Spells and Jinglebells

by ReGina Welling

  When the sobs that racked her body finally eased, she opened her eyes. Nothing had changed. She was still in the same old bedroom she’d woken up in for the last twenty-two years. Slowly she sat up and reached for a tissue from her nightstand. She blotted her tears, wiped her nose, and assessed the damage in her room. Little pieces of red material were everywhere. It hurt her heart to realize that the very thing she’d thought would bring her sister happiness was the same thing that had enraged her so much.

  Whitley threw her crumpled tissue back onto her nightstand and was just about to stand up and begin to tidy up her room when she caught sight of the snow globe that had been in the box of dresses her father had brought home. She picked it up and sat back down on her bed. Pulling her legs into pretzel style, she set the globe down in her lap to examine it more closely.

  What a peculiar snow globe, she thought as she gave it a good shake. She watched the tiny particles of fake snow glisten as they floated through the water, hanging precariously before slowly drifting downwards. Where were the little ice-skating people set in an idyllic Christmas village? Where was the simplistic snowman or the Christmas tree with presents? She would have even been happy with a wintery cityscape of tall buildings or a simple cardinal on a tree branch. But empty? Why would anyone even make such a thing? She set it on the bed in front of her and stared at it. What a boring snow globe. No wonder it wound up in a secondhand shop. Who would want a snow globe with nothing but snow inside? she wondered.

  But something about the snow globe mesmerized her. She leaned forward, picked it up again, and shook it. Then she shook it again and again, entranced as the snow whipped and swirled about. Then the floor of the watery world began to sparkle. Lights glittered upward and began forming letters and then words! Whitley’s eyes narrowed into slits and her nose wrinkled as she brought it closer to her face. She thought she could make out the words.

  “There’s no star too far away,” she whispered before the swirling snow covered the floor in the globe again, obstructing the words. She shook it one more time to reveal more of the words.

  “And no wish too grand,” she added before having to shake the globe yet again.

  “Shake the snow globe and make a wish. The magic’s in your hands.”

  Whitley put the globe down, stunned to find the mystical words hidden beneath the snow. Not quite sure what to make of it, she stared at it—almost scared to touch it. She swallowed hard and thought about her biggest wish. Was it to fall in love? Was it to go to fashion school? Could she really do that? Could she leave Esmerelda, Dad, and Ash behind for good for the big city?

  She glanced over at her alarm clock and suddenly realized how late it had gotten. She barely had enough time to shower and do her hair, let alone enough time to try and remake an old dress so she had something to wear on her date.

  Whitley looked down at the globe. You don’t find happiness by wishing for it, she thought, you find it by working for it. With that thought firmly in place, she hopped off the bed and set to work. She had a dress to make!

  Esmerelda smoothed the waves of her long brown hair and adjusted her breasts to show as much cleavage in her silver gown as possible. She tilted her head from side to side and looked down her nose at her reflection in the long foyer mirror. With kohl-rimmed eyes, flawlessly contoured cheekbones, and carefully sculpted brows, she looked impeccable. She patted her nose with pressed powder and then tossed her compact into the little silver clutch she’d found buried in her closet.

  Esmerelda lifted the truck keys from the small foyer table. She hated the idea of having to drive herself to the biggest winter solstice event in Everland Cove, but she had no choice. Her Prince Charming wasn’t about to just ride in and sweep her off of her feet.

  But then, as if it were a miracle, there was a knock at the door. She opened it to find Sebastian Everett in a tuxedo staring back at her.

  “Sebastian!” she said with surprise. She’d almost forgotten her sister even had a date.

  “Whit!” he said, casually tossing back his dirty-blond hair.

  She opened her mouth to speak, to clarify that she was most certainly not her boring younger sister. But before she could, Sebastian took her by the hands. “Oh, Whit. I’ve never seen you look so lovely!” he said. His eyes practically sparkled as he spoke. If Esmerelda didn’t know better, she’d say that Sebastian Everett almost looked moony-eyed.

  “I do?” she asked, stunned.

  “Absolutely. You’re glowing! And that dress!”

  Esmerelda noticed a little blush rise up into his cheeks. “What about my dress?”

  “It’s stunning. And,” he whispered, “every bit as sexy as you told me it would be. I’m going to have to fight off all the other men at the gala tonight!” He chuckled.

  “Riiiight,” she drawled, as it suddenly dawned on her that the best way to exact her revenge was to steal her sister’s date and let Whitley find her own way to the dance. She dropped the keys on the foyer table. “So should we go?” she snapped. She wanted to get out of there before Whitley showed up and stole Sebastian from her.

  “You don’t want to say goodbye to your dad?” he asked, looking around. “Or Es?”

  Esmerelda shook her head. “Oh no. Es left already and Dad’s, umm, napping,” she lied.

  Sebastian’s eyes widened. “Oh, really? I thought for sure you’d want him to take some pictures. I mean, technically this is our first real date.”

  “Real date?” asked Esmerelda. This was new information, considering Whitley had told her they were just going as friends. “You mean as just friends, right?”

  Sebastian lowered his brows and looked slightly hurt. “Oh. Did you change your mind?”

  Esmerelda cleared her throat. She was so confused. “Change my mind?” She waved a hand at him playfully. “Oh, you. I was just joking, of course.”

  He looked at her curiously then. “Are you feeling alright, Whit? You don’t sound like yourself.”

  “What? No, I’m fine. I’m just a little tired.” She threw both arms into the air and faked a yawn and a stretch. “You know, long day.”

  “Oh, I know!” he agreed. “It’s too bad we didn’t find Sophie before the dance. That would have made today perfect.”

  “Sophie?” snapped Esmerelda, forgetting the character she was supposed to be playing. “Who the hell is Sophie?”

  Sebastian grimaced and dropped her hands. “Sophie. You know, Mom’s kitten. We went looking for her today? You really aren’t yourself. Did something happen that you’re not telling me?” He looked at her suspiciously.

  Esmerelda panicked. There was no way she’d be able to impersonate her sticky-sweet sister all night long without a little magic. She sighed. It was time to bring out the big guns.

  She began to hum a simple little melody. Then she reached her hand out to Sebastian. “Oh, Ash, take my hand,” she begged sweetly.

  Awkwardly, he accepted her hand. “Maybe we should just wake your dad up. He should know you’re leaving.”

  But Esmerelda didn’t want him to talk. She held a finger up to his lips to shush him. “Under the light of the moon,” she sang.

  He tipped his head to the side and looked at her curiously.

  She continued to sing to him. “You’re my destiny. Run away with me. Into the light of the moon. You hung the stars for me. It’s my solemn plea. Run away with me.”

  Slowly Sebastian pulled Esmerelda closer. “Oh, Whit,” he whispered. “Let’s run away together!” he said, as if he didn’t realize that she’d just put the idea into his head.

  Esmerelda nodded excitedly. “Yes, yes, let’s run away together. But first, take me to the Winter Solstice Snow Globe Ball, Ash? Please?”

  “Yes. I want to take you to the Winter Solstice Snow Globe ball,” he repeated with a smile plastered on his face.

  Esmerelda squealed and shoved him towards the door. “We should go.”

  “Yes. We should go,” he agreed.

  Suddenly footstep
s sounded behind them.

  Esmerelda’s heart thumped wildly in her chest as she slowly spun around.

  “Whitley?” asked her father from behind her.

  Esmerelda’s face froze. Her father would be able to see right through her little charade if she wasn’t careful. She turned to Sebastian. “Wait for me in the car, Ash?” she asked sweetly.

  He turned woodenly and opened the front door without a word to Felix. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

  Felix rushed towards them, holding a hand up. “Wait, wait! I’d like to get a picture before you go!”

  But Sebastian was already gone.

  Esmerelda turned to face her father. “Sorry, Daddy, we’re in a bit of a hurry, got to go.”

  “Esmerelda?” he asked, his mouth agape.

  Dammit. She threw both hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. “Yes?” she asked impatiently.

  “But—I thought Whitley was wearing the silver dress? She told me she altered the red dress for you.”

  Esmerelda paused for a moment. Of course Whitley told him to lie! They always stick together. She’s his favorite after all! She puffed air out her nose. “Oh, please, Dad. Don’t lie. You and Whitley can have each other!”

  “What are you talking about, Esmerelda?”

  Her left eyebrow peaked as she put a hand on the doorknob. “You know perfectly well what I’m talking about. You and your perfect little angel can just have each other! I’m leaving!”

  Chapter Nine

  Whitley had barely finished dressing in a navy-blue floor-length dress when her father came peeling into her room.

  “Dad! What’s going on?”

  Felix took one look around the room and sucked in his breath. “Whit? Is this Esmerelda’s dress?” He kneeled down and picked up a handful of long pieces of red material. “What happened? It’s destroyed!”

  Whitley had to swallow hard to fight back the tears that threatened to ruin her makeup. “I know, Dad. Es did it. I got home from hanging out with Ash earlier, and she was in my bedroom destroying the dress.”

  “Why would she do that?!”

  “She said she overheard you and me talking last night. She thought the red dress was for me and that I’d picked the best dress for myself. She thought I was being selfish and that you didn’t see it.”

  He shook his head with his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide. “But that’s not what happened!”

  Whitley gave him a half-smile. “I know, Dad. We know that, but Essy doesn’t. I just need to give her time to cool down.”

  “How can you be so calm and collected? Look what she did to your room!” he said in shock.

  “It’s alright, Dad. I’ve had time to relax. I’ll clean it all up tomorrow.”

  He shook his head firmly and grabbed the empty cardboard box that all of the dresses from Arabella’s Mystical Treasures had come in. “No, this is all my fault. I’ll clean this mess up.” He scooped up a pile of red fabric and shoved it in the box.

  “Oh, Dad, you don’t have to do that!” said Whitley.

  “How can you be so forgiving? She was wearing your dress. You let her get away with everything, Whit. It’s time you stood up for yourself!”

  Whitley held her arms out and spun around. “It’s okay. It was just a dress. I found this one from a couple of years ago. It almost fit me,” she said with a chuckle. “I just had to let out the seams a little, but it’ll work. It’s not as beautiful as the silver dress I loved so much, but I’m sure Ash will like it just the same.”

  “Ash?” Felix’s brow wrinkled.

  Whitley picked up a small purse from her bed and pulled the thin strap over her shoulder. “Yeah. He’s my date,” she admitted with a bit of a blush. “He’s supposed to be picking me up any minute now. He’s actually a few minutes late. I haven’t heard the doorbell.”

  “Sweetheart, Ash was here already.”

  Whitley’s eyes brightened. “Oh, he’s here? Great!” she hurried towards the door, but her father put up a hand to stop her.

  “He left. With Esmerelda.”

  Whitley stared at her father in shock. “What?!”

  “They’re gone.”

  Whitley’s head shook in horror. Ash took Esmerelda to the dance instead of her? This had to be a mistake! “No, he wouldn’t have!”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I saw them leave. Esmerelda was pretty upset.”

  Whitley’s stomach did flip-flops as she strutted past her dad and into the hallway. “Oh, Dad, I have to go.”

  He nodded. “Take the truck. The keys are in the foyer. I’ll have your room clean by the time you get back!”

  “Thanks, Dad, I love you!”

  All the fanciest cars in town lined the streets in front of the Winter Solstice Snow Globe Ball, but Whitley didn’t care that she pulled up to the curb in her father’s old beat-up pickup. She threw open the door, lifted the hem of her long navy tulle skirt, and hopped out of the truck.

  “I’ll be right back,” she hollered over her shoulder at the valet, who watched her run in her heels up the red carpet.

  Inside, white Christmas lights sparkled all over the posh interior, giving the room a magical glow. She pushed her way through the crowd, trying desperately to find Sebastian.

  Finally, she caught sight of him and Esmerelda, climbing the wide circular staircase to the second floor. Whitley dodged and ducked the party guests, and as she got to the bottom of the stairs, she looked up to see Sebastian pull on Esmerelda’s arm to stop her from going any further up the stairs. Esmerelda turned and looked down at him. He took one step up so that he and Esmerelda were eye to eye. Whitley felt her heart stop beating in her chest as he gently leaned forward and kissed her! NO! That kiss was supposed to be hers!

  From several steps down, Whitley felt paralyzed. Why was Sebastian kissing Esmerelda? Had things changed that much since earlier in the day?! What was going on?

  “Ash, NO!” she finally managed to holler up the stairs.

  At the sound of her voice, he suddenly pulled his head back and looked down the stairs at her. “Whit?” he whispered. His eyes blinked several times as if he were coming out of a trance.

  Whitley nodded her head as tears sprang forth from her eyes. “How could you, Ash? With my sister?!”

  Sebastian turned to look at Esmerelda, who now grinned from ear to ear.

  She wiggled her fingers in a little wave at him.

  “She—she tricked me!” he said, stunned.

  “How could she trick you, Ash? How could you not know it wasn’t me? You’ve always been able to tell us apart.”

  “I—I did know, but then I didn’t know…” He looked back and forth between the two identical women. “She messed with my head, Whit!”

  “Esmerelda Snow!” breathed Whitley. “Did you enchant Sebastian?”

  Esmerelda lifted one shoulder. “If I did, it’s only payback for what you did.”

  “I didn’t do anything to you! I’ve had it with you, Es. You ruined the dress I made for you. You stole the dress I made for myself. And now you’re trying to steal Ash from me! I’ll never forgive you!” cried Whitley as she ran back down the stairs. Sobbing, she pushed her way back through the crowd and out the front door, where her father’s truck waited for her.

  “Whit, wait!” Sebastian yelled before chasing after her.

  “Sebastian Everett! Do not chase after her!” Esmerelda shouted and then found herself chasing him.

  Chapter Ten

  Ten minutes later, Whitley blasted back inside her house in a fit of tears. The walls shook as she slammed the door behind her and hollered into the silent house. “Dad!”

  Not waiting for a response, Whitley’s feet pounded up the stairs. She’d had it with her sister! Always taking things that weren’t hers and ruining her relationships. Why couldn’t she have had a normal sister?!

  Inside her room, Whitley discovered that in the short time that she’d been gone, her father had cleaned up all the tiny beads and t
he pieces of fabric from the floor. She stared down at the pile of material inside the cardboard box, and her eyes filled with tears once again.

  She plucked two tissues from the box on her nightstand and rubbed furiously at the streaks of mascara on her cheeks. She felt like her life was over. She wanted out!

  Suddenly, her eyes caught sight of the pink hat she’d worn to meet Ash earlier in the day. That wasn’t her beanie. Esmerelda had her beanie. The one their father had given her, and she suddenly realized she wasn’t going to give Esmerelda everything that she wanted!

  Whitley rushed down the hall to her sister’s bedroom. Clothes were scattered everywhere, tossed over chairs and strewn about the floor. What a mess! Whitley pulled her wand from her purse and waved it around the room. Her sister’s dirty shirts and rumpled jeans all lifted into the air. She shook her wand, and the clothes shook, but no beanie seemed to appear.

  Whitley’s eyes scanned Esmerelda’s dressing table, which was covered with half-eaten cookies, piles of makeup, and pieces of lingerie. She even dug through her hamper, which had fewer clothes in it than the floor, but to no avail. Her hat and scarf set was nowhere to be found.

  Setting her brows in a straight line, she opened her sister’s closet and flipped on the light. Immediately, she heard a tiny noise coming from beneath a rack of clothes. Whitley stopped moving and listened carefully. Meow. There it was again! She was sure she heard it this time. It was a cat’s meow!

  Whitley used her wand to shove aside the hanging clothes, which revealed a small pet carrier nestled underneath. She lifted the carrier out of the closet and set it on Esmerelda’s bed. Reaching inside, she pulled out a small grey, long-haired kitten and curled it to her chest. Her eyes widened. It can’t be! “Sophie?!” she asked.