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the night she received the news that she was nominated for an Oscar. That same night she received a marriage proposal from international financier Carlos Banks, her fourth and final husband.”
    “It was a classic case of opposites attracting,” Nathan added, casting a fond look at Franc. “The Hollywood gossips of the day all swore it wouldn’t last longer than any of Maddie’s previous liaisons—only they couldn’t have been more wrong.”
    A freak for black-and-white films, Macie was familiar with the legend. Maddie Mulligan had grown up poor in Dublin and made it rich in Hollywood during the early 1930s. After more than a decade of serial monogamy and gin-soaked partying, the famous film actress had settled down to an unexpected Happily Ever After with Banks, to whom she’d remained married for the rest of her life. Both in press interviews and in her memoir, she’d sworn her staid businessman husband was her one true love—and that the shoes had been her lucky charm.
    “I snapped them up at a silent auction this summer,” Franc said.
    “At a charity event I had to drag him to,” Nathan put in.
    Franc declined to deny it. “We’ve been waiting for the right moment to give them to you. Given this is bon voyage for you and the launch for Operation Cinderella, what better time?”
    Nathan’s brow furrowed. “Bon voyage? Operation Cinderella? What have I missed?”
    Franc tapped the shorter man’s shoulder. “Macie’s going to DC for a month or so. I’ll fill you in later… Nadine .” Swinging back to Macie, he asked, “You like?”
    “Like? I love! They’re exquisite! I don’t know what to say.”
    “Try them on,” Nathan urged.
    Willing her size seven-and-a-half feet to shrink to a seven, she kicked off her sling-back and slid her right foot into the red velvet. She’d expected some pinching, but the little slipper fit as if fashioned for her.
    Dividing her gaze between her two friends and fairy godfathers, she wasn’t sure what to say. “Thank you! I can’t wait to wear them once I’m back in town.”
    Washington might be the nation’s capital, but it was also a fashion wasteland. Besides, posing as Mannon’s housekeeper and nanny likely wouldn’t involve many opportunities for socializing, certainly not in formalwear.
    Franc shook his head. “Take them with you and wear them even if it’s just for yourself, as a reminder that you’re still…well, you , a princess beneath the soot and cinders. Or in this case the Talbots and Burberry. Who knows, maybe some of Maddie’s mojo will rub off.”
    Moved, Macie swallowed hard. “Okay. Thanks, guys, I will.”
    She’d given up on fairy-tale love pretty much by the time she’d boxed up her Barbie dolls. As for the legend, it was just that: a story, make-believe. Still, Franc had a point. Once she was in the throes of Operation Cinderella, it would be nice to have something of New York and her friends with her, something to remind her of who she was. A great pair of shoes was a great pair of shoes even if they didn’t make it to any actual balls.

Chapter Three
    “Hey, Mom, it’s me.” Cocking his head to the cell phone, Ross used his free hand to rinse his coffee mug at the kitchen sink.
    “It’s good to hear your voice, son,” his mother said, as though it had been months since they’d spoken instead of last week. “How are you and Samantha getting along out there in Washington, DC?”
    The way she said “Washington, DC” made the District sound like a foreign country. Then again, to his family back in Paris, Texas, it kind of was.
    Ross hesitated. His folks knew Sam had come to live with him for a while, but that was all. He’d remained deliberately vague on the circumstances of her arrival, even though he suspected his mother wasn’t fooled. “We’re doing…well. I think I may have found a live-in housekeeper,” he added, shifting the conversation to safer ground.
    “That’s wonderful. What’s she