A Fairy Godmother's Happily Ever After: Fairy Godmother's once upon a time, #2

By Wildfires mane

Charlotte Waters ran from home after a heartbroke destroyed her. She spent years trying to rebuild her life and quit living in the past. Her goal was to chase her dreams, make things come true, and focus solely on living to make others happy. New oppurtuntities present themselves and while tempted, a part of her can't seem to let go of the past. Especially when ghosts begin to show themselves in her present, ghosts from her past that she isn't sure she is ready to come face ot face with. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wildfiresmane
• Release date: Oct 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215624371

Wildfires mane

 I have had a passion for writing since I was a young child in school, and over the years that love has only grown. I don't like to label myself to only one genre, My only hope is that I can bring the joy to those that read my stories as all of my favorite authors have brought to me over the years. My favorite part of reading is the story line and being able to completely get lost in the realm of a different world with the characters, it allows me to decompress and if for only a few minutes in a day, the stress of the world we live in right now, disappears. I only hope that I can bring that to you too. Truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for deciding to take this journey with my book.

Book preview

Prelude

Hard to believe standing on the stage in front of my family and friends I had already been through my four years of college and was graduating once again. Lizzy, dad, Sam, Selene, Josh, and Dillon all sat in the crowd and cheered me on, leaving me with a feeling of accomplishment, yet again.

Rewind four years; when I left home after graduation, Josh, Dillon, and I returned to New York to the small apartment that Sam and I had rented. From there, I dove in headfirst to summer classes, and found a part time job working as a stagehand for one of the local designers in New York. I worked solid for four years, between classes, my job, and The Fairy Godmother’s Closet, there was no time to think about anything else.

Selene had pretty much written Shayla off when she confronted her about what she done, and Shayla showed no remorse. Selene apologized to me and my family profusely, and we assured her it was okay, but she was still upset and ended up signing over her share of the business to Josh, who was more than happy to become a partner. She still did all of our photos and stuff for the shoots. We eventually found another girl in one of my classes who was trying to get into modeling that we used as our new face three years after high school. Selene was able to go into the original images and overlay Shayla’s images with the new girls, and they looked as if she had been the original girl from the very beginning.

The Fairy Godmother’s Closet had taken off so well, that dad ended up quitting his job and going to work for F.G.C. full time along with Sam and Lizzy. Lizzy also had to hire some more employees to help with sorting through donations and a few seamstresses to help with creating the abundance of orders she had received for her new line, while dad hired a few more to help with deliveries and pick-ups. Lizzy had been working hard on me to create my own line, and while I was sketching like crazy, I hadn’t found the perfect line yet that I was ready to create, so I just kept telling her, give me a little more time. There were days I found myself pinching myself not really believing that the business was not only still doing well but was thriving and growing.

Sam usually came up once a month and stayed a week with us; he spent some time with us, but he also spent a lot of time traveling to local businesses and higher society events to try and get more involvement for F.G.C. We all scolded him for not trying to find a little bit of life for himself, he didn’t date, he didn’t socialize with any friends, he was basically a male version of me, work was all he did.

Josh graduated from the design class he was taking in two years, it mainly want to focus on the graphic end, and what knowledge he learned, he was constantly pouring into the business. Dillon would be graduating two days after me, and already had a job lined up with a huge tech company base in the city where he would be able to put his tech degree to work. He wanted to be able to design games, and other things, and the tech company fell in love with his pitches.

Me, well, I was graduating, with no plan. I thought when I graduated high school I had it all lined out, I knew exactly what I was going to do, but standing on that stage, I had no clue. Was I supposed to work in the fashion industry as an apprentice, or was I supposed to return home and work for F.G.C.; I was completely at a loss? When I lost Jake, it did something to me, it made my future plans shaky and not so easy to see.

I had written my own story, I had written the beginning to the Fairy Godmother, and I knew how it ended. Maybe that’s why I didn’t know where to go, maybe it was because I already knew the ending; me alone making everyone happy, making others dreams come true.

Chapter 1

I ’m so proud of you honey, dad cheered as he wrapped his arms around me after the graduation ceremony.

Thanks dad.

Why don’t we go get a bite to eat, and celebrate? Lizzy suggested as she followed dad’s lead giving me a hug."

Nothing fancy, I pointed while smiling at them. There’s a little diner near the park that we love to eat at, and it usually isn’t too crowded this time of day.

Come on, I’m driving, Josh motioned us to follow him and Dillon.

Thirty minutes later and a ton of traffic, we all found ourselves at the diner. Josh knew the owners and had called ahead of time to make sure they saved our favorite booth for us. And it was big enough to fit us all so there was no having to split our group. I sat and listened quietly while everyone made small talk while we waited for our food. My mind seemed to be somewhere else, I didn’t know why it was stuck in the past, but it felt like I was missing someone, for the first time in a long time, I felt that missing part. No one had spoke his name, or heard from him since graduation, and I hadn’t given myself time to think about it since the first few months in New York, when I looked for him around every corner, or late at night when I was in my bed all alone, I let myself shed the tears I had been holding back. Josh told me one time that I had to move on, I couldn’t stay stuck, but I couldn’t. My time had already come and went, and that was something I had to deal with.

Charley, honey, are you still with us? Lizzy softy asked as she squeezed my arm, and I shook off whatever was running through my mind.

Yea, just having a day I guess. I tried to joke. What were you saying?

We wanted to know what your plans are now? She raised her brows.

I don’t really know to be honest, everything I said I was going to do, I did. And now I don’t know where to go from here. I admitted out loud.

That’s the beauty of it Charley, the world is waiting for you with open arms, you can do anything. Selene sung.

Thanks, Selene. I really don’t know though.

I think it’s time you start your own line, you are more than ready, and we have several schools lined up next year to receive prom dresses for their girls who wouldn’t be able to afford a dress otherwise. Dad added.

That got my attention, and I raised my brows looking at him, You can’t be serious? I knew we had branched out to several places in Virginia, and a couple of other states, but I didn’t know that we were already taking orders for a year in advance.

Seriously Charley, I don’t think you really realize how big your dream has gotten.

I guess I don’t. I shrugged.

Charley? My name was called from behind me, and I felt a shiver run up my spine as I slowly turned around to meet with a blast from the past. She smiled at me and slowly walked toward the table. Oh my gosh Charley, I thought that was you.

Jess? I almost choked out as I slowly stood to my feet and slid out of the booth. What are you doing here?

She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tight, while I tried to grab my bearings. I just got an apartment a few blocks from here, and the landlord recommended this place. I thought I would come get a bite before I started unpacking. She slowly turned loose and leaned back from me and smiled, No hard feelings, right? Her question came out as a whisper, and I barely heard it, but I heard it none the less.

No hard feelings, but I don’t want to talk about it, deal?

Deal! She sighed and hugged me again. Josh, Dillon, Lizzy, Mr. Waters, oh my gosh, hugs from you all. She laughed as she turned loose of me and made her way around the booth.

I sat back down and watched quietly, not really believing my eyes. In a city with more than eight million people, what were the odds of Jess White walking into my life again. She made small talk with the others while they invited her to take a seat, and all I could do was watch.

Who’s that? Sam leaned over and whispered.

That dear brother, would be Jess White. I meant for it to come out as a whisper, but I didn’t even think it had even come out that loud.

White as in White, any relation? I took a deep breath, realizing he heard me.

Sister. That was all I could get out.

He looked at me with wide eyes and just made the O shape with his mouth, but then he gave me a mischievous smile, and was reaching across the table toward Jess with his hand before I could stop him. Hello Jess, I’m Sam, Charley’s brother.  

Her face immediately turned bright red when she took his hand and shook it, Nice to meet you Sam.

The waitress walked by, and I waved her over to our table, We have one more, can you get her a menu? The waitress smiled and nodded and left to bring a menu.

Thanks Charley, Jess chirped.

All I could do was nod and smile. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I had to deal with whatever life threw at me. And if I was being honest about it, it was really nice to see her. Deep down, I was praying that his name wouldn’t be brought up though, by anyone.

The waitress ended up bringing all our food, and it felt like old times while everyone talked back and forth. Jess had graduated and was starting an intern position at one of the firms in the city. She said her mom and dad were doing really good and had taken to traveling the US in their RV and becoming permanent vacationers since her dad retired from the military. I admit I was holding my breath the entire time she was talking about her family, but when they changed the subject from her family, I let that breath out and felt a small bit of relief.

After dinner was done, Jess and I exchanged numbers and she gave me her address, she made me promise I would come to see her in a couple of days, before she started work, and of course I told her I would. We left the diner and everybody, except Jess returned back to our apartment, my family was staying the night before they made the drive back, and I already knew that Lizzy was going to push to see some of my designs. I had promised her when they had come at Christmas to visit that I would, but I didn’t really think I was ready.

Chapter 2

O kay, Charley. Come on. Lizzy urged as we entered my room, and she took a seat at my desk.

Lizzy, I don’t think they are ready, they aren’t good enough, I whined.

She laughed and motioned for me to sit down on the bed. Charley, your designs have been better than good enough since you were a teenager when I first met you. This whole business was built on the image of your designs. Is this really about the designs or the sudden appearance of Jess in your life?

Her question stumped me, and I just looked at her for a second, blinking my eyes, Lizzy, she doesn’t have anything to do with it. We all know I got over that a long time ago. The beginning has been written and now we all know the end. I was trying to joke, but judging by the look she was giving me, she didn’t get the joke.

She got up and walked over, placing her hands on my shoulders, and leaning down eye level. Charley, I am only going to say this once and I will never bring it up again as long as I am breathing, okay? My eyes were wide, but I nodded anyway. I know what happened with Jake, or should I say I know what you think happened. Don’t ask how I know, but I do. And everyone knows you aren’t okay with everything; you have just been masking all that heart break and all those questions you have. So, yea, you need to figure out how to move on, and make yourself happy. You have forgotten somewhere along the way that you do deserve to be happy, you deserve to be a little selfish and make yourself happy. She winked and smiled, And if you ever see Jake again, at least talk to him, find the closure you need. She turned loose of my shoulders and returned to the chair at the desk. Now show me these designs.

I didn’t argue after that, it was the first time his name had been spoken aloud in years around me, and it made my heart ache just a bit at the sound of it. She continued to smile and wait patiently, until I finally grabbed my sketchbook off the bedside table and handed it to her, then I took a seat back on the edge of the bed. Lizzy sat there and quietly went through the book, page by page, closely examining each image. At first, I watched her, but then my mind rewound to another time and place, a time when I actually smiled, a time when I let myself be the happiest, I had ever been while continuing to pursue the things I loved to do, a time when Jake was a part of my life. If it hadn’t ended the way it had, we would probably be sitting on the bed together talking to Lizzy, because he would have been at my graduation, no matter where he was. I wanted to hate Shayla, I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t, the odd wiring of my brain, only hoped they were happy, and I could live with knowing they were happy.

Charley, these are amazing. You shouldn’t be working as an apprentice; you should have your own show. Lizzy gushed as she laid the book down on my desk.