"Shhh!" Ted whispered.

Mia heard a loud whisper. "Mommy Mia's sleeping."

Mia hid her smile, but Ted wasn't paying attention to her. He leaned over the co-sleeper and picked up the swaddled bundle. She hadn't been fussing, but Ted had trouble putting their five-day-old daughter down.

Little Ed (Ted finally put his foot down) had been calling her Mia until recently when he realized Mia was his new sister's mother. If Sophia would call her mommy, he wanted to. Because of Elaine's indifference toward her son, Ed was living with them in their new home almost full-time.

Their house was only new to them. It was over one-hundred years old and full of character Ted had lovingly restored. Unlike the Victorian, he didn't do all the work himself. He had preferred to spend his evenings with his wife. "And not keeping the neighbors up with your loud music." A part of her missed the Victorian. Aidan and Sage who lived close by used to walk over. They moved too far, so her brother had to drive over to visit Sophia later with their baby, Daniel.

Once they tip-toed out, Mia drifted off. She was dreaming of kisses in Bea's garden. She woke to the sound of little squawks.

"She's hungry." Ted waited for her to sit up and handed her their baby. He stretched out on the bed next to her and watched as the little rosebud mouth latched on to her breast. "She's so good at it. You're the best mother."

Ted might have driven another pregnant wife crazy but not Mia. She knew what kind of father he was and he just wanted to be a part of everything. When he learned she wanted to nurse their baby, he was beside himself. He read all about it and the first day in the hospital he was right by her side helping their little buttercup to open her mouth. He named her buttercup and watching him with her filled Mia's heart up with so much love it ached.

A hungry brother interrupted the quiet intimacy they share. Ted groaned. "I'm coming. We'll have cereal."

"Are we making cookies today? There aren't any and people are coming over."

Ted looked at him. "There were some last night. Are you sure you're hungry for breakfast?"

The boy nodded sheepishly.

Mia called out. "How about yogurt and fruit instead of sugary cereal then?"

Ed groaned, but he would eat what Ted gave him. She was one-hundred percent sure she had the best husband in the world, although Sage and Brenna might argue with her.

Later that afternoon, Sage and Aidan arrived with Daniel. He looked at Teddy and cried when he saw him holding Sophia. Sage snatched Sophia away from him and Ted picked up Daniel.

"When you get older, you and Ed and Sophia and Declan and Scarlett can play hide and seek in your Granny Bea's garden. I'm not sure Sloane will give you a playmate, but eventually Victoria will probably have a houseful of cousins."

Aidan said, "They won't be his cousins." He slapped Teddy on the back and looked pleased when Daniel dived out of Ted's arms into his own. Aidan and Noah were marvellous fathers, but Mia smugly knew Ted was better. In her eyes, he was the best at everything. She made herself blush — definitely that too.

As soon as their visitors left more arrived. Ted's parents were burdened with gifts. Mia wondered why she was ever afraid of his parents. Even Big Ed was warm and made her feel welcome. They were excited about their new grandchild. Sophia would be a princess like her Auntie Sage if they weren't careful.

Her in-laws were still visiting when her parents arrived. Ted and his father were discussing business, and Grace sat in the other room with Mia while she fed the baby.

"It's wonderful you're breastfeeding." She lowered her voice as if she were telling a secret. "You know Elaine would never."

Mia nodded. Her mother-in-law often pointed out ways she differed from Ted's first wife. Mia already knew. She knew the night in Bea's garden when she had escaped the party while others were lavishing Elaine inside. Also, the night Declan was teething.

"I'm not Elaine, but she's little Ed's mother and so Ted and I don't like to think ill of her."

That was her mantra although Mia was still human. After an attempt to smear Mia's reputation which Grace, Bea and Celia squashed with the help of Vanessa Hayes. Elaine had accepted her presence in the life of her son. Things were not friendly but cordial and that had to be good enough.

Her parents were pleased to have another granddaughter. Brenna's daughter Scarlett was the first. Her father had reduced his practice to only reconstructive surgeries and was lecturing more and more. When he traveled her mother often went along. The rest of the time, Maggie's life was all about her grandchildren, including Little Ed.

Ted came to sit beside her while their parents talked about them. "I love you, Mia Calhoun."

She turned her head and kissed him. The first time they kissed he was a stranger and then he became her friend, lover and husband. Mia thought of her wish in the fountain. She had found true love and just like Cinderella, she and her handsome stranger found their happily ever after.

Thank you for reading, Mia and Ted's story.  I sat down one winter day to write a modern Cinderella story.  I didn't realize it would become a whole series.  As much as I have enjoyed the Reilly siblings falling in love, I am excited about Ted's sisters finding their happily ever after.

Scroll for the next story in the series.  Can you guess?

Up next a chapter from Bea and a video trailer.