Page 59 of Enchanting the Elf
“Yes!” Over my shoulder, Dede says to the males, “It’s sister time now. You boys play nice on that side of the store. Try not to listen in so we can gossip freely, please. Thank you,” shesingsongs the last word and blows a kiss to Everett, then takes my hand and practically skips in her stilettos to the far side of the store.
The store’s opening party is tomorrow and everyone from the island will be traveling to celebrate with Dede and Everett. We arrived a day early so we could hang out with them alone. In a rare moment of vulnerability, Adelbert explained that he’s not in a good headspace to see all of his friends and their bonded partners, but he wants to make the trip for me.
I’m just happy to be here and get whatever time I can get with my sister.
Dede leads me by the hand toward a giant display of glittery shoes arranged in a rainbow. It’s so pretty and the most Sadie-thing I’ve ever seen. She talks me through the arrangement, the store’s layout, and shows me the luxurious dressing rooms—with one conspicuously closed curtain. We settle on a velvet bench on the far side of the store and look out at Sadie’s Sweethearts.
“Your dream came true,” I say wistfully, my eyes misting again with happiness for my sister. I take Dede’s hands in mine and squeeze them. “I’msoproud of you.”
Dede gives me a watery smile. “Everett helped. A lot.”
“I know how much he did, especially financially and I don’t want to take away from that. But, don’t let his involvement diminish your accomplishments. This isyourdream.Yourtalent.Yourvision. Your mate just… facilitated it,” I say, gently determined to make her acknowledge how much she has achieved in such a short amount of time.
“That’s putting it mildly, but I get what you’re saying. He’s been so supportive. We make a really good team,” Dede sighs out dreamily with a goofy grin on her face.
“I know. The fates really got it right with you two. Perfect match.” I really mean it. There is not one person who has everunderstood my sister the way Everett does, who indulges all of her whims.
“Talking about the fates and matches…” Dede gives me a pointed look and inclines her head toward the door where the males are deep in conversation. “What’s the latest with you and Adelbert? You two are giving me major Beauty and the Beast vibes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tale as old as time,” Dede sings. “You two… up there in the house… secluded in the middle of the forest… You’re sweet Beauty, and Adelbert—obviously—is the Beast,” she explains like I should have connected the dots easily.
I shake my head and laugh at the notion. “Only difference is there’s nothing beastly about him, unless you’re counting his grouchiness.”
“Well, I thought Everett looked human enough, but let me tell you, there’snothinghuman about my mate.”
I pretend to cover my ears. “Too much information.” Lowering my hands, I sigh and continue more somberly, “There’s not much to report about me and Adelbert.”
Dede raises her eyebrows and asks slowly, “Do you want there to be something to report?”
“I don’t know, Dede,” I admit with a sad grimace and slump back against the seat.
Dede shifts and twists her body toward me, tucking a leg under her to give me her undivided attention.
Studying my face, she says more than asks, “You like him, don’t you?”
My heart aches at the question and my mouth turns down. I lift my hands to cover my face, mumbling out my admission from behind my fingers, “How could I not?”
Dede reaches for my hands and lowers them. I expect to find sadness in her eyes, compassion even. Instead, my sister arches one brow and smirks at me.
“Ever thought about just jumping him one day? Or waiting for him in the kitchen with nothing but an apron on? Some women might have used their wily ways to convince him about how right the fates are.”
I choke out a laugh and bat a hand at her. “Ha! That might work for you and Ev, but it’s not like that for us.”
Dede turns serious and rubs a soothing thumb on top of my hand.
“What’s it like?” Her voice is soft and earnest, her eyes filled with empathy.
I don’t want her to be unnecessarily hard on Adelbert, so I explain to her the best I can why he won’t take me as a mate.
“Do you know what Adelbert’s job is?” I ask.
“I know he’s an academic, and one day he’ll take over at Alberad,” Dede answers.
I nod. “And where’s his house?”
“In the Black Forest, next to Alberad.” This time her statement sounds more like a question.
