Marg’s chest filled with warmth. She was over the moon. Everything was seemingly falling into place. It scared her that it was too good to be true.
“I love you, sweetheart.”
“I love you too, Mom.”
The two stayed in the living room watching a movie from the Lifetime Network. The chime of the doorbell brought Marg to the front door. A young man with two wrapped boxes stood before her.
“Delivery for Ms. Marg Lewis and Mrs. Alice Parker,” the young man spoke.
“I’m Marg Lewis,” she responded.
The young man thrust an iPad toward her. “Sign here, please.”
Marg proceeded to sign the note, still confused about the delivery. The young man placed the boxes in her hands.
“These are for you as well,” he said, handing her a vase with an assortment of tulips.
She put down the boxes and accepted the vase and envelope. He turned and left, and Marg eagerly tore open the envelope. She broke out into a smile at the sight of Ben’s handwriting.“Can’t wait for tonight,” she read out loud. She placed the vase on the small table to the side and picked up the boxes, and returned to the living room.
“Who was it?” her mother asked.
“A delivery,” Marg responded, handing her the box with her name printed on it.
“What’s this,” Alice asked.
“I have no clue, but Ben sent it,” she answered.
The women worked on the wrapping, and soon they were pulling the lids of the boxes and raising dinner dresses. A note was tucked in Alice’s box. She picked it up and read it.
“Did you know I was going to dinner?” she asked.
“No. I didn’t,” Marg replied, surprised.What was Ben up to now, she wondered.
Marg left her mother to take a nap. She wanted to be fresh for their dinner later on. She woke at exactly seven, and after taking a shower, she started to put herself together.
“Come in,” she called out at the knock against her door. Alice stepped through wearing the peach-colored sheath dress. Her light hair was done up in a topknot, and pearl earrings dangled from her ears.
“You look beautiful, Mom,” Marg admired.
“Thank you,” Alice beamed. “I figured you’d need some help.” She gestured to Marg’s hair, which was still a mess.
Marg reached for the hairbrush and mousse, then handed them to her. Fifteen minutes later, her hair was in a halo braid with a few loose strands falling by the sides of her face.
“You look so ethereal,” her mother complimented against her face as they stared into the mirror. Marg’s lips lifted into a grin. “I’m going to get some water. If you need me, just call,” her mother informed her.
“Thanks, Mom,” she threw behind her. After applying light makeup, she stepped to the closet to remove the green satin off-the-shoulder dress Ben had sent for her. After zipping it up and putting on her silver high heels, she stood back from the floor-to-ceiling mirror to look at herself. A bright smile graced her lips at how classy the dress was and how it accentuated her assets in the right places.She grabbed her silver purse and made her way downstairs with five minutes to spare.
“You are going to give that man a heart attack.” Alice smirked when she saw her daughter.
Marg chuckled. “Well, he must have prepared for it. He’s the one who picked the dress, after all,” she replied. Just then, the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” Alice announced, moving toward the door. Marg did a double take by the wall mirror in the hall before following after her mother.
“Wow, Mrs. Parker, you look lovely,” she heard Ben say as she approached the door.
“Thank you, Ben. I do appreciate the dress. It was very thoughtful of you,” Alice replied. “You look quite dashing yourself.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Parker.”
