Real-Life Prince Charming: A Friends To Lovers Romance

by Lauren Wood

  His jacket was on the ground and I started to pick it up, when I noticed that something had fallen out of his pocket. It was a tiny little box, covered in velvet and obviously something that I shouldn't have seen. I didn't hear anything coming out of the bathroom, so I took a minute to pop the top of it to see what was inside. It was an engagement ring, beautiful princess-cut diamond. Gorgeous. Maybe that was why he was so full of anxiety. It was clear that something was on his mind and now I think I knew what it was.

  My mind was now the one that was going in every direction. I kept telling myself that I wasn't ready to go down this path with him. The fashion house was coming together surprisingly well, but that didn't mean that all of it was figured out. I still hadn't even met his daughter. Maybe that's why he was so nervous. He wanted to get married, and I hadn't even met the rest of his family. Why was it then that I realized how silly it was?

  By the time he came back out, I had picked up his jacket and put it on the back of the chair, as well as replacing the box into the pocket where it was supposed to be. I didn't know if it showed on my face, but I was really, really, nervous as well. Now that I knew it was coming.

  It didn't happen, though, what I thought was next. Instead of the proposal that I thought was coming, he said something about having to leave and left. That did not sit well with me.

  After he left and I really started to think about it, it wasn't really that hard to understand. How could we be together in that way, married, if I wouldn't even meet Caroline? Why I hadn’t, I'm not really sure. Maybe I was afraid that it would solidify and make it all real. It sounded silly, I know, but I never thought I would be in this sort of situation. I never thought I would feel so vulnerable.

  I knew that I had to do something to fix it. If I didn't want to be with him, I needed to decide that now, but when I thought about it, I realized that, of course, I did. He was the man that I’d been waiting for. I could try to pretend that it was something different than it was, but what was the point? I had been in love with Frank for as long as I could remember. He was my first love and if I was truly honest, I really wanted him to be my last. I never felt the same way about anybody else.

  A plan started formulating in my head. I was going to make this right, even if it wasn't as easy as I would like it to be. It was going to be worth it.

  The next day I went to the store and got everything that was needed for my grandfather’s favorite lasagna. When I had talked to Frank before, I remembered him saying that his daughter's favorite food was lasagna. I had the idea that I was going to invite them over and we could all finally meet. I wanted to believe that if we got together and we got over that first hurdle, then we could start planning the future that I now knew he was ready for. I guess just seeing it in real life, made me ready for it, too. I was so scared, mind you, but I wanted to believe that it was a good feeling. I should be a little nervous, right?

  When I called Frank at work to see if he was available that evening, he was acting a little strange. I knew that it was because of the day before. He had been so worried about everything, that he hadn't even come out with why he was even there. It made me feel like I had made it worse. I wanted him to see that I was trying to make it better.

  Finally, he answered and said he was busy.

  “I was just going to invite you over for dinner tonight. Do you think you'll be able to make it?”

  “I have my daughter tonight. I don't think I'm going to be able to get back over there for a few days.”

  “I was talking about both of you.”

  There was a pause on the other side of the phone, and I really wished then I could have seen his face. I would have liked the sight of it. When he finally talked again, there was shock in his voice.

  “You are inviting me and Caroline over?”

  He couldn't believe it and I actually felt a little bad about that. I had been so focused on trying to make sure that everything was done right, that I didn't even realize how he must have thought about it.

  “Yes, it should have happened awhile back, but I guess I was just kind of nervous about next steps.”

  “And, how do you feel about it now?”

  “Honestly?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I'm happy that we are taking the next step. That is, if you want to.”

  “Yes, Amber, I definitely want to take this to the next level.”

  Even though I knew where his heart was, it was still good to hear how he was still of that mind. When he had left yesterday, I was afraid that maybe he wasn’t as sure as he had been before.

  “I will see you at eight.”

  I got off the phone before I could say something stupid. That seemed to be a common thing going on lately. As much as it was great with just me and him, what if it wasn't the same with all of us? What if she hated me? I hadn't been around that many kids and the whole idea of it freaked me out.

  To me, it felt like our relationship was hinging on the whims of a child. That was a lot to take in and scary. I think that’s why I had put it off for so long, but now it was time to face the truth. No matter what that truth was.

  * * *

  When the clock was about ten minutes to six, that's when I started to get nervous. All day while I was cooking and getting the dining room ready for guests, I wasn't worried. I had enough to do to keep my mind and my hands busy. Now, though, things were different.

  The doorbell rang and I actually jumped. I was lighting the candle for the table and then second guessing it. Was it too much? Do kids like candles? It became quite clear that I knew nothing about kids, and I was still amazed that Frank had done this by himself all these years. He was maybe a year older than me. I didn't even think it was a full year. The idea that he had taken on such a big responsibility at such a young age made me respect him even more.

  The moment of truth had arrived and when I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised to see a big smile on Caroline’s face. She had some cookies that she wanted to bring. She told me that she made them herself and I didn't get any of the attitude that I thought I would. I had seen movies where kids and the new love interest did not work out. I was glad that it didn’t seem to be that sort of situation. I was hopeful that it stayed that way.

  Caroline was an absolute dream. I had expected so much different, but I should have known better. I should have known that Frank was going to be a good father. I had really gotten that vibe off of him and after having dinner with her, I knew it to be true.

  She was most impressed that I knew how to cook. Apparently, Frank didn't cook much at all and if he did, it was to burn something. It made Frank actually turn a little red in the face and I have to say, that it was probably the most adorable thing I'd seen in a very long time.

  It wasn't just Caroline that I was watching. I couldn't take my eyes off of Frank and the way he acted with her. He was usually so gruff and short. He had a temper, and even though he did talk to me sweetly, I had seen him talk to other people in a very different way. But with Caroline, he was really gentle and used kid gloves. It was so nice to see such a strong man able to soften up for the women in his life. I knew that I wanted to be one of them.

  The evening ground to an end sooner than it usually did. Caroline had school in the morning, and they left about eight. I wished more than anything that they could stay, Frank could be with me, but that was going to take time. The sooner he felt comfortable to ask me to marry him, the better it would be.

  I was settling in for the night. The dishes were done and the good feeling that was left from the dinner was still with me. I heard a knock at the door and the first thing I thought about was Frank. Was he here? Was he able to get away for a little while after she went to sleep?

  Anticipation was the only thing that I felt as I waited a moment. How badly did I want him? It was rather disgusting if it wasn't reciprocated completely. I had never been so out of touch with the rest of the world. It was like Frank was the only thing that mattered. That was a dangerous
feeling.

  I was on the couch watching a movie and finally yelled that the door was open. Truthfully, I just wanted a minute to fix my hair, because I'm sure I looked a mess. I had taken my makeup off for the night and my hair was down. I didn't have much in the way of pajamas, just an old T-shirt.

  Frank popped his head into the living room, and he instantly had a small smile on his face.

  “You really shouldn't just let somebody in. What if it hadn’t been me?”

  “You're the only one that would be here in the middle of the night, Frank. You never did like to stick to the rules, and it looks like nothing has changed. At least you get to come through the front door now.”

  “Do you know how long it has been since I have snuck into this house?”

  I agreed that it had been a while and we both were quiet for a time. Both remembering the old times and here I was trying to figure out if there was going to be new times for us. I wanted to believe that there would be. I had effectively relocated to a small town in the middle of nowhere for him. It was definitely going to make it harder to accomplish what I wanted to in my career. All of a sudden, I was willing to pick up a young girl that needed a stepmother.

  “It's been awhile. I never would have guessed that we would be here now. All that time so long ago. Who would have known that it was going to change everything?”

  “It hasn't changed everything yet, Amber, but I really want it to.”

  “Yeah?”

  He agreed. I started to get this trickle up the back of my neck and the hairs were standing up. It was like all of a sudden, I knew it was going to happen. I knew that this was going to be the moment that he was going to ask me to marry him and it was going to be the same moment that I told him yes.

  Frank was getting something out of his pocket, and my heart was beating hard and my throat suddenly had a knot in it. I was just so sure that he was going to ask me, that when he pulled something else out, I was a little disappointed.

  “I was hoping that you would be able to help me with this.”

  It was a piece of paper and I was a little bit confused. I had been thinking of something so different.

  It was math. A page of math. I must have looked a little crazy because he was quick to tell me that it was some of Caroline's math homework, and he hadn't been able to help her.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Well, I remembered that you said you are really good at math, and you have to understand that this has taken a lot for me to come here and ask you. But, could you help me with this?”

  I actually laughed because I was just so shocked. It was not at all what I expected and after getting over the initial jolt of it all, I agreed that I would help him.

  He had this grin on his face when I looked up after a minute. He was holding the box and I could feel my face burning a little bit.

  “That was a bit of a disappointment, wasn't it?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, I know that you saw the ring.”

  “How did you know?”

  I didn't figure that there was a reason to lie about it. Yes, I had seen it.

  “Well, you put it in the wrong pocket. It was in my inside jacket pocket and when I left, it was in the outside pocket. I almost lost it in the car because I can never keep anything in those pockets.

  “So why didn’t you say something?”

  “Why didn't you?”

  I sighed and told him it was because I had felt like a jerk.

  “Why would you say that?”

  “Because I was so freaked out to meet Caroline, and here you were going to ask me to marry you, and I hadn't even met your daughter yet. I figured it was something that needed to be fixed.”

  “Is it because you didn’t think that it would be a good idea?”

  It was hard for me to say that very thing. Sure, I had doubts.

  “Yeah.”

  “Ouch.”

  “I think if you asked me, I would say yes.”

  That made his smile a whole lot bigger. He didn't ask me a question, but he came toward me and gave me an answer.

  Epilogue

  Amber

  The woman in the mirror did not even look like me. It had only been a couple of months since Frank proposed, and now it all seemed like a whirlwind romance. It was all too perfect. Not only was today a huge day for me and Frank, but it was a big day for Caroline, as well.

  We were going to get married today and finally become a family, but I was also adopting Caroline as my own daughter, as well. I wanted her to have a mother as well as a father. I wanted her to feel like she was mine, because in such a short amount of time, that's exactly how I felt about her. It was silly now to imagine how worried I had been about it all. If I would have known, I could have avoided a lot of strife, and we wouldn’t have lost any time.

  I was getting ready for the reception. Usually it was done after the wedding, but this time it was going to be done first, because I wanted the adoption done before we'd actually tied the knot. I wanted her to really be my daughter.

  There was a slight knock on the door, and I knew that it wasn’t Frank. It was Caroline. She told me several times that she wanted to help get me ready and I was glad that she finally came. Caroline had her own dressing and hair to get done, though, it looked like she was ready to go. She was absolutely adorable.

  When I saw her, my heart just melted. She had on a pink-lace trimmed dress that made her seem like a little angel. Her hair was bouncy and curly and when I complimented it, she agreed that she loved it.

  “Did you get everything ready that you needed?”

  She agreed. “Yes, I did. I was hoping that you would wear something for me, during the wedding?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, you know how you're supposed to have something blue and something borrowed. I have this little blue bracelet that I made a very long time, maybe even six months ago, so it's old. And it’s blue. And if you give it back to me later, then it would be borrowed, too.”

  She said it so matter of factly and her expression was so dire. I was still getting to know Caroline, but she was a very serious young lady, as well as very sweet. I told her that I would be honored to wear it. That made her happy and the grin on her face was huge.

  While I was putting on the bracelet, Caroline said something that stopped me in my tracks. Of all the feelings I thought I would have come over me, it wasn’t this one. I didn’t think I would be hit like a freight train, in a tiny room that I was getting ready in.

  “I'm so glad you're going to be my mom. I used to pray for one when I was a kid.”

  I tried not to snicker from her comment, it was too serious a moment. But considering that she hadn't even hit ten yet, she was already talking about her childhood as if it was in the past. How grown-up she was.

  “Well, I'm glad that I get to be your mommy, too. I always wanted a daughter of my own. I know that we're going to have a great time together.”

  She just nodded her head and I tried not to let her words get to me. I was still nervous about it all, but I knew that there was nowhere else I’d rather be. Frank and Caroline where my family now. All of my extended family were here for the wedding, but those two were my life.

  We heard the music starting to play for the reception and she started to get even more excited. I didn't know which one I was more excited for, but I could easily tell which one it was for Caroline. She was obviously ready for a better life to begin. Soon she would be my legal daughter, but in the few months that I had known her, I had already started to feel like she could very well be my own.

  Frank was waiting for us, and he had a huge grin on his face, much like the one on his daughter’s face. They looked like quite a pair. We were surrounded by people that had known us for many years, and even though I had been gone for so long, it felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Everything was working out and now I was finally going to have the family that I craved. Not to mention the man
that I loved.

  “Are you ready?”

  I took his hand and agreed that I was ready for what came next. Caroline’s smaller hand was already in my other one. She had a glow to her, and I hoped that it was because she was happy. I bet I had the same glow. I didn't think I'd ever been so happy in my life. Who knew that after all these years, we would be back together? I'd always known that we were supposed to be, I just wished that it wouldn't have taken so long. I tried not to think about the time that we could have spent together. It would have made me sad.

  Today was a good day, a great day, and I wasn’t going to let anything spoil it. I followed them into the reception, and we did the symbolic as well as legal signing of the adoption papers for Caroline, before we went down the aisle together and said our vows.

  In one day’s time, my whole life had changed. Not only was I a mother now, but I was a wife, as well. Two roles that I knew I would always cherish.

  I hope you enjoyed Real Life Prince Charming! If you did, I would love if you could leave a review HERE to help other readers find it.

  * * *

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  Ben

  “Doggo!” Olivia pointed her small chubby finger off into the dog park on the other side of the fence.

  “Yep. That’s a dog, alright,” I replied, still not super confident in my communication skills with a one year old. “But we’re not looking for a doggo. We’re looking for hot girls, and you’re the bait.”