Isabella and the Slipper, page 19
Sirens sounded in the distance. Isabella ran to him, and he pulled her close with one arm while keeping the gun trained on Elenore.
“You were going to kill him!” Delilah shrieked. She ran to Elenore and slapped her face. Ava stood by, wringing her hands.
The sirens grew louder.
Chase hugged Isabella close, his heart pounding in his ears.
Two cop cars pulled up, and four police officers got out with their guns drawn. “Put the gun down!” one of them shouted.
Chase lowered the gun and dropped it on the grass, then he held his hands up in the air.
One of them stepped toward Elenore. “Elenore Shephard? You’re under arrest for fraud.” He handcuffed her and read her her rights as the other officers made sure no one else was armed.
“That was fast,” Chase said.
One of the men turned to him. “We’ve been investigating her for months. Things just sort of came to a head today.”
Chase leaned down and kissed Isabella’s forehead. “You’re safe now. It’s over.”
Isabella clenched Chase’s hand, waiting for Child Protective Services to come get her. Savannah sat on the other chair, her face white. The police had taken Elenore and her stepsisters away. She was still sitting in her father’s home, but would not be for too much longer. She tried to memorize everything she could.
Chase’s thumb caressed Isabella’s hand. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She nodded but didn’t quite believe him.
“Wherever you end up, it’s got to be better than what you’ve gone through with Elenore.”
“No doubt,” Savannah said.
Isabella’s throat grew tight. What if she had to change schools? What if her foster parents were horrible? She didn’t want to think about the ways her life could be worse.
“Tell me something on your bucket list,” Chase said in an obvious attempt to distract her and change the subject.
She had to think about it for a moment. “I’ve always wanted to go to Paris and see the Louvre.”
“That would be cool. Where else would you go?”
“Chicago. My father took me when I was little, but I don’t remember much. It would be great to go back to see the art museums there.”
“What about someplace scenic?” Savannah said. “Have you ever wanted to go see Niagara Falls or something?”
She crossed her legs, her nerves making her want to bounce her foot. “I’ve always wanted to go to Canada. Maybe visit Banff. I’ve seen photos, and it’s amazing up there.”
A man walked into the room, and Isabella jumped up. “Mr. Kato?”
He grinned, his smile stretching for miles. “Hey, my little art mouse.”
“What are you doing here?”
He hitched up his pants. “I thought maybe you could come live with me and Nan for a while.”
Isabella rushed into his arms, warmth filling her chest. “Really?”
He nodded.
Emotion flooded through her. She wouldn’t have to go live with strangers. “I can’t believe it.”
“You know I’ve always thought of you as a daughter. We’re filling out the paperwork now. Things won’t be official for a while, but they said we could have temporary custody until it is.”
Isabella felt like crying and shouting at the same time. Living with Mr. and Mrs. Kato would be wonderful. Mr. Kato had been such a good friend of her father’s. He always treated her like a princess. She never thought she’d live like this, but here she was, all her dreams coming true.
Epilogue
Isabella snuggled her back into Chase’s chest, the fall breeze blowing leaves across the cement. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
“This really is a perfect spot.” Chase kissed the top of her head.
The bench was wooden, like the one at Flatwater Park. And it was within walking distance from both of their apartments. Isabella watched the children running to catch a football in the grass. “It can be our secret rendezvous while we’re in college.”
“But no loose brick to hide notes under.”
“I guess we’ll have to be old-fashioned and just text each other.” Isabella grinned up at him, and he ran a finger down her cheek.
“You’re brilliant, as always.”
A couple of bikers rode past them. Isabella closed her eyes and laid her head on Chase’s shoulder. “I can’t believe Elenore is going to prison.”
“She committed fraud and child abuse. I’m glad she’ll be locked up. She’s crazy.”
“I got a phone call yesterday.” Isabella was bursting to tell him and couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“From who?”
“An attorney. Apparently, when Elenore said my father didn’t have a will, she was lying.”
Chase’s mouth dropped. “What did the will say?”
Isabella grinned and blinked back happy tears. “The house is mine.”
He hugged her close, the warmth of his embrace sending happy tingles over her. “I’m so happy. I know what that house means to you.”
“And all the paintings Elenore fraudulently sold. Those are mine, too.”
“Seriously?”
“And the gallery. And all his investments. Basically everything.” She smiled at him, watching the surprise dawn on his face.
“Holy cow.”
“Yeah. I never understood why my father hadn’t at least left me the painting of my mother. Now I realize Elenore knew all along that once I turned eighteen I’d inherit everything. The only way she could keep the money was to lock me away and say I disappeared. She’d been planning it for years.”
“But I guess she got greedy and started selling your paintings as your father’s.”
Isabella scoffed. “You’d think fifty million dollars would be enough. Who knew one person could be so selfish?”
“Do you know what happened to Delilah and Ava?”
Isabella threaded her fingers through Chase’s. “Delilah’s still in Los Angeles, I think. I guess art isn’t her thing anymore, after being laughed out of the community with her body paintings. Last I heard, she was spending her days hanging around the studios and begging to be an extra. And Ava got a job working at McDonald’s.”
Chase choked, coughing as he tried to breathe. “McDonald’s?”
“Yep.” Isabella smiled at the irony.
Chase squeezed her hand. “I have something for you.”
Isabella shielded the sun from her eyes as she looked at him. “What?”
He cleared his throat and handed her a thick envelope. She gave him a questioning look, then pulled the flap back, and peeked inside.
She gasped and pulled out a pile of photographs. Her mother. The familiar senior photo was on top, but then there were a dozen more, of her mother in different poses. Her throat constricted and she blinked back tears.
“How did you get these?”
“I did a little digging. I found the photographer who shot her senior pictures.”
She blinked up at him. “I don’t know what to say.”
“That’s okay. I wasn’t thinking of talking much, anyway.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Warmth filled her heart as she kissed him back, the sensations sending zings of electricity through her.
He pulled back, and she smiled at him. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”
“Hmm?”
Isabella squinted, the sun in her eyes. “Tomorrow is our one-year anniversary.”
He shifted. “Can’t be. We didn’t go to the fall formal until September twenty-fourth. It’s only the eighth.”
“Okay, tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of when we had our first official conversation.”
“Which one was that?”
“The one where you were too distracted by a pig to notice me.”
He laughed. “Ouch. Yeah, let’s not celebrate that one.”
“Oh, but I have the perfect thing we could do.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “What?”
“We could have a nice ham dinner.”
Chase’s laughter rang out. “I could go for that.”
Isabella settled in against his chest. Life had finally given her a happily ever after.
The End
Victorine E. Lieske lives in Nebraska where she writes to support her massive crafting habits. She devours sweet romance books, and loves all things romantic. She loves graphic design, and often designs covers for other authors. You can find more of her books on her website, www.victorinelieske.com
Victorine’s Books
Accidentally Married
Reluctantly Married
Mistakenly Married
Blissfully Married
Acting Married
Falling for the Beast
Not What She Seems
The Overtaking
Get a free book when you sign up for Victorine’s Newsletter at www.victorinelieske.com!
This book is dedicated to all those who have helped me with it. I couldn’t publish without you guys! My beta readers: Amy Linnabary Meyer, Crystal Walton, Debbie Jo, Juliann Whicker, Megan Ruff, Melanie Snitker, Michelle Pennington, Rachel John. My editing team: Delores Feeken Schmidt, Hayley Brooks, and Nicole D. And a huge thank you to my husband, who lets me spend long hours with other people. The kind that are just in my head. Love you, honey.
I couldn’t do this without all of you. Thank you!
Victorine E. Lieske, Isabella and the Slipper
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“You were going to kill him!” Delilah shrieked. She ran to Elenore and slapped her face. Ava stood by, wringing her hands.
The sirens grew louder.
Chase hugged Isabella close, his heart pounding in his ears.
Two cop cars pulled up, and four police officers got out with their guns drawn. “Put the gun down!” one of them shouted.
Chase lowered the gun and dropped it on the grass, then he held his hands up in the air.
One of them stepped toward Elenore. “Elenore Shephard? You’re under arrest for fraud.” He handcuffed her and read her her rights as the other officers made sure no one else was armed.
“That was fast,” Chase said.
One of the men turned to him. “We’ve been investigating her for months. Things just sort of came to a head today.”
Chase leaned down and kissed Isabella’s forehead. “You’re safe now. It’s over.”
Isabella clenched Chase’s hand, waiting for Child Protective Services to come get her. Savannah sat on the other chair, her face white. The police had taken Elenore and her stepsisters away. She was still sitting in her father’s home, but would not be for too much longer. She tried to memorize everything she could.
Chase’s thumb caressed Isabella’s hand. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She nodded but didn’t quite believe him.
“Wherever you end up, it’s got to be better than what you’ve gone through with Elenore.”
“No doubt,” Savannah said.
Isabella’s throat grew tight. What if she had to change schools? What if her foster parents were horrible? She didn’t want to think about the ways her life could be worse.
“Tell me something on your bucket list,” Chase said in an obvious attempt to distract her and change the subject.
She had to think about it for a moment. “I’ve always wanted to go to Paris and see the Louvre.”
“That would be cool. Where else would you go?”
“Chicago. My father took me when I was little, but I don’t remember much. It would be great to go back to see the art museums there.”
“What about someplace scenic?” Savannah said. “Have you ever wanted to go see Niagara Falls or something?”
She crossed her legs, her nerves making her want to bounce her foot. “I’ve always wanted to go to Canada. Maybe visit Banff. I’ve seen photos, and it’s amazing up there.”
A man walked into the room, and Isabella jumped up. “Mr. Kato?”
He grinned, his smile stretching for miles. “Hey, my little art mouse.”
“What are you doing here?”
He hitched up his pants. “I thought maybe you could come live with me and Nan for a while.”
Isabella rushed into his arms, warmth filling her chest. “Really?”
He nodded.
Emotion flooded through her. She wouldn’t have to go live with strangers. “I can’t believe it.”
“You know I’ve always thought of you as a daughter. We’re filling out the paperwork now. Things won’t be official for a while, but they said we could have temporary custody until it is.”
Isabella felt like crying and shouting at the same time. Living with Mr. and Mrs. Kato would be wonderful. Mr. Kato had been such a good friend of her father’s. He always treated her like a princess. She never thought she’d live like this, but here she was, all her dreams coming true.
Epilogue
Isabella snuggled her back into Chase’s chest, the fall breeze blowing leaves across the cement. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
“This really is a perfect spot.” Chase kissed the top of her head.
The bench was wooden, like the one at Flatwater Park. And it was within walking distance from both of their apartments. Isabella watched the children running to catch a football in the grass. “It can be our secret rendezvous while we’re in college.”
“But no loose brick to hide notes under.”
“I guess we’ll have to be old-fashioned and just text each other.” Isabella grinned up at him, and he ran a finger down her cheek.
“You’re brilliant, as always.”
A couple of bikers rode past them. Isabella closed her eyes and laid her head on Chase’s shoulder. “I can’t believe Elenore is going to prison.”
“She committed fraud and child abuse. I’m glad she’ll be locked up. She’s crazy.”
“I got a phone call yesterday.” Isabella was bursting to tell him and couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“From who?”
“An attorney. Apparently, when Elenore said my father didn’t have a will, she was lying.”
Chase’s mouth dropped. “What did the will say?”
Isabella grinned and blinked back happy tears. “The house is mine.”
He hugged her close, the warmth of his embrace sending happy tingles over her. “I’m so happy. I know what that house means to you.”
“And all the paintings Elenore fraudulently sold. Those are mine, too.”
“Seriously?”
“And the gallery. And all his investments. Basically everything.” She smiled at him, watching the surprise dawn on his face.
“Holy cow.”
“Yeah. I never understood why my father hadn’t at least left me the painting of my mother. Now I realize Elenore knew all along that once I turned eighteen I’d inherit everything. The only way she could keep the money was to lock me away and say I disappeared. She’d been planning it for years.”
“But I guess she got greedy and started selling your paintings as your father’s.”
Isabella scoffed. “You’d think fifty million dollars would be enough. Who knew one person could be so selfish?”
“Do you know what happened to Delilah and Ava?”
Isabella threaded her fingers through Chase’s. “Delilah’s still in Los Angeles, I think. I guess art isn’t her thing anymore, after being laughed out of the community with her body paintings. Last I heard, she was spending her days hanging around the studios and begging to be an extra. And Ava got a job working at McDonald’s.”
Chase choked, coughing as he tried to breathe. “McDonald’s?”
“Yep.” Isabella smiled at the irony.
Chase squeezed her hand. “I have something for you.”
Isabella shielded the sun from her eyes as she looked at him. “What?”
He cleared his throat and handed her a thick envelope. She gave him a questioning look, then pulled the flap back, and peeked inside.
She gasped and pulled out a pile of photographs. Her mother. The familiar senior photo was on top, but then there were a dozen more, of her mother in different poses. Her throat constricted and she blinked back tears.
“How did you get these?”
“I did a little digging. I found the photographer who shot her senior pictures.”
She blinked up at him. “I don’t know what to say.”
“That’s okay. I wasn’t thinking of talking much, anyway.” He leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Warmth filled her heart as she kissed him back, the sensations sending zings of electricity through her.
He pulled back, and she smiled at him. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”
“Hmm?”
Isabella squinted, the sun in her eyes. “Tomorrow is our one-year anniversary.”
He shifted. “Can’t be. We didn’t go to the fall formal until September twenty-fourth. It’s only the eighth.”
“Okay, tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of when we had our first official conversation.”
“Which one was that?”
“The one where you were too distracted by a pig to notice me.”
He laughed. “Ouch. Yeah, let’s not celebrate that one.”
“Oh, but I have the perfect thing we could do.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “What?”
“We could have a nice ham dinner.”
Chase’s laughter rang out. “I could go for that.”
Isabella settled in against his chest. Life had finally given her a happily ever after.
The End
Victorine E. Lieske lives in Nebraska where she writes to support her massive crafting habits. She devours sweet romance books, and loves all things romantic. She loves graphic design, and often designs covers for other authors. You can find more of her books on her website, www.victorinelieske.com
Victorine’s Books
Accidentally Married
Reluctantly Married
Mistakenly Married
Blissfully Married
Acting Married
Falling for the Beast
Not What She Seems
The Overtaking
Get a free book when you sign up for Victorine’s Newsletter at www.victorinelieske.com!
This book is dedicated to all those who have helped me with it. I couldn’t publish without you guys! My beta readers: Amy Linnabary Meyer, Crystal Walton, Debbie Jo, Juliann Whicker, Megan Ruff, Melanie Snitker, Michelle Pennington, Rachel John. My editing team: Delores Feeken Schmidt, Hayley Brooks, and Nicole D. And a huge thank you to my husband, who lets me spend long hours with other people. The kind that are just in my head. Love you, honey.
I couldn’t do this without all of you. Thank you!
Victorine E. Lieske, Isabella and the Slipper
