The Cinderella Moment by Jennifer Kloester Read Free Book Online Page B

she looked at it on the dummy it seemed so far removed from her vision that Angel wondered how she’d ever thought she had a flair for fashion design.
    She forced herself to continue and each hour brought her a step closer to her dream dress. If she could just make the last part work, maybe she’d have a gown worth sending to Paris.
    Angel smoothed a hand over the calico skirt and sighed. If she could make it work…but time was running out. In two weeks she had to send her Teen Couture entry to Paris; the ball gown was its centerpiece and she still hadn’t cut the velvet.
    Picking up the dark-blue cloth, she rubbed it against her cheek and then threw her arms wide, flinging the fabric out across her bed. It was gorgeous. Surely she could make a dress worthy of it.
    “And I will—starting now.”
    She picked up her pattern pieces just as rapid footsteps sounded in the hall. Moments later Lily burst through the door.
    “I got it, Angel, I got it!” Lily seized Angel’s hands and danced her around the room.
    “Not London?”
    “Yes!” Lily thrust a letter into Angel’s hand. “See for yourself. The London Drama Academy wants me in London on June twentieth.” She did a pirouette. “I’ve dreamed of this for so long, I can hardly believe it’s real.”
    “Some dreams do come true!” said Angel.
    Lily stopped dancing. “Yours will, too, Angel, I know it.”
    “I hope so.” She hesitated and then said carefully, “What are you going to tell Philip? And Margot?”
    Lily jumped up on the bed. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it all worked out.”
    “Uh-oh.”
    “Skeptic.” Lily bounced. “Listen, Dad’s overseas until the middle of next month so I don’t need to tell him anything. We’re only in touch via cell phone and even that’s mega-unreliable because of where he is, but the point is he won’t know if I’m in New York or London. As for Margot… ”Lily grinned. “She’s meant to be taking me and Clarissa to our place at the Hamptons for the summer, but,” she bounced again, “I’ve told Margot that Elizabeth Montague has invited me to stay with her at Martha’s Vineyard for those two weeks. Naturally, Margot said yes.”
    Angel tried not to look impressed at this masterly plan. “It might work… ”
    “Of course it’ll work. It’s perfect.” Lily jumped down. “You know my plans always work.”
    Angel grimaced. “Maybe… ”
    “Oh, you’re just thinking of that time your mother found out we’d—”
    “Done something dreadful,” said a teasing voice. They turned to find Simone standing in the doorway.
    “Maman.” Angel got up. “Are you okay?” She cast a worried glance at Simone’s pale face and the deep shadows under her eyes. Only that morning she’d found her mother holding her side. She’d tried to persuade her to go to the doctor, but Simone had refused.
    “I’m fine, chérie —just my indigestion again.” She turned to Lily. “Margot wishes to see you.”
    Lily looked dismayed. “Why? What does she want?”
    Simone shrugged apologetically. “She did not say. Only that you are to go to your father’s study immediately.”
    After Lily had gone reluctantly upstairs, Angel picked up her pin-tray and began carefully pinning the pattern pieces to the velvet. She couldn’t help thinking about Lily’s plan. It might work—Philip was away, after all—but, although she could understand Lily not caring whether she deceived Margot, Angel was surprised she was willing to lie to her dad.
    Philip wasn’t the sort of father you needed to lie to and, like Angel’s papa, he was a good listener. In that first year, when Papa was so often in the hospital (and before Simone found out and put a stop to it), Lily would sometimes take Angel up to Philip’s study and insist she be included in story time.
    He was always delighted to see them and Angel loved the way his whole face lit up at the sight of Lily. Philip had a smile that could light up a room, with twinkling blue