The Cinderella Plan

The Cinderella Plan
Margaret Daley

To: Rachel, Pilar, MegFrom: AnneRe: Fall carnival update!I couldn't believe it when the girls from the teen center transformed me into a lovely Cinderella for the fund-raising photos…but then to have youth minister Caleb Williams as my Prince Charming? You know I have a huge crush on him! Every time I see him–at the hospital or Tiny Blessings–I can barely manage to string two words together, and he's always sweet to me. I think the makeover made him see me differently, but I don't think he'd ever date someone as plain–and lacking in faith–as me. Even so, a woman can dream, can't she?

Caleb tried to remember a time when he had seen Anne wear a pair of jeans

He couldn’t.

She always wore long, full dresses or skirts that came down to her ankles. Interesting.

A small smile graced her lips, and her ponytail bounced as she made her way toward him. Her fresh face and vivid blue eyes were a welcome sight. Anne never played games. After he had gotten past her shyness, he had found her very straightforward and honest. He could count on her if he ever needed help, especially with the kids from the youth center.

TINY BLESSINGS: Giving thanks for the neediest of God’s children, and the families who take them in!

FOR THE TWINS’ SAKE—

Jillian Hart (LI#308)

BROUGHT TOGETHER BY BABY—

Carolyne Aarsen (LI#312)

ON THE DOORSTEP—

Dana Corbit (LI#316)

THE CINDERELLA PLAN—

Margaret Daley (LI#320)

HER CHRISTMAS WISH—

Kathryn Springer (LI#324)

PAST SECRETS, PRESENT LOVE—

Lois Richer (LI#328)

MARGARET DALEY

feels she has been blessed. She has been married more than thirty years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun.

Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has been a Special Olympics coach as well, and has participated in many sports with her students.

The Cinderella Plan

Margaret Daley

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

To the man I love, my husband, Mike.

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

—James 4:8

Caleb—Hebrew: Bold or dog; an Israelite who joined Moses from Egypt to live long enough to enter the Promised Land.

Anne—English: Graceful; a variant of the Hebrew name Hannah introduced to Britain in the thirteenth century.

Dylan—Welsh: Of the sea; In Welsh mythology, Dylan was the god of the sea. The Welsh name is from a different source than the Irish Dillon.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

“Hey, Anne. Where’s my crew?”

Standing on two telephone books stacked on a folding chair, Anne Smith gasped at the sudden sound of a deep baritone voice and lurched forward. She grasped the top of the bookshelf as the support beneath her feet teetered. Her fingers slipped from their precarious clasp on the wood while the chair crashed to the floor, its sound reverberating through the office. For a second she dangled from the bookcase before she lost her hold completely.

Strong arms enfolded her against a muscular chest, breaking her fall. Her heart beat frantically while she clutched Caleb Williams’s shoulders to help steady both of them. They wobbled, as she had a few seconds ago, before Caleb managed to stabilize them.