Page 9 of Isabella and the Slipper

I’m nobody.

For some reason, those words stabbed into his chest. She didn’t think she was important. It made him sad, and he felt bad that he hadn’t even really looked at her when they’d accidentally switched phones.

You’re not nobody.

Delilah’s front door opened, and he was caught standing on the porch, staring at his phone. He gave Delilah an apologetic smile and stuffed his phone in his pocket. “Hi.”

She grabbed his arm. “Chase! You’re here. I’m so glad you made it.” She pulled him inside, hugging him close to her side.

This was going to be a long night.

Just after Isabella received Chase’s text claiming she wasn’t a nobody, she heard Delilah shout his name. She tossed his phone onto the desk, figuring there wouldn’t be any more messages from him that night. She’d wait until everyone was gone and sneak out of the house. Flatwater Park wasn’t too far. Just a few blocks. She could walk there and back without anyone knowing.

She set her alarm, then shut off her lamp, placed her glasses on the nightstand, and climbed into her sleigh-shaped bed. Snuggling under the covers, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to think about Chase.

His phone made another noise. She was intensely curious as to what he was saying, but she needed to get to sleep if she was going to get up in the middle of the night. Two seconds ticked by before she sat up and grabbed the phone, unable to stand it. She squinted at the screen.

Did you get my text?

She sighed and answered him.Yes. Now let me sleep. I need to sneak out tonight.

Okay. Have sweet dreams.

She was sure she would. Pop music filtered through the floor, along with indistinct chatter, but she managed to fall asleep anyway. When her alarm woke her up at three o’clock in the morning, the house was silent.

The September night air was cool on her face as she climbed down the lattice fastened to the house next to her balcony. The house sat on a steep cliff, and she had to watch her footing or she’d slip off the edge. She didn’t sneak out often, but with the way her life was, it was nice to have a way to escape once in a while.

The walk to the park was uneventful. She scanned the area for people, and when she didn’t see anyone, she pried up the loose brick. A cool sweat broke out on her forehead when she found a phone lying there in the little hollowed-out cement space. She took it out and saw a sticky note attached to the glass.

Thanks for helping me with things tonight. You’re not a nobody.

Her heart crept into her throat. She needed to stop thinking about Chase, and texting back and forth wasn’t going to help. She punched a few icons and deleted their conversation from his phone, then slipped his phone into the space and put the brick back on top.

There. He wouldn’t be able to text her again.

As she walked away, regret gnawed at her gut. She’d miss their texts, but it was for the best. He was the popular guy at school. Once he found out who she was, he’d lose interest anyway. She was nowhere near Chase’s league. Besides, if Delilah found out she was communicating with him, her home life would become even more of a living hell.

She climbed back up to her balcony and slipped into bed. She spent the next twenty minutes trying to convince herself that she didn’t feel horrible for cutting off their communication. Sleep finally came to her as the early morning birds started chirping.

Her cell phone made a noise, and she sat up with a start. Ten o’clock? She hadn’t meant to sleep in so late. Was Chase texting her again? She picked up her phone, her heart racing.

Isabella, get down here this instant. You’re late for the gallery. You have work to do. If you don’t come down now, your phone goes in the trash.

Oh. Not Chase. Right.

She’d erased her number from his phone. She climbed out of bed and threw on her clothes. “Coming!” she called. It was best if she just complied. Elenore was much easier to live with if Isabella did what she asked—and didn’t make too much eye contact.

She scarfed down a bowl of cereal and rinsed the empty dish in the sink. Elenore entered the room, her long skirt swishing. “There are fifteen new paintings waiting to be attended to at the gallery.”

Fifteen? That many? How was she even going to find room for them?

“We are losing money when we have them sitting in the storage area, especially on a Saturday. I expect you to do your job, or you can give up your phone privileges.”

She nodded and started for the door. “Yes, ma’am.” She didn’t want to hear another hour-long lecture.

She walked to the gallery, dreading having to find places to display all those paintings. She’d be rearranging things and moving lighting all day. Creating fifteen entries for the website would take another full day. Her entire weekend was shot.

The electronic doorbell made a chiming noise as she entered the brightly lit gallery. Leilani was helping a customer, so she snuck into the back room and looked at the paintings stacked up along the walls. A new artist. She studied the work. Great use of light. She made a mental note to incorporate that more into her own work.

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