Chapter 20

I look in the mirror of my room. Turning from side to side, I question if what I’ve chosen to wear will work for today.

Derek had informed me that I should dress to my comfort level. My comfort level is currently wearing pajamas all day if I don’t go to work.

So, instead, I pull a dress out of my still mostly unpacked clothes. I don’t really have anything that classifies as a princess dress, but I think I can make it work.

I start searching the house for things to use to put the dress together. I already have a long, elegant blue dress, but I decide the best princess to embody is Cinderella.

To prepare, I play my favorite song from the movie.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes. When you’re fast asleep.”

I let my voice waft through the halls as I look for pieces to put my outfit together.

“In dreams, you will lose your heartaches; whatever you wish for, you keep.”

In truth, I’ve always envisioned my life to feel like Cinderella’s. I worked hard, but the work never really mattered—or at least never mattered to Ryan.

But to Derek?

I shake my head, putting the last pieces together before checking the mirror. It’s not perfect since it was thrown together, but I think the girls will appreciate it.

After knocking on the door and watching it open with a flourish, Derek stands in the frame, shock covering his face.

He opens his mouth, looking from top to bottom as his eyes move quickly.

“Wow,” he says, stunned. “You look…wow.”

I can’t help but chuckle at his compliment. “Thank you.” I tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. He invites me in, and immediately, the two girls come running into the room.

“Miss Esme!” Tris cheers, wearing a cute Anna from Frozen dress.

Bea, not surprisingly, wears a blue Elsa dress with her hair in a braid.

“You’re here!” Bea smiles. The two little ones both grab ahold of my legs under the dress to hug me.

“Whoa!” I laugh, bracing myself so I don’t fall over. “Look at these two beautiful Princesses!”

“Do you know who we are?” Tris bounces excitedly.

“Hmmm,” I exaggerate, tapping my pointer finger to my chin. “Can I have a hint?”

“You know who we are!” Bea shakes her head. “We’re the sisters in Frozen, duh!”

Playfully, I hit my palm to my forehead as if I’d forgotten. “Oh, of course!”

“Are you Cinderella?” Derek asks from behind us.

All three of us turn to look at him, standing with his back against the front door. It’s at this point I realize Derek is also dressed up.

“I am,” I respond. “And who did you choose?”

He looks down at his shoes, and I can tell he’s feeling sheepish. “Uhhh,” he starts, stalling for time. “I’m actually Prince Charming.”

“Daddy!” Bea snorts. “Did you know Miss Esme was going to be Cinderella?”

Both of us shake our heads insistently. “I honestly didn’t officially decide what to be until about a few hours ago. I never had a chance to tell your dad.”

“That’s funny!” Tris giggles into her hands.

He opens his mouth to speak, but the front door he leans against starts being knocked on. Saved by the bell.

Or the knock.

A bunch of parents and their little girls start to shuffle into the house, nearly every single person with their own costumes. I see Rapunzel, Belle, even more Elsa’s and Anna’s.

But I’m surprised to find no one else is Cinderella.

“I think it’s time for high tea, ladies!” Derek announces, clapping his hands together and rubbing them.

All the little kids squeal, and everyone grabs a seat in the circle that was pre-arranged. Tris and Bea both pull me to sit with them in the circle, asking me silly questions and getting into the excitement of the party.

Derek pours everyone a cup of warm tea, only filling them halfway up to avoid any of the kids burning themselves.

He raises a tea cup, pinky out for everyone to see.

“Here, here, ladies and gentlemen! For tonight, we dine like royalty! Take a sip of your tea and prepare for a lovely meal!”

The kids are honestly so cute as they listen to Derek’s instructions and voice. He perfectly captures the attention of everyone there, and it’s mesmerizing.

“Are you having fun, Miss Esme?” Bea questions me.

I set my cup of tea down on a saucer. “Of course I am! Are you?”

She nods vigorously. “So much!”

I keep wanting to take these two little girls and hug them tight. A dream of a life, to be the mother to these beautiful children.

“We asked Daddy a lot if you could come over today,” she informs me happily.

“I heard!” I reply with a small smile. “It was very nice of you two to invite me today.”

“You’re a princess, just like us!”

My heart melts just a little bit more. “Aw, Bea, thank you.”

“You’re not an evil stepmother.”

I raise an eyebrow at this sentence. “Does this have to do with the women your dad has brought around?”

She nods again. “You’re better than them.”

“I’m sure your dad won’t pick someone you and Tris dislike.”

“That’s what we tell him. We want a nice lady. Not like Miss Natalie.”

My skin suddenly starts to prickle at her name. Natalie may have backed out of whatever her deal with Derek was, but if she was so willing to drown me over taking a picture, I can guess she’ll be able to make my life a living hell.

“Miss Natalie was very rude. That’s something you two can learn. Never be a bully to others, because then people will not want to be friends with the bully.”

“Are you a bully?”

“Do you think I am?” I question back.

“No. Daddy brings mean, ugly, smelly women. But not you.”

“I’m your neighbor, silly,” I remind her. “I live right next door.”

“But you’re not bad for Daddy.”

Bewildered, I lean back. The fact that these kids are impossibly smart is still a storm that picks up rapidly without my knowledge.

She notices these women, and even dislikes some because of their smell—though my guess is perfume. I hate that the girls haven’t been shown the love their father gives them through others.

I may not be with Derek, but I’ll be damned if the girls need a woman to speak to.

So, I lean over, and I tell Bea, “If you ever need some girl talk, you come over to my place, okay? And I promise, anything you say will not go back to your dad.”

“Thank you, Miss Esme,” Bea beams, wrapping her small arms around me and holding tight.

When Bea and Tris are distracted and the other moms are just chatting, I take the time to speak to Derek.

“You know how to throw quite a party, Prince Charming.” I bow my head, giving a curtsey.

“It’s easy. When they want something simple like this, I don’t mind taking the time to put it together. They love these parties, and I love making my girls happy.”

“They’re great kids, Derek,” I insist.

He turns to look down at me, taking me in with one long stare. “You believe I’m doing alright?”

I nearly spit with laughter. “You throw a Princess Party at random and do everything you can to make those girls have the time of their lives.”

“I think they also just love their dad,” I add, shrugging.

“And you,” he counters to my surprise.

“Sorry?”

“They haven’t had a woman influence before that wasn’t their mother. Everyone who could have been a candidate all moved on and out because there were already two little girls that I would be bringing into any relationship.”

“And the last thing you want is to hurt someone with your heart,” I finish.

“That’s why their relationship with you is imperative. You’re not their mother, and you never have to consider yourself that. But the fact that I know Bea has someone she trusts was a huge relief off my shoulders.”

“So, I’m pseudo-mom?” I joke, wiggling my eyebrows.

“You’re Esme. Extraordinarily kind, smart, and great with kids.”

Now I’m going to blush.

“They look up to you, Esme, I mean it.”

I sigh. “I know. And I already care so much about them.” I let my sentence stop there, looking around as if I’ve forgotten how I arrived in this place.

“I hope you’re able to offer sage advice and wisdom to the two of them.”

It sinks in slowly with what he’s saying, but another part of my body replies immediately.

“I would never do anything to you and the girls. That’s the full truth.”

He nods again. “Alrighty then.”