Page 69 of A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street
It’s only the clock chiming that makes us realise we’ve been outside for a couple of hours, and I gear myself up for facing everyone.
‘Oh, there you are!’ When we emerge from the secret garden, Scarlett pulls me into a hug and waves an arm towards Witt. ‘I told you he’d be there!’
She and Ebony are hanging around the entrance hall with a few other Ever After Street regulars, and I’m surprised Ebony has come.
She’s wearing a dress I made her ages ago, a floor-length gown with a Queen Anne neckline in grey silk with a black rose pattern embroidered in the sheer outer layer, the kind of thing we used to sell but haven’t for years now, and it’s a nice reminder of the past. ‘I didn’t know you still had that.’
‘Of course I have it. Do you think I’d ever throw out something you’d made me? I’ve still got picture frames made of pasta that you made for me in infant school when I was still just your aunt.’ She takes a step towards me. ‘Sadie, can we talk?’
I tighten my grip on Witt’s hand, letting him know not to go anywhere, and making sure Ebony realises she can say whatever she wants to in front of him, and he inclines his head, leading the four of us into a hallway and closing a door for some privacy.
She takes a deep breath and looks at Scarlett, who gives her a nod of reassurance. What is going on here?
‘The Cinderella Shop is yours. I hand it over with immediate effect. Expect a call from my solicitor to go in and sign the paperwork, but I’ve already instructed them to begin the process of changing ownership.’
She blurts the sentence out in such a rush that it takes a minute for me to untangle the words, and I go to speak a few times before anything will come out. ‘But… why?’
‘Because you were right in what you said. We’re trying to run two different businesses, and neither of us are succeeding. When I realised you believed in our shop as it used to be – so much so that you’d walk away because of me, I swallowed my pride andreallylooked at what you’ve been doing over the last five weeks. It was eye-opening to see how well you’ve done – without me. The Cinderella Shop is thriving for the first time in years, and why? BecauseI’vebeen away. It made me think about what you could do if youweren’twaiting for me to come back, worrying about what I’d say, keeping things quiet so I don’t find out.’
‘It was never meant to be like that. I just had to dosomething, and…’
‘It’s okay, I understand. When you left me in the shop the other day, I realised why I go away so much. I don’t want to work in a shop any more. Ilovedthat shop when I first took over. You were ten years old andyouhad to teachmehow to sew, and they were a wonderful few years. Full of grief, of course, but full of joy too. A feeling that I was doing right by my sister, that between us three, we’d make your parents proud, and that’s got lost along the way. We’veallgot lost along the way. I’m floundering around, trying to save a sinking business, and feeling like I will somehow have failed my sister if I don’t do it by myself, when the reality is that I should have talked to you and Scarlett long agoandlistened to your opinions. I thought we just needed one bigthingto bail us out, and then I would have fulfilled the promise I’d made to your mum and dad. And instead, I bury my head in the sand and take holidays under the guise of working, in the hopes that some time away will give me the space to come up with some brilliant plan, and it never happens, so off I go again, telling myself it’ll be better next time, and it never is. And all along, I’ve ignored our best asset – you. The dresses you make, and your intimate knowledge of Ever After Street, and your experience of what the peopleherewant. What you’ve been telling me all along.’
I blush and Witt nudges his arm against mine. I can’t take all this in. Ebony saying things that I’ve desperately wanted to hear her say for so long.
‘I’ll pay back my travel costs into the business account, and then I’ll back out. I’ll always be your aunt, Sadie. Always on hand if you want advice, but it’s time for me to step back from everything else. What you said about us losing our relationship really hit home. I’m pushing you away as my niece, my daughter in all senses of the word, in my misguided attempt to do what’s best for the business, and you’re more important to me than that.’
Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly cry any more today, tears have filled my eyes again. ‘Ebony, I don’t know what to say. Are you sure?’
‘The surest I’ve ever been. I’ve rarely had confidence in anything to do with The Cinderella Shop. I feel like I’ve never outgrown that heartbroken, blundering young woman who walked into that shop after their will was read, and thought, “Howcan I do this?”’
‘I didn’t know that.’
‘I’m good at projecting confidence. You have to be. It isn’t easy to be taken seriously in the business world, and you have to make people think you know what you’re doing, even if you don’t. But now, for the first time, Iknowthis is the right move, for all three of us. And those dresses you have hidden upstairs. They’re so beautiful, Sadie. They should be on show, on display, on sale where they’ll attract customers, not hidden behind the things I think might catch some rich celebrity’s eye. You can do that now. Make The Cinderella Shop exactly what you want it to be.’
‘I will.’ My mind is already filled with ideas of the window displays I want to create, the dresses I can make now, the people who will be able to buy them.
‘I should have handed the shop over to you many years ago. I’ve never wanted to give in to that stipulation and “consider you ready” because I never wanted you to grow up. My sister can’t be gone if her little girl is still a little girl – if I’m somehow still taking care of you until she comes back. But once you were old enough, Ishouldhave given you a choice, so I’m a little late, butI’mready now. What about you?’
‘I’ve been ready for years. This is all I wanted. My aunt back and the chance to return the shop to how it was when my mum and dad ran it, with a modern twist and a greater emphasis on more casual dresses that still feel like they could’ve slipped out of a fairy tale.’
‘That sounds perfect. How it should be.’ She comes over and gives me a hug and we hold onto each other for so long that it’s like we’re making up for lost time.
‘This is Witt, by the way.’ I’ve somehow managed to hug her without letting go of his hand. ‘Please learn his name, you’ll be seeing a lot more of him.’
She unexpectedly pulls him into a hug too.
‘What will you do now?’ I ask when she releases my unnerved-looking Prince Charming.
‘Honestly, I’m not sure. How long it took me to recover from standing on my feet all day when you went on strike made me wonder if it reallyistime to think about retirement…’
Scarlett and I glance at each other doubtfully. The one thing Icannotimagine Ebony doing is retiring.
‘No?’ Ebony looks between us until we both burst out laughing. ‘I don’t know, but something part time, I think. I enjoy working with boutiques; maybe I could offer my expertise on a consultancy basis.’
‘They’ll be lucky to have you.’ I really mean it. Just because what Ebony does doesn’t fit The Cinderella Shop, doesn’t mean it won’t be wonderful for other shops with different goals and different customers.
‘What about you?’ I turn to Scarlett. ‘You want to be a full-time hairdresser, not stay on to help me out.’
