Taming Cinderella

Chapter 6 : A lonely Christmas!

Ella:

As the clock struck 12 on Christmas Eve, I made a wish asking God to send me my saviour and bless my parent’s souls. After attending the midnight mass, we come out of the church to be welcomed by tiny little flakes of snow colouring the whole landscape of this city. There was something so magical about this season, it brought out the best in me!

We came home to a brightly decorated house which took me almost a month of planning and execution. The string lights and the star of Bethlehem sparkled amongst tiny balls of cotton resembling snow at the bottom of the tree. 

Mary, Bridget and Beatrice exchanged their gifts with each other while I gave them each a handmade box of organic chocolates in classic stockings. My mother always told me to be kind and giving to everyone in the spirit of Christmas.

The following morning I got up super early all excited for the Christmas dinner tonight. Joe will finally meet my extended family and officially become a couple, maybe even my fiancé by the time we celebrate our first anniversary which was less than a week away. 

I hear clacking of heels as Bridget descends down the stairs wearing a dress so short and skimpy, it barely left anything to one’s imagination. “Oh baby, you look gorgeous!” swooned Mary. “Enjoy yourself and remember what I said”

“Don’t worry Momma, he won’t be able to resist me tonight” Bridget replies arrogantly. This was probably how Mary trapped my poor dad as well. For a moment I pitied Mr.Holt’s son; he had no idea what he was in for!

I quickly text Joe typing, “Come by 7 pm tonight munchkin, I cannot wait to see you! Xoxo :* ”

I resume cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Freshly cut parsnips, turnips and carrots go in the topmost tray of the oven while a well marinated turkey is placed at the bottom so that it roasts slowly in its juices.  

At 6 pm, I checked my phone to see if Joe had replied; no messages received; he’s probably busy doing chores for his family and getting ready. I continue glazing apples for the pie along with the eggnog to be served for dessert. 

A while later, the doorbell rang and I rushed to open the door. We weren’t able to meet during the week due to my curfews, I couldn’t wait to see him!! Instead, I saw tiny little kids dressed as Santa’s elves singing Jingle Bells!!! They were singing in perfect chorus and were so cute that I couldn’t help smiling.

“Has Joe come with his Christmas troupe now?” Mary smirked as she saw the group performing.

I chose to ignore her comment, paid a few dollars to the kids and closed the door. It was way past 7 pm. He should have been here by now. I tried calling on his phone a couple of times, the network was not reachable. What the hell! Maybe there was a connection issue while travelling!

I start setting the table with cutlery for four people with my eyes locked on the door and the clock. It was 8 pm, where was he? I called him again and he finally picked the phone. “Where are you, everybody is waiting,” I hissed angrily at him. I’m sorry Ella, I won’t be able to come, there was an emergency; I was on my way to your place when I suffered a seizure. A passerby rushed me to the hospital.

“Oh my god!! Are you alright? I’m on my way as we speak,” grabbing my bag and heading towards the door.

“Ella, don’t, I got discharged from the hospital and have come to my parents now, will see you tomorrow. I’m so sorry love”

I burst into tears the very next moment. I couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to him. This was not how I wanted my Christmas night to end.

I quietly walked up to Mary and Beatrice seated at the table to say, “Joe won’t be coming tonight, he wasn’t keeping well. I have laid all the food on the table. Enjoy your dinner and Merry Christmas!!”

I do not wait for their nasty jabs, turn my back and march up the stairs towards my room. I hide under the duvet, curl up onto a pillow and cry myself to sleep.

As soon as I get up, I flip my phone out and call Joe, “ Baby how are you doing?”

“Ahhhh yeah, Good morning hmmm Ella, I am feeling much better now” he sounded all groggy, maybe it was the effect of the medications.

“I'm so worried, I want to see you, Shall I come over to your parents’?” I reply standing up ready to get dressed and out.

“No, no don’t, I'll meet you at Leonard’s café for brunch!!!” He insisted.

I wore a denim jacket over a bright yellow dress I bought on sale, tamed my wild curls, applied lip-gloss over my soft pink lips and slipped into my boots. 

I was about to head out of the door when Mary popped in the living room. “Where do you think you’re going?” she quizzed.

“Mary, Joe suffered an epileptic attack last night and was admitted to the hospital. I am going to see him.” I replied.

“Alright but be back in an hour, there’s work to be done!” she commanded.

The snow seemed to have melted away with the sun shining bright as ever. I hailed a cab and reached the café to find Joe sitting with a bunch of flowers. I rushed straight into his arms and hugged him for what seemed like eternity.

I planted a lingering kiss on his lips leaving him surprised. “If i knew you could kiss like that Ella Miller I would be ready to have seizures everyday” he said winking at me.

“Please don’t say that, I was really worried but now if one looks at you, they’d guess you’re hungover rather than being discharged from a hospital” I laughed looking at his dishevelled hair and dark circles under his eyes.

“By the way what really happened yesterday?” I asked, wanting to know every single detail.

“So I had gone to a*****e to get you something that you really wanted for our anniversary, and as I was coming out of the store to catch a cab, I started feeling uneasy. The next thing I know, I woke up in the hospital :( “

I repeat the first line in my head again. Something I really wanted for our anniversary, Oh my god! Is he planning to propose to me!!!??

I nuzzled his hair gently, “Aww my poor baby, now that this incident is behind us, we can go about planning our anniversary, I was thinking about having dinner at the same place where we had our first date!”!

“Done, I shall pick you up at 7pm ” he smiled, flashing his perfectly aligned teeth.

“Joe, what were you planning for our anniversary?” I lowered my eyelids and blushed coyly.

“If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise anymore” he slanted his mouth into a sly smile. His sparkling eyes conveyed what he was trying to hide. Finally I find my light at the end of what has been the longest darkest tunnel of my life. OMG, OMG, I could barely contain my excitement!!!

We finish our brunch, kiss each other goodbye’s and I go home to find Bridget bragging about how much fun she had at her company’s Christmas party as usual.

“and he came over to us and introduced himself. All throughout the night, I could feel his eyes on me. I purposely led him under the mistletoe so we could kiss but he politely declined. If we weren’t being so closely surveilled, I am sure he would have kissed me” she spoke animatedly with her hands.

“He smells like some exotic rainforest, dressed to impress. We have this wild masquerade bash on New Year’s at the hottest bar in New York and I know what I’m going to wear to tantalize his senses.”

She bangs her hands on the table determined to snatch him, “People around him say that he is quite the playboy, toys around with his prey before going for the kill but Momma, I will be the one who finally nails this lion!