The Glass Slipper

Epilogue

Epilogue

"Are you okay, sweetie?" Sean asked as he came out of his office door to find Erin huffing and puffing, holding a hand to her back.

"Yes," she gasped, placing her other hand gently on her bulging stomach, looking down to admire her glistening wedding ring. Sean walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, drawing her carefully into him.

"I don't think you should be going up and down these stairs anymore," Sean quietly admonished her, placing his own hand over her stomach. "This baby is due any week now, and I don't want my baby girl being born on those stairs." He bent over and pressing a quick kiss to her cheek.

"It's going to be a boy!" Erin protested, pushing herself out of his arms. "And he's going to look exactly like you." She winced in pain as she took another step. Her feet were a bit swollen.

Forgetting that he was arguing over the baby's gender, Sean carefully swept her into his arms and carried her to their room, placing her on his lap in the bed. "I bet a nice foot-rub and a hot bath would make you feel better." He suggested with another kiss, this time on her pink lips. "Vallia! Zia! Come in please!" Sean called out through the doorway. Footsteps raced down the long hallway a few moments later.

"Yes, Master?" They replied humbly, bowing their heads in respect.

"My wife requires a hot bath. Also, I would like your mother to rub her feet for a while." Sean ordered them, waving a hand at them to hurry.

"Yes sir." Without glancing up, Zia raced to get bath water and Vallia ran to get their mother.

"Wow, you love ordering your new servants around, don't you?" Erin said with a bittersweet laugh. After Erin had married Sean and moved into him with all her belongings, including all the money her mother had ever stolen from her, her family soon became poor and were forced to go out and find jobs.

"They get to work at the biggest mansion in the town." Sean said, still holding her tightly to him. "What more could they want?"

"More payment? No, scratch that. They don't want to work at all, that's what they want." Erin said with a sigh.

"They are well taken care of. Besides, I know you want your family around, even if they have used you in the past." Sean explained. As the door opened, Vallia and Zia walked in, followed by their mother, who did not look particularly happy. Sean reluctantly left, allowing Erin some privacy.

"Well, well, if it isn't my eldest daughter." Erin's mother said scornfully.

"Hi, mother." She said meekly, not quite meeting her mom's eyes.

"If you think for one moment that I am touching your nasty feet, then think again!" She hissed in disgust. "This is no way to treat the woman who gave birth to you!" Erin felt her temper rising, all pity she'd had for her mother disappearing.

"Yeah, is that right? What do you know about how to treat family?!" She yelled angrily. "You are so cruel and hypocritical! If you don't want to work here, then don't. You're fired. But good luck trying to find someone else that will take you in and pay you as well as we have. You don't have to be a part of my life here, and you certainly will never see your grandchild. Leave. Now." Erin pointed towards the door, hurt tears coating her eyes. Her mother just laughed and refused to move, staring mockingly at her daughter.

"And just what do you think you can do; you're too fat and ugly to force me to do anything."

Sean stood outside the door, listening in to the conversation. When he heard this, he stormed in. "How dare you treat my wife this way?! Leave us and our child alone. You are dismissed, and I will make sure everyone in town knows your true nature. Good luck finding another job." With a slight shove, her mother was out the door and scrambling downstairs.

"I'm so sorry, Erin." Sean whispered, wiping tears off her cheeks. "Good riddance, I say. But I know it still hurts. How can a mother treat her daughter in such a manner?"

Vallia and Zia came out of the bathroom, looking scared. "Do we have to leave too? I'm so sorry for the way mother always treats you, Erin. We don't want to stay with her anymore. Can you forgive us? And let us stay? We'll continue working dutifully." Zia begged, falling to her knees.

"Of course, sisters." Erin smiled through her tears. She scooted of the bed and embraced Vallia in an embrace, holding a hand down to Zia. She began laughing, and they all looked up at her strangely. "Being pregnant has my emotions all over the place!" She explained with a chuckle. They all joined in, happy to be at peace.

In time, as they both gained Erin's trust back, Vallia and Zia were not permitted to work for them anymore. They lived happily with Erin until they each found a suitor and got married. As for their mom: she lived out on the streets, shamelessly begging for food and money. Out of pity, someone eventually took her in to work on their farm and muck the horse stalls. With the exception of her, they all lived happily ever after.