Free Cinderella and the Lady by KT Grant

sticks in your hair and in your skin. My mother loved to…um.” She shut her mouth and turned away to look off to the side.
    She stopped chewing, waiting for Elle to tell her about her mother. She didn’t, and that made her all the more intrigued.
    “Forgive me for prying, but you don’t see your mother often or is she…?” She waved her hand around for Elle to carry on.
    Elle stared out at the ocean. “My mother was killed in an accident when I was a child. Things weren’t the same at home after she died.”
    A pang of sympathy came over Kristina as Elle’s voice grew childlike while she spoke about her mother gone too soon. She took Elle’s hand, brushing her thumb across the inside of her wrist. Elle didn’t flinch or pull away.
    The sound of the crashing waves and chirps of the seagulls filled the lull between them. It wasn’t until August climbed off her lap and sniffed around did Elle take back her hand and fiddle with the basket, examining it as if something special was hidden inside.
    Kristina threw her half-eaten apple away and rubbed her hands together to erase the stickiness coating her fingers. A square wooden board near the corner of the blanket caught her eye. She picked it up, trying to read the strange lettering drawn on the board.
    Something like a grunt came from Elle. She glanced up. Elle’s face had lost her color.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked and reached out for Elle’s arm.
    Elle motioned with her chin at the slate in Kristina’s hand. “That’s my slate.”
    “I can see it’s a slate. What are you using it for?”
    “To…practice my penmanship and to read better.”
    Aha! That’s why she reacted the way she did. She must be ashamed by her lack of schooling.
    “Oh? That’s admirable. Not many women in your situation would further their education.” She held out the slate for Elle to take. “But why do it alone? Isn’t there a tutor nearby you can go to for lessons?”
    Elle grabbed the slate and set the book on top of it. Kristina tried to catch the name of the book, but it was dropped in the basket and covered.
    “I can’t afford no money for a teacher,” Elle said in a tight voice and tugged on the frayed hem of her dress.
    “It’s better if you leave out the word, ‘no’, as in, I can’t afford to pay for a teacher,” Kristina corrected.
    “Either way I say it doesn’t matter. I do the best with what I have.” Elle stuck out her chin.
    That’s the spirit, my darling girl. Speak your mind! She wanted to cheer.
    Elle suddenly dropped her head down and her shoulders sagged.
    “Are you all right?” Kristina set her hand on Elle’s shoulder, keeping it there for a moment, then sliding down her arm.
    Elle nibbled on her bottom lip. “I apologize, my lady. I shouldn’t have spoken so rudely. I should know better than to show my temper in such a way.”
    She tilted Elle’s chin up. Her eyes showed bleak remorse. Kristina’s chest stung. This poor girl needed some coddling. She wanted to be the one to give that to her.
    “Now, listen to me. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You’re hardworking, like most of the people in this town not born into privilege. Many can’t read or don’t care to learn. But you, my precious girl, have taken the step in the right direction.” She tugged on one of Elle’s curls.
    Elle wiped her cheek and laughed softly when August lifted up and swiped his paw against her chin. She pulled him into an embrace and kissed his nose.
    “Even your kitty thinks the same way I do,” she joked and Elle laughed again.
    “Thank you,” Elle said and dropped August back down. “You’re a nice lady.”
    “I should like to think so.” Her stomach did a little flip over Elle’s compliment.
    Elle gave her a small smile and rose to leave.
    “You’re leaving?” Moving to her feet, she wanted to keep talking to her new friend.
    “It’s getting late and I have to make dinner.” Elle moved the basket off to the side and lifted up the