Just Deserts

No Matter What

'So, was the night everything you'd hoped it would be?' Danielle asked not long after Kayla got home. She'd barely had time to shower and get dressed.

'Why are you here so early?'

'The jewellery. And this,' she did something on her tablet and sat down next to Kayla nursing a cup of coffee.

She showed her an article on a popular fashion blog.

'Isn't this great? People are talking about your dress. Not even your, ah, accessories could detract from it.'

Kayla couldn't look away from the photos of her and Kieran dancing beneath glistening chandeliers. She could still hear that first song playing in her head. She felt herself smiling goofily and hid it behind her cup.

'Wait until you see the rest...'

More pictures of the ball, most only featuring Kayla's dress, filled the screen. They were captioned with words like 'Delightful!'; 'Sensational!'; 'Inspired!' and 'Trend-setting'.

Kayla's head reeled. She'd hoped for a positive response. But this...

'I'll leave you to absorb all this. Where's the jewels?'

She vaguely gestured to her bedroom; her eyes fixed on the photo of her and Kieran captioned: 'Kayla Castillo reveals extraordinary talent and exceptional taste.'

She swallowed heavily. Her heart was beating madly as she stared at the photo and relived the previous night's wonder.

An angry knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. Danielle was still searching for the jewellery.

'Nightstand,' Kayla said as she made her way to the door.

'Found it!'

Kayla grinned as she looked through the peephole. Her good mood quickly evaporated.

'May I come in?' Amy asked stiffly.

Kayla stood to the side and the other woman walked in.

'How dare you?' she hissed as she turned on Kayla. 'Our family had given you everything, took you in as one of our own after your father died. And this is how you repay us?' She threw a newspaper on the floor; most of its top page was covered with a photo of Kayla at the ball.

'It's her design. It's time we give her credit where credit is due,' Danielle said softly as she walked out of the bedroom.

'Of course you're in on this. You've been out to destroy the company ever since Mother died.'

Pain flashed across Danielle's face.

'Enough!' Kayla snapped. 'You both loved your mother. And somewhere deep down you love each other.'

'Oh, boo-hoo and no-one loves you?'

'I'm sure someone does,' she answered Amy stiffly. 'But that's not the point. The designs are mine. We share a family name – my father's name. And he had founded the company.'

'And you think that entitles you to something? Our mother made the company what it is.'

'All I want is recognition for my work.' She definitely didn't want anything to do with her stepmother's legacy.

'You do it on company time which makes it company property.'

'Oh, enough. Both of you. We're sisters. Mom might not have liked it, but we are,' Danielle said as she threw her handbag on the sofa.

The jewellery spilled out. Kayla looked away. The diamonds looked out of place on the worn material. Much like she did next to her stepsisters.

'Oh, enough with your pity-party already! Why you feel you need to live out here...' Danielle threw her hands into the air.

'I know why,' Amy said as she walked closer to Kayla, arms still crossed. 'She wants everyone to feel sorry for her. Poor orphan Kayla. Well, newsflash: we're all orphans,' she ended softly.

Kayla's head snapped up. She'd never considered that.

'You could've moved back home after your stint in university housing. But you chose this. Can you imagine how we felt? Even Mother was hurt.'

Kayla hugged herself. She'd just wanted freedom. She'd blamed her stepfamily for all the bad things in her life. But what if she'd brought some of it on herself? Like the dreadful apartment...

'How about this,' Danielle said, stepping between Amy and Kayla. 'You move in with us, Amy allows you to have your own line, and I get to buy us all new shoes to celebrate?'

Kayla wasn't sure it would work. Amy was stubborn...

'Very well. You win, Danielle.'

It felt like her eyes were about to pop out.

'Kayla?'

She caught a glimpse of the newspaper at her feet. The woman in the photo was staring up at her. She was everything Kayla wanted to be: confident, elegant – the real Kayla Castillo.

She nodded. Then felt warmth flood her cheeks.

'May I perhaps get two pairs? I, uh, lost one of my shoes last night...'

Her sisters were still laughing as they entered the shoe store Kayla had visited just a few day earlier.

'You're back,' the saleslady who'd helped her the previous time greeted with a smile. 'How can I help you today?'

Kayla didn't know how to phrase her request.

'She'd like another pair of the shoes you sold her,' Danielle answered.

'I'm sorry.' The saleslady looked as if in pain. 'They all sold out during the first hour of business this morning. Even the display pair. Seeing you in them caused a buying frenzy.'

'Oh, dear.'

Danielle giggled at Amy's concerned expression. Even Kayla found it slightly amusing. And a bit disconcerting.

'Perhaps I can help?' a familiar voice asked.

Kayla turned around. Kieran stood there, dressed in a blue long-sleeved shirt and jeans. He had a shadow beard and his hair still looked tumbled.

'I found this shoe...' He held it out to her. 'It was all that was left of a wonderful night. Its owner disappeared without a word at dawn.' He looked at her reproachfully.

Kayla swallowed, her mouth was suddenly dry.

'At least now we don't have to scour the globe for a replacement pair,' Amy said, stopping a magical cocoon from forming. 'Aren't you going to introduce us, Sister?'

Kayla felt a jolt of pleasure.

'Amy, Danielle – this is Kieran. Kieran, meet my sisters.'

It felt good to introduce them as her sisters.

'How 'bout I take you all out to lunch?' he suggested.

'Sure,' Danielle said. 'Shoe shopping can wait until tomorrow.'

Kayla couldn't stop smiling. She knew that no matter what happened next, she had her sisters. And perhaps even Kieran...

*Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the conclusion to the tale. Vote if you did. If you have anything you'd like to say, don't hesitate to comment – I always appreciate feedback. What did you think of Kayla saving herself? And the end: any thoughts?*