Cinderella's Shoes

by Shonna Slayton

  “I understand. But we take Elsie any way we can get her.”

  While they walked up to Elsie’s room, Adalbert reviewed Kate’s plans for finding the shoes. “I am second-guessing,” he said. “Maybe you should tell the Kolodenkos your plans. You have so little information.”

  “I’ve toyed with telling them, but the timing has never been right,” Kate answered. Although her gut warned her not to tell Nessa. And every time she’d planned to speak with Princess Kolodenko, they’d been interrupted. Surely on the ship they’d find a quiet moment where Kate could tell her the good news about the shoes.

  “I have been asking around for the location of Malwinka. My friends, some say the name is familiar, like a legend, but no one knows how to find her. You will have to try yourself. She has not been like Ludmilla, which I always thought surprising. I wonder why she does not come after the dress like the others do.”

  By now they had reached the top of the stairs. Adalbert paused with his hand on the door handle. “I wish we could go with you, then continue home to Poland.” He shrugged. “But with Elsie the way she is, we stay here. Besides, even now, Poland is not the place for me, a Jew, nor someone like Elsie, who married one. You would think after the war, people would be kind, but no. If my home survived the bombings, someone else is living there now. Someone else is wearing my clothes. Someone else is using Elsie’s dishes. They would not welcome us home.” He opened the door.

  “I’m sorry, Uncle.” It was the same story for many of his friends. They were not going back to their homeland.

  Elsie was just as Adalbert had described. She was propped up against her pillows and staring, unblinking, at the curtains. Kate took a deep breath. Elsie may never know she stopped to say good-bye, but she, herself, would know.

  “It’s good to see you, Aunt Elsie.” She spoke in Polish. “I’m leaving in the morning.”

  A slow blink was the only movement Elsie gave. Kate took that to mean she had at least heard Kate’s voice. Thinking a hug was out of the question, Kate reached over to squeeze Elsie’s hand. At first, the older woman resisted and tried to pull away, but then her fingers relaxed.

  After a moment, Kate let go. “I will try to find what’s been lost.”

  Chapter Ten

  Day two on the ship and Kate still hadn’t gotten used to the constant motion. Her stomach lurched with each crest and dip of the waves. Now she understood how Aunt Elsie could have been sick her entire trip from India to North America when she and Adalbert escaped the war. Elsie had spent all her time down below with the dresses, and Kate was beginning to see the wisdom in that.

  Nessa had called her up to the Sun Deck for some fresh air, but really, Kate was realizing, Nessa wanted her there because she was bored and needed someone to play cards with. The movie people were not on vacation, but working as much as they could before reaching Italy, including Johnny. Most of the crew had gone over already, but there were several who stayed behind to finish up props and whatever other materials they couldn’t readily get in Italy and were making the crossing now.

  A cold ocean breeze constantly blew across deck. The wind should have been refreshing, but the nauseating smell of brine was doing nothing to help her stomach. Everywhere Kate looked there was water. Perhaps she should go back to her room so she wouldn’t have to see the cause of her suffering.

  “I win,” Nessa said. “Again.” She frowned. “You know, you’re not giving me much of a challenge here. Next round, how about you look at your cards instead of staring off into the sea.” She waved her hands in front of Kate’s face.

  Kate blinked and focused back on Nessa. “Sorry. I was just thinking.”

  “Care to share?”

  Do I? Kate fingered her necklace. She’d been thinking about what Adalbert had said. She needed the Kolodenkos’ help. But even though Kate and Nessa shared a suite next to Princess Kolodenko’s on the Main Deck, they hadn’t seen the princess since they boarded. Nessa said her babcia would probably remain in her rooms the entire trip. And since Nessa had a friend, the princess wouldn’t need to make a special effort to leave her cabin.

  Kate had never seen anything so nice as their suite. Their bedroom had two twin beds and a vanity, and there was a separate dayroom and an adjoining bathroom, all styled in Art Deco. If only she were well enough to enjoy it.

  “It’s about the dresses, isn’t it? You’re nervous that we brought them with us instead of leaving them hidden or with Adalbert. Babcia says as long as they are kept somewhere safe, you don’t have to walk around with them everywhere you go.”

  “I know I can’t have them with me all the time,” she said quickly. But, yes, she was nervous about bringing the dresses back to Europe. Europe was where all the Burgosovs lived. At least in America she knew exactly where the two Burgosovs in New York were, and they weren’t going anywhere near the dresses. Although if her plans worked out, she’d be tracking down the family line of the other stepsister. She hoped they were less intense about the dresses and more willing to help her find her dad.

  Nessa continued talking as she shuffled the cards. “You would have been more nervous to leave them behind. Besides, we’ll have more fun with the dresses here. We can test them out.”

  Kate looked at her sharply. “What do you mean, ‘Test them out’?” Her senses were not so dulled as to not be alarmed.

  Nessa’s face took on a sly look. “Aren’t you even a little curious to see what they can do? Ever since your friend suggested I wear the ball gown to Princess Elizabeth’s wedding, I’ve thought of nothing else. We’ll have to plan a ball, of course, so I have an excuse to wear it.” She frowned. “Grandmother has never hosted a ball before. What reason can we come up with to have one? It’s too late to celebrate the war being over.” A smile overtook her face. “What about in the movie your boyfriend’s dad is making? Do you think he might have a ball scene?”

  “I don’t know. It’s a movie about the end of the war. There might be some kind of dance.”

  Nessa dealt the cards, looking smug. “Once he sees our ballroom he’ll have the writers put in a scene, I just know it. The room is irresistible. And then I can wear the dress.” She punctuated each word with the snap of her cards. “Your turn. Ora tocca a ti.”

  Kate squeezed her forehead. She wasn’t in the mood for Nessa’s cheerful Italian lessons. And the more Nessa talked, the more Kate feared her whole time in Italy would be spent coming up with excuses to prevent Nessa from wearing the ball gown. This trip was her only chance to solve the mystery of her father’s disappearance. She couldn’t waste it.

  “Do you think I’ll meet your brother?” Nessa asked.

  “We didn’t hear back from him. I hope he hasn’t already left for Germany.” Kate had sent Floyd a letter to tell him she was on her way to Italy and where she was staying. Princess Kolodenko had offered to arrange a meeting if he was still in the country. “If we miss him, do you think we can go to Germany?” Kate really wanted to hear more about Poland, but was anxious about coming right out and asking. She didn’t want Nessa to know how badly she wanted to go, and Princess Kolodenko changed the subject any time Poland came up.

  The ship rocked and Kate clung to the table, her stomach rising in her throat.

  Nessa leaned back comfortably in her chair and waited for Kate to get hold of herself and lay down her card.

  Kate swallowed with difficulty. Sweat broke out across her forehead. She dropped all her cards on the table. “Gotta go.” She hoped she could make it to the privacy of the nearest bathroom before her stomach overwhelmed her.

  After she’d regained control, Kate returned to the deck. Nessa had found a new card player, Johnny, and when he saw Kate, he leaped up to help her back to the table.

  “You’re not looking so good,” he said.

  “Thanks for the compliment,” Kate joked. She put her head on the table.

  “Do you want to go lie down?”

  She shook her head. “In a minute. I need to gather some en
ergy first. You can finish the game.”

  “I don’t mind quitting,” he said. “She’s beating me.”

  “No quitting,” Nessa demanded, waggling her finger. “I don’t like to lose, but I also don’t like to win because someone is letting me.”

  Kate took a steadying breath. “When do you think we’ll go to Poland?” she blurted out.

  “Oh, darling.” Nessa felt Kate’s forehead. “You’re worse off than I thought.”

  Kate closed her eyes as another wave rocked the ship. “What do you mean?”

  “They’re rebuilding, to be sure, but our villa in Italy is much more luxurious than anything we might get in Poland. Trust me, you’ll want to stay in Italy.”

  “But you’re the one who said—”

  “I know. I was only trying to talk you into coming back with us. And besides, the place where Adalbert and Elsie lived is no longer Poland, but Ukraine. Do not tell her the borders changed; she will only be upset. Besides, her neighbors are gone, too. Those who survived the war have been expelled.” Nessa played her hand, and the wind picked up and blew the card away. “Oh! Be a dear and get that for me, Kate? You are closer.” She took a sip of her Shirley Temple that she must have ordered while Kate was in the ladies’ room.

  Johnny shot a look at Kate before retrieving the rogue card.

  He’d complained to Kate more than once that she was letting Nessa walk all over her. But he didn’t understand Kate’s position. Everything was so new, and she didn’t want to jeopardize her role as Keeper. Nessa was used to being waited on; it was no big thing. It was becoming more of a deal that he wouldn’t let it go. He kept pushing her to stand up for herself.

  “They can treat people like that?” he asked, again looking pointedly at Kate. “But this is peacetime.”

  “War. Peace. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference,” Nessa said. “It happened to my family, too, a long time ago. We should own a string of castles.”

  “What castles?” Johnny asked.

  “Poland is dotted with castles. Millions of them—well, hundreds. They’re everywhere. Had my family not been ousted, we could have had our pick to stay in any one of them.”

  “If Poland had remained a monarchy, you mean,” Johnny said, an annoyed edge in his voice. “And if you could have held on to it for hundreds of years. When was it your family had to leave?” He put down a card.

  Nessa made a small squeaking noise, but Kate couldn’t tell if it was in protest to what Johnny said or the card he played.

  “We’d like to go to Warsaw,” Johnny said. He started rubbing Kate’s back. Slow circles.

  Her stomach still rolled with the waves, but now her skin tingled. His comforting touch reminded her of when she was sick and Babcia would stay up with her, soothing her the same way. Except this was better. She smiled. She could even forgive him for being such a pain about Nessa.

  “No reason to go to Warsaw,” Nessa said. “When we say there is nothing left—there is literally nothing left. You’ll see when we land and start driving through Europe.” She played her hand. “It would be a waste of time.”

  Kate’s smile fell into a tight line. She couldn’t look at Johnny. She already knew what he was thinking.

  When Nessa spoke again, her voice had softened. “But it would have been worse if not for people like your dad, Kate. I’ll show you the ancient buildings he and the others protected from the bombing. You can’t easily move a fresco painted on a wall.”

  Kate sighed. Nessa sometimes came off curt, but she did understand. Kate gave Johnny one of his pointed looks back. He quirked his eyebrow at her, and then it hit her. Nessa had yet again managed to turn the topic away from finding her dad. She buried her head back in her arms on the table. She needed Nessa’s blessing. She needed Nessa to be focused and helpful. Since Kate didn’t know any Italian and limited Polish, she needed Nessa for everything.

  Kate lifted her head, sensing a break in her nausea. How was she going to get Nessa on her side? The girl seemed interested only in shopping and the dresses. Oh yes. That was one topic Nessa was very interested in—Kopciuszek.

  “Can I get you some water?” Johnny asked.

  She nodded. “That’d be great.” She waited until he was far enough away to not hear them. For the moment, she thought it important that Nessa not know how much Johnny knew. The secret was supposed to be kept in the family, and the only reason Johnny knew was because Adalbert had a feeling that Johnny would one day be joining the family, and so he’d told him.

  At the risk of revealing too much, Kate decided to dive in. “What do you think happened to the glass slippers?” Even though she didn’t say Kopciuszek or Cinderella, she still glanced over her shoulder at the couple sitting closest to them. They were both reading, seemingly not interested in the young people playing cards.

  Nessa leaned forward conspiratorially. “I don’t know, but I’d be interested in finding them. I’ve been thinking about this. There is a series of frescoes at our residences. All fairy-tale-type scenes, now that I think about it.” She smacked her forehead. “I should have known something was different about my family. I still can’t believe I was the last to know.”

  “What about the frescoes?” Kate prompted. She knew how Nessa felt, being the last to know. The secret was even more well-kept in her family.

  “There is only one at our place in Italy. It is a dancing scene. And I bet Kopciuszek is in it.”

  A flicker of hope tickled Kate’s insides. “Do you think it could hold a clue for us? How old is it?”

  “Oh, ancient. Although I doubt it goes all the way back to the original Kopciuszek, but certainly hundreds of years ago. You’re not used to seeing old things, living in New York. Everything in Italy is old. Well, used to be before the war. Now new buildings are going up all over to replace the old.”

  “What about the other frescoes?”

  “At our residences in Poland, but Babcia hasn’t the heart to go see what survived yet.”

  “What if we went and looked for her?”

  “We’ll see,” Nessa answered vaguely. She lay down the last of her cards. “Oh, look. I win.”

  Chapter Eleven

  It was dark, and Kate was awoken by some scuffling sounds. Her bed rocked, and she wondered if she were having a dream. Her pillow felt different—not as cozy as it normally was. More scuffling, a whispered word she couldn’t make out. Someone was in the room she shared with Nessa. She tried to shake the fog from her brain, but it was still so thick and her nausea overwhelming again. The cabin creaked with the waves, but these sounds were louder and coming from the trunk where the dresses were. She had to wake up.

  There was a scrape and a thump as the small traveling trunk hit the wall.

  “Kate?” came a whisper. “Are you awake?”

  Only Nessa.

  “Yes. What time is it?”

  “Early yet. You fell asleep. May I turn the light on?” The light went on before Nessa finished speaking.

  Kate blinked the sleep out of her eyes. The sunset leaking through the curtains covering the porthole made the wood paneling glow while the room came into focus. The two beds, the built-in wooden vanity, the open doors to the bathroom and the sitting room. “Shouldn’t you be at dinner?”

  Nessa bounced as she sat on the edge of the bed. “I’ve got the best news. The captain has invited us to sit at his table tonight!”

  A groan escaped as Kate flopped back on the bed. “No food.”

  “I didn’t expect you to come. Nor Babcia. She’s almost as bad off as you. But don’t you see? The dress is formal attire. I don’t have to wait for a ball. I can wear it tonight.”

  Now Kate gave Nessa her full attention, queasy stomach or not. “You can’t wear that dress to a dinner.”

  “Why not? The men will be in tuxes, the women all wearing their finest. I might stand out a little, but they’ll just think I’m enthusiastic about being invited to dine with the captain. They’ll just wink over my head at one an
other and call me a silly girl.” She bounded off the bed and knelt before the trunk. “Help me open this thing.”

  So many thoughts came swirling and colliding in Kate’s mind. The foremost was that she’d never heard of anything more inappropriate as to want to wear Cinderella’s ball gown to dinner. A dinner! Surely Princess Kolodenko wouldn’t allow it.

  Kate rolled onto her stomach so she could hang her head over the side of the bed. Ah, that felt better. “What does your babcia say?”

  Nessa laughed. “I’m not going to tell her. Now, come on. I haven’t much time.” Click. She’d managed to unbuckle the center fastener.

  Before Kate could flop out of bed, Nessa had rummaged through and found the ball gown. She tore off the wrapping and discarded it, unwanted, on the floor.

  “Oh, look at it, Kate. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?” The white and blue silk glimmered in the light as Nessa crushed it to her shoulders and twirled around the room. “Here, help me put it on.” Nessa thrust the dress at Kate.

  “Right now?” Kate slowly sat up. Everything in her was screaming, No!

  Nessa slipped out of her dress and stood in her slip with her back to Kate and her arms up. “Ready.”

  “But you can’t wear the ball gown to a dinner.”

  “Why not?” Nessa turned on Kate, hands on hips. “It is my dress. I can wear it wherever I want.” She turned back around. “And tonight, I want to wear it to dinner at the captain’s table.”

  A good dose of adrenaline hit Kate, along with the nausea. “It belongs to your family, not you. And it’s my job to make sure it stays safe. It is a ball gown, not a dinner gown.”

  Nessa’s mouth formed a hard line. “You said it yourself—it belongs to my family, which means it is mine. Who are you to say where I can and can’t wear it?” Her hands balled into fists. “I command you to put it on me. Now.”