A Million Dreams (Wish 3)

25 - Fairy Tale

Ted couldn't remember the last time he had difficulty staying calm. He had been in an internal struggle ever since he found the mask. He had felt very little jealousy in his life. He had some for Aidan and Sage and their perfect marriage. When he followed his son to find her with her ex-boyfriend, he felt jealous. He wanted to claim her as his but stopped himself. What if she didn't feel the same? He needed find out. If she didn't, he'd have to move.

What if what he felt was an illusion? Fairy tales weren't real. He was in love with the woman from the garden even when he didn't know who she was. But what about Mia? For months, he had been making excuses. She wasn't in his class, but his biggest one was she wasn't the woman from the garden.

When had the excuses started? Out loud, after he defended her. Internally, they may have started when she yelled at him over his loud music and boots.

She always knew his name as the man she kissed, but she didn't know he was her neighbor. Ted would venture to guess the moment she realized the truth was when she tried to run away at the restaurant.

Ted would chase her if she ran away again. He would not let her go.  So many memories flooded back. The night with her nephew when he glimpsed the kind of mother she could be. All the times she was angry with him, she had only amused him.

Nothing prepared him for the way his son attached himself to her. Elaine had every right to be jealous, because Edward loved Mia. She didn't love him because it would give her an advantage. Lord, she wanted nothing from him, not his money. Would his wealth be the thing that kept her from him?

Just his luck, his son woke earlier than usual on the day of the Whitby ball. Faced with what may be the longest day of his life, he took Little Edward to Weston. It could be a suicide mission, because the house would be full of women getting ready for the ball, but not when he arrived in time for breakfast. He knew Martina, their family housekeeper, didn't have her normal weekend off. Aside from being an amazing cook and running the Calhoun household, she had a talent for doing up women's hair. He thought of Mia's hair. Would it be up, like the night they danced and kissed?

"Hey Champ, let's go to Grandmother's house. You're having a sleepover. Martina will watch you tonight while Daddy goes to Bea's house for a party."

"Will Tori play with me?"

He smiled. His son loved his little sister, but it was mutual, like with Mia. "Aunt Tori may be asleep this early. I want to get some of Martina's waffles before Grandfather eats them all."

The sound of his little laugh filled him. They both knew they would never run out of waffles. As he expected, both his sisters were still in bed. He surprised his mother by arriving early. Martina's waffles were like eating little clouds of pure joy, but he found he didn't have an appetite.

"Is something bothering you, Teddy?" Grace looked at him with concern.

He shook his head knowing it was a lie, but what could he tell his mother. Changing the subject away from his inner turmoil to another's. "Do you think Tommy will ever come back for Tori?" His sister had been waiting nine years for her childhood sweetheart to return to her.

Grace signed and shook her head. "Don't mention it to your sister, but we all know he would have already. Vanessa doesn't say much, but I think she feels awkward because he's moved on from your sister. I just want my children to find love with someone who loves them back."

"And comes from the right family." He added.

"Love is more important, but in Tori's case it would be nice if he had a decent job, because her teacher's salary can't support her. Sloane can support herself."