“Other than chocolate and dressing up what’s involved in this thing?”
“It’s not a thing. It’s the Chocolate for Charity Ball, and it’s a Halloween event sponsored by local businesses and UC Berkeley. It’s so fun for the kids. They all have such sad stories, but this is a night of magic and fantasy for them. You see, everyone dresses up as their favorite character and pretends to be that person. The kids just love it. A lot of the Berkeley students go and really play up their parts.”
Katy patted her heart. “It gets me right here. To see the smiles and grins on their little faces. As a bonus, we raise money to help defray the cost of food, school supplies, and other things these kids need.”
How could Tasha say no to that? She loved kids, and the idea of dressing up to make them smile was growing on her. Tasha supposed that just one laugh or an excited clap from a child would go a long way to making her feel not as lonely. She might be poor, but she could afford food and school supplies, provided she finished grading those paper for her boss.
“Okay, I’ll go.” Tasha paused, a smile playing across her lips. “And I’ll dress up. How much was the ticket again?”
“It’s twenty dollars. You can make an additional donation if you want, but the twenty dollars will get you into the party. And just think, once you’re inside, you can eat all the chocolate fondue you want!” she exclaimed.
Tasha’s bright blue eyes grew in excitement. All the fondue she could eat? Suddenly, the Chocolate for Charity Ball sounded like heaven. Already, her taste buds were tingling with enthusiasm as she pictured all that lovely liquid chocolate.
Katy chuckled, seeing the awed expression on Tasha’s face. She knew she had the cat in the bag this time, but just to be safe, she continued to entice the woman. “And don’t tell anyone, but I’ve also heard that Sarah who owns that little bakery down the street, Sweet as Shortcake, will be donating a Halloween-themed strawberry shortcake. She’s turned it into cake pops which will be perfect for dipping into the fondue,” Katy explained.
Tasha’s eyes nearly bugged out of her. Strawberry shortcake too? Her sweet tooth nearly ached in anticipation. “Sign me up,” Tasha exclaimed.
Katy grinned in victory, handing her a ticket so she could fill out all of her information. Tasha handed her a twenty-dollar bill as well as enough money to cover her milkshake before getting up and leaving the café. She knew she had a boatload of work to do back in the office, but now that she had the image of chocolate fondue stuck in her head, things didn’t seem so bad.
Chapter Three
“I feel ridiculous…” Tasha mumbled as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. The Cinderella dress she had found at the local thrift shop was a bit too extravagant for her taste, but it was the only thing that had fit her.
“How am I supposed to move around in this thing?” she asked herself, pulling up the puffy layers, trying not to trip as she made her way to the other side of the room.
The costume had come with the traditional glass slippers, but Tasha wasn’t very convinced they would be a wise choice of footwear. They were made out of thick, uncomfortable-looking plastic. She had no doubt that if she wore them to the Ball, she would end up breaking an ankle or something. She decided to wear her own heels instead, a pair of silver ones she’d owned since undergrad. They tied around the ankle and were only two inches high, making them perfectly safe.
“Okay, now for the mask… Now where did I leave that thing?” She looked all around the room for it. Her bedroom was a chaotic mess. There were folders, stacks of papers, and boxes all over the place. Her house, if you could even call it that, was a small one bedroom with a tiny kitchen set on a quiet street. The advertisement had called it quaint; Tasha would have described it as cramped, but it was under budget. The space didn’t have an office so her bedroom doubled as one, making for very tight quarters. As she wove her way through the obstacle course, her fluffy skirt took out a few of the piles of folders, tumbling them to the floor.
Tasha assessed the damage and cursed herself for buying the outrageous costume in the first place. Why did I allow Katy to convince me to go? She was about to give up when finally, she found it on her vanity, under some of her clothes.
She held it in her hands a minute, admiring it. Even though she was greatly opposed to this whole thing, she couldn’t deny how beautiful the mask was. It was a shimmering blue color that matched the dress to perfection. It was covered in glitter, but it was such high quality that even as Tasha ran her fingers over, none of it came off. There were clear gems in the corners that sparkled even in the dim light of the room. Slowly, she put it on, tying the ribbon around her head.
Once again, she looked in the mirror, but this time, a small smile crept onto her face. The mask really made the costume. It was hard to tell it was even her. With most of her face obscured and her hair pinned into a tasteful up-do, she really did look like a princess from some fairy tale. She took a deep, shuddering breath.
“Well… let’s get this over with.” And, as if her fairy godmother had been listening to her, a loud ding echoed through the room. She grabbed her phone and smiled.
Katy had sent her a message. I’m outside. Hurry up, or you’ll be late to the Ball, Cinderella!
Tasha chuckled and shook her head, wondering what the café owner had decided to dress up as. She hurried outside to find out.
To her amazement, Katy had opted to be a glittering white witch or maybe she was a snow queen. Tasha couldn’t decide if the fluffy white dress that sparkled in the street light was meant to be regal or magical.
“Your smile is too kindly to be a witch, so I’m going with a majestic queen,” Tasha said.
“Who says all witches are ugly and evil?” Katy asked, her eyes twinkling with a mischief. “Haven’t you ever heard of Glinda?”
“True. She was a good witch,” Tasha said and followed Katy toward her car.
“Well, I’m not a good witch or a queen. I, my dear, am you fairy godmother.” Katy pulled a long silver wand out of what seemed like thin air and then waved it at a white Ford Escape. “And this is your coach to the Ball, dear Cinderella.”
Tasha scrunched her nose and glared at Katy. How on earth had Katy known what she was going to dress up as? Tasha had been surprised when Katy had called to say that she would take her to the party this evening but had given in quickly to her demands. There was just something so compelling about Katy that resisting her was futile. But… she’d never mentioned what costume she’d found for the evening. How could Katy have coordinated her costume to match with hers? Tasha opened her mouth to ask, but Katy had already opened the passenger door and moved around the small SUV to the driver’s side. How could she move that fast?
It doesn’t matter. Katy was an intriguing puzzle that just couldn’t be solved. Tasha smiled and decided to let Katy have her fun. There was something almost magical in the air, and Tasha was willing to let go for the evening and believe in magic. If anyone could use a little magic, it was her.
Tasha hopped into the open door and worked on stuffing all of her dress into the car before closing the door. The second the door was shut and Tasha’s seatbelt was on, Katy punched the gas and her gas powered ‘coach’ headed toward the Ball.
Tasha looked out her window and into the night. They were quickly moving away from the suburban neighborhood she lived in and into the densely populated downtown of Berkeley. “Where’s this Ball being held again?”
“Hotel Omni. They have a great function gallery,” Katy answered.
When they stopped at a red light, Katy looked over at Tasha. “I like the mask, by the way. It’s a very nice touch. It adds just a bit of mystery to your costume. No one recognized Cinderella at the Ball either.”
Tasha held back a sigh. No one would recognize her at the party anyway. It’s not like any of her friends would be there. Tasha supposed one or two of the undergrads she student taught could be at the Ball, but it wasn’t like she could hang out with them. What s
he needed was to make a few new friends. Maybe the mask would be a good thing. She could meet new people and not feel quite so intimidated.
“Oh, thanks… it does make me feel a little bolder. There’s something about being disguised that makes you feel like you could do anything.”
Katy remained silent for a minute as she pulled into a parking spot at the hotel. She turned the key and then looked at Tasha. “Tonight is all about believing in fairy tales. Let yourself go, Tasha. Enjoy the evening and make a few kids believe that you are Cinderella. I think it would do your heart a world of good. And as your Fairy Godmother, I know what I’m talking about.”
Katy smiled and then tapped her magic wand lightly on Tasha’s head. It was nothing more than a silly gesture that fit in with Katy’s costume, but Tasha could have sworn she felt a jolt of… well… something run through her. It was pure nonsense. Just her imagination. But Tasha resolved to believe in the fairy tale if only for one evening. What could it hurt?
Chapter Four
With a lightness and hopefulness Tasha hadn’t felt in months, she stepped out of her white coach and headed into Hotel Omni. Tasha had never been there before. The building was huge, looming overhead. Various rooms were illuminated with lights, making it look like a concrete Christmas tree.
Pedestrians walking by ogled and stared at the all the guests streaming inside the hotel wearing elaborate Halloween costumes. Tasha knew she shouldn’t feel awkward, but she did. “Tell me again why we couldn’t do this on Halloween?” Tasha asked.
“I told you. It was booked so we had to do it three weeks early,” Katy answered, gliding through the front doors looking very much like a queen entering her palace.
Tasha followed along feeling somewhat like the cloddish servant. As they walked through the hotel, people stopped in their tracks and stared at them. Tasha attributed that to Katy who seemed to take the world by storm. Tasha wished for just a fraction of that poise and compelling nature. Something like that would go a long way into making this evening a success, but Tasha was shy and not all that outgoing.
It was one of the reasons she was lonely now. She’d made a few good friends, but never felt sure enough of herself to expand her circle. The thought left a sour taste in her mouth that she didn’t like.
Tasha rallied herself. I’m in disguise. Couldn’t I be whoever I want to be? Katy had said to let go and try to be Cinderella for the kids. She might be able to do that. In fact, she wanted to do that but having a bit of Katy’s confidence and happy aura would be helpful.
Tasha stopped and tugged on Katy’s arm. “How do you do it?”
Katy’s green eyes looked thoughtful. “Do what?”
Tasha swept her arm out, indicating the gaggle of teenagers gawking at them. “You radiate confidence. When you walk by, people stop and take notice of you.”
Katy propped her hands on her hips and laughed. A full throaty laugh that bounced off the marble floors. “Oh honey, they aren’t staring at me. They are far too busy wondering who’s the beautiful girl behind the mask.”
Tasha froze in shock. There was no way everyone was staring at her. Katy glowed like a burning torch. At best, Tasha could say she was a candle; a small light lost in the other’s bright flame.
“No,” Tasha protested.
Katy took Tasha’s arm and linked it with hers. “I told you that tonight was a night of fairy tales and you, my dear Cinderella, are the belle of the ball.”
Tasha peaked around Katy toward the group of teens. They were leaning out to look around Katy… trying to get a better look at her.
What?
Things like that never happened. Tasha was passably pretty, but nothing to stare at.
Suddenly, it felt like she couldn’t get enough air. She wanted to meet a few people and have a good time, not be gawked at the entire evening. I shouldn’t have worn this dress. I should have found something that didn’t stand out. Panic clawed at her as she thought of all those eyes on her. She wanted friends and confidence, but not this.
“I can’t do this. Thanks for inviting me Katy. You have fun. I’ll just take a cab home,” Tasha whispered and pulled her arm free of Katy’s.
“Oh no you don’t,” Katy said and grabbed Tasha’s hand before she could dash away.
Katy looked into the girl’s eyes and saw fear. It gave Katy a moment’s pause. She had that tingling feeling again. It reassured her that Tasha needed to be here this evening. What Katy couldn’t understand was why Tasha would be upset that people were staring at her. She looked fabulous in her costume. A perfect Cinderella.
“I just can’t Katy…”
“Can’t what? Go to a party for a bunch of little kids?”
Tasha stopped trying to tug free from Katy’s grip and slumped. “It’s not the kids I’m worried about.”
“Then what?”
“I don’t like the idea of people staring at me. I’m… I’m shy,” Tasha mumbled.
Katy couldn’t help it. She let out another bark of laughter. Tasha’s eyes narrowed to slits.
Katy sighed. “You have to realize how silly that sounds. You stand up in front of a few hundred students every day. You teach them and help them learn what you love to study. Then, if that wasn’t enough, you take everything Faith throws at you and are determined to do better every day. Everything I know about you screams confidence.”
Katy put her hand on Tasha’s shoulder and squeezed. “And tonight is your night. You look beautiful and mysterious. If people are going to stare, then give them something to stare at. Go in there and be a true Cinderella for those kids. Be kind and gracious and make them feel like princesses and princes. That way anyone looking at you will see the sweet and loving Tasha I see every day. And… don’t forget about the chocolate bar.”
Katy tacked on the last part, figuring that a little chocolate bribe couldn’t hurt. Something she’d said must have worked. Katy watched the fear drain from Tasha’s eyes. A steely look of determination replaced it.
Tasha adjusted her mask and said, “You’re right. There are some kids and chocolate fondue waiting for me through those doors. I can be anyone I want to be, and if all else fails, I can hide behind the buffet table.”
Katy laughed again, and this time, Tasha smiled with her. “Well then, it’s past time Cinderella got into the Ball.”
Chapter Five
Prince Charming stood transfixed. He stared across Hotel Omni’s function hall, decked out like a haunted house complete with spider webs and a seven foot tall, blow-up Frankenstein, at his Cinderella. She wore a blue and white dress that shimmered and sparkled each time she moved. But it wasn’t just her costume or what he could see of her pretty face that lay under a mask that caught his eye. No, it was the gaggle of children surrounding him that tugged at his heart.
His Cinderella was surrounded by twenty or so giggling children and doing an amazing job of brightening the faces of some of the poorest children in the city and surrounding areas. The kids’ smiles brought him to his knees every time, and this charity event was one he looked forward to every year.
He’d grown up poor and passed around like an unwanted toy until one fateful day. A couple with a twelve-year-old daughter decided that they wanted to adopt. They’d wanted a baby, but Charlotte had taken one look at him waiting for his social worker in one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs and declared he was the one she wanted.
It took some time and convincing, but his adoptive mother always got her way. He smiled thinking about his tenacious mother, Charlotte, and kindhearted father, Jim. They’d taken him in, and from day one, he was their son.
It took a while for his adopted sister to warm to him, but now they got on rather well. He still didn’t understand her at all, but he loved her and, in her way, she loved him back.
Given his background, it wasn’t surprising that he felt a need to help his mother chair the Chocolate for Charity Ball every year. Charlotte was flittering around somewhere making sure that everything was perfect.
He was supposed to be speaking with the caterer about refilling the chocolate fondue when he’d seen her.
That wasn’t entirely accurate. He’d heard the sounds of shrieking child laughter and found the source.
His Cinderella.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her smile was like a tractor beam that pulled him in. He felt drawn to her, and though he didn’t believe in love at first sight, he had to admit there was something about her that whispered directly to his heart. Logically, he supposed it was the kids. Anyone who could bring out so many smiles in children had to have a heart of gold.
Prince Charming grinned. The fairy tales claimed that Cinderella was the very definition of goodness and kindness. And how very appropriate that he was dressed as Cinderella’s true love. He supposed he should go and meet his Princess.
Chapter Six
Tasha was having a wonderful time. She’d taken to the role of Cinderella much better than she had anticipated. She’d greeted each girl as Princess and each boy as Prince. Tasha fabricated elaborate stories that enthralled the children. When she’d run out of imaginative tales, she’d sent the boys on daring quests and then giggled with the girls about tea parties and cookies. The children loved it! She’d loved it.
Tasha hadn’t laughed or had so much fun in ages. It was true she hadn’t met anyone her age, but that hardly mattered at the moment. A small girl of about five years tugged at her dress and Tasha crouched down so that she was eye-level with the girl’s chocolate brown eyes.
“I have to go home. I love you, Cinderella. I want to be just like you when I grow up.” The little girl threw her waifish arms around Tasha and squeezed tight.
Tasha had to hold back the tears as she hugged the girl back. “Every little girl can be a Princess. You just have to believe,” Tasha whispered into the girl’s brown curls.
Cafe Love: Cupid's Cafe Box Set Books 2-4 Page 17