Cinderfella Read online

  The streets are lined with hundreds of loyal fans, calling out my name and throwing petals at the carriage. How can I let all these people down? I will myself to smile for the cameras and wave at the children.

  My father sits proudly at my side, he too is pretending that it will all be okay, that I’ll get used to it. My mother and sister sit across from us. Phoebe looks as miserable as I feel, which makes my heart feel twice as heavy. She’s always the one making me laugh, making me see the bright side in a dark situation, but even she can’t perform the impossible today.

  The church is only a five-minute ride from the palace, yet we must take the long way around for the people. For some, this will be a momentous occasion in their lives. I envy those people, the ones looking on, the ones who can choose their own pathway.

  We eventually pull up outside the church. I’ve had about two hours sleep, but I must get through this. Trembling as I’m helped down from the carriage. My dress suddenly feels awfully heavy and my hair is too tightly pinned.

  More crowds have gathered and there are dozens of press shouting my name. Am I the only girl in the world right now who doesn’t want to be me? My father and sister join me as Mother messes about with my veil.

  We enter the doors. The wedding march greets us. My mother kisses my cheek and goes inside to take her seat. Next, it’s Phoebe’s turn. She gives me such a sorry look.

  “If I could do this for you, I would.” She quickly hugs me and disappears inside. I wish more than anything that I were her right now, how very selfish of me.

  “Our turn.” My father links his arm around mine. “You can do this. Ready?”

  “No. But I will for you.” I nod, and he closes his eyes for a second. The doors open and we’re walking down the aisle. All heads turn to us. The church looks like a garden of white roses and lilies, it’s beautiful but wasted on us. I see my mother at the front dabbing her eyes already. Tears of joy or sadness I wonder?

  My eyes connect with his, my future husband. He stands with his father, both in their military uniforms, looking clean and pristine. He nods to me, a nod that says, ‘be strong,’ and a nod that says we can get through this together. I so want to believe him. He’s a good man, I don’t know him very well, but I know he’ll treat me like a queen. Guess that’s the best I can hope for, to be respected and looked after. I refuse to back down on my ideas for the future; at least Henrik will back me in them. We arrive at the altar. My father lifts my veil and kisses me on both cheeks. He then places my hand in Henrik’s and I’m trembling again.

  “Breathe,” Henrik mouths. I take a deep breath to compose myself. His hand is surprisingly sweaty, not cool and calm like I’d imagined he’d be.

  Everything that follows next is a huge blur. Rings are exchanged. My hand shakes as I slide his down his finger. Robotically, I repeat the vows and remind myself to look present when Henrik says his vows to me. Every one of them, a half-truth or lie.

  “If anyone here knows of any lawful impediment …” I hear the vicar say. I look to the exit, imagining Ash running in to save me, but there’s nothing but silence. I told him not to come. Of course he didn’t come. Henrik’s eyes are wide, he looks lost, frightened almost like a little boy. “No?” The vicar looks at our guests one last time. “Then we shall continue.”

  “Wait!” Henrik blurts, making me jump, making me hope. “I object.” He says looking straight at me. Oh, thank God! “I’m so sorry Elle,” he whispers. I hear my sister squealing behind us. Gasps and shocked whispers grumble amongst the pews.

  “I object too!” I shout, glancing at my parents who are open-mouthed.

  “What is the meaning of this?” King Stefan stands between us. “Someone had better speak up! What the hell is going on here?”

  “Father.” Henrik is visibly sweating now. His mother looks ready to faint.

  “Well boy? This had better be good. We are in public or did you both forget?”

  “King Stefan.” I want to defend Henrik but have no idea what to say.

  “Well, what is it girl? Is this your doing? First you run away from my son. Then you run off with some cheap commoner?” The crowd gasps.

  “King Stefan you are crossing a line. Don’t speak to my daughter like that!” My father roars.

  “Okay. Can we have the immediate families in the back room?” The vicar tries to calm everyone down. “Perhaps some privacy may help?” He ushers us around the altar into a small study at the back of the church. “I’ll go and calm the masses.” He bows and leaves, shutting the door behind him.

  “There better be a damn good explanation for this! This is yet another public humiliation by your family on ours!” King Stefan spits.

  I know why I objected, but why did he? I’m overjoyed that he did, but what does this mean for my father and the country?

  22: Ash

  Shit! Is that wedding bells? I push Gus on harder. The bells loudly ring in my ears until they vibrate against my chest. We reach the back of the church. I jump down from the magical horse.

  “Stay here boy.” I run through the graveyard and around the side of the building until I reach the entrance at the front. The doors are locked. The bells keep ringing, telling me it’s too late. I’m too late. It’s all over. She’s married.

  I notice that the crowds are rushing away down the street, shouting and throwing confetti. I follow them out. Climbing the church wall, standing tall on top, trying to get a better view.

  I see them. I stop breathing. The bottom of the world dissolves underneath me. Any moment now, I’ll fall into the void and be sucked down into the abyss. They’re driving away in a huge glass carriage. I can just make out the back of her blonde head under her veil. I watch in horror as he leans into her and they kiss. Everything she’s ever told me has been broken with that kiss. Is she that cold? I can’t believe she could get over me so soon…is she that good at acting? No, I know she loves me…I saw it, felt it.

  “Crap!” I jump down off the wall. “Crap!” I kick the wall so hard; I may have broken my toe. “Ah, shit.”

  “You may need to see a doctor for that.” I spin around fast on hearing that voice.

  “Ellie?”

  “Yes?” She smiles looking radiant in an emerald green silk dress that perfectly matches her eyes.

  “But you…you are…I just saw you…you were just…”

  “You’re cute when you babble.” She chuckles.

  “I don’t understand. You just drove away with him…it’s not possible.”

  “It’s me.” She steps in closer.

  “Wait a minute! Are you Gerry? Are you him trying to say goodbye or something totally screwed up?”

  “Ash? Do you need to sit down? You’re not making any sense.” She puts her hand out to comfort me, but I step back.

  “Oh, you’re good, Gerry, but really, enough is enough. This is a bit too much even for you.” I cross my arms.

  “Ash. Who are you talking to?” Her brows knit together. I hear Gus grunting in the distance. I run through the graveyard to find that Gus is a pig again and Gerry’s holding him.

  “Oh!” I turn to see Ellie following me.

  “I’ll be by the car.” Gerry winks and walks away.

  “Ellie!” I grab her shoulders. “It is you!” I hold her to me. “But, how did you? Who got married?”

  “You’re crushing me!” She laughs, pushing on my chest.

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s good to see you too. That was my sister.”

  “You let your sister take your place? Why would she even do that?”

  “Turns out they’ve become quite close in my absence. They seem to have a bad case of being in love.”

  “You’re kidding?”

  “No. It’s true. I would have never let her do it if it wasn’t. But she looked at him the way I look at you. She never said anything because she didn’t think our parents would go for it but she’s quite persuasive when she really wants something. Turns out, King Stefan didn’t re
ally care which daughter Henrik married. So, everyone is happy…that’s if you still want me?” She bites into her bottom lip knowing she has total power over me.

  “Want you? I never stopped. Listen, I may not graduate for four or five years and I don’t have much to offer you yet…”

  “All I want is you.”

  “That’s all I needed to hear.” Closing the gap between us, grabbing her chin, pulling her mouth to mine. I kiss her hard. She wraps her hands around my neck.

  “Excuse me.” Gerry coughs. I didn’t even hear him approaching. I pull myself away from her, slightly out of breath. “May I have a word?” He grabs my elbow and walks me across the road towards his mini.

  “Gerry, you were right! She never married him!”

  “I told you, there’s always hope. You just stopped looking for a while.”

  “Thank you for everything. You truly are the best.”

  “I’ve grown fond of you too. That’s why it’s time for me to say farewell.” He looks over his glasses at me.

  “You’re leaving?”

  “It is time. My project is complete. You are complete.”

  “Did you have anything to do with Phoebe and Henrik getting together?” I narrow my eyes.

  “Maybe, maybe not.”

  “Hmmm.”

  “Here.” He passes me a piece of folded paper.

  “What’s this?”

  “Your birth mother’s name and last known address.”

  “Oh.” I frown, and my stomach tightens.

  “She will love you, she never stopped. I know you’re not ready yet but promise me that one day you’ll go and find her?”

  “I will. I just need to get my head straight first.” I put the note in my pocket. “Thank you, seriously. Guess what! I got into med school. Hang on, was that your doing?”

  “Well done! And no, that was all you. After everything we’ve been through and still you doubt yourself. Promise me you’ll stop that too?”

  “I promise to try. I’ll miss you.” He hugs me.

  “Go.” He releases me. “Be off with your young lady. Travel the world, be brilliant.”

  “I’ll try.” I laugh. “Will you find your Nancy?”

  “I intend to.” He winks and hands me the keys to his Mini.

  “No, I can’t.”

  “Take it. I know it’s a bit of a fixer-upper, but she won’t let you down and I won’t need her where I’m going.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t keep her waiting, that girl of yours has a tendency of running away.” He smirks. “Go, shoo!”

  “Okay, okay.” I wave back at him and cross the road.

  “What was that about?” she asks, as I approach.

  “Just saying our farewells. I’m gonna miss the old guy.”

  “Ash.” Her eyes widen, she points to the spot where Gerry had been only moments ago. He’s vanished and in his place are two bright blue butterflies fluttering around one another, flying upwards until they are just two little dots in the sky. “Wait, you don’t think that that was…no, you don’t do you?”

  “Probably.” I grin. “There’s so much I haven’t told you.”

  “What did he say to you?”

  “He gave me details about my real mother.”

  “Your real mother?”

  “I think I want to find her someday. Will you come with me?”

  “Of course. She will love you.”

  “I got into med school.”

  “Oh, Ash. That’s brilliant. I knew you could do it. When do you start?”

  “Two months. But the cool thing is, I get to train one day a week at my local hospital. So, I get to see Betty and the gang for a lot longer.”

  “That’s so great.”

  “So, I have two months. Maybe I could go travelling for a bit. Do you think you might want to join me?”

  “Only if you take me to see the pyramids.”

  “Deal. You’ll look great on a camel. Shouldn’t you be at the wedding reception?”

  “They won’t miss me as long as I’m back for the cake. Now, take me to your tree house or lose me forever.” I sweep her up in my arms and kiss her.

  “I’ll never lose you again.”

  “Close your eyes,” she whispers against my ear. I close them tightly, awaiting her lips on mine. Her warm wet tongue slides over my forehead and down my nose.

  “That’s so gross, Princess! You are so gonna pay for that!” She springs out of my arms.

  “You’ll have to catch me first!” She heads out of the churchyard onto the open fields, squealing as she runs.

  “Yeah, you better run!” I hear Gus grunting behind me as he tries to keep up. “Come back to me right now!”

  “Or what?” She yells over her shoulder. I realise watching her, that I am the luckiest guy on the planet. Life seems to be going in my favour for a change. Maybe Gerry’s right, maybe I should just accept who I am and try to be brilliant at it. Maybe there are such things as happily ever afters, if we just let ourselves believe.