I WISH-PART 1

Nov 20, 2007 - 15:15 PM PST

I WISH................
Prologue
"Kristy, are you still there?" asked a worried, female voice, through the phone line.
Kristy Kendrick pulled herself from her reclined position on her soft cushiony sofa
and shifted the cordless phone from one ear to the other. "I'm sorry, Sis. What did
you say?"
"I asked if you were going to be alright. I know how much you liked Cory" That was
an understatement! She was crazy, madly in love the jerk. "Will you please come
over? Eric is already in bed and so is the baby. We could sit up and talk -- all night if
you want."
Kristy sighed into the phone and shook her head as she answered, "Danni, I know
you just want to help, but honestly, I just want to be by myself, tonight."
"So you can feel sorry for yourself."
"I'm not feeling"
"You are."
She relented. "Okay, so I'm feeling sorry for myself. But don't I deserve to? I was
planning on marrying him, Danni. He told me he loved me. How could I know that
when I opened the paper this morning, that I'd find that my 'boyfriend' wasn't on the
"Grease" musical tour that I thought he was on! Instead he took that twobit

that
that hussy to Vegas and married her!"
Her ever-sensible sister prodded, "Are you sure you didn't suspect he was cheating
on you?"
"No!" she defended, just a little too quickly.
"Were you paying attention?"
Kristy was silent for a moment. No, she really hadn't been paying attention. It was
just that she'd been so busy lately. First, there was the fashion show in Paris, then
the photo shoot in L.A. As one of the reigning top models in New York, she rarely
had time for herself. Had she unintentionally driven Cory into someone else's arms?
"I guess I wasn't paying attention," came her hollow reply. That realization brought a
fresh load of tears to her eyes.
"You're crying again," Danni said with a sigh. "He isn't worth your tears, Kris."
"I knew you were going to say that."
"It's the truth. And if you'd just stop a minute and think about it you'd know it was
true. Kristy, the man is a social climber. Oh, with you he at least got his name in the
Times gossip column, and a picture or two in the tabloids. But, face it, sister, New
York's most celebrated deb, Debra St. Martin, puts him right along side the city's
cream of society! Not to mention, that she happens to be the richest girl in town! He
used you, plain and simple until something better came along." She was being
brutally blunt, but then that was Danni. She never saw the need to sugar coat the
truth. But that didn't mean she lacked heart. "Let me tell you this, though, Kristy. You
deserve much better. And I can promise you 'better' are right out there waiting to be
found. It may be today, it may be next year. But he's there!"
As usual, her sister's wisdom lent to her broken heart a thread of comfort and
strength. But she still hurt. And a few wise words weren't going to make it all instantly
better. She just needed time.
"I know you're right, Sis. I just a little time. I'll be okay."
"Okay. But, Kris?"
"Yes?"
"Please come and talk to me soon, okay?"
"Okay. Goodnight."
As Kristy hung up the phone, she suddenly felt a loneliness overtake her. She
glanced around her stylish Soho apartment. Everything around her was bright a
cheerful. Colourful prints from Monet and Renoir graced her walls and her living
room furniture was overstuffed with a flowery print. Never a very tidy person, every
nook and cranny was filled with nick- knacks, books and little framed pictures of
family friends. It was designed to make a person feel happy and welcome. And
normally it would have that effect on her, except for today.
Today, nothing could help her feel better.
It would take. A miracle.
She got up from and ran her fingers through her long dark brown hair leaning back a
bit to stretch her stiff muscles. A breath of cool air drifted through her silk blouse and
she glanced over to the door that stood open to her balcony. It looked inviting and
she thought that maybe a little fresh air would make her feel better.
Once outside she pulled a chair near the railing and sat down, propping her feet
against it. As she glanced up to the dark sky, all she noticed at first were black
clouds hiding the moon and the stars.
Figures, she thought wryly. Even the sky seemed to match her mood. She really
shouldn't be feeling sorry for herself like she was, and she knew it. Hadn't she
always been made of stronger stuff? Hadn't she pulled through when things were at
their worst? At eighteen, when her parents were killed, didn't she pull herself
together and take control of her life?
She'd packed up her belongings, sold the family farm in Indiana, and moved to New
York to live with her older sister and her brother-in-law. She'd only been in the city for
a week when she was approached by a top modelling agent, who had spotting her in
a department story, passing out perfume samples.
It had only brought in a little extra money at first and then before she knew what we
happening, she had been chosen for the cover of Glamour. After that her life was not
her own. It was run on a schedule. A schedule filled with photo shoots, fashion
shows and commercials.
But during those first few months, she had meet Cory Warner. His charming ways
and that devastating smile had immediately stolen her heart. He had introduced
himself as an actor, but as Kristy had come to find out, he was mostly an out-of -
work actor. Looking back, she could see what she did not before. He had used her to
help his own career.
Kristy was glad that it hadn't worked, for he still remained out of work. She guessed
now he was a rich out of work actor!
What a fool I've been, she thought to herself. How could she let herself be taken
advantage of it that way?
And, now, here she was. On her own again. Lonely. There was probably a country
song written for such an occasion as this one.
She wanted to just run away. But to where? She had no home in Indiana anymore.
No parents to run home to and cry on their shoulders. And as much as she loved her
sister, she didn't feel comfortable bothering her and her husband. They had their own
lives to lead.
A life that Kristy so envied. A husband and a child would she ever has that?
A movement in the sky caught her eye and she looked up to see the dark, black
clouds moving to reveal a beautiful midnight blue sky, sparkling with brilliant
penlights.
Kristy smiled as she thought back to a time when she and Danni would make wishes
on the first star that they saw. How did it go? Oh yes
Star light, Star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish, I wish tonight.
A giggle escaped her throat when she realized that she had spoken it aloud, and on
impulse, decided to follow through with the rest of the game.
"I wish I could just be someone else. Someone that is just a simple wife. No career.
No hectic schedules, just a wife."
A honking horn, from the street below, brought her back to reality and she couldn't
help but smile at her foolishness. But somehow, she did feel better. She couldn't
understand it, but there was a feeling raising within her that seems to say that
everything was going to be alright.
She went back inside her apartment and readied herself for bed. And as she pulled
the covers over her tired body, she could have sworn she heard a voice whisper, "As
you wish"
A shiver ran over her. She must be hallucinating. She did NOT hear a voice. But just
to make sure, she laid still, barely breathing for a few moments.
Nothing.
With a weary sigh, she snuggled deep within the covers and fell fast asleep.
As she slept and dreamed, other forces were at work. Forces that had begun the
moment she uttered her wish. Forces that would forever alter life as Kristy Kendrick
knew it.
Chapter One
A ray of light broke through the thick fog of deep sleep. A frown marred Kristy's brow
as she flung her arms over to shield her eyes. The light didn't diminish; however, it
grew, and got brighter and brighter. This time she grabbed for the sheet and pulled it
over her head.
Something wasn't right. The frown she sported deepened. From under the covers
she slowly opened her heavy lids and blinked a couple of times to clear them.
Light? Why was there light coming threw her bedroom? Her bedroom window faced
west and she had heavy drapes that shut out the light. Her eyes then adjusted to the
lightweight sheet hovering over her face. White? Her sheets weren't white. Not solid
white anyway. HER sheets had flowers and colourful ribbons running through them.
And this mattress…it was most definitely NOT her waterbed!
With a jolt she sprang upright, knocking the sheet away. And what her blue eyes net
with totally left her in a state of shock and unbelief. A loud gasp escaped her lips as
she took in her alien surroundings. Her first thought was, I've been kidnapped and
taken to…a museum?!
Large looming antiques were everywhere. The bed looked like it came right out of
some gothic movie. It had a towering canopy and the heavy velvet drapes were
pulled back and tied at the post. Tapestry's adorned the walls. And a large trunk was
sitting in the corner with its lid open and resting against the wall. It seemed to be
filled with garments made of rich lavish colours and materials.
Her heart was beating ninety miles a minute. The shock was now beginning to wear
off and fear and panic took its place.
"Dear Lord, where am I?" she whispered to herself.
"You are in England, my child."
Another gasp sounded from her as she turned her head to her left and found a man
standing beside her bed, completely clothed in ivory robes. Her hand moved to grasp
at the neck of her gown. She noticed that the gown wasn't her own.
"What do you want from me? Why did you bring me here?"
A gentle smile lit the pleasant face and a hand lifted, palm up, to her. "Please do not
be alarmed. You are quite safe. I will not hurt you," his warm voice smoothed.
She felt herself being lured in by that voice and immediately starting resisting. "Just
please tell me where I am and why I am here. And who are you?"
Still ever so calm, he answered her. "As I said before, child, you are in England.
Twelfth century England to be exact." He noticed an eyebrow rose at that
information. She didn't believe him. He went on. "And as for who I am…My name is
Jubal. Am what you'd call your guardian angel."
This was no time for jokes! "And I'm Cinderella, and with a wave of you magic wand
you are going to turn my pumpkin into a coach!" she snapped, sarcastically.
Jubal frowned. "No, my dear. I believe that Cinderella had a fairy godmother not a…"
"Oh, whatever! I do have a brain, you know. If you think that I'm going to believe all
these mambos jumbo, then you are Looney tunes!"
He patiently waited till she ended her little speech and replied still wearing that
insufferable angelic smile, "Do you not remember your wish?"
She suddenly grew cold, "My...my wish?"
"You made a wish, last night. You wished you could be someone else and be
someone’s wife, if I not mistaken." And his smile assured that he never was.
"This is a dream. I must be having a dream!" She placed her hands on her forehead
as if trying to understand what was happening to her and squeezed her eyes tight.
Enough is enough, she thought, and jumped from the bed and ran to the window.
"This is NOT England," she replied crisply as she reached the opening, "We are still
in New … Oh my gosh...." Her voice drifted off; once more she was in a state of utter
disbelief. For there stretched before her was a countryside she had never before
seen, and saw crude buildings and great stone walls that she was sure had never
graced U. S. soil. People dressed in dull pheasant— like clothing milled about.
Then she saw, coming down through the gates, were two magnificent black horses
unlike anything she’d ever seen. But what was even more incredulous was what the
horses carried.
They were knights, dressed in what looked like metal chains, and elaborately draped
in gray material trimmed in gold, no less, carrying a large flag like banner made of
the same material, bearing what looked like an image of a great eagle in flight.
Kristy lifted her eyes to look beyond the knights, and gasped at what they
encountered. Never, in her whole career, in working with some of the most stunning
men in the world, had she ever seen such a man as this.
Unlike the two who rode before him, he wore no helmet on his exquisite head, but
rather left those dark tresses bare for all to behold. He sat proud and erect on his silk
draped stallion, which also bore the colours of gray and gold. And neither was his
body clothed with the metals as the others, but instead was outfitted in layers of
what, looked like over long shirts, made of silk, and over his shoulders was fastened
a long flowing mantle made of velvet. At his waist was attached a sword, that Kristy
could swear was pure gold. On his large muscular legs, he wore some sort of hose
or stockings that hid nothing and accented everything.
She allowed her eyes to finally roam up his beautiful body to the face she had only
glanced upon before. A concerned look creased her brow and she couldn’t
understand was why his expression on his face bothered her so. He was most
certainly handsome, but his fine features were granite hard, unfeeling,
uncaring…without hope.
A moving sound came from behind, causing her to startle. A blush colored her
cheeks when she realized that she’d been standing at that darn stone window like
some sort of moonstruck teenager!
But all that her eyes had met had told her the bone—chilling truth. The man was
right. This was definitely NOT New York.
A chill ran through her thinly clad body and she felt herself shaking uncontrollably.
She felt the man hands on her arms and found them strangely comforting.
"Please...Please tell me this is a dream."
"I’m afraid it’s not."
"Why...why this wish, I’ve wished on stars, hundreds of/f times. I even wished .my
sister would turn into a puppy … one time when I was mad at her, but you didn’t
honour that wish. Why this one?" She could feel herself bordering on the brink of
hysterics.
"Because the person’s place that you have taken, also wished the same thing.
Christiana of Cranbrook is now in New York in your apartment, but hasn’t yet
realized what has happen. She’s still sleeping."
She turned to look at him, confusion darkened her blue eyes. "How can we trade
places? The people who know Christiana will take one look at me and know I’m not
her and the same thing about her. For goodness sakes, people all over the world
know what I look like."
"Look at this," he said gently as he pushed a miniature painting in her palm.
Her breath caught in her chest and her eyes widen with astonishment. "It’s me."
"It’s Christiana." he corrected. "You two are nearly identical. That’s why I could
honour both your wishes."
"1 think I need to sit down." she wavered as she grasps the arm of what would have
been an expensive antique chair in her day, and sank down in it.
"Will I ever get to go back?" she asked as everything started sinking in.
"I cannot tell you the exact day, but there will come a time when you will be given the
choice to remain or leave. If just one of you wants to return then the other must also
return."
"But I want to return, now! And I can’t sit here and believe that once Christiana
realizes where she is she’ll want the same thing," she quickly replied, grasping at
any shred of hope she could find.
"You must both give your granted wishes a chance. As I said before you will be given
a chance to return, later. But right now, you must make the most of what’s been
given to you. You will receive what you have wished for." There was something in his
voice that reassured her and put her to ease despite the incredible circumstances.
But then she remembered her whole wish, her concern returned.
"I ask to be a wife. Is Christiana married, because if she is, how could I
possibly...with her husband…he would surely know!" Her cheeks grew red at that
unholy thought.
"No, no. But she is betrothed. It’s a marriage that has been arranged by King
Richard, himself. The man has just recently come into his earldom and the king
thought that with this new responsibility he needed a wife and therefore an heir. And
if he ever found out that you’re not the true Christiana, I doubt it will matter much to
him, at least at first. He’s marrying only because the king has ordered it and also
because he desires an heir."
"How barbaric! And you expect me to take her place and marry this stranger? No
thanks!" she stood to her feet, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It will not be as bad as it seems, after all love can change any man. And besides,
your husband-to-be is an earl of the king and knight of the realm. He intentionally
failed to mention he was also the most feared, but knew she would come to realize
that soon enough. "He is Darian Maxwell. Earl of Grey stone."
For one delirious moment she felt a shiver of excitement at the mention of his name.
But shrugged it off as being part of the shock she was still experiencing.
She sighed and looked up at Jubal. Then she asked him the question she was
positive she didn’t want to know. "Did Christiana make that wish because she didn’t
want to marry Darien?"
Jubal relented, "Yes."
"There must have been a good reason, then, for her to want out of it so bad that she
wanted to be someone else!"
"You and Christiana may look alike, but you’re in many ways different. She has been
pampered in her twenty years; after all she is the earl’s only child. She’s a sweet girl,
just rather…spoiled," he said carefully. "She didn’t relish giving up her
independence. And when she realized that her father could not be talked out of the
marriage, she was devastated. She knew that life with Darien would mean the end to
her carefree life."
"End?" Kristy asked, trying to comprehend what he was trying to tell her. "What kind
of a man is he?"
"He’s the kind of man who needs a strong woman like you. You see, Kristy, you have
a talent for seeing people as they are on the inside and not what they appear to be.
You can be a great help to Darian. He needs you but it’s going to take time before he
will realize it."
This whole thing was getting complicated. "I’m not here just because two desperate
women made a hasty wish, am I. I’m here because you’re also looking after Darian’s
well being." He nodded and they sat there in silence.
"So…when does this marriage take place?"
For the first time since she’d been in his presence, Jubel actually hesitated over his
next words. "Well…today."
"Today?" she shrieked. "Today? I can’t even have time to get adjusted to this time
frame? You are just going to suddenly thrust me into a marriage with this Darian the
Barbarian, and expect me to be happy over it?" She was sure now she had reached
hysteria.
"Please, we must get down to details. We have very little time left."
Feeling nothing but numbness, she allowed him to lead her back to her seat and sit
her down in a crude looking chair. He then placed a chair in front of her and sat
down. "Now, your father is William, Lord of Cranbrook. You mother, however, passed
away when you were quite young and you need not have to remember much about
her. You call you father, Papa. Your ladies maid is called Nan and the rest doesn’t
matter. Christiana never paid much attention to them anyway." He studied the
parchment he held in his hands. "Oh, yes. You must refer to your fiancé when you
greet him today as ‘my lord’. After you are married then I’m sure he’ll set the tone as
to what you’ll be calling one another. And that is going to be all I’ll be able to tell you
because, in just a few moments, Christiana will awaken and I must be there." He got
up and then went to another trunk that lay beside the bed and retrieved some sort of
leather covered bundles.
"These are Christiana’s journals. She was quite specific in her writings of everyday
life and I assure you they’ll be quite a help to you in the future, as your own journals
will prove the same for her. And of course I took the liberty of putting it into modern
English writing for you. You would not be able to understand much of the medieval
writings." He handed the volumes to her and she instinctively hugs them to her as if
they were a life source.
"I will appear to you from time to time when I think it necessary so don’t be alarmed
when I do." He took her hand and gave it a fatherly squeeze and whispered. "Take
care," and before she could blink, he had vanished.
"Jubal! Jubal comes back!" she cried. She carelessly tosses the journals on the bed
and looked anxiously around the room trying to find him. Of course, it proved
fruitless. Hadn’t he just disappeared before her very eyes? "Jubal..." she whimpered
helplessly to the air.
She frantically glanced about the room and wondered how in the world she was
supposed to handle this. Running her hand through her long tresses she paced the
stone floor, trying to formulate a game plan in her head. There just had to be away
out of this, but how? It wasn’t as if she could hope on a plane and head back for New
York. When it didn’t even exist, yet!
She wanted to cry and just when she decided that she had a darn, good reason to
do so, a pleasantly plump lady, dressed like a servant came bustling through,
pushing back the huge wooden bedroom doors.
Kristy, who was standing at the foot of the bed, froze. And a wide—eyed look of fear
entered her eyes. The women looked up about that time and returned the same look,
but quickly relax and smiled. She dropped a quick curtsy and greeted, "Milady! Oh
but you gave me a fright!" She set the tray that she held on a nearby table and gave
her a knowing smile. "I’ve never known you to be up so early before, course it’s not
everyday a lady gets married, now is it." The woman who Kristy now assumed must
be Nan, stepped behind a panel adorn with tapestry and brought out a beautiful
gown of ivory silk and laid it out on the bed and started brushing out the wrinkles.
Realizing she hadn’t said a word she rushed out, "No! Please, you’ve got to help me.
I need to speak to Lord William. I’m not who you think I am. There’s been a crazy
mistake…you must believe me."
Nan looked at her mistress with hands on hips and a look much like an ever patient
mother would wear with her over active child. "Now, my lady, I was afraid you’d try
some sort of foolery, this morning, and I must admit, claiming your someone else is
quite imaginative, but it’ll not work! And that is a very clever accent you’ve mimicked,
I’ve never heard the likes of it before." She poured some sort of liquid into a silver
cup and held it out to her. "Now, drink a little of this, my lady, and we must make
haste to ready you for your wedding."
Kristy found herself gulping down the liquid and grimaced once she had emptied the
small cup. "Jeez, this is awful. What is it?"
Nan once again looked patiently at her and answered. "You know that is my tea
made of herb, my lady, you drink it every morn."
"Look, I really have to talk to Lord William. This wedding today cannot take place
until I can trade places with Christiana. Please, won’t you listen...?” But she could
see her words were making no impact. Eyeing the open door to the chamber she
decided on a course of action.
"Is Lor...I mean my father in his chamber on this wing?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, he is, but he is not to be disturbed. You shall meet him shortly in the hall with
your bride groom."
With a triumphant smile she flew to the door and after quickly scanning the hallway,
she decided the lord of the castle’s chambers would definitely be behind the biggest
set of doors.
As she padded rapidly down the hallway. She heard Nan’s distraught voice calling
after her. "Lady Christiana, you are not properly dress....Oh, don’t go in there....
It took every ounce of her nervous strength to push open the huge wooden door and
when she finally accomplished it, she barged in through the opening and right into a
massive chest cloaked in soft leather.
"Good God, Christiana! What the devil are you about, in such a state of undress!" the
voice that belonged to the large body barked. She then felt two grips of steel enclose
about her shoulders, pushing her back to face him.
"I...uh...I.” she stammered helplessly. If she hadn’t been so shocked she would have
probably been scared clean out of her wits! The face that glared down at her was
that of a man in his late forties or early fifties. Gray hair streaked through his ebony
locks that matched the strong arched brows that loomed over the angry crystal blue
eyes. His features were stormy and his lips set in a grim line. And at 5’ 11’ she was
not used to having to look so high up to meet a man’s face. She was positive he
must be at least 6’3"or 4" and his body was large, not with excess fat, but with hard
bulging muscles that one would not expect from a man of his age.
"So speak, daughter, but if this is about your wedding, I will not hear no more of your
persistent arguing. You will marry the earl and that is that!" bellowed the man who
Kristy now knew was Christiana’s father. .
Feeling relieved that she had indeed entered the right chamber, she quickly found
her tongue. "Please, sir, I have something important to tell you. I’m not your dau…
He quickly released his hold on her and interrupted, throwing his hands on the sides
of his head, "Deliver me, Lord, from such play acting!" he sighed, closing his eyes as
if in prayer. "Who in Heaven’s name has an accent such as this? Surely you can do
better than that, Christiana!" he exclaimed mockingly as he shook his head and eyed
her sceptically.
Kristy floundered a bit. Wasn’t anybody going to listen? "I’m not your daughter!" she
shouted at him. But instead of showing concern or alarm the great bear of a man just
stood there and laughed! She then did a completely childish thing and stomped her
foot in anger. This, of course, only made him laugh louder. "I’m telling you the truth."
Lord William wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and chuckled as he spoke,
"Oh, my dear, but you do come up with the most amusing antics! So please finish
your story! How is it, then, that you are not my daughter, this morn?"
Taking a deep breath, Kristy fought to bring her ire under control. "Sir, I am telling
you the truth. I am from the twentieth century. Last night I made a wish on a star that
I would become someone else. Your daughter made the same wish as I. A guardian
angel named Jubal decided to intervene and granted our wishes. We look exactly
alike, so that is why … Please sir! This is NOT a laughing matter!"
By now the baron was doubled over with laughter. He held out his hand helplessly in
a plea for her to stop. "Oh please, no more! This, I must admit, is the most
outrageous of your tales." He finally brought himself under control but his eyes still
danced on his attractive face as he regarded his daughter.
Kristy realized she was getting nowhere. Shoot! It even sounded unbelievable to her
own ears and she was the one living in this bizarre nightmare!
She found herself being turned around towards the door and given a gentle push.
"Now make haste to your chambers, milady, and ready yourself for your bridegroom.
And no more walking the halls in your state of dress!" he called after her as she
walked dejectedly back to Christiana’s chamber.
Now what? It didn’t look like anybody in this uncivilized century was going to believe
her. And no wonder! This Christiana, whose place she had taken, must have been
the Katherine Hepburn of her day!
Nan was waiting for her, nervously wringing her hands and behind her appeared two
other servant girls who looked to be about her own age. They ushered her once
again into the room and began to ready her for this terrible event that she wasn’t so
sure, now, that she’d be able to stop