2 Unhitched (26 page)

Gothel glances down at fob that’s chained to her black leather leggings. “My break is over. I’ve got to split.”

“Please don’t tell anyone about Gallant and Aurora,” I say anxiously, well aware that if their affair becomes the talk of My Fair Hair, the entire kingdom will know.

“Trust me, I won’t.” She picks up the bill and throws some coins on the table. “My treat.”

“Thanks.” I’m surprised she treated. And grateful.

“Come see me at My Fair Hair tomorrow. I’ll book you an appointment for Gallant’s retrospective.”

My stomach flutters as fast as my heart. Oh God. The museum gala! Questions pummel me, each one coming at me faster than the one before. Will I be able to face Gallant and his new wife to be? How am I going to handle their announcement? And what about the baby? That’s a whole new wrinkle. Should I or shouldn’t I tell Gallant?

“Chill, babe. I’ll make you beautiful. He won’t be able to resist you.”

As she gets up to leave, I can’t resist asking her one question.

“Does Hook know your story?”

Gothel presses her full lips into a thin line. “You’re the only person I’ve ever told it to, outside of Shrink.”

“Why me?” I ask curiously.

“I don’t know.” She plays with her nose ring again. “It just came out.”

I understand. Sometimes, we just need to tell our story. I felt that way when I was writing
Dewitched.
Plus, we’re kindred spirits. I knew that the minute I met her at Faraway.

The baby gives me a little kick. Just one final question before I go to see Shrink.

“Have you ever slain a dragon?”

“Not yet, but I know how,” Gothel boasts with a sly smile.

“Good.”

It feels good to relax in Shrink’s chaise. After all this walking, I could use a little rest. The baby is calm too. I haven’t felt a kick for a while. It must be sleeping. A funny thought crosses my mind. My baby isn’t even born, and it’s in therapy.

My weary eyes are about to close when Shrink comes flying in, showering me—and the baby—with a burst of fairy dust.

“I see you’re not wearing the mirrored locket I gave you,” she begins.

Damn! She’s observant.

“Um, I’m having it professionally cleaned,” I splutter absently. There’s no way in hell that I’m going to tell her that I gave it to some whacked-out private investigator.

Shrink looks at me dubiously, but quickly changes the subject. “How is your investigation going?”

“I hired someone to follow Gallant.” I plan to tell her as little as possible about The Potato Sack Princess. The less she knows, the better.

“And why is that?”

“She’s going to provide me with the final piece of evidence I need to prove that he’s having an affair with Aurora.”

“And what might that be?”

“That they’re engaged in extramarital sexual activity,” I say, trying to sound as scientific as I can. It does sound better than fucking their brains out.

“I see. And what are you going to do with this finding?”

I’m taken aback by her question. My lips part, but my tongue is tied.

“Are you going to add it to your so called ‘Growing List of Evidence’?” Shrink’s voice sounds threatening. I don’t like the tone of it.

“Um… ”

“And when, Jane, are you planning on confronting Gallant with all this evidence?” She’s building her case like a fortress, brick by brick.

A painful lump forms in my throat. The truth is, I’ve never thought about confronting Gallant with the evidence. I’ve never once fantasized that scenario or rehearsed the moment. Or imagined the consequences.

Shrink continues. “I find it interesting that you’ve discovered such an abundance of evidence ‘proving’ that your husband is having an affair with another woman. And yet, you’ve never put it under his nose.”

She’s right! I do have so much incriminating evidence. I could have even hit him up with Aurora’s first love letter but…

“You’ve never had the courage to confront him.” Shrink finishes my thought.

Tears trickle down my cheeks. Damn Shrink for being so right!

“Do you know why you are afraid?” she asks, her tone a little gentler.

I shake my head. My tears are blinding me.

“Because, Jane, you are afraid of losing him.”

Her words pierce my heart.

“And afraid of losing love.”

I wipe my watering eyes but can’t stop the flurry of tears. My whole life has been a quest for love. For the love I coveted but never had. My mother’s and then that of Snow White’s father who squired my stillborn and then deserted me. And when I finally found it with Gallant—and Calla—happiness was mine for the first time. Now, it’s all going away. Sadness devours me. I bury my face in my hands and sob until it hurts.

“Jane, look at me.” Shrink’s voice is soothing yet commanding.

Blinking back my burning tears, I lift my head and gaze at the tiny fairy, hovering over me like a hummingbird.

“I don’t believe you want to end your marriage to Gallant.”

“I love him so much,” I cry out from some place deep in my soul.

My shoulders heave with pain. Raw and reckless. My new reality gives me a hard kick in the gut.

“And I’m having his baby!” I blurt out, unable to keep it in any longer.

For the first time since she’s been here in Lalaland, Shrink is speechless.

The chime rings, signaling that our time is up.

And for the first time, Shrink doesn’t flit out the door.

“Jane, I must tell you something.”

I gaze up at her with a glint of hope. That she’ll have the solution to this fucked up life of mine.

“I’m going on a vacation to Neverland with my sister Tink for three weeks. I leave tomorrow.”

What! How could she do this to me? My marriage is about to collapse, and I’m carrying the child of the man who’s betrayed me. “What should I do?” I scream out in desperation, needing Shrink more than ever.

“You once ruled a kingdom. Now rule your heart.” She zooms out the door. Her trail of fairy dust smothers me.

“Don’t forget to write.” I choke out the words.

Oh God! What am I going to do?

Chapter 19

T
HE LONG AWAITED OPENING OF The Midas Museum of Art is just hours away. Everyone who is anyone will be there. I won’t.

The last twenty-four hours have been pure hell. While life kicks against the walls of my womb, all the blood inside me is draining. I haven’t seen Gallant since Calla’s birthday. And the truth is, I can’t bear to see him. After he announces his engagement tonight to Aurora, he will be out of my life. Forever.

At my desk, I stare absently at a sheet of parchment. The great thing about a blank sheet is that the possibilities are endless. You’re starting from scratch. You can write down anything you want. You can rewrite your life.

A little flutter kick inside me reminds me that, at least, I’ll have company. I’m going to have a child. My Prince’s child. Without him. Alone. A tear escapes my eye and falls onto the parchment. A sad beginning.

Calla’s cheery voice cuts into my gloom. “Mommy, I’m ready!”

My sweet little girl skips into my office. She’s wearing a red woolen cape and carrying a small suitcase. Secret trails behind her.

I almost forgot. My darling daughter is sleeping over Winnie’s house tonight. She didn’t want to go to the grand opening of the museum, even though both Gallant and I told her she could a while back. Spending an evening “with a bunch of boring adults” that she didn’t know was not her idea of fun. Now, knowing that Gallant and Aurora will be announcing their engagement, I’m glad she’s not going.

Maybe, I should tell Calla I’m staying home, and that there’s no need for a sleepover. I could use her company. And Secret’s too. The truth is, I can’t. She’s been so looking forward to spending the night at Winnie’s house. I think her blossoming “friendship” with Hansel has something to do with it. Winnie told me not to worry. Her husband John, who loathes big events like the gala, is staying home with the kids and will keep a watchful eye on them. He has a whole evening of fun and games planned. Just no kissing games.

Calla gives me a reproachful look. “Why aren’t you ready?”

My eyes meet hers, and melancholy sweeps over me. What a lovely, independent young woman she’s turning into. I’m so going to miss her when she’s no longer an everyday part of my life. I hope she and the baby will become close even if Gallant and I will no longer be together. Another tear trickles down my cheek.

“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Worry fills Calla’s big brown eyes.

“Nothing, my sweet girl.”
Everything
would be closer to the truth.

Stifling my tears, I grab my cloak and the boxed-up black gown I’ve been meaning to give back to Winnie. Calla’s birthday party was a missed opportunity. But understandably so. I was not in my right mind.

As we mount the coach, Calla remembers that she’s left something important behind.

“Hurry, my sweet girl!” I call out to her as she races back inside our palace.

When she returns, she is cradling Lady Jane in her arms. A smile spreads across my face despite my misery. God! I’m going to miss her!

Winnie’s house is a charming gingerbread-style two-story cottage that her husband John built from scratch. They used to live in a smaller house in another part of Lalaland, but it held too many painful memories—Winnie’s obesity, her crumbling marriage, and her psychotic breakdown that led her to almost eat her children. Winnie and John and their family needed to move away and let the past go with a fresh beginning.

They certainly could have afforded a much larger house—even a small palace—thanks to Winnie’s successful event planning business and cobbler John’s partnership in Elz’s shoe empire. But that’s not how Winnie wanted to raise her kids. All they needed was enough space for all of them to live comfortably—and an adequate, state-of-the art kitchen for Winnie to indulge her passion for cooking, and enough land to cultivate a garden full of vegetables, fruits, and flowers.

As soon as we arrive, Calla immediately runs off to play with Hansel, Gretel, and Curly in the beautiful garden. Secret, wagging his tail, follows her.

Winnie’s house always smells delicious, and today is no different. She leads me to her wonderful kitchen where platter after platter of delectable salads, tortes, and pastries line the counters. I inhale deeply. The unmistakable aroma of baking bread arouses warm memories. At Faraway, Winnie and I bonded over baking a loaf. She taught me that baking bread was a lot like making love.

Wearing a large apron and her long red hair pinned up, Winnie stirs a pudding that’s bubbling in a giant cauldron and then checks on the bread that’s baking in her palatial hearth.

This must be some extravagant birthday party she’s catering. Then I remember. She’s handling tonight’s opening of The Midas Museum of Art. Gallant’s retrospective! Aurora’s coming out party! Their announcement! My heart drops to the floor.

Back to stirring the pudding, Winnie wipes sweat off her brow with the back of her free hand. “Your mother-in-law is so demanding.”

“I thought you never wanted to work for Her Royal Bossiness again after the Princess Swan nightmare,” I manage.

“Don’t the words ‘off with your head’ mean anything to you yet?” Winnie sighs, now arranging a platter of sparkling star-shaped cookies.

I crack a faint smile. Inside, the baby kicks madly.

“Try one.” Winnie stuffs a cookie into my mouth. Although I’m sure it’s melt-in-your-mouth scrumptious, my taste buds are numb.

“The theme of the gala is ‘Reach for the Stars.’ The Queen wants it to be the ultimate celebration of Gallant’s creativity.”

How creative has he been with Aurora? The Potato Sack Princess will have the answer for me soon. I swallow hard. The masticated pastry mingles with bile in the back of my throat.

In need of a break, Winnie artfully assembles a small tray of pastries, along with pot of chamomile tea, and leads me to the cozy parlor that’s adjacent to the kitchen.