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Chapter Eighteen
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A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Nineteen
A few weeks later, Mid September“And I already gave Jones his PRN pain medicine,” I told the night shift nurse. “And that's it. Oh, and watch out for the guy in room 402. He's a little handsy and likes to put on his call light.”“Thanks for the heads-up,” Susan replied, making a mark in her notes. “Anything else to report?”I thought for a moment, and then shook my head.“You're getting good at this,” Susan told me. “I remember the first time you gave me a report. It was not this easy.”I laughed, remembering my first few days as a new-grad nurse. Despite being on the same floor I'd worked on as a CNA, it had been a whole new world for me. But three months of practice and I finally felt comfortable.“You're doing great,” Susan continued. She glanced around the room at the other nurses receiving a report for the change of shift. “I'm always glad when I get your patients. I'll take a report from you any time.”The compliment had me beaming. “Thanks.”She grinned. “So, what are you up t
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty
I hesitated, plane ticket in my hand, staring down the passenger boarding ramp of an airplane.It wasn't that I wasn't excited. It wasn't that nerves had finally gotten the best of me.It was that I wasn't sure this was real.The flight attendant at the gate smiled and scanned my ticket. She didn't call security on me or ask to see some identification. She didn't ask Freddie to show ID or to take a selfie. She just smiled and motioned us forward as if this were totally normal.As if getting on a plane with a prince was totally normal.Granted, Freddie was traveling under his alias, Fred Prescott. He wore dark sunglasses, a baseball cap, and an oversized sweatshirt that hid his identifiable features. I wore something similar, but mine was for comfort, not for disguise.Freddie squeezed my hand as we walked down the ramp and to the plane. We found our seats, which were more like private couches than seats. Not to mention the fact that our two seats were able to completely seal off from
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty-One
No one was at the airport to greet us.Well, there was a chauffeur and a car, but none of Freddie's family or friends.We changed into nicer clothes in a private bathroom. I wore the suit I usually wore for job interviews- black dress slacks with a matching blazer and a conservative dark blue silk blouse. I'd managed to get two jobs wearing it, so I figured it was good luck.Freddie changed into a suit that had me feeling self conscious. His dark gray suit was impeccable. Mine suddenly felt a little threadbare. My slacks were slightly worn on the hems. The style was obviously dated. I fiddled nervously with a loose button on the cuff of my jacket I'd never noticed before.“You look great,” Freddie assured me, but I didn't believe him. It sounded more like he was trying to convince himself more than me.I reached for his hand. He gave me one quick squeeze before pulling away.“We can't remember?” he said softly. “My mother has to accept you into the family before we can be seen togethe
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Two
“Hello, mum,” Freddie said, letting go of my hand and crossing the room. He kissed her cheek and she smiled at him. “Hello, Liam,” he said to the King.Liam stood from his chair and the two brothers shook hands.“I'd like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Zoey,” Freddie said when they'd finished. I appreciated that he called me his girlfriend.Both the Queen Mother and King now looked directly at me. Freddie favored the Queen Mother in looks. They shared the same kind eyes, although hers were blue to Freddie's green. They had similar smiles, although Freddie had a much more masculine jaw that I assumed favored his father. Her graying blonde hair was pulled into a neat bun at the back of her head.King Liam was a slightly different version of Freddie. Where Freddie was all grins and bright eyes, Liam was stern and powerful. He was taller, paler, thinner, and much more serious than his youngest brother. They shared the same reddish light-brown almost blond hair, although King Liam had
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Three
Suddenly, I was very aware of how quiet the room was. And how I wasn't saying anything and neither was the Queen Mother. But I couldn't remember if I was allowed to say something first. All Freddie's lessons on proper etiquette all muddled and combined into blurry rules in my mind.“So, you're the girl that finally stole my baby's heart,” the Queen Mother said, handing me a cup of tea.I nearly dropped the delicate china. “I, um... I... uh...”She waved her hand and smiled. “Did you know you're the first girl he's brought home as a 'girlfriend'? The first girl he's ever actually wanted me to meet? The first girl he's ever asked to consider for the Stair Walk?”I shook my head no and her smile widened.“I believe he's absolutely smitten with you,” she said, taking a small sip of tea.“I'm smitten with him,” I blurted out. My cheeks flushed and I frantically took a sip of tea. It scalded my mouth, but I managed not to make a complete fool of myself by just swallowing the burning liquid
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Four
Everything was going wrong.My dress was wrinkled, my feet too swollen for my shoes, and to top it off, I was running late.I hadn't thought about the fact that my power cords for my phone wouldn't work in Paradisa since they used a different kind of plug, so my phone had died. My curling iron didn't work. I didn't have a hair dryer.The party was starting out in the garden and I wasn't anywhere near presentable, especially not to a queen and her friends.I was going to bring shame to the royal family and I hadn't even done anything yet. So much for helping Freddie's image.It didn't help that now I was crying, making my makeup run. I stood in front of the beautiful bathroom mirror and wished I was anywhere else. Why had I agreed to this party? I should have just waited until I was more ready to be in public.“It's fine,” Freddie assured me, putting his warm hands on my shoulders and smiling at me in the mirror. “Just take your time.”“But I want to be good!” I sobbed. “This is not t
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Five
It felt like everyone in the garden was whispering as I stepped out.This time, I was ready for the bright sunshine. I was ready for the beautiful trees and the careful lawns. I was ready for the photographer to flash a light at me.“There you are,” Freddie said, crossing the lawn to greet me. “Why did you disappear back inside?”“I needed a sweater,” I replied lamely.He frowned. “But it's so warm. Are you not feeling well? We can leave if you need.”I sighed. “Apparently, I'm not supposed to have bare shoulders.”Freddie's eyes went wide and his cheeks went red. It made the red in his hair stand out even more than usual.“I'm so sorry, Zoey,” he said softly. “I didn't even think... I didn't realize...The Duke had said to let you dress yourself...”I waved him off. “It's done,” I told him. “Now I know. And Mr. Irson is giving me a copy of the rules so I don't do it again.”Freddie sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I am sorry. It's my fault.”I shrugged. “It's okay. It's not th
A Midwestern Cinderella Chapter Twenty-Six
“Well, that went better than expected,” Freddie said, wiping some dirt off his hands.His beautiful gray slacks were brown at the knees and a smudge of dirt lay swiped across the bridge of his nose.I raised an eyebrow at him. “Seriously?”He leaned over and wiped some dirt off my cheek. “We made it, didn't we?”He motioned to the forest just past the small meadow we were currently walking through. I dusted my hands together, trying to get the mud off. I'd managed to keep most of the dirt from my dress, but I wasn't much cleaner than Freddie.Behind us, trapped in the cultivated gardens of the castle, music still played. A tug of guilt found my middle, but I pushed it away. I didn't want to be at the party. I didn't want everyone looking at me and whispering.I wanted to be out here.Instead of a proper moat, the castle had carefully manicured lawns. Freddie and I had crossed those easily. The neat grass was held close to the castle by a waist-high rock wall. We'd scrambled over it, g
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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.
