Cinderfella Read online

  “I only ever had your best interests at heart.”

  “If only that were true!”

  “Elle, Ellie, please Dear…”

  “Did he take it? Did he take your money?” I narrow my eyes. He looks away.

  “I’ll take your silence as a yes?” I stand with him a few moments longer, praying that he’ll say otherwise. He doesn’t. I run up the stairway into my room and slam the door behind me. I can’t believe Ash would do that. How could he?

  16: Ash

  After four days of trying to wait me out, the reporters have given up and moved onto their next poor victim. I’ve managed a little bit of farm work, but I’ve mostly stayed inside my barn like some smelly hermit or lonely recluse.

  It’s been quiet here without her. My father hasn’t bothered to show his slimy face again. And with Bruno locked up awaiting trial and Jack still recovering in hospital, it’s like a ghost town. I might have gone slightly insane if it wasn’t for Clara bringing over my meals and the odd visit from Gerry here and there. Gus is the only constant thing in my life right now and he only tolerates me because I feed him. Guess you could say that I’m in a slump, feeling pathetically sorry for myself.

  The nights are long, and I can’t keep my thoughts from springing back to Ellie. What’s she doing now? How is she feeling? Is she missing me too? I have this sinking feeling in my gut that replaying my memories of her is the only way I’ll get to see her again, especially now I know where the king stands on our ‘friendship.’

  Today I’ll venture out. I’m climbing the walls in here. I should visit Jack again; he’ll need fresh clothes taken to him. Grabbing an old baseball cap, I pull it down low to hide most of my face. Then I walk the three miles to the hospital, it’s too risky, someone might recognise me if I take the bus.

  I pause along the riverbank at the spot where Ellie and I skimmed rocks such a short time ago. She was so useless and adorable then. If only my own personal Fairy Godfather could turn back the clock…

  * * * *

  “Hey.” I smile entering Jack’s room. “You’re finally awake and eating. That’s great.” He beams upon seeing me.

  “Yeah, it would be if this hospital mush actually resembled food.” He lifts the spoon, letting the watery brown soup slop back into the bowl.

  “Eek. Not like Clara’s home cooking then?”

  “Thanks for coming, Ash. I was worried you wouldn’t.”

  “Brought some of your things.” Placing the full rucksack carefully on the end of his bed, I sit in the visitor’s chair at his side. “Why did you think I wouldn’t visit?” He stares down into his soup for an awfully long time. “Jack?”

  “Because of what I told you…”

  “About?” I take my cap off and rake my hands through my scruffy, unwashed hair.

  “Don’t make me spell it out.”

  “Oh. Right. Okay.” I chew the side of my mouth.

  “I don’t want things to be weird between us.”

  “What because you told me you had feelings for me and kidnapped my girl?” I splutter a laugh.

  “Something like that.” He sighs.

  “Why don’t you and I start over?”

  “Do you think we could?” His ginger brows join in the middle.

  “Hi.” I offer him my hand. “I’m Ash and you are?”

  “So sorry.” He shakes my hand. “Jack.”

  “Good to meet you, Jack.”

  “And it’s that simple?”

  “If we let it be. Look, okay so you told me that you were into me. That was pretty brave. I was shocked, but time will change how you feel. We’ll look back at this someday and laugh. And just because I don’t like bat for your team, doesn’t mean I wasn’t the teeniest bit flattered.”

  “Getting awkward.” He reddens.

  “It is, right?” I grin. “Let’s just try to be friends. We tried being brothers and that didn’t work.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “I know there’s a really great guy out there for you. You just need to be patient.”

  “Thanks, mate.”

  “How are you doing, how’s that wound feeling now?”

  “I’m still pretty sore. Who knew getting shot would be so bloody painful?” He smirks. “But seriously, Ash, I want to thank you for saving my life.”

  “No problem. I didn’t really do much though.” I shrug.

  “You did more than I deserved.”

  “Well, if we’re giving out thanks, then thank you for coming over from the dark side to save Ellie. Going against Bruno like that took real guts.”

  “I didn’t want to be a coward anymore. He always told me what to do and I just did it out of fear. I have a chance at a life, a career and a chance to get away from them. How is our lovely dad by the way?”

  “He hasn’t visited you?”

  “The doc said he came down the first day, but I was asleep. He hasn’t been back.”

  “Big surprise. Bet he’s got his head down a pub toilet somewhere.”

  “It just makes leaving him easier.”

  “Have the police spoken to you?”

  “They’ve been by a few times. They say I’m looking at a suspended sentence and six months of community service.”

  “And you’re okay with it?”

  “God, yeah. It’s so much better than what Benny and Bruno are facing. If it wasn’t for your girl speaking on my behalf, I’d be pretty much be up shit creak.”

  “She spoke for you?”

  “Yep. Told them all about how I was trying to look out for her and how I fought my brother.”

  “Well you did sort of take a bullet for us.”

  “And I’d do it again.” He winces, touching the bandages across his chest.

  “Shall I get help?”

  “Nah, I get a shooting pain across my chest sometimes. I’ll be fine.”

  “I better go, leave you to rest. I might pop into some of the wards and see some friendly faces. I bet Betty’s missing me.” I put my cap back on.

  “Are you alright?” Jack’s head dips to see my eyes under the hat.

  “I’m fine.” I stand.

  “How’s Ellie doing?”

  “I honestly don’t know. They won’t let me see her.”

  “I saw on the news that she’s still getting married.”

  “I know.”

  “Since I have to give you up then… I’m happy it’s to her. I really do like her. You two would be great together…I’m rooting for you both.”

  “Don’t.”

  “Did you see there’s a royal parade today? She’ll be on it.”

  “And?”

  “Well you want to see her, don’t you?”

  “I won’t be able to get near her.” I frown, feeling a headache coming on.

  “But it’s worth a try?” The parade goes down Main Street in about…” he glances at the clock on the wall, “ten minutes.”

  “I’ll never make it.”

  “Better run then.” He waves me away. “Go! Run!”

  I practically fly out of the exit, apologising to staff who are trying to slow me down.

  “I’ll come back soon. Promise!” I call out behind me.

  The streets are busy. Cars are being redirected for the oncoming parade. I push on, darting between pensioners who only have one snail-paced speed. I apologise as I nearly knock a young couple over. They’re holding hands because they’re allowed to, because it’s normal. Lucky sods. My life used to be normal. I knew exactly where I was heading. Get my share of the money, go to med school, be a doctor. Simple. Only now, there’s a big barrier in the way called love, which I so hadn’t factored on.

  Finally, I make it to Main Street. There are thousands of people waving flags, buzzing with excitement. There’s a huge collective gasp. Everyone cheers as the marching band turns onto the road, entering the home straight towards the palace. My stomach flips over and over, and my legs have become like two sticks of jelly. I need to find myself a good spot,
where hopefully she’ll be able to see me amongst the masses.

  “Sorry, ‘scuse me. Very sorry.” Pushing my way through to the front, next to a family who look like they’ve been camped out here all night. Girls nearby whisper, I could’ve sworn I heard my name. I pull my cap down a fraction lower. Are they judging me or is this my own paranoia? Glancing back down the road as the band passes me by, the drums bang against the inside of my head. Everyone starts to shout, some scream when the royal carriage comes into view. It’s strange to me, she’s just a girl, but to them she’s an icon. For many, this moment is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, something to tell their grandkids. I wonder how far some of these people have travelled just to get a tiny glimpse and then have to go all the way back home again. I wonder if that’s what’ll happen to me? Will she even see me? Will I get anywhere near her with all these cops hanging around, holding everybody back?

  The carriage draws closer. In my mind, time has slowed right down, like she’ll never get here. I stand on my tiptoes and catch a glimpse of her blonde hair. Guess she had to change it back. She could shave it all off and I wouldn’t care. Crap. She’s looking the other way, waving at people over the other side of the street. My throat tightens when I see her future husband sitting next to her. All suited and booted, all clean…he’s nothing like me. He’s grinning with his perfect white teeth and large Roman nose. Smug prick. He’s almost sitting on her bloody lap! The King and Queen sit opposite with a younger girl in a large flowery hat. I guess it’s her sister.

  Finally, she looks my way. Her smile is wide but there’s that sad, lost look in her eyes like she had on the first night we met. Her gaze sweeps over us all. She doesn’t see me.

  “Ellie!” I shout, not caring who’s here or what I must look like. “Ellie!” She looks at me. I take off my cap. Her eyes widen, and she mouths my name. Time trickles to a standstill. The crowds around us disappear. There’s no noise but my pounding heartbeat. There are no fans, no flags. It’s just a boy looking at a girl. “Ellie,” I whisper, stepping out onto the road. She stands. Her father reaches over, grabs her elbow and forces her to sit. The noise rushes back to my ears.

  “It’s him!” A young girl squeals. “It’s Ash! You tried to steal our princess!”

  Ellie’s carriage pulls away. She quarter turns her head in my direction but doesn’t look at me again. Why didn’t she stop the carriage and jump into my arms? Am I a complete fool? She couldn’t even if she wanted to. I’m just making things worse.

  “Leave her alone young man!” An old woman wags her finger at me.

  “You leave him alone!” Another lady jumps to my defense. “Can’t you see he loves her?” There’s a lot of muttering and shocked faces. A hand grabs my elbow from behind.

  “Leave me alone!” I grunt.

  “Ash, you shouldn’t be here.”

  “Gerry? How did you find me?”

  “Magic, silly. Now come along before you get yourself arrested.” He pulls me through the crowds and out onto a quiet street where the parade has already been, and workers are already picking up rubbish.

  “Ash.” Gerry takes his glasses off and rubs his eyes. “What am I going to do with you? What on Earth were you thinking?”

  “I wasn’t. I just wanted to see her.”

  “Well now you have. Do you feel better?” He places his glasses back on and stares at me intently.

  “No. I feel worse. Why didn’t she…why wouldn’t she…”

  “What? Why didn’t she stop the carriage and declare her love for you in front of the world and her poor fiancé?”

  “I don’t know…I just thought it would go differently.”

  “And it will. But your timing is all wrong. These things all have a plan you know. This isn’t how it goes. You are making my job very stressful. You young ones never listen, always think you know best.” He huffs. “You remind me of a chap I helped a few years back…what was his name? Hmmm? He wanted to climb some girl’s hair. I told him it wasn’t safe. Ended up with a broken leg…”

  “Gerry, please, enough!”

  “I was merely saying.”

  “Well don’t. I need to go home. My head is buzzing.” I walk away.

  “And your heart is breaking.”

  I turn to apologise for snapping at him, but he’s vanished again.

  * * * *

  For the next week, I hear nothing from Ellie. Every time the door goes I jump up ready to try and win her back. I must talk her out of this wedding. I have a whole speech which has changed a hundred times. But she never comes. I never get the chance, or the chance to tell her goodbye, because if I’m truthful with myself, there is only one outcome for us. But whenever the door opens, it’s usually Clara bringing me food or Gerry bringing me false hope and a pep talk.

  My father visits. It’s very brief, which I’m glad of. He informs me that the farm has been sold and that we have two days to vacate. He’s moving into a hotel for a while, I bet my life it has a bar, not that I care where he goes or what he does anymore. I carry on with my farm duties and move my few belongings and a very grumpy Gus into my secret tree house. I apply for another medical school just outside the city about an hour’s train ride away. Spending my nights gazing at the stars, listening to the radio, waiting, praying for news that the wedding has been cancelled. But I know that is pure fantasy.

  Why hasn’t she tried to contact me? Have her feelings changed? Has she warmed towards him? She must know this is killing me?

  17: Ellie

  Seeing him standing on the roadside, I just wanted to run into his arms and kiss those warm lips again. If my father hadn’t stopped me, it would have made quite a scene. And then I remembered that he took the money to stay away and I felt angry and betrayed by the one person I thought would never hurt me. Saying I’m a little confused, doesn’t really cover it. And then there are Henrik’s feelings to consider. The look on his face said it all. He thought I was going to publicly humiliate him again. I couldn’t do that as much as he seems like a stranger to me, he’s still a human being. He’s just as trapped as I am.

  A few hours later and here I am having dinner with my family, Henrik, and my soon to be in-laws. There’s lots of polite chatter, but no actual real conversations. Every so often I look across at my sister who is staring at Henrik and me in the most peculiar manner. She doesn’t believe the show we’re putting on for our families, the tight-lipped smiles and the fake laughter. She knows as well as I do, that this whole charade is a sham.

  “So.” My mother speaks over everyone. “So, I was thinking of giving a ball in honour of your engagement, the night before the wedding.”

  Yeah, because the last one went so well!

  “The night before? Is that a good idea?” I frown and put my fork down.

  “It could be like a joint stag and hen.” My mother’s doing that rehearsed grin of hers. “That’s what people do, isn’t it? You’d like that wouldn’t you, Henrik?” She gives her best wounded-puppy look.

  Oh please! Like he’s going to risk offending his future mother-in-law and the Queen!

  “If Elle does?” He turns to me and I can’t think of a good enough excuse to ward her off.

  “But…but…isn’t it a bit short notice? Surely there isn’t enough time?”

  “The invites have already been sent, Dear.” She takes a sip of wine, her eyes never leaving mine. My mother; party planner extraordinaire. Of course, she never asked me first.

  “Fine.” I huff. My father gives me a quick nod, which translates into ‘good girl.’

  “It was my idea to make it a themed black and white ball.” Henrik’s mousy mother adds.

  “And I came up with the masquerade idea. So, we decided to do both.” My mother beams across at her like they are new best friends. We finish our main course and wait for dessert.

  “So,” I pipe up, thinking this is a perfect time to bring up my recent revelations on health care and how I can be an ambassador for it. I may as well just dive right i
n to the deep end. I go on to tell them of my ideas for student grants for anyone training in the medical profession. About my helipad and organ donating worldwide ideas, barely stopping for breath.

  “And how would you have time to oversee all this, be an ambassador and help rule a country?” Henrik’s father looks over his glasses at me. Stuffy old fool.

  “I think it’s a great idea.” Henrik nods. A little surprised, I give him a thank you nod in return.

  “But Elle, my dear. How will you have the time? King Stefan is right, how will you be a wife and mother as well?” My mother raises her eyebrows.

  My cheeks are getting hotter and I clench my fists. I really want to run out. I’m sick of them all making judgements on my life, my future. I’m not even twenty, I haven’t even thought about having children. Shouldn’t they come out of love? Did I? Women are more than just wives and mothers. We can be whatever we want nowadays. Two weeks ago, I was trying to milk a cow and now I’m chained down by duty.

  Henrik puts his hand over mine and gives it a tiny squeeze. I mentally ice myself down. It wouldn’t do to have a melt down in front of them all. My father wouldn’t forgive me. As annoying, old fashioned and as pompous as he is, he’s still my dad. I still love him; yes, I’m as mad as hell that he’s forcing this marriage on me. But he honestly believes that he’s doing the right thing. I know now where I get my stubbornness. I bet there have been times when he wanted to stamp his feet and run away, but he doesn’t, he holds it together somehow because he’s the king. He must.

  “May I be excused?” I stand, throwing my napkin on the table.

  “What about dessert?” Mother frowns, because I never miss dessert. I look down at the rich chocolate gateaux.

  “I won’t fit in my wedding dress if I eat that.” I fake a smile.

  “Of course.” My father waves me away and carries on in deep conversation with King Stefan. I stomp out, away from their oppression and happy pretenses.

  Escaping into the garden, I often come out here at night. It’s so peaceful. The moon’s reflection bounces off the pond. I could stay out here forever.