Chapter 16

I was telling my five year old her favorite bedtime story, one found only in the Book of Life.

“So the Moonlight Angel tired of her abuse and imprisonment and grew more fearful of her fate. She tried to escape the Ogre, running from his cave and leading him on a desperate chase. He caught her just as two of her sister Angels appeared to aid her in battle. They fought well but were hard pressed and the Moonlight Angel received a terrible wound, for the strength of the Ogre was mighty.

The Ogre was winning the struggle and was about to drag the Moonlight Angel back into his cave until the Handsome Prince of the realm arrived, fetched by the smallest Angel. She had flown to his castle to plead for his aid and he came as fast as his chariot could carry him. They fought a terrible battle but the Prince was also a warrior and a champion of his people and he vanquished the Ogre, banishing him to the darkest of dungeons. Then the Prince gathered the Moonlight Angel in his arms with care and carried her to his castle in a shiny yellow chariot, and after she recovered from her wounds they married and had beautiful children, and lived happily ever after.” I ruffled her hair. “Now go to sleep. Aunt Amanda and Uncle Rob are coming over early tomorrow and besides the kids they’ll have Grandma Roseman with them. We get to see the new baby and you get to play with your cousins after we get to the lake.”

I looked at my husband, holding our sleeping fourteen month old son in his arms, bursting with love and happiness. I glanced at the other twin bed, to see our three year old already asleep, her favorite bunny snuggled to her, her platinum blond hair spilling over the sheets and shining under the muted night light. Our boxer, and by ours I mean hers, was lying on his blanket by her bed. He would stay there until he passed of old age.

Sometimes fairy tales come true.

“Is that REALLY a true story, Mommy? Did it really happen?”

I bent down and kissed her forehead, watching her try to fight sleep, and smiled. “It did, and every word is true, my Angel Princess. Every word.”