A Happily Ever After of Her Own (6 page)

"I would never presume to do so."

She settled on the stool next to his. "Edward, I'm just worried about you." A curl fell over one of his eyes as he gazed at her, and she placed both of her hands under her butt so she wouldn't reach out to touch his hair. Touch
him.
"You're here because of me, and this is my world. I feel responsible, and I need to make sure you're going to be okay and get your happy ending."

Surprise registered on his handsome face, then something soft and mysterious settled over it like a morning dew. "Nobody has ever said that to me before," he murmured. "You need not worry, Melinda."

It was he who reached out, touched her gently, his fingertips skimming her face with such tenderness that it made her heart ache. She knew it would only lead to trouble, but couldn't help herself. Closing her eyes, she rested her cheek against his warm palm. When he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers, she sighed then opened her mouth, inviting him inside. If souls met on lovers' lips, like a poet once said, she must be meeting the missing part of herself. It was so wonderful, so mesmerizing, it took her breath away. A fine tremor ran through him, making his muscles tight with a passionate desire. She could sense it coiling inside him like a hungry predator, ready to lunge out and take what it wanted. But patience and respect held it back.

She felt safer and freer than ever before, like she could do anything and everything with him and nothing would taint the moment. Exhilaration loosened something hot and dangerous in her, made her bold as his clever hands explored her body beneath the thin layer of her shirt. Her flesh grew hot and tingly everywhere. She clenched her thighs tightly, but it only intensified her need.

"Ah Melinda. You're so beautiful," he whispered.

And just like that, the magical intimacy shattered. Melinda turned her face, breaking the kiss. "Edward--"

"Shhh."

"I can't." She shook her head. "You're supposed to be with Beauty."

He pulled away, opening his eyes. Their deep brilliance pierced her, and she trembled with two warring desires: doing the right thing and having him. She would never be able to live with herself if she knowingly stole him from Beauty. That would betray the true intent of the vow she'd made to Fairy Godmother.

"Melinda--"

"Don't." She stood up and pushed the hair away from her face with a shaking hand. "This doesn't mean anything. There has to be a rational explanation for what just happened." Edward needed to understand that she didn't go around kissing men who already had girlfriends. "I mean, we're both pretty emotional. We faced that murderous executioner mannequin and almost got crushed by the chandelier. People sometimes can't think very clearly when they're under a lot of pressure and stuff, right? I didn't mean to poach, and I'm pretty sure you didn't mean to betray your love for Beauty. We should ju--"

He finally put a finger over her lips. "You talk too much."

Another wave of longing surged up at the feel of his skin on her mouth. She needed to get a hold of herself before she embarrassed herself.

"I do not love Beauty," he said.

"Huh?"

"I do not love Beauty."

Melinda took a step back, frowning. "You don't?"

"No."

She peered at him. He wasn't lying.
Whoa.
"How can you not be in love with her? How can you break the curse otherwise?"

"The curse never said I had to be in love with her."

"What?"

"She has to be in love with me. I merely have to earn it is all. No trickery involved."

"But the happily ever after...?"

Edward smiled ruefully. "It initially has nothing to do with my love. Once the spell is broken, obviously I'm going to be grateful, which will likely turn into something more romantic over time, since Beauty is rather...aptly named. So we get our happily ever after."

"Oh."

"But until the curse is broken, I'm not in love with her. If you remember the story, she betrays me to her sisters."

Melinda nodded, but she couldn't help but think that Edward must feel something for Beauty if he forgave her and still fell in love with her at the end. And the knowledge squeezed her heart in a way that made it hard to breathe.

"Don't push me away," he murmured, running his lips over her jaw line.

She shivered. Edward might just give in to temptation, so she had to be strong for both of them. "Will you remember me after it's over? After we get Beauty and you return to your story?"

He stopped the delicate exploration of her face. "I don't know. No fairy tale prince has ever had to leave the Fairy Tale World for his happy ending."

"Would you want to?"

"Oh Melinda, Melinda." His warm forehead rested against hers. "You are a remarkable woman, strong and resourceful. Of course, I'd love to remember you, even if we have to part at the end and even if it makes my heart grieve over what I have lost." He drew back, looked into her eyes. "I shall remember you for eternity."

She swallowed. "That's the sweetest thing anyone's ever said to me," she whispered.

"The men of your world are fools." He kissed her. "Promise me you'll never give up on your happily ever after, no matter what happens on this quest. Promise me."

"I prom--"

Suddenly her cell phone rang, and they both started at the sound. She stared at it. The caller ID said "Witch". With a shaking hand, she flipped it open. "Hello?"

"Lightfoot," came a lilting female voice. It was pretty good for a witch.

"Yes?" To Edward she mouthed,
It's the Evil Witch.

Edward immediately jumped to his feet, looking alert. Melinda raised a hand to stop him from snatching the phone from her. She didn't trust the dark glower on his face. He might just take out his frustration out on the hapless device.

"I have Beauty." There was a short pause. "If you want her back, send that arrogant and foolish nephew of mine alone to the Tudor House at half past eleven tonight. Alone."

"You said that," Melinda said.

The Evil Witch went on as of Melinda hadn't spoken. "If he does not come alone," she continued, "I shall feed Beauty to the guard dog I found outside."

"Um, could we just talk about this like rational adul--"

The Evil Witch hung up.

"What did she want?" Edward said when Melinda closed her phone.

"She wants you alone in the Tudor House."

"I see."

"I don't think you should go. It's too dangerous, and you never know what she's going to do."

"Yet if I do not, Beauty will die."

Melinda nodded.

"And so I must."

"I'll go with you," Melinda said. "I don't trust her, and you may need help. Just in case."

He looked like he would argue.

"Please."

"No," he said finally. "It is too dangerous. I cannot bear the thought of you getting hurt. You will stay behind."

"Oh I will, will I?" She crossed her arms. "And how exactly are you going to get there without me?"

He gave her a pained look. "Very well. You may transport me in your flatulent 'Charger'. But that is all. Once I am safely at the Bluebeard King's house, you will return home like a good girl and wait."

Melinda drove Edward to Tudor Land. The sky opened up about halfway to the theme park, and rain poured down. It fell in great washes on the windshield; lightning streaked the black horizon above, followed by cracking thunder. Melinda found herself tense and leaning forward, trying to see the road more than just a few feet in front of her.

"You know...it really would be a good idea for you to have some backup," she said again as she finally found the exit to Tudor Land.

"No."

"I can help you."

"No." He turned to Melinda. "I am quite serious. You must return to your house. If you are here, I will be too distracted."

"But you can't go back to the Fairy Tale World without me in the room."

"I will use your talking device to summon you, never fear."

"But you've never used one before, Edward. How are you going to call me?"

"If my aunt did it, so can I."

"Your aunt is magic."

"I ca--ah. So she is. Very well, forego all of this futile arguing and teach me how to do it."

She sighed and gave him a short course in Telephone 101. Fortunately, Edward was a quick study and had no problem memorizing her number. When they reached the parking lot he got out of the car and stood in the rain. The hood she had made for him grew wet and limp in his hand as it took the water in greedily. There hadn't been any fabric, so she'd used an old Disney towel.

Thank you. I am honored by this favor, Melinda. I will wear it with pride.

Melinda tightened her lips. Didn't he realize this was her fight too? It was her fault the Evil Witch had gotten out. But Edward simply wouldn't change his mind. The man was stubbornness personified.

Nobility be damned,
she thought,
reasonableness is the better virtue.
But she knew she was being uncharitable because she was nervous. If everything went well, this night was it for the two of them. Everyone would go back to the Fairy Tale World, Edward would get Beauty, and Melinda would return to the real world alone.

Edward watched as she backed out of the parking lot. She saw him put his hood on in the rearview mirror. The picture of a dancing Cinderella covered most of his face, and he stared out through holes over the fairy tale heroine's breasts. Melinda closed her eyes briefly. Sewing simply wasn't one of her talents. Still, even with the silly hood, he was the handsomest and the most wonderful fairy tale prince she'd ever seen in her entire life. And she'd die before she deserted him. His concern for her was touching, and she knew he meant well. But she couldn't let him face the Evil Witch alone when she probably had a huge group of psychotic minions waiting to ambush him.

Her mind made up, she drove away for about five minutes, then made a U-turn.

The parking lot was empty when she came back to it. Melinda opened her door and stepped into a puddle. Her sneaker soaked through instantly. Hopefully it wasn't an omen.

Don't come back unless you have tickets.

George the Security Guard's warning flashed in her mind. She glanced around, just in case the guards were watching, but the rain obscured everything. Well, if she couldn't see them, they probably couldn't see her either. She made straight for the fence and got ready to climb.

Just as she closed her hands on the bars there was a shimmering in the air around her. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. She tried to get air into her lungs to cry for help but couldn't utter a sound. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted dangerously.

The last thing she saw as she fell was Anne Boleyn's ghostly face.

*** *** ***

Edward had spent several minutes reconnoitering the Tudor House, but there was nothing to be seen from the outside, especially in the rain. He decided on a direct approach and went to the front door. It opened at the slightest pressure.

"Don't worry, Nephew," came a silken voice. "It would've been inexcusably rude of me to leave the house locked after inviting you over."

He walked inside. "Aunt."

The Evil Witch was a dainty woman who had aged extremely well. She sported long straight black hair and an old English dress. "Do you like it?" Picking up the skirt, she posed this way and that, showing it off. "Jane gave it to me." She gestured at a life-size queen mannequin, naked now except for a hood over its head that made it look more indecent than it would have without it. "We have similar proportions."

"I congratulate you," he said. "You look exquisite in a queen's dress."

"You're such a good boy." The Evil Witch rose into the air until she stood on the second floor balcony overlooking the foyer.

Nicely staged,
Edward thought. She was beyond his reach for the moment. But he had learned some things in his time as a beast, and there were thick drapes along the walls that could be climbed in a trice. "Where is Beauty?" he said. No fewer than four sections of the balcony also had sturdy-looking hangings depending from them. His aunt loved theatrics; they might just prove to be her downfall.

"Don't be rude," she said. "Didn't your mother teach you better manners?" She pursed her lips, then snapped her fingers with a little mock flourish. "Oh that's right. My sister doesn't teach her children anything. She allows them to say whatever comes into their nit-infested little heads and run like savage beasts."

"If that's supposed to hurt my feelings, you're losing your touch."

"Not at all." She leaned over the balcony rail. "My, you're looking remarkably hairless. You'd think the curse was broken. I suppose my sister forgot about the Seventeenth Neverland Magical Accord?" She laughed, the sound as musical as a requiem mass. "And why are you wearing that ridiculous hood?"

"It is milady's favor."

"A
favor,
is it? Aren't those normally made of silk?"

Edward folded his arms. He knew that his aunt would keep up her petty insults for as long as he was willing to play along. So now he stayed silent.

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?" When he refused to answer, she said, "Oh all right. Be a spoilsport. I suppose you want Beauty back."

Now they were getting somewhere. "Yes."

"Never!"
Her face hardened so that it looked like porcelain, and a vein stood out on her forehead. "For once,
I
hold all the cards! My sanctimonious sister underestimated me.
I
watched Lightfoot come in and out of the world for months before those idiotic police caught on. Did they notice that the division between our worlds weakens briefly whenever she trespasses? No! Only
I
noticed!

"I
gambled by taking Beauty, and here I am. I shall have it all, Edward, and you can't stop me. You're too selfish to stop me. You've always chosen whatever was most expedient. After all, isn't that why you chose to have your happily ever after with Beauty? Isn't it convenient that she is not only beautiful but gives you her love as well?" She drew back, somehow managing to seem taller and more imposing than she really was. "Well I'm going to make you choose between two mutually exclusive expediencies, my dear. As your mother would say, it should help build character!"