Once Upon a Prince

Chapter One

When we got home, father was sitting in the living room watching a football game. "What did you get, Raylynn?"

"My love, she got so many things, she won't possibly be able to wear everything." Helen spoke for me.

My father nodded his approval. "Okay, so what's for dinner?"

***

"What's for dinner?" I heard my father ask. This time not from my memories.

Helen and her spawn all looked to me. I looked at all of them, then sighed in defeat. "Tacos." I said and walked to the kitchen, dropping the dozens of bags I carried all day on the fall.

"What's her problem?" My father asked.

"Apparently she hasn't learned to be humble." Helen responded. "After all I do for you, cooking a simple meal is the least you could do."

I ignored her outburst, and cooked the meal. When it was finished, I set the table and announced it was ready. "May I be excused, father?"

He gave me the look, you know the look your father gives you when you say or do something outrageous. "What, you can't eat with your family, why, because you had to cook it?"

I shook my head, defeat already a part of my nature. "No, sorry, father, I'll sit and eat with the family."

When I sat down comfortably, Margret spoke. "Could you pour me some tea?" She addressed at me.

"There isn't any."

"Why not?"

"Because no one bought any."

"Didn't you go grocery shopping?" Margret continued to hound me.

"I went, but Hel-mother wanted avocados for her facial, I told her I didn't have enough money, she said put something back and but avacodoe. Obviously, I put back the tea and bought avocados."

"Daddy, I want tea, I can't eat tacos without tea." Margret said in a childlike voice.

So she can call him daddy but I can't? I fumed.

Father looked around the table and stopped when he got to me. "Raylynn, could you-"

I jumped up from my seat, furious, "Yes, father, I, your humble servant, not your daughter, will go to the store and miss out on the wonderful meal I made to buy tea for Margret, who, by the way, doesn't even drink tea!"

Father looked to Margret.

"Well, I do now. I'm trying to lose weight before the ball Christian Romanov's parents are throwing him."

"See, don't doubt my Margret." Helen scolded.

"Whatever." I muttered. I grabbed the card in my father's out-stretched hand.

"Buy the tea, then straight home." He handed me the keys and dismissed me.

So glad you care, father.

I got into my car and drove to Cubs, the closest grocery store, and I sat in the parking lot, put my head on the steering wheel and I thought.

I thought about my daddy, the man that used to love me and cared about my feelings. Then about father, who replaced daddy and doesn't even notice I breathe the same air as him.I thought about Helen, how she uses my father for his money and status and uses me as a personal slave so she doesn't have to lift a finger unless it's to shop. Lastly, I thought about Meredith and Margret. Meredith isn't that bad, on her own she's harmless, she's bad around Margret and her mother because she wants to fit in. Margret on the other hand is a little bit-

Knock knock

I just and screamed when a shadowy figure knocked on my window.

"Are you alright?" The figure asked.

I turned off the car and got out of the door, the man stood by my door, waiting. "I'm fine, sorry, I was lost in thought."

"Don't apologize, I was just checking to make sure you didn't pass out or worse." He explained.

I laughed lightly. "Um, thank you."

The stranger held out his hand. "Chris."

I took the offered hand. "Raylynn."

"Beautiful name."

"Thank you."

"So, I assume you're here to shop."

I nodded. "Uh, yeah, I am, Here to buy tea for dinner."

"Dinner? Do you cook?" He asked, interested.

I nodded.

"Then it's perfect I ran into you, I'm trying to cook a meal for my parents, you know, butter them up before I ask them a question they're sure to say no to but I don't know how to cook or the actual ingredients I need."

I took that all in and looked at him. "If you don't know how to make it or what you need to make whatever, why are you here?"

"My brother was supposed to meet me here to help but he canceled at the last minute. Literally like a minutes before I knocked on ur window." Chris clasped his hands together in praying form, my hands in between his. "Please, Raylynn, help me."

"Um, well, what if I don't know how to make what you want to make?"

"I'm told anyone that cooks knows how to make this."

laugh under my breathe. "What is it?"

"Lasagna." He deadpans.

I burst out laughing, a real laugh I haven't let out in years, tears and all.

"Does that mean you can help me?"

I nod, wiping my tears. "I'll help."