Cael stepped into Cindy’s room, his heart sinking to see her thin body lying so still. Tom moved toward him, jerking his head, indicating they could talk in the hall.

His stomach knotted but, once outside, Tom immediately said, “The doctors are really happy with how she’s doing.”

Blinking in surprise, he cocked his head to the side, waiting to hear more.

“I know she doesn’t look all that good, with the weight loss. That’s actually their biggest concern right now…the weight as an indication of infection. They’d like to send her home soon, since she will have fewer chemo treatments over the next month, but want to make sure she can keep food down first.”

“I thought she was on something for nausea,” he said.

Nodding, Tom agreed. “They have her on anti-emetics intravenously, but want to try her on oral so that she can go home with them. If not, we can have a visiting nurse give them through her IV port.” He hesitated for a second before adding, “Kathy is also learning how to handle her care once she gets home.”

Scrubbing his hand over his face, he cursed, “Fuckin’ hell.” Looking at his brother-in-law’s face, he said, “How are you doing? I mean, I ask Kathy all the time, but you’re working full time and then spending every spare minute here.”

Tom gave a rueful snort, “Like you’re not doing the same. Working construction all day and then coming here in the evenings so Kathy and I can have a break.” Jolting, he added, “Oh, I forgot to tell you that we’ll get some help with that, thanks to you.”

“Huh? Help?”

“Yeah. Kathy got a call today from Miss Ethel. She and some of your brothers and their women are going to help out.”

Grinning, he was not surprised. “I’m glad, man. If anyone has the ability to make someone smile, it’ll be Miss Ethel.”

They sobered for a moment before Tom held his gaze and said, “You know, when I first met Kathy, I was surprised to learn that you’d been raised by someone else and she had stayed with your grandmother. Of course, she told me that Granny hadn’t been able to take on both of you and Kathy was almost grown by then. But, still…it hurt my heart to think of you having to go into the system. She used to tell me of Miss Ethel, but I just didn’t believe it. Now, after all these years of knowing you and her…I’m real glad you ended up with her.”

“Hell, me too. God was looking out for me when I landed on her doorstep.”

Tom swallowed hard, blinking several times before he added, “You’re the best brother, brother-in-law, and uncle. We can’t thank you—”

“There’s no thanks needed among family,” he said, his large hand resting on Tom’s shoulder. “Miss Ethel taught me that.”

Just then Kathy appeared at the door. “Everything alright?”

“No worries, sis. Now, you and Tom go have a nice dinner. I’ve got some stories to read.”

“Mirror, mirror on the wall,

who is the fairest of them all?”

Cael was reading Snow White, a children’s version of the classic fairy tale, his voice dramatic as he got into the storytelling.

Cindy looked at the pictures and her face scrunched. “The queen had her head covered as well.”

He looked down, having never noticed that the artist’s renderings had the queen in a full headdress that covered all of her hair. He looked at her, wondering what was going through her mind.

Peering up at him, she said, “Do you think her hair fell out too?”

“Maybe it did,” he said, carefully, not wanting to upset her. “I do know that if you had been asking the magic mirror who was the fairest, it would have had to say you are.”

She grinned widely, her smile touching his heart as it always did. He continued to read.

“Snow White ate from each little plate and drank from each little mug. Afterward, because she was so tired, she lay down on a bed and fell asleep.”

“I don’t think she should have gotten into a strange man’s bed,” Cindy interrupted. “Do you?”

Instantly, he answered, “Certainly not.” His mind wandered to Red and he felt the heat of blush rise over his face. She really took a chance going with me. His heart ached at the thought that she was no longer his to watch over.

Cindy saved him from his thoughts when she begged him to keep reading.

“I’ll give you one of my apples, the old woman said to Snow White.”

“Why did Snow White eat the apple given to her by the old woman?”

“Uh…I guess she was hungry. What do you think?”

“But, Mama always says that I shouldn’t take something from strangers and since Snow White had never met the old woman before, that makes her a stranger.” She peered up at him, her eyes large in her face. Grinning, she called out, “Stranger-danger!”

He jolted at the reminder of Red using those same words, then sighed. Rubbing his chin, he said, “Well, I guess no one ever told her about that. Or maybe the author of the fairy tale didn’t know about it either.”

Cindy pondered for a moment before adding, “Of course, if she had turned down the poisoned apple then the story would have a completely different ending. She wouldn’t have fallen into a deep sleep and there would be no reason for the prince to come kiss her.”

Always surprised by what came out of her mouth, he nodded in agreement. “I never thought of it that way. I guess, sometimes authors have to put things in stories, just to make them turn out a certain way.”

“After a short period, a prince traveling through the land sees Snow White. Enchanted by her beauty, he instantly falls in love with her.” 

“Is that how you felt about the lady with the pretty hair that visited with you? The one you called Red.”

Taken aback, he opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.

“I could tell she was in love with you.”

“What? She was in love with me? I don’t think…how did you…”

Giggling, she made a kissy sound and then laughed again. “It was in her eyes, silly. I saw the way she was looking at you when you read to me.”

Kathy and Tom walked back into the room, their faces relaxed and their eyes warm on the scene in front of them.

“What’s got you giggling, sweetheart?” Tom asked, walking over to kiss the top of Cindy’s little, turban-covered head.

“Uncle Cael is like the prince in Snow White. He fell instantly in love, enchanted by her beauty.”

“What’s this?” Kathy asked, her eyes darting between Cindy and him.

Cindy clapped her hands again, laughing. “With the pretty lady he brought to see me. The one with the pretty hair. And she was in love with him.”

Standing, he shook his head, “You’re a little goof.”

She turned her gaze up to him, saying, “She promised she’d be with me. Why hasn’t she come back?”

Hiding his grimace behind a tight smile, he responded, “Not sure, Cindy-loo. But, I’m sure she’s thinking about you.”

Giving hugs all around, he walked out, his mind whirling. Like they often did, Miss Ethel’s came back to him. “I’m sure that true love will find you. Perhaps, when you least expect it. Or, maybe…it already has.”

Climbing into his truck, he tried to push back the anger of Red breaking a promise to Cindy.

Regina was exhausted. She dragged herself home from work and walked into her townhouse, barely able to keep going. Tossing her keys to the kitchen table, she threw the mail next to them before dropping her purse onto the floor. Moving to the kitchen, she opened the refrigerator and took out the orange juice. After pouring a large glass, she drank it while leaning against the counter.

Looking down at the mail, she plopped into a chair and sorted through the envelopes. One caught her attention and she ripped it open eagerly. Reading the thank-you letter from Compassionate Creations, she smiled, feeling lighter than she had in days. She leaned back in her chair, her hand automatically rubbing over her head, her fingers sliding through the super short hair. Her gaze drifted out the window as the sunshine broke through the clouds. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine what life could have been like if only things had been different.

The nights with him. His body over hers as his hips pumped into her. The way his eyes lit when she came. The way he linked his fingers with hers as they walked along. Movies and popcorn. The lake. His body curved around hers, spooning as they slept. The feeling of safety when he was near. His smile as his eyes roamed over her face.

Sucking in a long breath, she let it out slowly as the words he spoke out loud their last night together, and the reason she left, came back to her.

Some happily ever afters don’t come true after all.