Page 61 of Lush Curves

Because I’ve never been the princess, always the disposable distant cousin.

What if I just rushed to beat him to the punch, thought that I was protecting myself by dumping him before he could dump me… but what if he really, truly, never intended to dump me at all? What if I pulled the trigger on an empty gun?

Shit. I’m an idiot.

“Has he ever lied to you before?” Callie asked. “Even once?”

“No.”

“Then why would he lie about this? If he says that he wants you and Cindy in his life at the same time, and he promises hat he’s going to make that happen somehow, why would that be a lie?”

“Uh… it wouldn’t be.”

“So why don’t you believe him?”

“I – oh, Lord.” Annie sighed, finally finally seeing the goddamn light. “I’m so stupid.”

“Yes,” Noah agreed. “Not in general and not about everything, but about this, you are. Now… it’s time to stop what you’ve been doing. Pull yourself together, Mom, because you’re amess. Go back to work tomorrow. Shower and wash your greasy hair. Clean up the house. Go shopping and buy some healthy food. Put on makeup again. Go back to your life. Wait for Doctor Sam to figure things out, then talk to him.” He paused. “And throw out that horrible sweater – it’s full of holes.”

“Yes, sweetheart,” Annie said meekly, so glad that her bossy son had come by. “Can I keep the cookies?”

“Yes.” Noah gave her a rare smile. “But save a few for when Doctor Sam comes over.”

Thatwas when Annie finally decided to wait for Sam, to fight for him, and for them. To make the fairy tale happen for real and for good – and no way inhellwas Annie going to be cast as the evil stepmother.

No. She was the princess. She always had been.

Now all she needed was her cue to re-enter, and go get her prince.

Chapter Thirteen

Two weeks later

Sam jolted awake, totally confused and disoriented. He turned over, saw Cindy’s sweet face almost right next to him. He jumped.

“Hi, little sunshine,” he said through a yawn. “Is it time for me to get up?”

“I don’t know, Daddy.” She clutched her favorite doll tightly. “Maybe?”

“Did your Mom send you to wake me up?”

“Nooooo.”

Something in her voice, some note of worry and hesitation, set off alarms in his head. He sat up, glanced over at the clock, blinked in astonishment. It was just past noon, and he’d fallen into bed after a double shift less than two hours earlier. He’d asked Kathleen to send Cindy in at six, to get him up for a family dinner and a Disney princess movie night… so what was his daughter doing herenow?

“Sweet pea,” he said, suddenly very afraid but not knowing why. “Where’s your Mom?”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

“Noooo…” Those brown eyes were brimming with tears now, and she hugged her doll closer. “She left.”

Sam bolted to his feet. “Left? Left the house?”

“Yes, Daddy.” Cindy sniffled. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no… sweet pea, don’t be sorry.” Sam scooped her up into his arms, dropped a kiss on her dark head. “You didn’t do anything wrong, OK?”

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