บท 51: dreaming of his life. (51)

Zane came home proud of what he started today.

Not only did he order a ring and get Betty to help. He also closed two major deals that boosted his company to compete with his fathers company.

He found Bella reading and quietly watched her. You could see the changes she made in facial features as she reads.

He wondered what story she was reading now.

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇ CINDERELLA cont.

But her mother said, "It is all of no use, you cannot go; you have no clothes, and cannot dance; and you would only put us to shame;" and off she went with her two daughters to the feast.

Now when all were gone, and nobody left at home, Cinderella went sorrowfully and sat down under the hazel-tree, and cried out-- "Shake, shake, hazel-tree, gold and silver over me!"

Then her friend the bird flew out of the tree and brought a gold and silver dress for her, and slippers of spangled silk; and she put them on, and followed her sisters to the feast. But they did not know her, she looked so fine and beautiful in her rich clothes.

The king's son soon came up to her, and took her by the hand and danced with her and no one else; and he never left her hand, but when any one else came to ask her to dance, he said, "This lady is dancing with me."

Thus they danced till a late hour of the night, and then she wanted to go home; and the king's son said, "I shall go and take care of you to your home," for he wanted to see where the beautiful maid lived.

But she slipped away from him unawares, and ran off towards home, and the prince followed her; then she jumped up into the pigeon-house and shut the door. So he waited till her father came home, and told him that the unknown maiden who had been at the feast had hidden herself in the pigeon-house.

But when they had broken open the door they found no one within; and as they came back into the house, Cinderella lay, as she always did, in her dirty frock by the ashes; for she had run as quickly as she could through the pigeon-house and on to the hazel-tree, and had there taken off her beautiful clothes, and laid them beneath the tree, that the bird might carry them away; and had seated herself amid the ashes again in her little old frock.

The next day, when the feast was again held, and her father, mother and sisters were gone, Cinderella went to the hazel-tree, and all happened as the evening before.

The king's son, who was waiting for her, took her by the hand and danced with her; and, when any one asked her to dance, he said as before, "This lady is dancing with me."

When night came she wanted to go home; and the king's son went with her, but she sprang away from him all at once into the garden behind her father's house.

In this garden stood a fine large pear-tree; and Cinderella jumped up into it without being seen.

Then the king's son waited till her father came home, and said to him, "The unknown lady has slipped away, and I think she must have sprung into the pear-tree."

The father ordered an axe to be brought, and they cut down the tree, but found no one upon it. And when they came back into the kitchen, there lay Cinderella in the ashes as usual; for she had slipped down on the other side of the tree, and carried her beautiful clothes back to the bird at the hazel-tree, and then put on her little old frock.

The third day, when her father and mother and sisters were gone, she went again into the garden, and said-- "Shake, shake, hazel-tree, gold and silver over me!"

Then her kind friend the bird brought a dress still finer than the former one, and slippers which were all of gold; and the king's son danced with her alone, and when any one else asked her to dance, he said, "This lady is my partner."

Now when night came she wanted to go home; and the king's son would go with her, but she managed to slip away from him, though in such a hurry that she dropped her left golden slipper upon the stairs. So the prince took the shoe, and went the next day to the king, his father, and said, "I will take for my wife the lady that this golden shoe fits."

◇◇◇♡♡♡◇◇◇

Bella felt something watching her and looked up to see her beast and smiled.

"Your home." She said.

"Mmhhh" He noded. "What story or you on now?"

"Cinderella, its the third night of the ball." She said placing the book on the chair and walking into his arms.

"Almost half way through the book now." He said.

"I guess so."

"Come lets go eat, It's been a long day." He scooped her up and carried her as she giggled.

"Tell me about your day." She said.

Zane talked about the two deals that went through and the stock market closing giving his stock a boost. He told her about the hospital he was helping with and a few other things that happened today.

Soon dinner was over.

"Let's go for a swim." He said.

They ran upstairs to change and he walked hand in hand with her to the pool.

They relaxed and watched the sun go down. He the carried her upstairs and helped her clean up.

This was a dream to him having her this close. He then pulled her close and she fell asleep listening to his heart beat.

He felt at peace and drifted off himself and dreamed.

{"Honey I can't find my good tie pin."

"It in my top drawer of my jewelry box."

"Found it."

Bella walks out her face is wrinkled but still as beautiful. Her hair has turned silver.

"Can you zip me up." She asked.

"The kids will be here soon. I can't believe we have been married for 40 years now."

"Seems like yesterday you were dressed like a beast down on one knee and asked for my hand. It was so romantic. Then when I said yes you turned into a handsome prince." Bella had tears in her eyes.

He looked at their hands and they wore the rings he help design.

He the glanced in the mirror at his handsome face. He may be in his seventies but he was still very handsome.}