Free If The Shoe Fits by Judi Fennell Page A

Mary Poppins had on the carousel ride.”
Sophia walked along the case. “These look like the Sugar Plum
Fairy’s ballet shoes. And these look like a genie’s slippers.
And—oh, Bella! Come see! These look like Cinderella’s!”
    The transparent shoes did look as if they were
made of glass with the way the lights sparkled in them. The velvet
purple cushion they were displayed on didn’t hurt the image,
either. It was a great marketing tool. Little girls would be
dragging their mothers in by the mini-van-full once word got out.
And with Sophia doing the talking, that wouldn’t take very
long.
    Mr. Griff returned then with a tower of boxes
teetering over his head. “You should find something suitable in
these, but if not, I’ll bring out more.”
    “ I’m sure I’ll find something.
Thank you, Mr. Griff.” Bella sat down and his gold coins clinked in
her pocket. She took them out. I believe you forgot something
earlier.”
    Mr. Griff shook his head and wouldn’t take
them. “You keep them. They’re a gift.”
    “ But that meal was the gift, and
these are worth more than the food.”
    “ I’ll not hear of it, lass. They
were a gift to you for being so generous. Now try those shoes on
while I see to our Miss Sophia.” He walked over to the case Sophia
had her nose pressed against. “Do you see something you
like?”
    “ Oh, yes!” Sophia squealed.
“Cinderella’s glass slippers. They’re beautiful!”
    “ Would you like to try them
on?”
    “ Oh, yes, please!” Sophia
squealed, hopping out of her running shoes quicker than Bella’s
mishap had gotten her out of hers.
    Mr. Griff winked at Bella. “Lucite, but it
gets their attention every time. I do so love to fire up people’s
imaginations.”
    “ I bet you get a big run on them
during wedding season.”
    He shook his head. “I probably would, but I
only have the one pair and they’re not for sale, though I do lend
them out on occasion.”
    “ Can I borrow them for my wedding
day, Mr. Griff?” Sophia asked as she paraded around the store with
a very-practiced royal wave. “They make me feel like a
princess.”
    Bella laughed along with Mr. Griff. Sophia
would have enough time to learn that fairy tales didn’t exist, but
childhood was the time for dreams and wishes and believing in
magic.
    She flicked Sophia’s ponytail as she paid for
the running shoes. “Sure you can, Soph. Every girl deserves to feel
like a princess at least once in her life.”
     
    ***
     
    “ Bella’s not here,” said Giac when
Reese called Casteleoni’s. “She’s probably with Sophia at the
park.”
    A crash in the background was followed by
another round of angry Italian so Reese didn’t have a chance to ask
who Sophia was or where in the park they’d be. But since he was
within walking distance, he figured he’d find out for himself,
using the exercise to burn off his anger at Luke.
    Yeah, that was lame, too.
    Still, Reese headed down the tree-lined path
to the river, where, apparently, half the town had congregated,
dodging rollerblading teens, stroller-pushing mothers, and
dog-walking grannies. He was going to need some major luck to find
Bella in this crowd.
    When a little old man barreled into him and
almost knocked him over, Reese realized he should have specified
which kind of luck he wanted.
    Instinct, however, took over and a few pattern
drills he used to do in practice kept him from going down.
Unfortunately, the old guy wasn’t as successful. Reese caught him
by the arms just before he landed.
    “ You okay, sir?” he asked, easing
the guy back to his feet. Short little guy. Bald, wrinkled, with
the brightest green eyes Reese had ever seen.
    Reese blinked. When had he ever noticed
another man’s eyes?
    The man brushed off his suit jacket. “I am
now. Thank you, my boy.” He patted Reese’s arm. “Nice catch, though
you’re usually the one doing the passing, are you?”
    Ah. A fan. “Not anymore.” The words caused his
breath to catch.