After the show, Altair went with Heather to pick up Chloe from school.
“Whoa,” Chloe said as she climbed into the expensive Maserati. “Is this what princes drive?”
“I have a carriage and a white horse at home, but getting a horse through New York traffic is a nightmare,” Altair said jokingly.
“Why are you guys picking me up?” Chloe asked, buckling herself into the backseat. “I thought Nana Linda was getting me today.”
“I wanted to pick you up instead,” Heather replied. “And Linda wanted to go play bridge.”
“She has a problem,” Chloe said, making Heather laugh.
“We’re going to stay with Sheikh Altair for a few days,” Heather said. “Just until Craig stops hanging around.”
“Whoa, really?” Chloe’s eyes brightened. “Do you have a castle?”
“No. Just a penthouse,” Altair said. “But I think you’ll like it.”
The beautiful apartment uptown took up the top two floors of one of the tallest buildings in the neighborhood. Chloe squealed as soon as they walked in the door and ran over to stare at the stunning view of the city skyline through the vast picture windows that took up the entire back wall of the expansive living room. Heather followed her more slowly, taking in the chic, modern wood and glass interior design. It was a beautiful place, though it seemed a bit lonely and unused, save for the workshop. Chloe ran there next, seeing the beautiful dresses hanging on racks through the open door. Huge books of designs, inspiration, and reference materials were open on the workspaces next to complicated and esoteric tools of shoemaking.
“Don’t touch anything!” Heather called after Chloe, hurrying to keep up with her daughter.
“I won’t!” Chloe called back, already running her hands over the skirts of the hanging dresses. “Jeez, Mom, I’m not rude.”
“Those are Saint Levoy originals,” Altair said casually, following them. “I’m designing a shoe line to accompany them.”
“Are any of the dresses in here yours?” Chloe asked.
“Those near the back,” Altair said, pointing. “I focus on shoes primarily, but I do make things to accompany them every once in a while. Would you like to make something together?”
“Yes!” Chloe said, practically shrieking with excitement. Heather watched as Altair quizzed her on what she’d learned about sewing from her grandmother and built from there, helping her make a simple dress that she was instantly in love with. Heather had a feeling she’d never convince Chloe to take it off.
Altair had seemingly endless patience with her, and Heather saw how much happiness teaching seemed to bring him. If Chloe decided fashion was really what she wanted to do, and it seemed more and more likely that it was, Altair had more than the right connections to make sure she got the best opportunities possible. Heather was afraid to jinx things by imagining the future they might have together, but as always, it was hard not to fantasize.
After a while, Chloe passed out on the couch while watching a movie on Altair's huge television. Altair and Heather moved out onto his beautiful private terrace, which was filled to overflowing with plants. Ferns and hanging succulents draped over the walls, and flowering vines climbed trellises around them, framing the cityscape before them. The lights of the city twinkled in the cool blackness, and, distantly, she could smell the sea, a fresh breath of salt water on the breeze. It felt like being in another part of the world, isolated and cradled by the greenery. She’d been spirited away from her old life the moment she’d put on Altair’s shoes, but now, for the first time, she could feel the happy ending on its way.
"How are you feeling?" Altair asked, leaning against the railing next to her. The wind caught his dark hair, tossing it into a storm around his face. "That was a lot to deal with earlier today."
"I feel good," she told him, smiling, the cool air refreshing on her skin. "It feels like a new beginning. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared, but I think the future holds good things."
"So do I," he said. He gazed out at the city beside her, and she caught him frowning a little.
"You're still worrying about the lie, right?" Heather asked, her heart sinking.
He sighed.
"It's not your fault," he said. "The suspicion is something I'm going to need to learn to deal with. But being with you makes me want to overcome it. I think that means something."
He smiled at her, reaching out to brush her hair back from her face.
"What about you?" he asked. "Do you think you can put up with me?"
"Wild horses couldn't drag me away," Heather replied, grinning. "There's nowhere I'd rather be right now than next to you."
"I feel the same," he said, taking her hand. Their fingers laced, he pulled her closer, and Heather closed her eyes as she felt the warmth of his lips against her own. His hand was warm on the small of her back, pressing her against him. They separated for breath, and Heather hid her face against his collar, feeling guilty for wanting more immediately.
"As for me," she said, "I have things to work on too."
"What's that?" he asked, holding her against his chest and stroking her hair gently.
"I'm not going to be such a pushover anymore," she said. "I let people like Craig walk all over me. Never again. I'm going to learn to say no."
"So, if I insisted on carrying you off into the bedroom right now," Altair teased, "you would say no?"
Heather blushed, pressing her face into his shoulder to hide it. Their arms around each other, they swayed to unheard music.
"Well, maybe I'll wait to start saying no until the morning," she said. His arms tightened around her, and she laughed as he picked her up, carrying her back into the apartment in his arms.
Heather still didn’t know how this fairy tale would end, but one thing she was certain of was that she was exactly where she wanted to be.
The End
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