Tinderella

by Bartlett, Jecca

  In the kitchen she put down the cookies and picked up the note he had left.

  Thanks for the banana bread, it was spectacular to come home to the scent and taste. It was really nice of you. Many thanks, Pearce.

  Tentatively she took stock of the fridge and saw fresh cherries with a note that said, use me. She laughed out loud at that, and took them from the fridge. Taking out flour, salt and butter she made a crust and refrigerated it. He had a cherry pitter in the drawer, and she was able to speed through the pitting process.

  While the dough chilled, and the cherries got all juicy in the sugar, she cleaned the rest of the house. The papers were still scattered on the coffee table, and she thought back to her fast exit of the other night. She wasn't sorry, but she was.

  She ran her hands over the sofa and thought about how nice it would be to be able to see him again. Then she shook her head to clear it, the whole thing was a debacle waiting to happen. She couldn't let it.

  ****

  "We've got a new offer, substantially more than before. I really think you should consider it Cyndi. The money would tide you over until you found something else, and we'd have some to invest for your retirement."

  "Retirement? I'm only --"

  He held up his hand, "I know how old you are, you could use a good injection of cash into that account though. You really should think about this, offers like this don't come along every day. Or, well, like ever," he paused and looked directly at her. She hadn't noticed before just how tired he seemed.

  "Is everything alright?" she asked.

  "Yes, yeah, fine. I mean, just the same stuff, life you know? It's exhausting." He sighed, "Look, I know where you come from, I watched you build your business. I know you're proud of it. Rightfully so, but to have a chance like this, a windfall, and not take it. I'm not sure I get that."

  "I know. It's okay, you don't have to understand. Just know that I'm not doing it. Maybe I'm just stubborn."

  "You are stubborn. If you don't take it, they'll be the competition and you could get creamed. In fact you probably will. Your old accounts might want to keep you, but you know that he'll come in and underprice you to knock you out of the game."

  Cyndi sat back hard, she hadn't really thought about it that way. She had been running on emotions she supposed. "Okay, well, tell them I'm considering their offer, we have some time, right?" she said as she gathered her purse and papers to go.

  "I think that's what you told me before, but yeah. I'll tell them. Hey, kid?"

  "Yes," she turned on her way out the door.

  "Don't you have a coat, it's chilly out there."

  Cyndi frowned slightly, "No, I don't. I lost it somewhere. Seems like a number of things have gone missing lately. Tell you what, if we sell, I'll buy two. See ya Jerry," and with that she closed the door behind her and headed to her car.

  "Maybe I should do something about that coat deal," she grumbled to herself. It would be so simple to just take it back. Or to call and ask for it, but she was embarrassed now and felt like...well she just didn't know what her problem was. Yes, yes she did. She had liked him just a little too much. He felt dangerous, in a good sexy way, but dangerous all the same. And she had spent her life avoiding danger. Seemed like now she was going to have a run in one way or the other. It just would have to be up to the fates which track the train that was headed her way would be traveling. Maybe she would just buy a damn coat.

  ****

  PEARCE

  He held the phone with one ear while he talked to his mother, "Yeah, she just flew out of the apartment while I was on the phone with dad. Makes no sense to me....Yeah, funny you should ask, she left her coat. No, no mom, I don't have any idea. What? No, I didn't say anything. No mom, I didn't make any untoward advances, I was on the phone with dad. What would I do, use sign language from behind the glass window of the balcony? Look, never mind, I'm sure it's nothing. I'll get her coat to her somehow, but other than that, I'm not likely to see her again. What? Yes, that's right mom, there goes your chance for grandchildren. I'm going to hang up now mom, good-bye, I love you..."

  Jeeze, she would not let up, he had no idea how he had lived with her for so long. It didn't hurt that it was a mansion on Long Island, there had been plenty of places to take cover. He smiled to himself, she was formidable, his mom. He had to admit, he loved it when she was in his corner, she was tenacious, and no one ever said no to Jane.

  The phone rang again, and he picked it up, "Hi mom....I knew it was you because you always do this, call and hang up then remember something else you wanted to say....No, no I wasn't planning on it....Yes, I know it's the event of the season, I just kind of don't care....The last time I got dressed up and went out? Ages ago, which is the way I like it...Right mom, I'll think about it, take care."

  "Pearce?"

  "Yeah, dad?"

  "Was that your mom? About the party?"

  "Yeah, dad."

  "She really wants you to go."

  "I know, it's just not my thing. I'll let you guys know," he looked up at his father.

  "You never know who will turn up, could be fun."

  "Do you believe that?"

  "No," his father sighed, "but misery loves company."

  "Right, I'll think about it. Are we ready for the ten o'clock? I have the projections right here."

  "Yep, meet in the conference room. I'll be right in."

  Pearce walked past his father and out into the hallway. As jobs went, he supposed this was as good as any, but he wanted more. He didn't want to spend his life in contemplation of the next big win. His father was trying to draw him further into the company, and while he appreciated the opportunity, some days it was all he could do to keep from walking down the hallway and right out the door.

  As he entered the conference room he was struck by the smell of cinnamon rolls set out by the admins for the meeting. The smell knocked him back through time and suddenly he felt like he was sitting across from her all over again. He had been planning to concentrate on just random dating. Well, really hookups, he thought, but she was different. She was special. He could still recall how her eyes crinkled when she smiled, how her hands, impossibly small hands, had circled the coffee cup to stay warm.

  She had made him feel alive again for the first time in a long time. Just putting his hand on the small of her back to guide her out of the elevator had made him feel that spark. That thing you felt when you knew you were with someone you wanted to get to know better. He thought about her curves, how the fabric had draped over her. She was beautiful, not a stick woman, but a real substantial woman, with hips he could hold on to when...

  "Pearce, Pearce are you with us?" his father interrupted his reverie.

  "Yes, sir. The projections are here, let me load them up on to the screen..." he said as he fiddled with the tablet and the projector. He had decided though, some changes were in order, maybe if his dad hadn't called him so late that night, she wouldn't have gotten away. Maybe he'd be home with her right now, maybe...Yeah, he was going to have to make some changes.

  ****

  CYNDI

  "Hello Sarabeth, how can I help you today? No, no I wasn't planning on attending the party. Thank you though.... Yes, I got the invitation...No, no, it's just not a good time for me, I have...What? I know your girls will be there, " Cyndi rolled her eyes, the prospect of a lawn party that stretched into the evening was not in any way enhanced by the attendance of her two unfortunate looking stepsisters. "I'm not sure that's true, I don't think my dad would have wanted me to come to a party I didn't feel I had time for.... Okay, okay, I'll think about it, alright? Yep, thanks Sarabeth, mmmm hmmmm, you too, bye now."

  Good Lord, she felt no warmth for that woman. Didn't much matter though, she needed to be nice to her. The family estate was all tied up with her, and she didn't want that messed up. She didn't care at all about the money, but there were some things in the house that had been her mom's and she wanted to be able to secure them when the time came. S
he had a running inventory in her head and checked each time she went out to the house.

  Sarabeth wasn't evil, at least she didn't think she was, but she did seem to have her own agenda much of the time. She was quite intent on finding "suitable" husbands for her girls, and this party was part of her grand scheme. She held it every year and invited all eligible, and some not so eligible but willing men to the party.

  Usually Cyndi was good natured about it, but she really didn't have her heart in it this year. Particularly with her recent near miss with Pearce. She wanted to stay home, eat ice cream, do her job and forget about men for a while.

  She figured she could just make an appearance though, what could that hurt?

  It would involve shopping though, that was Gooch's domain. She picked up the phone, "Hey Gooch, drop what you're doing, we're gonna go buy me a dress!"

  "What's the occasion?"

  "I'll tell you when I get there, and bring your wallet, you're going to need one too."

  Cyndi met Gooch outside of Serenity's formals, and together they walked inside. The bell on the door tinkled their arrival and a woman came out from the curtained doorway leading, Cyndi supposed, to the stock area.

  "Hello, I'm Blair, how may I help you ladies today?"

  "Hi Blair," Gooch led off, ""We need daytime formal wear, suitable for a formal party at a home on the beach. I'm thinking for me, something in peaches or pastels, and for my friend, we'll need blue, lilac something in that family, to bring out her eyes."

  "Okay, well over here we have..." the sales woman, Blair, began as she walked toward a rack of dresses. "Sizes," she said as she walked. Cyndi hated this part, she was not a skinny girl, and she hesitated. The sales woman turned to her, and looked at her appraisingly, "You know what, you have beautiful hourglass curves. You work out, don't you?" Cyndi nodded,"I can tell. And you'll probably never be skinny, but it's a look plenty of women would kill for. Don't hesitate to work with them, and be proud. You're both beautiful girls, now follow me."

  Several hours later they left with nothing.

  "I just wasn't feeling it, you know?"

  "I know," said Cyndi. "And honestly I'd be happy to not go, but I feel like I have to."

  "Oh, we're going, don't you worry, come with me."

  "Where to?"

  "My favorite thrift shop in the world, c'mon!"

  Gooch was no stranger to the thrift store employees, obviously, they greeted her like an old friend. The sign outside said Fairy Godmother's Thrift. "Bailey, Tamara, Evelyn!" Gooch exclaimed, hugging each one in turn. When she told them what she needed they scurried around like mice, plucking one thing from one rack, and something else from another. Cyndi went into the dressing room and undressed, and put on the dress one of them had handed to her. When she came out of the room, the employees circled her, pinning something here, draping something there, putting her hair up, and securing it with pins, and when they were done they stood back to admire their work.

  Gooch turned to look at her, and said simply, "Wow!"

  Cyndi spun to look at herself in the mirror and for a minute wondered who was looking back at her. "This, this is amazing,' she said, pulling at the cobalt blue peplum top. The color made her eyes pop, and the cut made her "girls" sit up and take notice, and she had to admit that the effect was stunning.

  "I'm not, I mean, I don't think I can do this again--"

  "We got this, sweetie," said Gooch, "I was watching, we're all set. You look stunning, truly. Your stepsisters are going to be green."

  "That wasn't exactly what I was going for."

  "But it's a nice add-on, right?"

  Cyndi laughed, "Right, not a bad side effect. Now let's see what we can do for you. And by we I mean them, of course."

  When they were done, they headed to Gooch's place to play with make-up and try to recreate Cyndi's hair. Gooch was the make-up queen.

  "Okay, we're ready."

  "Gooch, we're two weeks out, I had no idea you'd be so gung-ho!"

  "Well, I like to be prepared. Want Chinese?"

  "Sure, I'm starved! I'll have the usual."

  Later, when they were satisfied their outfits were unique and perfect, and they had their make-up routines down, and the coffee table was littered with carryout boxes, they leaned back against the sofa at Gooch's and surveyed the destruction.

  "That, was a good day," Cyndi said. "There's nothing like spending time with friends, you don't need a lot of money to have a lot of fun."

  "True, although I'm sure a yacht and an island are fun in their own way," Gooch paused, "can I ask you a question?"

  "Sure."

  "Why are you ignoring your phone?"

  "Ignoring it?"

  Don't play cute, I can hear it vibrating in your bag even if the ringer is turned off. Who are you avoiding?"

  "Oh, him. He wants me to meet him so I can get back my coat. He sounds like such a nice guy, too bad it's not going to work out."

  "How'd he find you?"

  "Business cards in the pocket," she scrunched up her nose. Bad planning.

  "I think you're being silly, just sayin'. Not that I get a vote or anything."

  "No, I'm not being silly. It puts us both in a weird spot, with his dad trying to buy me out, and me refusing to sell. He's nice, well more than nice, but this is just too awkward."

  "Right, I heard you the first 50 times you told me, but seriously, why not give him a chance? Maybe there's a graceful way out?"

  "No, there isn't. What can he do, ask his dad to go easy on me? Ask him to pay me more, or to stay out of my territory? He's not going to do any of those things, and it would be embarrassing if he did. No. Just no."

  "Have it your way girlfriend. I hate to see you lose a coat over the deal. Damn," she snapped her fingers, "we should have got one at the thrift store. What was I thinking?"

  "Let's talk about something else," Cyndi said, turning on the TV, "or watch re-runs. You got any popcorn?"

  "Yep, it's in the cabinet next to the fridge. You gonna make it your old fashioned way?"

  "Absolutely, one giant bowl of stove popped popcorn coming right up."

  Cyndi went to the kitchen and took her phone out of her bag, 3 missed calls and a couple of texts, all from him. He knew, he must know who she was and why she bolted. She deleted all the messages and blocked his number. Nice guy or not this was complicated and they hadn't even gotten past first base yet. She thought about his hands on her, his face close to hers, his lips...yeah, she needed a new hobby.

  "Where's my popcorn?" Gooch called from the living room.

  "Hold your horses, I'm working my magic." Cyndi thumbed her phone for a minute, then unblocked his number. It was nice to be wanted, even if there was nothing she could do about it. She sent him a text. We'll talk later, was all it said. It was enough.

  Cyndi made her excuses after the popcorn was gone, claiming she was tired, which she was. She texted him again on the way home, with her address. Here we go, she thought. No better way to get him out of her head than to force him out.

  ****

  PEARCE

  He hadn't really been expecting to hear back from her, so when he got the text he was more startled than anything else. It had her address and a time to meet. That was it. He knew now why she had run out. Or at least he thought she did. It was the purchase offer. But he didn't see it as the obstacle that she obviously did. He wondered why that was, but maybe it had something to do with her having built her business and him essentially inheriting his work. He freely admitted that his father's company meant very little to him.

  She had said to meet at 10pm which seemed late to him, but whatever, at least he could return her coat. As he pulled onto her street, he peered at the numbers in order to figure out which apartment exactly was hers. It was a cool damp evening, the rain had lifted but the sidewalks were still damp and had leaves on them.