19
Donna’s entire body froze when she entered the room full of white dresses. The light from the tower windows against the butter yellow and white walls made this space feel magical, though she should have expected it. This was a royalpalace.
She clutched her flower necklace and turned toward the queen. “I can have any one ofthese?”
“Absolutely.” The queen walked toward a side table, set with tea and small vanillacakes.
Donna followed her and Beth who went to join the queen and Martina, Blackwell’s mother. She sucked in her breath. Was it rude to ask about money? She didn’t want Blackwell to be surprised with a bill he hadn’t expected. “And they arefree?”
“My gift to you.” The queen didn’t blink as she gestured toward the racks. A servant poured her a cup of tea once she wassettled.
A knock sounded from behind the door they’d just entered through. Donna turned around and saw two women her age that she recognized as the princesses. She held still. Would they welcomeher?
Kristin pushed the more pregnant Renee inside and held out her hand to shake. “Sorry for intruding but we heard you are fromMiami?”
Her heart thumped. There was no way either of these women were once normal, they were so polished and beautiful, but she held her arms at her sides. “Yes, I live in South Miami, near Sunset.” Or she used to,anyway.
Renee rubbed her belly. “Lovely area. Part of me misses Miami, though Avce iswonderful.”
“I think so.” Donna said and felt her cheeks blush. She knew who they both were but there was no way they knew anything abouther.
Kristin prodded her friend, but then placed her hand on her heart. “Sorry, I’m Kristin. This is Renee. She’s usually the more friendly of the two of us, but she’s winded thesedays.”
Renee leaned against the wall. “You’ll find out what pregnancy is like soon enough and then we willsee.”
The queen waved her over to the table to jointhem.
Kristin tilted her head and asked, “We came to see if you needed help finding adress?”
Donna nodded and waved at the dresses. “There are so many. I don’t know where tobegin.”
Renee stood straighter and waddled toward the first rack. “Let’s go by personal style. What kind of clothes do you like towear?”
Donna glanced at herself in the mirror admiring the fitted Chanel suit. “Baggy, usually. I like shawls and flowing skirts. I’ve always preferred comfort over anythingelse.”
Renee placed her hand under her chin and stared at her. Then she went to a rack and asked, “So,bohemian?”
“Sure.” Donna joined Renee who was already sortingdresses.
Kristin said, “She’s good. Renee found mine and Amy’s dress. Give her a minute, and she’ll have a pile for you to gothrough.”
Renee kept shifting through dresses and placing a few in astack.
Donna and Kristin went through piles but nothing called out to her asher. Donna kept her head high as they went through the first of many racks. “They are alllovely.”
Renee walked over to them with a pile of five dresses and hung them on the back of a tallchair.
Donna saw the first one and her breath caught in her throat. The lace was old-fashioned, as was the 1970s style, but she liked the long laceysleeves.
Kristin asked as they walked over to what Renee found, “What do you do for fun,Donna?”
She turned toward Kristin. “Read. I know that sounds boring but I love the escape of traveling to other worlds or timeperiods.”
Kristin laughed as Renee waddled toward the next hanger. “Not boring at all. Renee is heading the board for education reform and we’ll need a leader to ensure our libraries here are up to date andmodern.”
Both women stared at her and silencebloomed.
Would there be time in her day to take that on? She’d have to give it some thought. Donna went through the dresses and all of them were lovely—how could she choose? The quiet irked her and she turned around and gazed back at the two women, who waited expectantly. “Are you askingme?”
