Read an Excerpt

“Help me!” she screamed. Cinderella stood on a cliff overlooking jagged rocks and an endless sea. She was running away from something dark and menacing, but she could not identify exactly what the frightful figure was. Her toes gripped the cliff’s edge, and her heart pounded so hard she could hardly form a thought. In an instant, Cinderella’s footing gave way, and she slid down the cliff, saved only by a branch that stuck out from a crevice. She clung to it with all her might as her legs dangled in midair. “I can’t hold on much longer!” she cried to the heavens.

Cinderella bolted upright. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she felt the safety of the mattress beneath her. The morning sun and the birds chirping outside signaled that the nightmare was over. For months, Cinderella—Cindi for short—had been experiencing dreams like these. I’m probably just stressed out, she told herself.

Like the fairy-tale character, Cinderella Patterson had flowing blond hair, porcelain skin, and clear blue eyes. Many people admired her for her kindness, and she worked hard to create a happy life for her seven-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn, and herself. A single mom, Cindi lived with Kaitlyn in a cozy house near the coast of southern Florida. Lush palm trees lined the street leading up to 23102 Marina Circle. According to those closest to her, Cindi led an idyllic life. But like the classic fairy tale’s Cinderella, she faced many challenges. Cindi played multiple roles: She was a single mom, a loyal friend, a fashion designer, and a business owner. While juggling her varied responsibilities, she tried to maintain a social life, though it became more difficult with each passing day.

Her daughter, Kaitlyn, brought her joy and unconditional love. Her best friend, Anne, provided her much-needed support. During tough times, she sobbed in Anne’s embrace, unabashedly expressing her sadness. Other times, she and Anne sat with each other in their pajamas, surrounded by fluffy pillows and fashion magazines, while talking about life’s ups and downs, sipping Cakebread, and nibbling on fine chocolates. They spent countless hours analyzing their relationships and wondering if they would ever find the man of their dreams. Both wanted to find that special someone, each one’s version of Prince Charming, who would bring them love and happiness.

As far as work was concerned, ever since Cindi was a little girl, she had dreamed of designing elegant evening wear. In fact, she was only seven years old when she began filling notebooks with sketches of beautiful gowns. It was a dream she had held onto throughout her fashion-design courses in college. After her studies, a series of lucky career breaks bolstered her belief in her design skills. At one point, she had aspirations to be the designer for A-list celebrities. Recently, however, her confidence had diminished.

Over the past few years, Cindi’s self-esteem had reached an all-time low, which caused a lack in creativity. She was embarrassed to admit it, but it had been a long time since she had designed a dress that she was truly proud of. To her disappointment and frustration, her latest designs were unimaginative and lacked the sparkle and flair that had made her previous collection so extraordinary. Her current state gnawed at her, as did the endless stream of questions and doubts that kept her awake at night. If I can’t come up with fresh ideas, how long will I be able to stay in business? And if I go out of business, what will that mean to my daughter and me?