Page 19 of The Reverse Cinderella

“It’s the light pollution. Because there are so many lights on in the city, a lot of them pointing to the sky as well as the ground, they create what’s called light pollution in the atmosphere. It makes it hard to see what is really up there in the heavens. If we were to go outside the city, the sky would be amazing and we could see a lot more with the naked eye. The telescope makes a great difference,” Max leaned close and gently showed Piaget how to maneuver the telescope. He led her through a cosmic tour of various constellations that he knew. It was pretty interesting.

“How do you know so much about this?” Piaget asked.

“I studied from a book. It’s the myths that I like the best because nearly every star or constellation has a story attached to it,” Max said in that sexy low voice of his. It sent a little thrill through Piaget. “Plus, I’ve been going to some of the free seminars the amateur astronomers club hosts.”

“What about that one?” She leaned back so that he could have a look.

Max tilted the telescope for her. “The star is called Vega but in Chinese myth her name is Chih-nii. She was a weaver and made amazing things like gowns from brocade and the clouds. She was married to a cowherder and fell deeply in love with him but because of her love she forgot all of her talent to weave and her parents became very angry. Her father made her into a star and then made her husband into a star called Altair. In his anger, her father separated them by the Silver River, otherwise known as the Milky Way. Once a year, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, a flock of magpies form a bridge to reunite the lovers.”

He leaned back until he was laying on the blanket, hands under his head and looking up into the sky. He looked so comfy and relaxed that Piaget laid down beside him. “That’s a sad story.”

“It is. A lot of the myths are sad or have lessons to be learned from them.”

“What about your story?” Piaget dared to ask softly.

He reached out to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear then gently took her hand. “My story… Well, once upon a time there was a boy who was given everything he ever wanted. He did good in school, he had a lot of fun, he worked really hard. Then he had a disagreement that couldn’t be resolved. And because he stood his ground, he lost everything he had and almost everyone he ever knew. But he wouldn’t change it for the world because he did what was right. And because now, he has real friends, a real purpose. He also met you.”

“A real purpose?” She asked curiously. Piaget knew he helped out Ed, but she wasn’t sure if there was something else he was spending his time on.

“Trying to make the world a better place.”

“That’s definitely a good thing to do,” Piaget agreed. It was a little vague, but maybe he just meant helping other people like at a soup kitchen or something. And that was okay, he was at least doing something. Piaget liked this. Laying next to each other, holding hands and just talking. It was the first time she had ever done this and she hoped it wouldn’t be the last.

“What is your story?” Max returned the question to her.

“Mine?”

“I gave you mine.”

“Barely. There were no real details. Wife? Kids?” Piaget raised an eyebrow.

“No wife, no kids. Now stop stalling. Unless it’s really terrible,” he teased. “I’d hate to spoil such a nice night.”

Piaget rolled her eyes then looked up at the sky. “I had a good childhood. I loved my life. I went to the right school, did the right things. I was wooed and married in my first year of college. I dropped out and became the perfect housewife. No kids.”

“Did you want kids?” Max enquired.

“Very much.” Piaget didn’t mean to but she couldn’t help a tear. She wiped it away angrily. It was an old wound and her situation wasn’t likely to change anytime soon so she didn’t know why she kept tearing at the scab. “He passed away in an accident last year. I feel like I’m just finally figuring my life out.”

Max slowly pulled her into his arms and she took a deep breath, settling into his embrace. He felt warm, solid, dependable. He was so nice and comfortable. A soft, worn shirt with a steady heartbeat. Piaget could feel herself relax. “I think you’re doing a good job.”

“Really?” Piaget asked dryly. She felt like she was a wreck. She cried, she was a klutz, she was trying but she felt like the bills were going to eat her alive sometimes. Piaget loved what she was working towards, to become a broadcast personality but that wouldn’t happen for some time yet. Until then it was going to remain a struggle.

“You’ve got a roof over your head. You pay your rent on time, according to your landlord. I know you have food in your cupboards. You have friends who really like you and wished you spent more time with them. You’re trying to learn to do something that you’ve always wanted to do. I’d say you’re pretty blessed.”

Piaget realized that her situation could be much worse than what it was now. She was blessed and Max had gently reminded her of that. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For tonight,” Piaget yawned and closed her eyes. “It’s been really nice.”

She must have been tired still because the next thing Piaget knew she was being laid down on her bed. Someone took off her shoes and pulled the covers over her. The hall light was on, but the bedroom was dark and in her sleepy confusion Piaget asked, “Gary?”

The figure arranging her covers paused and reality dumped back on her. Gary was dead. This was Max. He gently pushed her hair out of her face and gave Piaget a lingering kiss on the forehead. “No sweetheart, not Gary.”

Piaget was glad the dark hid her humiliating blush. “I’m sorry Max.”

“It’s okay. Get some sleep. I’ll lock the door after myself.”