Fairytale Come Alive

Chapter Seventeen Fairy Godmother

Elle

Elle was nervous.

Therefore, when the door opened heralding Prentice’s arrival home, she didn’t give it a thought when she felt that special feeling that slid through her when he came home.

Instead, she jumped right before her body froze.

Sally jumped too.

Then she screamed, “Daddy!” and ran headlong toward Prentice as he made his way to the great room, throwing herself in his arms as if she hadn’t seen him in one hundred years.

Prentice scooped his daughter up and held her in front of him but his eyes never left Elle.

“We all ready?” he asked.

At his words, Elle’s heart skipped a beat.

No, it was safe to say she wasn’t ready.

That morning, after Prentice woke Elle early and made love to her, he shared with her his fabulous idea that they would all go out to dinner that very evening. At dinner, he would make the announcement to the children that Elle was going to be a permanent fixture in their lives.

It should be noted that Prentice thought this was a fabulous idea.

Elle, on the other hand, thought it was a disastrous idea.

Prentice had kissed her protestations away, changing the subject by reminding her that the kids needed to get to school but, before that, they needed breakfast.

Obviously, although Elle was terrified at the prospect of dinner that evening as Prentice described it, she had to focus on priorities.

Elle helped get the kids ready for school and made them breakfast. Not wasting any time, at breakfast, ignoring Elle’s baleful glare, Prentice informed the children they were all going out for dinner that night.

This was met with loud hurrahs (Sally) and knowing smirks (Jason, but only before he stated, “I hope it’s curry.”).

Later, while she was standing by the door of her rental car in preparation to take the kids to school, Prentice gave her a hard, fast (but effective) kiss. After his kiss, and everything that had happened the last six weeks (especially the last two days), she’d been in such a daze, he’d already climbed into his Range Rover and Jason and Sally were both calling to her before she snapped out of it, got into her car and Prentice followed her down the long, winding drive.

She went directly from the school to Annie’s. There, she banged on the door until her late-sleeping friend stumbled to it, hair mad, face like thunder.

Until she caught sight of Elle.

Immediately Annie’s expression cleared and she bustled Elle into her and Dougal’s cozy cottage. Elle made coffee while Annie got presentable.

Then they sat in the sitting room and Elle started to confide to Annie every second of every moment since she’d come back to the village for Annie’s wedding.

She related about three sentences before Annie interrupted her, called Mikey in America (even though it was super early in the morning) and put him on speakerphone.

Both Annie and Mikey were crying by the time Elle was done.

“I’m so happy for you, girlie-girl,” Mikey said over the phone, tears clogging his voice.

Annie was sitting next to Elle on the couch, holding Elle while sobbing (loudly).

Elle was happy too.

Or, she wanted to be.

She just didn’t trust it.

When her friends got control, Elle told them, “Prentice wants to take the kids out to dinner tonight to announce we’re together and I’m moving in.”

“That’s lovely,” Annie replied, wiping her eyes on the hem of her t-shirt.

Elle looked at her friend. “It isn’t, Annie. It’s nuts. It’s too early. They aren’t used to me yet.”

“Not used to you?” Mikey’s voice sounded with disbelief. “Darling, they seemed pretty used to you when you were making them tuna casserola, as darling Sally called it, and you’d only been there, like, a day.”

“It was two,” Elle corrected.

“Whatever,” Mikey muttered but Elle could hear the grin in his voice.

“Mikey’s point is valid, Bella,” Annie put in. “Kids are pretty adaptable and I’d say they’ve adapted to you extremely well. Especially since, you know, you’re kind of already moved in and even a two year old with learning difficulties would sense you two are together.”

This was true.

Heck, Jason even freaked out at the idea that Elle would stay somewhere else when she was in the village.

Nevertheless, Elle continued doggedly, “But I think Prentice should tell them at home, where they feel safe to have whatever reaction they want to have. And I shouldn’t be there so, again, they’ll feel safe to have whatever reaction they want to have.”

“Precious, they’re kids. Kids pretty much feel safe having whatever reaction they want to have wherever they are and whoever they’re with,” Mikey’s voice came through the speakerphone.

This was true too. Sally, at least, didn’t seem to filter her responses to anything no matter where she was.

“Then we shouldn’t court an emotional scene at the new Indian restaurant,” Elle declared.

“I hardly think you’re going to have an emotional scene. Or, at least, not a bad one. Those kids love you,” Annie put in.

This appeared true. Then again, Jason had always seemed totally okay with the idea of Prentice and Elle until he saw Elle in his mother’s bed. Then he seemed unsure and uncomfortable.

Therefore, Elle didn’t trust that the kids loved her either. Maybe they were getting there but she didn’t want anything to derail that.

“I don’t know –” Elle started.

“Well, I do. I’ve known those kids for over two years, Bella. They’ve been through the mill. Now, even Jason seems to have come to terms with what life has dished out and you’ve played a large part in that,” Annie stated.

Elle shook her head. “He would eventually have come around. Prentice would have seen to it.”

Annie shook her head right back. “Prentice had no clue.” When Elle started to defend, Annie leaned closer. “He didn’t, Bella. I’m sorry to say it but it’s true. For over a year Jason showed no signs of healing… until you showed up that is.”

This was, although it was difficult to admit, true too.

“Okay, then I’ve worn everything I’ve brought,” Elle stated somewhat desperately. “I don’t have an outfit to go out to the new Indian restaurant and tell two children that their mother has been replaced with a virtual stranger.”

Mikey’s laughter could be heard over the speakerphone.

Annie’s could be heard in person.

“Virtual stranger,” Mikey mumbled, still laughing. “That’s funny.”

“I know, she’s a hoot, isn’t she?” Annie asked Mikey, also still laughing.

Elle glared at Annie.

“I’m not being funny. I need a decent outfit,” Elle snapped. “Everyone knows that you have to have a good outfit when you face some life trauma.”

“This isn’t a trauma, Bella, this is a celebration,” Annie returned.

“Okay, you need a decent outfit for that too,” Elle retorted.

“I hate to say it, Annie darling, but Bella is so right. She needs a decent outfit,” Mikey threw out.

“Then we’ll go shopping,” Annie replied casually. “Yeesh, this isn’t rocket science.”

Elle didn’t want to go shopping.

Elle wanted to look into buying islands so she could sweep Prentice, Jason and Sally away to one. Prentice could build them a house. Elle could home school Sally and Jason. And the world could stay at bay, no photographers, no Carver Austin, no nothing that would threaten their happiness.

“I know the perfect place!” Annie announced and Elle’s body jolted. “It’s in the next village. They have posh shops for tourists. Fabulous clothes. Gorgeous. We’ll go there!”

Witnessing her friend’s excitement and knowing how much Annie loved to shop, Elle’s heart sank.

It stopped beating when Mikey declared, “When you and Prentice get married, Bella, there better be log throwing.”

Elle stared at the phone with wide eyes and parted lips.

Then she whispered, “Married?”

“Yes, married. You can’t live in sin forever even if it is with a broody-hot guy who, from the sounds of it, is very good at sin,” Mikey noted.

Elle immediately regretted the depth of her sharing.

“Yes, you can, Mikey,” Annie objected.

“No, you can’t, Annie,” Mikey retorted.

“Don’t be so traditional,” Annie replied. “It doesn’t become you.”

Elle wasn’t listening to them.

She was thinking about Prentice and being married.

Having his ring on her finger (again). Belonging in his house. Belonging in his life. Belonging to his children.

Belonging to him.

For always.

She remembered the first time he’d asked and how happy she’d been.

No, not happy, ecstatic, thrilled, overjoyed, over the moon.

This time, older, wiser (both of them) and sensing the beauty of their lives, rather than youthfully expecting it, she wasn’t over the moon.

She was…

There were no words to describe it.

“Married,” she repeated, still whispering.

“Bella?” Annie called but Bella’s eyes remained on the speakerphone.

“Mikey?” she asked softly, “do you think I’ll have my fairytale?”

There was silence for a moment before Mikey replied, “Girlie-girl, of anyone I’ve ever known, except Annie who already got hers, you’re due.”

She was due.

Boy, was she due.

Elle grinned at Annie.

Annie grinned back.

“Hello! What’s happening?” Mikey shouted, Annie and Elle giggled and shortly after they let Mikey go back to sleep and they went shopping.

Prentice called while Elle was in the changing room of the posh clothing shop, about to step into the fourth dress she’d tried on but having a stack of sweaters, jeans and blouses that were in her “to buy” pile.

When she saw his name on the phone, she panicked.

How did she answer? “Hello, Prentice,” or “Hey there,” or “What’s up, Pren?”

She went with, “Hi,” and felt like an idiot.

Proof positive that it was too soon to tell the children she was moving in. She didn’t even know how to answer the phone when Prentice called!

“Baby,” he replied in his soft voice that did sweet, funny things to her system and she immediately stopped feeling like an idiot.

Elle shook off those sweet, funny things and asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Aye. We’ve a booking for six. I’ll be home at quarter to. Can you have the children ready?”

Instantly, Elle was unsure.

She knew what her ready meant but what did his ready mean?

What if she did something wrong?

“By ready, what do you mean?” she asked hesitantly.

“Out of their uniforms, in something presentable and not at each other’s throats.”

Elle sighed in relief. She could probably do that.

Depending, of course, on Sally’s mood.

“Yes, I can have them ready,” Elle replied.

His voice went back to soft when he murmured, “Thanks, baby.” Then he asked, “What are you doing?”

She looked at herself in the changing room mirror and froze.

He was going to think she was a pampered, spoiled rich girl, loads of cash in the bank, no job, nothing to do but shop.

She should be at his house, mopping the floors, making homemade bread, hand washing delicates, inventing wholesome family recipes, not out gallivanting with her best friend and spending hundreds of pounds.

She began hyperventilating.

“Elle, are you there?” he asked.

“Yes,” she wheezed.

“Are you okay?”

No, she was not.

Elle forced herself to sound (somewhat) normal, “Yes.”

“You sounded strange.”

“I’m fine.”

There was a pause and then he asked again, “What are you doing?”

Elle wondered if honesty was the best policy.

Apparently, she wondered too long.

For when Prentice’s voice came at her, he sounded borderline unhappy, “Elle, are you with Annie?”

“Um… yes?” she asked as if he could confirm that she was indeed with Annie.

“What are you doing?”

“Um…” she muttered but didn’t answer.

“Elle.” His voice held a warning.

“We’re shopping,” she blurted then closed her eyes tight.

“For what?” he pressed.

Elle opened her eyes and explained on a rush, “Clothes. See, I didn’t think I’d be staying this long, definitely not staying staying, as in, moving here. I’ve run out of clothes. I’m recycling outfits. I need clothes.”

She held her breath waiting for his answer which came at her in a voice filled with relief.

“Thank God.”

Elle blinked.

Then she enquired, “Thank God?”

“Aye, baby,” he replied softly. “Thank God you and Annie aren’t perusing a litter of border collie puppies for Sally. Or buying her princess dresses. Or arranging five-star accommodation for your trip to London to take Sally to Harrods. Or something equally mad.”

In all that had happened, Elle forgot about the trip to Harrods.

Therefore she breathed, “Oh.” Then went on stupidly, “I’ll have to look into that. Can I use your computer in the study?”

He was chuckling when he replied, “It’s your house now, Elle, you can use anything you want. But don’t you think we should take you back to Chicago to get you packed up before you take Sally to Harrods?”

Elle blinked again before saying, “Chicago?”

“Aye, it’s half-term next week. I reckon we all can go.”

Elle felt her heart contract. Chicago meant Carver Austin. Elle couldn’t imagine her father’s fury when he saw her in photos with Prentice and the children.

No, that wasn’t right, she could. She could easily imagine it and it wouldn’t be pretty.

It would be worse if he saw them in Chicago, worse because he could get to them swiftly.

And he would.

And Elle didn’t want her father anywhere near them.

She quickly offered, “I’ll pay someone to deal with it.”

There was silence before Prentice asked, “You want to pay someone to do it?”

Oh no.

She’d sounded like a pampered, spoiled rich girl!

“Um…” she muttered.

Prentice’s voice was low when he said, “He’ll no’ harm you, Elle.”

That thing that had relaxed deep inside her but coiled up tight during their conversation, relaxed again when Prentice read her mind and made his vow.

“Pren.”

“I hope he finds out we’re there.”

Elle saw her own eyes get wide in the mirror. “You do?”

“The only good part of those fucking photographers is that there are so many of them, he can’t escape the way it is between you and me. I want that bastard’s nose rubbed in it. I want him to see you happy. And I want him to know I made you that way.”

That thing relaxed further.

But not completely.

“But Pren, what if he confronts you or me and the children are there?”

“Then you and I’ll have a deal. The children are present, you take them away and I’ll handle Carver.”

“He’s not easy to handle,” Elle warned.

Prentice’s voice was gentle when he replied, “No’ for you, baby. For me, it won’t be a problem. Fuck, I’m looking forward to it.”

That didn’t sound good.

“Pren –” Elle started.

“Trust me, Elle.”

“But –”

“Trust me.”

She took in a breath and nodded to herself in the mirror. “Okay.”

“I’ll take care of you, Elle.”

That thing relaxed further and she whispered again, “Okay.”

But he wasn’t done. “That time in your life is over. Over. It ended last night. You may burn your hand and Jace may lose a football match and Sally may get the flu and other shit might happen but it’ll be ours and we’ll handle it. You’re no’ taking shit from anyone, no’ ever again. I’ll see to that.”

After his promise that thing inside her was so relaxed Elle had to lean against the mirror to keep standing.

“Pren –” she started but she didn’t know what she was going to say.

She didn’t have the opportunity to say it, Prentice interrupted her, “I’ve got to go.”

“All right,” Elle whispered.

“I’ll see you quarter to.”

“Okay.”

“Love you, baby,” he murmured.

Her breath hitched on his words, words she adored, words she hadn’t heard in a long time, words that settled warmly deep inside her, delaying her reply but he didn’t give her that opportunity either, he rang off.

Two seconds later, Annie threw back the curtain to her changing room.

Elle threw her arms over her body which was clad only in underwear.

Annie ignored Elle’s state of dishabille and demanded to know, “Are you going to become one of those sickly ooey, gooey, lovestruck heroines from a fairytale? Because if you are, Dougal and I are going on vacation until you snap out of it.”

Elle stared at her friend then hissed, “Annie, close the curtain!”

Annie looked to her left then to her right then to Elle. “There’s no one out here.”

“I don’t care, close the curtain.”

“Bella, sickly? Ooey? Gooey? Hello?” Annie replied.

Elle took a step forward, pulled Annie into the changing room with her and snapped the curtain shut.

Then she faced off with her friend. “If I remember when you finally got through to Dougal, you were sickly, ooey, gooey, lovestruck and enthusiastically detailed.”

Annie grinned. “It wasn’t me who described my first time doing it with Dougal against a wall.”

Elle just knew she’d shared too much.

“That’s because you did it in the front seat of his truck, twenty years ago,” Elle retorted.

Annie’s face grew dreamy. “Oh yeah. That was nice.”

Elle rolled her eyes and informed her friend, “Pren and I were just talking on the phone.”

Annie’s dreamy expression faded and a happy one took its place. “I know. I listened.” She came forward and framed Elle’s face with her hands before she whispered, “Isn’t it fun?”

“What?” Elle whispered back, entranced by her friend’s carefree, happy face, something she saw a lot lately but she hadn’t seen for many a year and she wasn’t quite used to it.

“To talk to them on the phone,” Annie answered.

Elle closed her eyes.

Yes, it was fun.

It wasn’t being whisked away on a jet only to be put in a limousine and taken to a yacht to cruise the Mediterranean in order to eat a cordon bleu dinner (something Laurent had done).

It was just normal stuff like Pren coming home after work, Pren eating sponge in the kitchen after a long day, Pren tickling her in bed while she tickled Sally and Jason grinned on.

And it was the best.

When Elle opened her eyes, they sparkled with tears.

She didn’t have to answer, Annie knew.

In the end, Elle didn’t buy a dress as she was in the wilds of Scotland and wearing a dress to the local Indian restaurant was probably not the thing.

She bought a pair of tailored, tweed trousers with a wide, cuffed hem and a ribbed, blond, slim-fitting turtleneck (not to mention, she bought a bunch of other stuff). She paired these with black, spike-heeled sandal pumps with a notch opened at the toe and a thin, saucy ankle strap. She’d got the kids ready and then did her hair and makeup while Sally sat on the bathroom’s long counter, watched and babbled.

Now Prentice was home, asking if she was ready.

Which she was not.

“Can I talk to you a second?” she blurted.

“We don’t want to be late for the booking,” Prentice replied, his eyes guarded.

“A second,” Elle repeated and didn’t wait for his response. She turned and walked straight to the study.

She was staring at the drinks cabinet wondering if she should belt back some whisky when Prentice arrived and closed the doors behind him.

He didn’t delay in approaching her and before she knew it, he had her in his arms and his head was descending.

Elle jerked hers back, exclaiming, “No!” When Prentice froze, Elle went on, “No kissing. We need to talk, not kiss.”

He grinned and asked, “Why no’?”

She couldn’t exactly tell him he was such a good kisser, anytime he did it, she lost track of pretty much everything.

Heck, just standing in his arms, his warmth beating into her, their bodies brushing, was running interference with her thoughts.

“We just… can’t,” she answered lamely.

His eyes grew warm (or, more accurately, warmer). “All right, baby, what did you want to say?”

She didn’t waste any time and launched right in, “I think you should tell the kids here, at the house, where it’s safe and I think that I shouldn’t –”

She didn’t finish, he agreed instantly, “All right.”

She stared at him in shock. She didn’t think he’d agree!

Her mind was telling her there was more to say, like the fact that he should do it without her present but Prentice also instantly let her go, turned and, taking her hand, strode from the room, dragging her behind them.

“Pren –” she started but it was too late.

They were in the great room, Prentice had wrapped an arm strong around her waist and he glued her to his side.

Then, without further ado, he announced, “Jace, Sally, Elle and I have something to say.”

“Pren –” Elle began again but it was Jason who interrupted her this time.

“Is Elle staying?” Jason asked and Elle looked at him.

He was studying his father and, Elle peered closer, not sure she believed her eyes, but she could swear he looked hopeful.

“Aye, Jace,” Prentice answered.

“For good?” Jason asked.

“Aye,” Prentice replied.

Elle watched in fascination as Jason’s ten year old boy’s body visibly relaxed and those beautiful eyes, his father’s eyes, warmed with something Elle couldn’t decipher, but was striking nonetheless (in a good way) and they came to her.

She had no time to process this.

“Hurrah!” Sally shouted and ran to them, throwing her arms around both Prentice and Elle’s legs but even attached to them, she was jumping up and down.

Elle thought that outside of Prentice’s kisses, his lovemaking, waking up in his arms (even when he was grumpy), seeing his devilish grin, watching him come home and talking to him on the phone, Sally’s hugs were the best thing she’d ever experienced in her life.

But she’d been wrong.

Sally hugging both her and Prentice while jumping up and down excitedly at the thought that Elle was moving in while Jason gazed at her with that look in his eyes was the best thing she’d ever experienced in her life.

And it was so much the best thing, the feeling overwhelmed her and she burst into tears.

She was moved fully into Prentice’s arms; she wrapped her own around him and held on while shoving her face in his neck.

She heard Sally ask worriedly, “Why is Elle crying?”

Sally’s worry made Elle cry harder.

“She’s happy, baby,” Prentice answered, his hand running soothingly up and down Elle’s back.

“Happy?” Sally asked, now sounding confused.

“More like mental,” Jason muttered, sounding amused.

At Jason’s mutter, Elle giggled through her sobs.

“Is Elle laughing too?” Sally asked, now sounding really confused.

“Yes, baby,” Prentice answered, sounding like his son.

“Girls,” Jason mumbled, “totally mental.”

Elle’s tears subsided but her laughter didn’t and she held onto Prentice but twisted her neck to look at the children.

She wished she was the kind of person who knew how to say the right thing, something strong, something momentous, something that would mark this occasion in a happy way for them all forever.

But Elle wasn’t that kind of person.

So she just smiled.

Jason smiled back.

Sally rushed forward again and hugged Elle’s legs.

The little girl tipped her head back and asked, “Can you make a chocolate cake so we can celebrate?”

“No, lass, we’re going to dinner to celebrate,” Prentice replied as he shifted Elle to his side.

Jason was now smirking. “Elle might want to do something with her face.”

Elle’s hands flew to her cheeks, exclaiming in feminine horror, “My mascara!”

Prentice tipped his head down to look at her and Elle saw he was grinning.

“Just wipe it all off, baby, we’re going to be late,” he ordered.

“I’ll do a touch up. It won’t take a second,” Elle replied, swiping at her cheeks, hoping she wasn’t making it worse.

“Just wipe it off,” Prentice repeated.

“It won’t take a second,” Elle repeated too.

“Elle –” Prentice started.

“Pren, it won’t take a second.”

“Can I come?” Sally asked excitedly.

Elle extricated herself from Prentice’s arm and caught Sally’s hand, answering, “Of course, sweetheart.”

They walked to the stairs as Prentice called, “Do it in a hurry.”

Elle looked down from her ascent of the stairs and repeated, yet again, “Pren, it won’t take a second.”

As she and Sally turned out of sight, she heard Jason say, “I don’t get it. She looks prettier without all that gunk.”

Elle slowed their gait so she could hear Prentice reply, “I know, mate.”

“So why?” Jason asked.

“She’s a woman,” Prentice sighed.

“Seriously,” Jason said, “totally mental.”

Elle giggled as she entered her rooms, Sally’s hand in hers and she led Sally to the bathroom so she could do a touch up.

Dinner ran long, mainly because Prentice felt the need (and acted on that need) to tell everyone they encountered that Elle was moving, permanently, to the village.

And at this news, everyone they encountered behaved like it was Christmas and their birthday all rolled into one and they all decided to sit down and chat for awhile and some of them sat down and chatted for a long while.

By the time they got home, it was well past Sally’s bedtime and the little girl was drooping. Elle didn’t even take off her shoes before she saw to getting Sally to bed.

Sally was so tired she didn’t want to be read a book. After Elle got her to brush her teeth and change into her nightgown, Sally just curled up with a somehow equally exhausted Blackie in her arms (though, Elle figured Blackie’s exhaustion had something to do with the decimated toilet roll in Jason and Sally’s bathroom) and snuggled into her pillows while Elle tucked her in.

“Elle?” Sally whispered after Elle turned out the bedside lamp, leaving only the glow of the nightlight.

Elle sat down on the bed and pulled Sally’s heavy hair away from her neck, answering, “Yes, honey.”

“Will you teach me to make chocolate cake?” Sally asked.

Elle’s breath caught in her throat.

There were women who wanted to own seven hundred dollar shoes.

And there were women who wanted to run nations.

At that moment, there was nothing more that Elle wanted in the world than to teach Sally how to make chocolate cake.

Somehow, Elle managed to reply, “Sure, Sally.”

“And how to walk in high heels?” Sally went on.

Her throat threatening to close, Elle forced out, “Of course.”

“Hurrah,” Sally cheered sleepily.

Elle leaned down and kissed the girl’s temple before she got up and made her way to the door, thinking that Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty got it wrong. They should have bypassed the handsome prince and went direct to the broody-hot architect who designed the castle and also happened to have two beautiful children.

“Elle?” Sally called when Elle hit the door to her bedroom.

Elle turned to face the room. “Yes, Sally.”

“Thank you for making Jace happy again,” Sally whispered and Elle felt her breath escape in a rush as her heart stopped beating.

She didn’t answer, couldn’t, she could only hold on to the doorframe and hope she didn’t pass out.

“And Daddy too,” Sally went on quietly.

Elle’s heart squeezed.

Maybe Sally Cameron didn’t slide through life shielded by her indefatigable good cheer.

Maybe Sally Cameron felt just as deeply as her father and her brother but, in her six year old’s way, she did what she could to take care of her family.

Summoning a strength she didn’t know she had, Elle pushed away from the door, walked to Sally’s bed and again sat on its side, sliding her fingers through Sally’s hair.

“You don’t have to thank me, sweetie,” Elle whispered.

“Yes, I do,” Sally whispered back.

Elle leaned forward and got close to Sally’s ear. “No you don’t, Sally, because we’re even. I was sad when I came here. So very sad. But you and Jason and your Daddy made me happy too”

“I’m glad,” Sally replied softly.

“So, I should thank you,” Elle told her.

Sally twisted her neck, Elle’s head came up and Sally grinned at her before saying, “You’re welcome.”

Elle stifled a giggle and grinned back.

“Now, go to sleep,” Elle ordered.

“Okay, Elly Belly,” Sally said cheekily through her grin.

With a light kiss on Sally’s smooth cheek, Elle left the girl and wandered to Prentice’s rooms in a daze, Sally’s words and what they meant tumbling through her mind. She didn’t know it but she entered the bedroom with a small smile playing at her lips.

Prentice was taking off his shirt but his hands stilled when his eyes came to her.

“Sally’s in bed,” Elle announced, not noticing Prentice’s posture, she walked to the bed, sat on the side and pulled up her pant leg to get to her shoe. “Jason too?” she asked.

“Aye,” Prentice answered and Elle’s head came up in surprise for he was closer than she expected him to be.

In fact, he was standing, now shirtless, right in front of her.

Her hands still on the strap of her shoe, Prentice got closer.

“Is something –” Elle started.

“Don’t take off your shoes.”

Elle blinked and sat up straight. “What?”

Prentice didn’t answer. His hands went under her armpits and he lifted her to her feet. He turned so his back was to the bed, she was facing him and, before she knew what he was about, he’d swept the turtleneck clean off her body.

She watched him throw it across the room before her eyes came back to him and she began, “Pren –”

But she didn’t say more because her trousers were sliding over her hips.

Her hands went to his wrists but he ignored them, grasped her at the waist, lifted her free of the trousers that had pooled at her feet and he kicked them aside.

Then she stared, dumbfounded, as he sat on the side of the bed and, hands at her hips, pulled her between his opened legs.

She was trying to come to terms with standing, wearing nothing but her bra, panties and saucy shoes in front of a seated Prentice, his hands sliding to her waist then back and down, to cup her bottom, his eyes roaming her body, a body that seemed to heat under his gaze.

“Got a call from Dougal today,” he announced bizarrely before he leaned forward and ran his tongue along the top edge of her panties.

“Yes?” she breathed, forgetting her near nudity and Prentice’s strange announcement as her mind focused with pinpoint accuracy on what his tongue was doing.

“Aye,” Prentice said softly against the skin of her belly, one of his hands stayed cupped at her behind, the other one slid forward, the tips of his fingers trailing the lower edge of her panties, around and in and her breath caught as Prentice went on, “He asked me for pointers.”

“Pointers?” Elle parroted, losing concentration on what he was saying as her mind preferred to focus on the heat that was building everywhere.

“Aye, Elle,” Prentice whispered against her then he rubbed the stubble of his chin on her skin, his head tilted back to look at her. “He wanted pointers on how to fuck Annie against a wall.”

Elle’s body froze but her eyes went wide and her stomach plummeted.

“Oh my God,” she breathed.

“Apparently, Annie told him, because you told her and Mikey, that I had a particular talent in that area.”

“Oh my God,” Elle breathed again.

Visions of Prentice throwing her out of his beautiful home because she had such a big mouth filled her head but visions of Prentice’s devilish grin filled her eyes as his strong hands suddenly yanked her forward so she was straddling his lap.

His arms went around her, one tight at her waist, the other hand sliding up and fisting in her hair.

Elle put both hands to his neck and tried to remember how to breathe.

When she accomplished this feat, she whispered, “I’m sorry. So, so sorry. I got carried away and –”

“I’m no’ sorry,” Prentice cut in, his grin still wicked. “Dougal said I’m practically a legend.”

His heart-stopping grin finally penetrated her panicked mind and her eyes narrowed.

“A legend?” she asked dubiously.

His hand in her hair maneuvered her mouth to his. “Aye, practically a legend.”

“Pren –” Elle started but he kissed her quiet.

Later, much later, when he stopped kissing her because she couldn’t bear it any longer but his hand was in her panties, his finger was in her and Elle was rocking against it and breathing heavily into his mouth, Prentice finished.

“Let’s see if we can take away the practically part.”

Elle nodded dazedly, thinking, equally dazedly, that he’d already managed that. Then she sucked in breath when his thumb found her, put on delicious pressure and swirled.

“Come for me so I can watch, baby,” he growled his order against her mouth.

Her hips ground into his hand, her fingers clutched his shoulders and Elle did as she was told.

Prentice

Even later (much later), Prentice slid out of Elle’s silken wetness.

Then he gave himself a moment to gaze down at her in his bed, her head to the side, her cheek to the pillow, her hair spread against it, her breath heavy, eyes closed, fingers still clenching the pillowcase.

He was kneeling between her legs, her sweet ass was in the air and, as his hand drifted over one smooth, curved cheek, he looked beside him.

She was still wearing those sexy, black, spike heels.

Jesus, he couldn’t believe it but the fucking sight of her ass, her shapely leg and her foot still wearing that sexy shoe made his still hard cock jerk almost to ready again.

His hands guiding her gently, he shifted her to her side then, one by one, he unbuckled and took off her shoes, kissing her ankles as he did so, tossing the shoes aside, after which he joined her in bed.

Yanking the covers from under their bodies to over them, he pulled her in his arms.

She snuggled close.

He dipped his chin and into her hair, he murmured, “You’re a legend too.”

Her head came up and she looked into his eyes.

“I am?” she asked with what appeared to be genuine shock.

Even though he didn’t want the thoughts to intrude, not now, not after just having her, making her come twice and holding her in his arms, Prentice couldn’t help but feel the jealous anger, knowing, if it wasn’t for her fucking father and his own ego, he could have been her only lover.

Instead, she’d clearly had plenty of experience.

His voice was gruff when he replied, “You are.”

Her eyes drifted away as did her thoughts before she settled into him again and whispered sleepily, “That’s funny.”

His hand stroked her hair when he asked, “What?”

“What what?” Her voice was quieter, she was sliding into dreamland.

“What’s funny?” Prentice pressed, his hand halting its stroking, his arms going around her to give her a gentle squeeze to stop her from falling asleep.

“That you think I’m a legend.” She nestled closer. “Laurent thought I was frigid. I didn’t enjoy sex with him.” Her voice dropped lower when she finished, “At all.”

Prentice’s arms squeezed again, this time reflexively.

This made him inexplicably glad.

In fact, it fucking thrilled him.

Laurent Evangelista, renowned international playboy, apparently was shit in bed.

He’d have to be if Elle, who was the most responsive woman Prentice had ever had, didn’t respond to him.

That only meant one thing.

And Prentice knew he shouldn’t ask.

He knew it.

But he asked.

“And your other lovers?”

“My other lovers?” She, again, sounded drowsy.

“Did they think you were legend?”

She laughed and it too sounded sleepy.

“What’s funny?” Prentice enquired.

She cuddled closer, her arm sliding along his stomach to curl around his waist and she settled in, her weight getting heavy as she said, right before she fell asleep, her words stunning him solid, “There weren’t any. Just Laurent. And now… you.”

Prentice’s eyes stared unseeing at the ceiling.

He understood it was selfish, hearing this additional evidence of Elle’s loneliness, but he couldn’t deny what registered deep in his soul.

And he knew exactly what it was because he’d felt it many times before.

He felt it when he first met Elle.

He felt it when they were reunited after their first separation, when he saw her adorable, nervous stutter step while she was approaching him in Fergus’s driveway the second summer she came to Scotland.

He felt it again, only moments later, when she was in his arms and she said to him with such deep feeling, “Not as much as I missed you.”

He felt it when she agreed to marry him.

He felt it when he watched Fiona walk toward him down the aisle.

He felt it both times Fee told him she was pregnant and after both times she safely delivered a healthy child.

He felt it when he moved his family into the house he’d designed and built for them.

He felt it when he read the ridiculous good-bye note Elle left after the first night they shared together, a note that included a PS that there was coffee made and Danish at the ready.

He felt it when Sally woke up from her coma and recognized him instantly.

He felt it when Elle forgave him for his betrayal.

And he felt it now.

And that feeling was blessed.

Careful not to disturb her, Prentice rolled and turned off the light.

And, within seconds of pulling Elle close, Prentice joined her in a deep, dreamless, peaceful, sated, blessed sleep.

Fiona

Fiona woke up in her tent wondering when she’d get to go wherever she was going.

Her work was done.

And she was pretty damned satisfied with it if she did say so herself.

Therefore, she was kind of surprised she went back to her tent.

This couldn’t be it.

If Fiona existed, both her Nans and her Granda’ were somewhere out there and Fiona couldn’t imagine why she’d be kept from them. She couldn’t imagine eternity was alone.

Then again, it could be that horrible black place, so she probably shouldn’t complain.

She wandered out of her tent and stopped dead.

A man stood at the stream. He was wearing a white suit, he had thick white hair, a white goatee and a white string tie.

He looked like a thinner, younger Colonel Sanders of chicken fame, except his string tie wasn’t black and he wasn’t wearing glasses.

“Are you God?” she whispered, thinking it was kind of funny that God looked like Colonel Sanders.

Then again, the Colonel’s chicken was nothing to sneeze at, it couldn’t be described as divine but it certainly tasted good.

The man smiled and shook his head.

“An angel?” she breathed as he walked to her.

“I’m not an angel, Fiona, I’m a messenger.”

“An angelic messenger?” Fiona asked.

“Um…” he hesitated, “something like that.”

“Are you here to take me to heaven?” she enquired, certain she knew the answer, certain that he was definitely there to take her to heaven but suddenly uncertain she wanted to go.

She hadn’t had a chance to say good-bye to Sally and Jason.

Or Prentice.

Or, even, Bella.

“No, Fiona, your work is not yet done.”

Fiona stared at him not getting a good feeling about this.

Then she asked, “My work?”

He nodded.

“What work?” Fiona went on.

“Before you…” he paused a moment then continued, “move on, you have to commit one selfless act.”

There it was.

She got it.

And she just knew it.

She had to give up Prentice and her family to Bella before she could move on.

“Tick that one off, Messenger Man,” Fiona state proudly, straightening her shoulders. “Last night –”

“You don’t think it would be that easy,” Messenger Man interrupted her and Fiona was back to staring.

Easy?

He thought that was easy?

That wasn’t easy!

It was, at first, frustrating. Then annoying. Then heartbreaking (okay, so all of the time it was heartbreaking).

And a lot of other things besides.

What it wasn’t was easy.

“I don’t get it,” Fiona told him and she went statue-still when his hand came up and rested on her arm.

She stared at his hand.

No one had touched her in fifteen months.

She didn’t know this man but his touch felt good.

She swallowed and looked back at him.

“There isn’t much time and there isn’t much I can say. You’re learning your way but you have to be faster, Fiona. If you don’t, they’ll win,” he told her.

“Who’ll win what?” Fiona enquired, confused.

“They’ll win…” he hesitated again before he said, “you.”

Instantly, she understood.

And it frightened the life out of her (figuratively, of course).

“The black,” she whispered and he nodded sadly.

“We can hold it at bay for only so long,” he explained.

“I don’t want to go there again,” Fiona told him in a horror filled voice.

“And you don’t belong there but you have to succeed and you have to do it soon.”

“But, Bella –”

“Has experienced a lifetime of pain,” he interrupted her. “One night of understanding is not going to erase that, Fiona.”

What he said made sense.

And it was also irritating.

“I’ve been doing everything I can,” Fiona informed him. “And it hasn’t been easy.”

“It isn’t supposed to be.”

“Well, then, you gave me a good task because it’s not,” Fiona shot back.

“There are dangers,” he warned, his voice was dire and Fiona felt her stomach twist.

“Dangers?” she whispered.

“To Isabella. There are dangers lurking,” he replied.

Oh no.

“What dangers?” Fiona asked. “Her father?”

He shook his head, clearly not going to answer.

Fiona’s irritation grew. “You have to help especially if Bella’s in danger! I wouldn’t know what to do!”

“Use your magic,” he advised.

Fiona, again, stared. What was he on about?

“Magic?”

“Yes, your magic.” When she continued to stare, he explained, sounding impatient, “You are her fairy godmother.”

Fiona broke her stare to blink.

Then she asked, “Fairy godmother?”

His brows drew together. “You didn’t know?”

“No,” she snapped. “I didn’t know. I’m Prentice’s wife. Sally and Jason’s mother. I thought I was a ghost. A fairy godmother is fat and jolly and has a magic wand and didn’t used to be in love with and married to the heroine’s handsome hero, for goodness sake!”

Messenger Man got closer and squeezed her arm. “There are those, not many, who slide straight to black. There are those, not many, who lived lives so filled with good deeds, they move directly on. But all the rest, Fiona, are put to one final test. Especially if they’ve lived lives, no matter how short, filled with bounty. You,” he squeezed her arm again, “had a life cut short but it was a life filled with bounty. You have to share your bounty before you move on. It might be difficult, my dear, but it is the way, the only way, for you to move on.”

Fiona sucked in the breath she did, indeed, breathe in this strange world.

“It’s hard,” she admitted quietly. “And it hurts.”

“Selfless acts normally do,” he replied, dropped his hand and, even though what he was saying was upsetting (and also kind of pissed her off), she missed his touch when it was gone. “But you want them to be happy, all of them, I know you do.”

Fiona nodded. “I do.”

“Then find your magic, Fiona, and do your deed so you can go home.”

“How do I find my magic?” she asked.

He shook his head but answered, “I misspoke, you don’t have to find it, you have to recognize it.”

She blinked and said, “What?”

But she asked nothing and no one.

Because he was gone.

Disappeared.

Vanished.

She stared at where his white-suited body used to be.

Then she looked to the blue sky with its fluffy white clouds and she shouted, “This moving on business better be worth it!”

She received no reply.