Savage Cinderella (12 page)

Abby grinned. "Well, I see your point."
Continuing her task with a bit more mercy—finally conceding to
cutting a few particularly stubborn tangles out with scissors—she
peered over Brinn's shoulder. "Do you think Phillip is handsome? I
mean, do you like the way he looks?"

Brinn thought for a moment as she blew
bubbles out of her hand. "I guess so. I can see you like him very
much." She smiled at her friend, whose eyes lit and voice softened
when she spoke his name.

"Oh, I’m soooo in love with him. That’s why
I'm going to marry him. He’s totally cute and he’s a hard worker.
He's going to be rich and successful. I think he’ll make a good
husband and father, too. He wants tons of kids. So do I." Abby
gushed on about her plans with Phillip, stopping only when Brinn's
silence and withdrawal became apparent.

Her head was barely above the water, her eyes
and nose set on the surface like a blue-eyed sea monster ready to
submerge. She wanted to tell her friend about Justin, but she
hesitated. Abby might think that she was inventing him in order to
make the engagement news less painful. When they were younger,
she’d made up stories about imaginary people all the time to amuse
her friend. It made them both feel better to pretend that she
wasn’t alone in the world. But stories of pirates, magicians and
Indians couldn’t hide the truth. She was alone—and would continue
to be alone—unless she was brave enough to face the world.

"You know," Abby continued slowly, "even
though Phillip and I are going to be married, it doesn't mean I
won't see you anymore."

Brinn remained still, wondering whether she
should rise above the bubbles or sink all the way down to the
bottom of the deep tub. Abby would never be the same now that she
loved Phillip. She knew because she, herself, would never be the
same since she’d met Justin. Maybe what happened between them
wasn’t love, but whatever it was, she knew she wanted more.

She’d been counting the days and watching the
moon slide higher above the tree tops, growing a little more each
night, along with her longing to see him again. With their meeting
still over a week away, she was anxious for the days to pass. He’d
said he would find her. What if he didn’t come back? What if she
never saw him again?

No. She couldn’t think like that. She shook
her head, forcing Abby to draw back with the scissors and eye her
reproachfully. “Sit still or I’ll cut your hair crooked.”

Brinn sighed in submission, then closed her
eyes, imagining the warmth around her coming from Justin’s arms.
Since she’d woken with him holding her gently against his broad
chest, nothing felt the same. He’d looked at her with compassion
and purpose—not pity. He cared for her. His face showed his every
emotion, raw and sincere in a way that gave her a sense of
connection she’d never felt with anyone.

She noticed a change down deep inside herself
since then, as if something had broken free that night—like she’d
been stripped of a cocoon that had held her bound. For the first
time in a very long time, she wanted to trust someone new. It was
time she took a chance. Although apprehensive about the prospect of
going out in public and being around so many people, the
butterflies that fluttered in her stomach felt ready to make their
escape. The city would be the perfect place to spread her new
wings.

She pushed away the tendrils of fear that
snaked along her skin. The flesh on her arms rose as if chilled,
despite the steamy water. Being alone had kept her safe and alive.
Now, her life of exile felt like a prison sentence she longed to
escape. It was now or never. If she wanted to be a part of Justin's
life, she knew she would have to try to be a part of his world. A
glimmer of hope, a desire for more, sparked inside her. A future
filled with possibility lay ahead.

If only she could wash away the shadows of
the past. Doubt crept into her mind. Would she be safe in Justin’s
world? Could he protect her or would he use her story to make a
name for himself? She understood enough about people to ask the
question. People looked out for themselves; that’s just how the
world worked. Would Justin prove to be different? She sank beneath
the water, slowly released her breath, and descended to the bottom,
sending a stream of bubbles to the surface.

After a minute, Abby reached in and plucked
her from the depths. Water splashed over the edge of the tub and
sent soapsuds into the air. "Besides," she continued, undaunted,
"the wedding won't be for another year. We’re waiting for Phillip
to graduate and start his new job. He's already been invited to
work at a research facility in Charlotte, and if we can make you a
little more...presentable in the meantime, maybe you can come and
visit me sometimes in North Carolina. It isn't really that far. You
could take the bus..." Brinn ducked under the water again, drowning
out Abby’s words. One step at a time, she thought, rinsing away the
last remnants of soap and grime.

Brinn stepped out of the deep tub and dried
off. The dripping water soaked the plush bath mat beneath her feet,
the cool air bringing another shiver along her flesh. Abby studied
her silently. Brinn pulled the towel tighter around her shoulders,
uncomfortable with the scrutiny.

“
Do you remember much about
it?” Abby asked tentatively as she averted her eyes.

“
What?” Brinn knew what her
friend was asking but pretended otherwise. She clamped her teeth
together to stop them from chattering. The warmth of the hot water
quickly receded and the cold of her nakedness took over. She slid
the towel lower to cover the scars on her thigh. The pity in Abby’s
eyes gnawed at the tight knot in her stomach.

“
You’ve never talked about
what happened when you were little. Do you remember much about your
life before the mountain?” Abby wrapped a thick soft bathrobe
around Brinn’s shoulders and led her to the bed, sitting down
beside her.

“
Not really.” Brinn said
quietly. She did not want to have this conversation. It would be
hard enough to face the world again without dredging up all those
old feelings and awful memories. “It’s in the past,” she said,
lifting her chin in defiance. “I want to concentrate on the future
for a change.”

Abby nodded agreement and smiled a little
sadly. “I understand. But if you ever want to talk about it, I’m
here.” She gave Brinn a one-armed hug and grinned up at her. “Let’s
get you dressed.”

Happy to let the topic go, she watched as
Abby rummaged through her closet, throwing dresses onto the bed and
piling shoes into a heap on the floor. “Take your pick.”

Since Abby was shorter and had more curves
than Brinn, Abby thought it best to stay with something flowy and
simple. They settled on a knee-length sundress that gathered under
her breasts, with thin straps and a tiny floral print. It was a
little short on Brinn's long frame, but the small pink and yellow
flowers gave her a radiant glow. The outfit was finished off with a
pair of strappy sandals that left her newly trimmed and painted
toes open to the air and hanging slightly over the edge of the
small shoes.

Brinn clomped back and forth across the room.
“Can’t I just wear my boots?”

“
I don’t think so.” Abby
grimaced as she put Brinn’s old clothes and boots into a bag,
holding each item by two fingers as if disposing of a dead fish.
“You’ll get used to them. Try to walk like a lady. Take smaller
steps. Keep your feet closer together,” she coached until Brinn
figured out that walking in heels was similar to crossing a stream
on slippery rocks. If she pointed her toes and stepped softly, she
managed slightly more grace than a waddling badger.

Once she mastered the treacherous footwear,
Abby sat her down on a small cushioned stool and ran a brush
through her hair. The idea of being in the city among crowds of
people had her fidgeting on her seat. Despite the queasiness in her
stomach at the prospect of what was to come, the long brush strokes
soothed her nerves.

“
Everything will be fine.
Relax,” Abby said confidently. She brushed on some pink blush and
drew lines underneath each of Brinn’s eyes with a dark pencil.
“Look up and stay still,” she said. Next, Abby dabbed a tar-like
substance on Brinn’s lashes, nearly putting her eye out as Brinn
blinked uncontrollably.

“
Is all of this really
necessary?” Brinn asked, annoyed.

“
It will all be worth it;
trust me.” Abby continued painting on eye makeup and lip gloss
until Brinn squirmed with impatience. “Voila,” she said, standing
back and admiring her work.

Finally, with her hair blown dry and teeth
brushed to gleaming, Brinn was ready. The girls marched into the
hallway and stood in front of a long mirror. Abby stepped to the
side and peered around her friend. "You look amazing!"

Brinn stared at her reflection, not believing
her eyes. She reached up and touched her hair. It was neatly parted
down the center and hung in long layers of silken strands on either
side of her face, draped like a lace shawl over both shoulders. She
sniffed the midnight black feathers that slipped through her
fingers. The strands were shiny and smooth and smelled of soap and
honey. Her face was darkly tanned, her nose freckled, but the
pinkish glow in her cheeks gave her an undeniable radiance. Eyes
the blue of summer skies stared back from the mirror, the lashes
long and lustrous. Her shimmering lips tasted like sweet
berries.

The outfit her friend picked out was the most
beautiful article of clothing she’d ever worn. The soft material
caressed her skin, bringing to mind Justin’s touch and setting her
nerve endings on fire. What would he think if he saw her like this?
Her heart fluttered against her chest and warmth pooled in her
belly. Would she ever get used to these strange sensations that
happened every time she thought of him?

When Abby had suggested that she shave the
hair from her legs and under her arms, she thought her friend was
going too far. But seeing the skin on her legs shimmer, soft and
smooth as a shiny leaf, made Brinn’s lips turn up at the edges in a
satisfied smile. She examined her reflection in awe. Then the image
blurred as tears stung her eyes and cascaded over the brim.

“
Don’t cry; you’ll ruin
your makeup.” Abby rushed to grab a tissue. “Are you all right,
Brinn?”

Taking the tissue and dabbing the happy tears
away, she smiled and sniffled, “I’m...pretty.”

“
Of course you are.” Abby
stood close beside her. She wrapped an arm around Brinn’s shoulder
and joined her in front of the mirror. “You are going to turn some
heads, my friend.”

Brinn turned away from the mirror. She
shivered at the thought of people...men, seeing her dressed like
this, her arms and legs bare. A solid lump formed in her throat.
Swallowing hard, she faced her friend. “I have one question.”

“
What’s that?” Abby looked
at her quizzically.

“
Where do I put my
knife?”

Into the World

When Phillip met the two girls on the wide
steps of the covered porch, his jaw dropped. "Wow! What a
transformation!" He glanced admiringly from Brinn to Abby, who was
grinning from ear to ear in satisfaction.

"She's amazing, isn't she?"

"That she is." Phillip commented kindly.

Grateful that Abby had found her a suitable
sweater, Brinn squirmed under his roving eye. He no longer wore the
expression of disgust she'd seen on his face earlier, but the look
in his eye was a bit too wolfish for comfort. Her face warmed with
apprehension at his response.

"This calls for a celebration. Why don't we
go into the city, have some dinner, and I'll take you to my
favorite hot spot in Atlanta?" Phillip wrapped an arm around Abby’s
waist.

Abby eyed Brinn cautiously. “There’ll be a
lot of people for your first time out. Would that be all right with
you?"

Brinn smiled nervously. It was clear that her
friend wanted to go. Besides, Atlanta was where Justin lived. If
she was lucky, maybe she could find him. Encouraged by the thought,
she took a deep breath, clenched her fists and followed the two
away from the solid safety of the McMurrays’ front porch.

“
I’m ready,” she
said.

Abby’s smile lit with relief. She grabbed
Brinn’s hand and squeezed. “I won’t leave you alone for a minute,
okay?”

Before she knew it, she was riding in the
cramped back seat of a pickup truck, speeding down the road past
buildings and houses and fast-moving cars that made her head spin.
Excitement fueled her nerves and tension thrummed, restless as a
bumblebee inside her. The breeze from the open window caressed her
face, easing her sense of impending doom. She tipped her face to
the wind, feeling the speed at which everything passed by—as if she
were flying. Her hair floated and whipped around her face, tickling
her cheeks. She felt more alive than she had in years.

By the time they reached the city, she’d
grown somewhat more accustomed to the various strange sights along
the way, though the rumble in her belly wasn’t just from hunger.
She swallowed the acid that crept up her throat. Stay calm and
breathe. These internal instructions kept her mind focused and
present—a trick she’d found useful when stressful situations
threatened to bring on an attack of panic.

When they reached downtown Atlanta, she gaped
in fascination. The city was bustling with people. They were
everywhere; walking alone and walking in groups, packed together in
herds on concrete paths, and shoulder to shoulder on street corners
as they waited for lights to turn color. All of the faces blurred
as her mind spun.