Waking Anastasia (21 page)

“What was that, Jerry?”

He grabbed the curtain and pulled it back. “I said, I clean up okay.”

Back in her sweatshirt and jeans, Ana laughed, and threw herself into Jerry’s arms. “You are the most beautiful man in the world! Yes, I think you clean up
very
well.”

Ginnius stepped up to him and Ana gave her room to work. The costumer opened Jerry’s jacket and adjusted the suspenders on both sides. “That should feel better. You had them a bit high. It’ll take some getting used to, not having a belt and heavy fabric crowding your crotch, but the suspenders will allow you a lot more freedom of movement, both on and off the dance floor. I’m sorry about the pre-tied bowtie, but we don’t have time to teach you to tie a proper one, so this will have to do.” She gave it a tug and a twist and seemed satisfied.

“I am quite familiar with tying ties, Ginnius. I can help Jerry with this.” Ana smiled and shrugged. Jerry wasn’t surprised that tying bow ties was in her skill set.

“Cool, Ana. I’ll give you one of each, just in case you change your mind.” She looked at her watch. “Okay, let’s get you packaged up and gone. Go home and get some food in you and relax. I’ve been to a few balls at the Empress and you won’t eat until late and will be exhausted sucking in tummies and keeping a straight back for hours. Rest up and fuel up while you can. Jerry, why don’t you get changed while Ana and I grab a couple of accessories from the back, and I’ll ring it up.”

“You got it, Wardrobe Mistress Ginnius.”

“Ooh, I like the sound of that. Can’t be a Mistress without my whip, though, and that’s a whole different kind of party. Ana, come with me, and we’ll find that thing you were asking about. Jerry, just hang the suit up when you’re done, and I’ll find a suit bag for it.”

“Yes ma’am.”

WHEN THEY GOT
back to the loft, Ana still hadn’t told Jerry what was in the hat box she and Ginnius had been so secretive about. She simply tucked it under one arm while carrying Jerry’s suit bag and the bag containing her cape over her other shoulder. Jerry was assigned the task of getting the huge dress box up the stairs. They made it without calamity, and once Ana hung up the bags and put the smaller box down, she took the dress box from Jerry and indicated the couch with a nod of her head.

“You need a nap, my Sweet. You are exhausted. You are forgetting things, your vision is still . . . what did you call it? ‘Wonky’? Yes, wonky.” She took the dress box to the bedroom, removed the gown and laid it out on the comforter, straightening it to prevent wrinkles. She returned to the couch and sat down next to him. “I would love nothing more than to lie here with you, to sleep in your arms, but if I am not mistaken, this evening will require a great deal of concentration so I, too, will ‘recharge my battery’.” She handed him the book. “Hold this to your heart and know that I will feel you close. I will set the alarm on your phone for three hours from now. Wake me and I will fix you a repast fit for a Station Manager.”

A kiss on the end of his nose silenced any objection he might have had, but the truth was, he had nothing to say, he was so damned tired. Clutching the book, he lay back and let Ana cover him with the blanket. He was asleep before she’d even set the alarm and returned to the book.

THE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE
theme called to him from the kitchen island and Jerry made a final adjustment to his tie and answered the phone. “First Night Frolics, how can I help you?”

“Jerry? It’s Bryce. Maria and I are out front, whenever you’re ready.”

“Two minutes, Bryce. Five at the most.”

“Take your time. Maria’s enjoying her carrot and in no hurry to go back to the stables.”

“Five, tops.”

IN HIS DECADES
as a carriage driver, Bryce had seen it all—girls-from-next-door all glammed up, super models in shimmering gowns, brides beautiful enough to be in catalogues, even a real prince and princess as parade marshals—but never had he seen a transformation like the one he was staring at right now. Stepping out of the old brownstone was a regal sight beyond his imagination. The dark green of the gown, the white fur of the cape’s collar, the elbow-length gloves, and the simple, gleaming necklace with matching tiara reminded him once and for all why he loved the business he was in. And it reminded him why a white, one-horse-power carriage beat a thirty-foot-long diesel-guzzling, converted SUV any day. He could clearly see that Jerry was as overwhelmed by Ana as he was. It must have been a trick of the streetlight and his aging eyes, but he was sure that young Ana was even glowing, just a little bit.

His clients were at the carriage before he recovered, and he had to scramble to get the door open and the steps lowered.

“GOOD EVENING, MR
. Smith. You look very elegant in your livery this evening.”

“Um, thank you, miss. Special duds for a special occasion. I must admit that you are the picture of royal loveliness yourself. You
both
are. Shall we off to the ball?”

Jerry stepped aside and held a hand up for Ana to take. “A brilliant idea. This has the making of a new fairytale, don’t you think? ‘The Princess and the Lump’.” He climbed up after Ana, who was scowling at him when he got seated. “What?”

“Tonight we are not lumps. Tonight we are grand, magnificent rulers of a perfect fairy world, and this is our First Night Celebration with friends and family.
I
am not a lump, and
you
are not a lump. You are a handsome prince—
my
handsome prince. So chin up, stomach in, and kiss me.”

“Is that an Imperial Decree?”

“It is a command, for now. If necessary, I will make it a decree and it shall become law. It is your choice: kiss me because you want to, or because it is the law, within our little kingdom of two.”

“Well, since you put it that way, save your lawmaking, Shvibzik, because I’ll kiss you because I
want
to.” And he did. It was long and tender and full of gentle emotion.

Maria snorted in her harness, and with a snap of the reins, Bryce guided the carriage away from the curb and off to the castle-like Empress Hotel, a few blocks away. Jerry and Ana broke off the kiss and snuggled under the blankets. As they rounded a corner, Bryce leaned to one side, flicked a switch, and the entire white carriage lit up with tiny, pure white lights, as if they were being escorted by a legion of fairies. Ana gasped.

“That is so wonderful! Thank you!”

“Maria’s idea. We usually save them for weddings, but she reminded me that this was a night Victoria was going to remember, so, fairy lights it is.”

A little girl waved frantically at them as they passed and they returned the wave. Ana even blew a kiss the girl’s way, and they could hear the youngster’s giggles over the soft clopping of Maria’s rubber shoes. There were Christmas lights everywhere and music drifting from doorways and windows and passing cars. Lovers strolled the sidewalks arm-in-arm, and partygoers scuttled from taxis to doorways and vice versa. It was a city alive with celebration and Jerry and Ana were at the heart of it, lulled by the creak of Maria’s harness, the squeak of the carriage’s springs, and Bryce’s soft baritone singing Christmas carols to himself as he drove along.

@TheTaoOfJerr: “Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

~ Berthold Auerbach

IT DIDN’T TAKE
long to reach the Empress Hotel. Bryce steered Maria onto Government Street and joined the queue of a dozen taxis and three other carriages waiting to drop off revellers for the evening.

“It’ll just be a minute, folks. No need to rush it now. They’re already noticing us, so by the time we get there, we might even see a few tourists with cameras, following you up the main walk.”

Jerry looked across the street at the Inner Harbour. The ships in port were decorated top to bottom with festive lights. A hundred-foot-long yacht was teeming with people but his eyes wouldn’t focus. “Is that a live band on the stern of that ship?”

Ana squinted. “It
is
! How lovely! New Year’s on a ship! That would be my second choice, after New Year’s in a castle’s ballroom.” She kissed Jerry quickly and turned away to look at the lights. “As long as I’m with you, my Love, I will celebrate New Year’s Eve in any style you wish.”

“Ditto, Shivin—um, Ana.” What was her nickname, again? It escaped him, and then, just as quickly, it was back. Shvibzik. Maria pulled the carriage up a spot in line and stopped.

“Oh, Jerry, they have added more electric lights on the ivy covering the façade of the hotel! It is beautiful! I do believe my great-grandmother would have adored this!” She squeezed Jerry’s arm and kissed his cheek.

“Almost there, folks. Make sure you’ve got everything. Gloves, tiaras, glass slippers, tickets to the ball . . .”

Jerry and Ana both checked the seats and floor of the carriage, but nothing was amiss. “Check. All accounted for, Bryce. Thanks for the reminder.”

“Not a problem, Jerry. You’d be amazed at some of the things I’ve found back there after a trip. Once found a Stradivarius violin, left behind by a tipsy, but very much in love, virtuosa. She made it as far as the front desk of the hotel before she came fleeing back down the walkway, in a panic. I handed over her pride and joy and she hugged me for two full minutes. Got tears and make-up all over my jacket. The dry cleaning bill was worth it, just to know that they’d been reunited. She came through town last year and sent me tickets for the concert. Sweet lady. And she plays a mean fiddle, too.” He clicked at Maria and they moved up even with the end of the walkway, where he set the brake and dismounted.

Bryce had been right. The slow progress to the drop-off point worked in their favour. There was now a small crowd of watchers waiting to see who got out of the carriage. Jerry could see cameras large and small, and phones with cameras, all pointed in their direction. Bryce opened the tiny half-door in the side of the open carriage and swung the steps down. He gently, but firmly took Jerry’s elbow to guide him to the sidewalk, then stepped back to give Jerry room.

Ana gracefully pulled back the blanket, placed it on the bench beside her, and stood up. Hints of emerald green taffeta peeked through the long cape, but she kept the front held close. The street lights caught and refracted through the cut glass of the tiara and there were gasps among the watchers. Jerry held up his hand for Ana and she slowly, gracefully, and carefully disembarked from the carriage. She ignored Jerry’s waiting arm but winked on her way past him, over to Maria. She placed a gloved palm on the Belgian’s neck. “Thank you, ever so much, Maria. Happy New Year.” The draft horse whinnied softly as if she understood every word. Ana stepped up to Bryce, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and whispered in his ear, “Thank you, Mr. Smith. I hope you brought business cards, because I think you are suddenly going to be
very
much in demand.”

He tapped his jacket pocket. “Right here, Miss. Now, you two go have a ball. Give me a call next week and let me know how it went.” A camera flash went off. “I think you’d best go. Your fans await.”

On the way back from the cathedral, Jerry had stopped at a bank machine and withdrawn two hundred dollars. He now handed that in an envelope to Bryce. “Thank you, sir. You will never know just how insanely happy you have made Ana. Happy New Year.”

The envelope vanished into another pocket. “That’s absolutely unnecessary, young fella, but I appreciate it. I’m glad to have played a small part in this special evening. You two go and have the time of your lives.”

A second flash went off and, smiling from ear to ear, Ana finally slipped her arm through Jerry’s. They were suddenly blinded by the flashes as everyone realized that they were leaving. A young man asked who they were taking pictures of and a woman quipped, “Who cares, Kyle?
She’s
gorgeous,
he’s
handsome, and I want
this
for our wedding!”

Jerry and Ana started up the pathway to the hotel. “Are we ready for this?” he asked.

“Of course. I believe so.
Maybe
.” She unlinked her arm and took his hand instead. She squeezed it and he squeezed back, reassuring her.

“Feeling strong, Shvibzik?”

“Very. I shall be good for hours. Is everyone from your radio station here?”

“Not everyone, but a few of them.”

“Lee-Anne, as well?”

“And her husband, Tom. I told you that Manny and I have already had a chat with Lee-Anne. It’s all good, now.”

“I believe you, but let me have just a little fun, please.”

“You will at least
try
to behave, won’t you?”

“Absolutely. For a few hours, anyway.”

“I guess I can’t ask for much more than that, now, can I?”

“Not from this ghost, you cannot.”

At the bottom of the steps up to the veranda, Jerry leaned in and Ana met his kiss halfway. He handed her the book, and she slipped it into her thin handbag before they mounted the steps.