Cinderella's Ghost

Chapter 12: Secret Notebooks

Chapter 12

The last time my heart pounded so quickly, it was when I found out about my dad's intention to re-marry. Nothing could beat it, not even when Lilla and Lina first played their prank on me, not even when I found out Carrie had no intention of treating me like her own daughter... not until now.

I was standing with Mrs Anderson at the pick-up point outside the hospital. We were waiting for Mr Anderson to arrive. I'd wanted to tell her it would be better for me to leave first, but then felt it would be quite rude of me to do so, especially when she had already insisted. Jarell seemed quite taken by her idea too, strangely enough.

"I'm starting to enjoy finding out new facial expressions of yours. Your current one is the best by far. Simon will pee himself if he ever sees it."

I hadn't the mood to retort, so I stayed still. My chest was feeling so tight, and my breaths were coming out short, although I did try my best not to let Mrs Anderson know that I was actually hyperventilating. It seemed I was doing a good job, because Mrs Anderson had not once dropped that wide smile on her face.

When Jarell stood in front of me to peer at my face again, I managed to pull myself together to glare at him, which he responded with a laugh.

"What did you have for lunch earlier?"

I quickly looked at Mrs Anderson and gathered my thoughts. "I had some potatoes and cheese."

She looked concerned. "Only potatoes and cheese?"

"I ate six of them," I explained quickly.

Mrs Anderson's eyes widened, looking amused. "I'm glad to know you're a big eater."

"I just like potatoes. And lots of cheese."

Jarell rolled his eyes. "You like to eat everything, and a lot of it."

I held back a scowl.

"Did you cook them yourself?"

"Yes."

She smiled admiringly. "Oh, that's nice. Your parents must be really proud of you, to have a daughter who knows how to care for herself at such a young age."

My hand instinctively went up to the rose pendant hanging around my neck, and I nodded stiffly. Jarell watched me, looking uneasy.

Just then, a car pulled up in front of us. It was navy, shiny and sleek, and everything about it screamed money, very much unlike the old beat-up car my dad had.

Mrs Anderson beckoned me just as she opened the car door at the front, and I followed suit by opening the one behind. A man with several strands of white in his neatly combed black hair sat at the driver's seat. When he turned to look at me in surprise, I thought at first I was looking into Jarell's eyes. They were so alike: while Mr Anderson's eyes were a little droopy, Jarell's eyes were more upturned. They even shared the same chiselled jaw.

"And who might this be?" Mr Anderson shot me a friendly toothy grin. "You didn't say Jarell had a visitor, Petrina."

"It was a sudden idea, Patrick. And don't go scaring her now. I had quite a time trying to convince her to join us."

When he saw that I had yet to enter the car, he said, "Hop in."

"Thank you," I said politely as I climbed to the back. When the doors were closed, Mrs Anderson proceeded with the introductions.

"So what do you usually like to eat, Ellyn?" Mr Anderson looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"Ah, I..."