Pumpkin: A Cindermama Story by Ines Johnson

Author:Ines Johnson [Johnson, Ines]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, United States, African American, Romance, Multicultural, Paranormal, Multicultural & Interracial
ISBN: 0990922847
Amazon: B00TKP8ZMQ
Publisher: Heartspell Media, LLC
Published: 2015-03-10T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

"ORANGE IS DEFINITELY YOUR COLOR, dear."

Standing before the full-length mirror in her bedroom, Pumpkin caught Gale's smiling reflection. Pumpkin rarely splurged on any purchase and never on something for herself. But when she'd looked in her closet a few days ago, she realized she had nothing that could pass as a ball gown. Not even an old prom dress. She'd spent prom night alone at the movie theater watching a romantic comedy double feature.

She'd been passing a dress shop in the market district when she saw it. The gown was a muted orange that befit her nickname. The tight bodice showed off her shoulders and lifted her boobs. The gown flared out at the waist, skimming over her ample bottom.

The dressmaker, a stylish woman who'd looked as though she belonged on a runway instead of inside a small shop tucked in the corner of the market district, had done the tailoring at no extra charge. The dressmaker pinned and hemmed until the corset's binding reshaped Pumpkin's curves into an artful hourglass.

"Every woman deserves a mirror moment," said the dressmaker.

Pumpkin was having one right now. She stared at the mirror in her bedroom in disbelief at her reflection. It was as though some fairy godmother had sprinkled her with orange fairy dust. She looked every bit the princess about to go to the ball and catch the eye and heart of the prince.

"Whoever made that dress is a regular Rumplestiltskin," Gale said. "They spun this cotton into gold."

Gale motioned Pumpkin to her vanity as she pulled out Pumpkin's now enhanced makeup kit.

"You won't need much makeup," Gale said. "The dress makes enough of a statement. Let me see the shoes."

Pumpkin sat down and lifted the dress to reveal a pair of uncomfortable heels. They were brand new, unscuffed and expensive. They were also a size too small but they matched the dress perfectly. She'd stuffed herself in, determined to make it work.

"You're practically Cinderella, dear."

"What is with you and your nephew? He called me a princess the other day."

The memory of Manny's lips pressed against her forehead, his fingertips brushing the small of her back, made Pumpkin's core warm and her heart skip a beat. For the past few nights she'd imagined what would've happened if she'd tilted her head up and captured his lips with her own.

Pumpkin shook the thought from her head. "Ridiculous, right?"

"Not if it's what you want, dear."

Gale's eyes met Pumpkin's in the vanity mirror. The twinkle of her gray eyes told Pumpkin she saw exactly what Pumpkin was thinking.

Pumpkin stuck her chin out. "I'm a grown woman, a working, single mother." She smoothed down the fabric of the gown. "I don't have time for fairytales."

"Don't be ridiculous," Gale chided. "Every woman deserves her own fairytale. And you, my dear, are ready to play the part."

"It's just a dress, Gale. Besides, mothers can't be princesses. The fact that you have a kid immediately kicks you out of the running."

Gale frowned. "You seem to think that mothers aren't very special.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.