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Chapter Eight
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2022-05-15 04:52:35Related chapters
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Nine
Before I knew it, brunch was over, and it was time to go. I'd barely felt the minutes pass. My aunt and Carla had traded snide remarks all morning, but I hadn't noticed them at all. I was having a wonderful morning.“May I walk you out to your car?” Freddie asked after I'd said my goodbyes to everyone.“Sure,” I said before remembering that my car wasn't exactly something I wanted to show off. But I wasn't about to miss out on a few extra minutes with him.The sun beat down on the black asphalt as we worked our way through the rows of cars.“Is summer like this in Paradisa?” I asked.Freddie looked around at the sizzling pavement, the screams of cicadas, and the rising humidity and shook his head. “Not at all. It's hot, but not like this. And our insects are a bit quieter.”I chuckled. “What kind of summer activities do you have?”He shrugged. “We ride horses, there's swimming, and the ocean is close.” He smiled, his eyes going distant. “We do bonfires on the beach. The water is alwa
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Ten
Stevens Point is the small town home to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. It's known as the birthplace of the creator of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and hosting the world's largest trivia contest each year. I looked forward to that trivia contest every year. My team even took third place one time.The cabin is located a comfortable biking distance from downtown and on one of the many lakes in the area. I'd spent a week at the cabin nearly every summer of my life. It was a cute three-bedroom place with a large sunny living room. The private dock was perfect for launching kayaks, fishing, or floating on inner tubes.The drive up to the lake was the best one I'd ever had. It was so easy to talk to Freddie. We talked about our favorite foods (he liked fish and chips best) and favorite films (Princess Bride for both of us). His impression of the Shrieking Eels had me laughing so hard I could barely breathe.I was smitten.We pulled up in front of the cabin. I threw open the door
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Eleven
“I'm not usually the one who cooks dinner,” Freddie explained. He looked down at his tomato on the counter. “And I actually lied when I said I could help. I have no idea how to dice tomatoes.”I loved the way he said tomatoes. It sounded fancy with his Paradisian accent. But the man had brutally destroyed one of the tomatoes. It lay bleeding in tomato paste form on the cutting board.I pushed the mangled tomato to the side of the cutting board and put out a new one. I took the knife in my hands and showed him how to cut the slices.“Like this?” he asked, sliding in behind me. He draped his arms over mine, resting his hands carefully on top of my own. His breath tickled my ear, vibrating straight down and activating parts of me that had nothing to do with cooking.His heat seeped into me, and I couldn't stop my eyes from closing with a flutter. I forced myself to concentrate, holding onto the tomato like a lifeline.“Yup,” I managed to say. “And then like this.”I was lucky I didn't s
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twelve
“Zoey...”He kissed me, his hands tangling in my hair this time. He tasted like pure lust and I had to have him.I reached for the hem of his shirt, lifting it up. He broke from the kiss just long enough for the fabric to go over his head, but then his lips were back on mine.My palms spread out on his chest. He was so warm. So muscular. So real that I was glad there was no way I could possibly be dreaming this. There was no way that I could imagine the solidness and the heat of him.I pulled off my own wet shirt, tossing it to the kitchen floor.He hissed his pleasure, his eyes looking me over with reverence. I felt beautiful when he looked at me like that. Like he'd never imagined anyone could look this amazing with their shirt off. I knew I wasn't anything special, but when he looked at me like that, I felt like a freaking super model.I reached behind me and unhooked my bra. I loved the way his eyes dilated as he saw me. I loved the little hitch in his breath and the way his stom
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Thirteen
I woke up to an empty bed.However, the sounds of someone in the kitchen and the scent of coffee had me feeling better about it rather quickly. I brushed my teeth and hurried out to find Freddie in the kitchen.“I ordered donuts,” he said as soon as he saw me. “I wanted to make you a beautiful fancy omelet, but I also didn't want to burn down your aunt's house.”“I appreciate you not destroying the cabin,” I replied. “But the coffee smells great.”“Coffee is the one thing I can actually cook by myself,” he said. “That and a bowl of cereal. I'm quite good at that one too.”I grinned as he handed me a mug full of steaming caffeine. I grabbed one of the donuts from the box and took a bite of delicious sugary goodness. It wasn't on my usual diet, but this was vacation after all.“Come sit on the porch with me?” I asked, motioning my head to the sliding glass door. Freddie beamed and followed me out.We sat in the morning sunshine on two deck chairs, the box of donuts perched between us o
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Fourteen
“So, you just have to move your paddles like this,” I explained, showing him the scooping motion. We sat just off the dock in old leaky kayaks. The life vests smelled like last summer's sunshine and this year's mold, but we wore them anyway.“Like this?” Freddie asked, repeating the motion perfectly. He then proceeded to turn his kayak in a neat circle, looking rather pleased with himself when he came back around.“Yeah.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “I think you've done this before.”“Not in a boat like this,” he replied. “But I did do some rowing in college. The concepts are similar.”I rolled my eyes. Of course, he did rowing in college. He probably did all the expensive sports. I knew he had money. The rental car he'd driven us in hadn't been cheap. His clothes, even his swim trunks, were high end. He had gone to school with Carlson, and since Carlson was ivy-league educated, he tended to run in prestigious circles. I didn't want to pry and ask just how rich he was. But even I coul
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Fifteen
“I love how peaceful it is here,” Freddie remarked the next morning. We sat out on the back porch, sipping coffee and eating the waffles I'd finally made.“Me too,” I agreed. I sighed with contentment, licking the last bit of maple syrup from my fork. “This is even better than I imagined. Thank you for being here.”He flashed me a grin. “Believe me. It's been my pleasure. I think this is the first real vacation I've ever had.”“Really? You've never been on vacation before?” I frowned. “Your parents never took you anywhere?”He shrugged. “I've been on holiday to lots of places, but it was never relaxing. It was always scheduled with tours and meetings. I had to beg for a day off to just sit at the beach or the pool, but even then, I wasn't allowed just to relax.”“Why not?”“It's just not my family's way,” he replied. “We're always on. We're always smiling and doing. I've never been allowed to sit and do nothing. There's always something that should be getting done. If you aren't doin
Last Updated : 2022-05-15A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Sixteen
“Would you rather live in the mountains or on the beach?” I asked Freddie, my head resting on his shoulder as we enjoyed our last evening together. The days had gone so quickly and wonderfully. I had kept asking him to stay another day, and he kept agreeing. I was sure he would get tired of being out in a cabin on a lake, eating home-cooked meals, and reading books on the porch.But he didn't. If anything, I think it soothed his soul as much as it did mine.The night sky sparkled with stars through the window, but we were tucked under a light blanket on the couch inside. The blanket was almost too hot, even with air conditioning, but I liked the weight of it on my lap. My shoulder fit perfectly under his arm as we snuggled on the couch, just talking and enjoying the sound of crickets and frogs outside.“I assume I get a house?” Freddie asked. “I don't have to live out in the wild?”“Yes, you get a comfortable house with a TV and everything,” I told him with a wave of my hand. “Beach o
Last Updated : 2022-05-15
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A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Fifty-One
Two months later, Early December“I'd carry you across the doorway, but I don't think that's a good idea,” Freddie said as he hobbled up to the doorway of the castle. His crutches crunched slightly on the white crushed gravel.“That's only when you get married,” I told him. “So you have time.”I winked at him. He grinned at me.We'd already spent two weeks at his mother's castle. Freddie was slowly on the mend, but doing well. It would be weeks yet before he no longer needed the crutches. Femur fractures take a long time to heal.I wasn't in a rush though. He was officially on vacation.And we were going to enjoy it at his castle.Freddie's castle was stunning. It was bigger than his mother's, but more modern. Freddie's castle was only built in 1831, making it one of the newer castles of the country. The Romantic architecture made me think of Pride and Prejudice. I could easily imagine Mr. Darcy striding across the perfectly kept hedges.Inside, the massive hallway was breathtaking. W
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Fifty
“Is the Queen Mother not in residence today?” the Duke asked Mr. Irson as he walked through the hallways. “I don't see her standard hanging outside.”“The Queen Mother is visiting her son, the King, in Westshire,” Mr. Irson replied smoothly. “Would you like me to tell her you asked after her?”“No, no please,” the Duke replied. He smiled his lizard-like smile. “This is supposed to be a secret meeting.”“Of course, Your Grace.” Mr. Irson dipped his head politely. “I am the model of discretion.”Mr. Irson led the Duke through the empty stone hallways to the sitting room attached to Freddie's bedroom. He knocked smartly three times and then opened the door.Freddie sat on a comfortable couch with his injured leg elevated. The cast was hidden by oversized pants. A comfortable chair sat opposite of him with a small table between them. A black expensive looking box sat on the table. The TV on the far wall was dark, but soft classical music played. Freddie turned off the music as the Duke e
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Nine
My brain went fuzzy.Thoughts and images flitted around my skull like caffeinated hummingbirds, never settling down long enough for me to see them clearly.Freddie was coming to see me. Freddie still loved me. Freddie was buying the cabin. Freddie was in the hospital.The car turned off the highway. Sophie sat quiet, letting me process everything.“How bad is it?” I asked once I was in control of myself again. I forced my brain to go into nursing mode. Forced it to turn scientific and clinical. “What are his injuries?”She hesitated.“Tell me,” I urged. “Or I'm just going to imagine the worst.”“He shattered his femur and his right arm. Three skull fractures, two broken ribs, and a punctured lung.”Once again my breath caught. I thought for a moment I might die, but then my heart started again.“They've stabilized him. They don't think there's any damage to his brain and they said his lung will be okay,” she quickly assured me. “They already performed some surgery. He asked for you th
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Eight
“Thanks. I'll send you my resume,” I said into the phone.I sighed as I ended the call. The job in Madison was decent. There was nothing wrong with it. The pay was good, the benefits fair, and I had a friend in Madison that would be happy to rent me a room.I sat down on the guest bed and pouted.It just wasn't what I wanted.I wanted Freddie. I wanted normal.But those two things didn't go together.“Zoey.”I turned at the sound of my name to see Cecelia standing in the doorway to the guest room. Soft morning light filtered around her. Her face was drawn and pale.“What's the matter?” I asked, rising quickly. Something in the pit of my stomach went cold. I'd seen that face on Cecelia before. It was when she'd told me that our Grandmother had died.“You have to come in here.” She swallowed hard and glanced toward the living room. “There's something on the TV you need to see.”Fear whirled dark in my stomach as I walked through the short hallway.The big TV was on a news station. The
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Seven
I checked my phone. No messages. No missed calls.Nothing for two days from Freddie.Several from Sophie, but nothing that made me rethink my decision to leave.“You okay?” Cecelia asked from the kitchen. I tucked my phone back into my pocket and tried to smile at her as I walked into the living room. The smells of spaghetti filled the air. “Have a seat. Watch some TV. Dinner won't be ready for another twenty minutes or so.”I sat down on the comfy leather couch and pulled a quilt over my lap. It was such a different couch experience than what was in Paradisa. I couldn't imagine a worn quilt made by the Queen Mother on a worn leather sofa with soft throw pillows. This couch was made for comfort and family, not for looking pretty.I turned on the TV.And saw Freddie.“In world news, Paradisa and Navia have signed a historic trade agreement. Paradisa, known for their lithium deposits and Navia, known for new technology signed the agreement this morning. The two countries have had a cont
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Six
My hand trembled and I pulled back.My whole body shook and I thought I might be sick.“Just talk to him,” I whispered to the empty hallway. “He loves you. It'll be fine.”I counted to ten and forced my hand to move. I knocked. It was clear and loud and I glanced around the hallway, sure that heads were about to pop out of every room and yell at me.No doors opened.Silence hung in the hallway. The pale light of the coming dawn flickered like a ghost in the windows as I waited. I thought of running away. I thought of just going back to my room and hiding under the covers until I had courage again.But it had to be now. I would be on a plane in an hour.Unless Freddie stopped me.If he said I should stay, I would cancel my flight. I would stay here with him and deal with the consequences of the Stair Walk. I would do it for him.My heartbeat thundered in my chest, too fast and completely unsteady. I should probably see a doctor about that, I thought. Or have a little less caffeine.A p
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Five
I pulled up his name in my messages and froze. I had no idea what to say.There was a knock on my door that made me look up. It wasn't Mr. Irson's gentle three beat knock.Freddie?My heart sped up, fueled by hope.Maybe there was a chance I didn't need to send this message.“Come in,” I called, throwing off the blankets.The door opened.But it wasn't Freddie.It was Sophie and the Duke.“What are you wearing?” Sophie asked, looking completely shocked.I stood in the center of my bedroom, and looked down at my pajamas and bare feet. Everything was covered. She'd picked these pajamas out for me. They were long pants and long-sleeved dark satin and covered everything appropriately. I was suddenly glad I hadn't worn the tiny cotton shorts and tank top I often did.Sophie made an exasperated sigh and stalked over to the bathroom. She handed me a white cotton robe. “Please cover up. Try to be appropriate.”I slid the robe over my shoulders.“Honestly, I know we went over this,” Sophie con
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Four
I'm not sure how I made it back to my room.I just know that I stumbled through the hallways, tears streaming down my face as I forced my aching muscles to move. No halls were empty as I walked along with cold bare feet.I opened the door to my room, expecting to find it dark and empty. Instead, a warm light shone by the bed. Mr. Irson was pulling the drapes of my room shut and humming as he prepared the room.“My apologies, Ms. Miller. I wasn't expecting you to return so early tonight,” he said, tugging the drapes tight. He turned with a smile on his face that quickly faded the moment he saw me. “Oh my. Are you alright?”He rushed to me, his eyes full of concern. He touched my shoulders gently, moving down my arms and checking for injuries with kind hands.“Is anything broken? Do you need a doctor?” he asked. Worry filled his voice and wrapped me like a warm blanket. I wanted to sob into him.“I fell,” I stated. “And I nearly killed the Queen Mother in the process.”He stared at me f
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Forty-Three
We sat in yet another sitting room somewhere deep inside the castle. This one looked like it had been stolen from the Downton Abbey set, complete with turn of the century furniture and oil portraits. I fully expected Dame Maggie Smith to walk in wearing full costume and yell at me for trying to kill the Queen Mother.I figured I probably had a slight concussion from hitting the marble floor with my head.The Queen Mother sat on the center sofa. The on-call doctor was speaking softly with her. So far, they hadn't found any injuries. She seemed to be alert and oriented. She answered questions and moved without restriction. The doctor didn't look worried.Liam sat beside his mother holding her hand. Aria sat on her opposite side with Henry on the couch across from them. Freddie stood by the window, his arms crossed. Sophie stood near him, her expression unreadable.I sat in a high backed chair in the far corner of the room. It was as far away as I could get from everyone without leaving.
