Page 16 of Secret Cinderella
The leaves that swirled around her from the wind left a chill in the air but that didn’t matter. Jack wouldn’t just disappear on her, would he?
But as she turned onto his street, expecting dark, she saw lights blazing from his house.
Good. She’d get answers and her peddling slowed. Jack’s car wasn’t in the driveway, but his mother’s was, parked next to a silver Lexus. Unlike her stepmother, Patricia O’Conner worked extremely hard and had raised her five children to depend on each other. Maybe someone was visiting? Charlotte knocked on the door and met Patricia’s kind blue eyes as she tried to catch her breath. “Is Jack here?”
Patricia opened the door and Jack’s sister was visible in a pretty pink gown while his mother said, “No, but he left clothes for you. Hurry and you can join us to celebrate.”
The O’Conners had good news. Her shoulders dropped with relief. “You both look amazing.”
“I’ll text Jack to let him know Charlotte’s here,” Lucy said as Charlotte walked in.
Jack’s mom squeezed her in a hug. “Tonight’s a big deal. Get dressed. Jack said he was trying to get in touch with you all day but Nancy blocked his calls and he didn’t want to drive over in his new car for her to see.”
Seriously good news. This was way better than some party on a hill with a guy who never texted or called. Jack looking nice and waiting for her… this was where she wanted to be. She walked with his mother toward Lucy’s room that had been converted from a closet to give Lucy privacy in the crowded house. Patricia showed her a rack of clothes to choose from. Charlotte said, “New car. New clothes. Give me ten minutes. I can’t wait to find out what’s going on with the O’Conners.”
Lucy’s phone beeped and Charlotte noticed it was a brand new one. It was like the O’Conners had hit the lottery. Maybe that’s what'd happened? Charlotte picked out a blue dress as Lucy told her, “Jack said he’s doing all this for you.”
Had Jack been the big winner? She tilted her head and stared at Patricia and Lucy. “Done what?”
His mother came behind her and helped her zip up. “He’ll answer that better than we can, but let’s get your hair and makeup done.”
The blue dress was way more expensive than anything she’d have ever bought or rented for any social occasion. She twirled and looked at herself in the mirrors embedded on the wall to make it seem bigger. “This is a beautiful dress. I… can’t.”
Lucy plugged in her hair curler. “You can and you will. Unless you don’t care what our brother has to say to you.”
Most of her teenage years, Charlotte had wished that she was an O’Conner, not a Masters. Today was why. She widened her stance—this was not about her, but her best friend. “Jack… okay, let’s do this.”
His mother helped her with makeup and at the end, Patricia handed her a mirror and said, “This is fancier than what you and Jack wore to the prom.”
Four years ago she’d found a black dress and Jack wore an all-black tux he’d borrowed from his brother. At the time she’d thought the night was fun as she’d actually danced without a care… except Jack hadn’t kissed her.
They’d only been friends. She met his mother’s gaze and asked as the memory of returning home to Nancy, who’d been cruel about curfew, replayed in her mind. “You remember that?”
As she glanced in the mirror, she saw Patricia and Lucy’s good work. Simply amazing. The makeup made her eyes emanate light. Patricia said, “I thought you and Jack had done fabulous for prom but now you both get an even better night.”
Charlotte had kept her word to Nancy. She’d come to see the O’Conners, not snuck off to follow a guy who wasn’t interested in her. If she went with them to their party, she had at least until midnight, as her stepmother and stepsisters were going to the Morgan party.
Lucy showed her a selection of shoes.
Heels would be more comfortable than her worn sneakers. And besides, tonight was all about Jack’s good news.
She picked out a pair of glittering silver heels and slipped them on. They fit as if made for her and as she stood she saw how Lucy and Patricia beamed at her—but said nothing. Charlotte chuckled. “You’re both excellent at keeping a secret, but I’m ready now.”
The three of them were dressed like going to a ball. But the best part of her day was next. She’d finally get to see the one man in the world she’d always counted on… so she didn’t ask how his mother now drove a Lexus.
Chapter 7
Jack adjusted his bowtie because it felt too tight—he hated it but it was part of the tuxedo. His brother Finn had a difference of opinion as he grinned into the mirrors around them. This was reminiscent of the Wall of Mirrors Jack had seen in history books.
Maybe this room was why he’d been so fascinated with that lesson in class. He had no actual memory of this place, but it was possible mirrors were in his psyche from his toddler years.
Not that it mattered.
Adrenaline rushed in his veins because he hadn’t had a chance to explain anything to Charlotte. Who knew what she thought?
And now he’d have to face the world without her at his side.
Nancy had stopped him at her house this morning from finding Charlotte. Charlotte had never left the store to take a break.
