mind.

  “Does love do this to you?” he asked.

  What could I say? I knew if I opened my mouth I would confess my love for him.

  “I know exactly where I want to be, and I know exactly who I want to be with. I want to be with you, Brinlee. I love you! It doesn’t matter where you’re from or if you came from a different world. I love you!”

  “Dennan, please.” I wanted to cover my ears. It couldn’t end this way.

  “Why do you fight it, Brinlee? I can see the same love in your eyes.”

  I shook my head and felt tears drip from my chin.

  “I’ve decided what to do,” he said after a few seconds of silence. “You once told me to mind my duty.” I watched as his body straightened a little. “I acknowledge my duty and will use my power to help my people. For far too long I have run away from what I now understand was my privilege, not my burden.”

  I found my voice. “I’m proud of you, Dennan. You’ll make a great king one day.”

  “Thank you for believing in me.” He leaned in close. “You saw in me what I couldn’t.”

  “It wasn’t me.”

  He drew in a deep breath. “I love you, Brinlee.”

  If I didn’t free myself now, in another moment I would say the words I could never take back. “I’m sorry,” I cried.

  This time when I squirmed out of his arms, he didn’t try to stop me. I turned and rushed down the hall, holding my sobs until I had turned half a dozen corners and was lost and alone. I sank to the floor and held my knees tightly to my chest. I cried until I had nothing left to cry.

  When I finally made it back to my room, Gabby and the others had left for the ball.

  A servant came to the door and handed me a note. It said:

  Brinlee,

  We are certain you will be escorted to the ballroom by the prince, so we’ve gone along early in hopes of witnessing the commencement.

  On the bed are the most exquisite shoes. They match your dress perfectly. Slip them on and join us as soon as you can.

  Your sister,

  Gabby

  I looked at the shoes. As if in a dream, I slowly walked forward and picked them up. They were the glass slippers from the Cinderella story. Yes, they really were made of glass.

  I held the slippers close to my heart and sighed.

  Chapter 30

  Lists

  Women love to make lists, especially at night when things come crashing into their minds all at once. If it’s not homework lists, it’s project lists. If it’s not shopping lists, it’s to-do lists. Everything is categorized in lists. It’s what girls do!

  My mother was the queen of lists. If it wasn’t on the list, it wasn’t important. One time my sister added an item to Mom’s list. She got furious and grounded Cass for two weeks—no phone, no computer, no TV, and no reading (whose mother does that?).

  I asked Cass what she’d added to Mom’s to-do list. She handed me the list, and I read what she’d written with a pink gel pen, between Mom’s entries in black ballpoint:

  Go on a date.

  Checklist to Leave Fenmore Falls

  I made a list of my own:

  1. Say goodbye to Dennan. Check.

  2. Leave a note on the bed next to the glass slippers. Check.

  3. Walk away from Fenmore Falls forever. Hardest thing I will

  ever have to do.

  I left the red gown next to the glass slippers and changed into my pink sweatpants and T-shirt. Then I left the room and quickly descended the steps of the castle. The monotone chime of the castle clock urged me on. Ding-dong, ding-dong.

  As I made my way outside, the music from the open windows of the ballroom whispered across the breeze. Oh, how I wanted to be there, dancing with Dennan!

  I found Gabby’s horse in the stable and managed to saddle her, then climbed on her back and reined her away from the castle. Once she seemed to sense where we were going,
I urged her into a full gallop down the dusty road toward Sherwood Manor. With each hoof beat, my heart thumped hard in my chest.

  I felt like a character in a sad movie—the kind of movie you feel compelled to finish watching even though you know the ending will be bad. Like when both Romeo and Juliet die, or when Amanda Seyfried’s character marries someone else besides Channing Tatum in Dear John. And no matter how many times you watch Titanic, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character still dies.

  How much can one heart take? I whispered.

  I replayed in my mind the note I left for Dennan:

  Prince Channing,

  How can I explain? I apologize for giving you with the wrong impression of my intentions. I will treasure every memory with you, but not in the same way you will. I let things go too far, and your recent affections have been misguided.

  Please understand why I must leave you. I simply do not love you. I’m sorry!

  Brinlee

  P.S. Don’t ever lose your sense of wonder.

  It was a lie—all of it! Well, not the part about treasuring every memory of him.

  My words would bring him despair, but they would make it easier for him to move on. I had to leave him, because I did love him.

  When Gabby’s horse brought me back to Sherwood Manor, I ran across the yard and hurried into the kitchen. With trembling hands, I pushed the buttons on the magic door and then turned the knob. I pulled the door open and stepped into my room.

  I almost reached the bed before I crumpled to the floor. I buried my head in my hands and wept.

  Step 3. Walk away from Fenmore Falls forever. Check.

  Chapter 31

  My Epitaph

  Charles Dickens wrote a novel called Little Dorrit. The inscription on a character’s tombstone gave me an idea for mine.

  Here lie the mortal remains of [BRINLEE AMBER ATWOOD],

  Never anything worth mentioning,

  Who died [when she was only 17],

  Of a broken heart,

  Requesting with [her] last breath that the word [DENNAN]

  Might be inscribed over [her] ashes,

  Which was accordingly directed to be done,

  By [Her] afflicted [mother].

  There’s No Place Like Home

  “Brinlee,” a soothing voice said.

  I looked up to see my mother. I reached up and pulled her in for a hug. She didn’t ask any questions or say a word. She just held me tight while my heart dived into complete blackness.

  When the sun seeped through my windows the next morning, I awoke to find my mother lying next to me on my bed, and my sister at my feet. Nana was sleeping soundly on the tattered couch.

  My mother’s eyes opened. “How are you, honey?”

  “I’ll be all right.”

  She placed her hand on my cheek. “I’m so, so sorry, Brinlee.”

  The pain rose sharply to my chest, and I wondered if the memories would always hurt so much.

  Cass and Nana awoke from our stirring.

  My mother smiled sweetly. “It may not help to hear this, but I know exactly how you feel.”

  “Mom, I know you feel heartache because Daddy left you, but this is different,” I retorted. “You didn’t fall in love with someone from a storybook.”

  “You might be surprised.”

  I frowned. “What do you mean?”

  Nana stood up and came to sit on the bed. “There’s more to this story than you know, Brinlee.”

  “What are you guys talking about?”

  My mother glanced at Nana and then back at me. “Many travelers have passed through Fenmore Falls’ door. The attic door has always served as a gate between our two worlds.”

  ”What? And you’re just telling me now?” I asked angrily. I looked at Cass. “Did you know about this?”

  “No. Mom just told me yesterday.”

  I glared at my mother. “Why didn’t you tell us about this before?”

  “Ever since the door sealed shut after your father returned to Fenmore Falls, there was no reason to confuse you with what would’ve sounded unbelievable anyway.”

  “We had a right to know.” I folded my arms in a huff.

  “Yes, I should have told you. I was just so frustrated that your father left us. I wanted to spare you girls from the same painful outcome.”

  I touched my throbbing head. “Daddy is from Fenmore Falls?”

  “Yes. He often returned home to take care of his late mother’s manor, but the last time he never came back. The door was sealed, and nobody could enter or exit.”

  Could it be true? Was there a greater connection to the mysterious land of Fenmore Falls?

  I stood up from the bed “Let me see Daddy’s locket.”

  “What do you mean?” My mother joined me in walking to the bedroom door.

  “Mom, I need to see the locket.” I felt dizzy. What if, just what if? I leaned on the wall for support.

  “Stay here. I’ll go get it.” My mother hurried down the stairs.

  When she came back, she handed me the locket. I opened it and stared at the picture of my father in the tiny frame. His stunning hazel eyes were so like those of the man I met yesterday.

  “There’s still more I should tell you two.” My mother looked at Cassidy and then back at me. “Your father went back to Fenmore Falls with your sister.”

  “Wait a minute. What?” I blinked slowly.

  At my side now, Cass asked, “We have a sister?”

  “Yes, Gabriella is your older sister.”

  Gabby is my sister? Seriously? No wonder I often had memories of another girl in my childhood.

  Crash!

  Before I could act in response to the new announcement, a tower of boxes plummeted to the ground next to the magic door.

  “Sorry . . . so sorry,” said a velvety female voice.

  From the cloud of dust emerged none other than the queen of Fenmore Falls. Her yellow tresses bounced along her shoulders, and with her serene beauty, she looked as if she had walked out of the pages of a storybook.

  “Aurora!” Nana hurried to the queen and gathered her into an embrace. “My Sleeping Beauty!”

  My mouth dropped open. Was this Aurora of the Sleeping Beauty tale?

  To add to my astonishment, my mother joined Nana and wrapped her arms lovingly around the queen.

  “Abby,” the queen said in a familiar tone. “It’s been too long.”

  “Yes, it has,” my mother replied.

  “Are these your daughters?” The queen looked at me with recognition. “They’ve grown into beautiful young women.”

  “Yes, this is Brinlee, and this is Cassidy.” My mother pointed to each of us in turn.

  “Yes, one of your sweet daughters has managed to break my son’s heart.” The queen smiled, but her words were serious.

  I lowered my eyes in shame. If only she knew how my own heart was breaking.

  “Do you mean Dennan?” my mother asked.

  Please let this nightmare end. I can’t take it anymore.

  “You see, my son shared with me the note that Brinlee left, explaining that she did not love him,” the queen said. “When I saw her leave the castle, I knew I must investigate the matter. After all, I had seen her love for my son mirrored in her eyes.”

  I was mortified and wished for a hole in the floor to swallow me up.

  “I realized Brinlee had not been forthright with the prince,” the queen continued. “I suspected she might come from the imaginary land I knew in my youth. So, I visited Sherwood Manor and entered through the magic door—the same door where I once discovered a faraway land. Here I hoped to find my son’s true love.”

  How many people had passed through the door?
It seemed as though everything I’d believed to be my imagination was reality.

  The queen stepped closer and reached for my hand. “He loves you. He’s completely heartbroken that you’re gone.”

  “He can’t . . .” I trembled. “He can’t love me.”

  “Brinlee, it’s okay.” My mother stood next to the queen.

  “How can you talk, Mom?” I struck back at what hurt the most. “You’ve always told me that daydreams are just the cruel invention of a disappointed reality.”

  “I know what I said, but you must listen with your heart for what lies hidden.” My mother looked sad. “More than anything, love teaches our heart to sing.”

  “It’s not a question of my love for him. It’s whether I belong where he does, because I’m not Cinderella.”

  “And I’m not Sleeping Beauty,” the queen interjected. “Yes, I was a princess who was cursed to sleep a deathly eternal slumber, but I fell in love with a humble man from a place called Idaho and chose the outcome of my own fairy tale.”

  Nana finally spoke up. “And I may be Dorothy who once survived a tornado by entering through the realm of an enchanted door, but I selected my own happily ever after.”

  I knew it! I knew Nana was the REAL Dorothy. Awesome!

  “You see, we do understand what you’re going through,” my mother said. “Even I met your father through the magic door.”

  My father!

  “Mom,” I exclaimed. “I know where Daddy is.”

  She gasped.

  “He couldn’t come back home because Lady Catherine drugged him and held him captive in an old house. She used him for his money and to get Sherwood Manor.”

  When I saw Gabby’s father for the first time, he’d breathlessly said the name Abby. I thought he was calling for Gabby, when in truth he wanted my mother—Abby. Obviously, I had reminded him of her.