“It’s going to be fine,” I said, forcing a smile. “Let’s concentrate on you now and getting you ready for your big night.”
Becky looked to me with worry in her eyes, and I subtly shook my head in her direction.
“The first step, we take your ‘before’ picture, and then we pick out your dress. The best part.”
She nodded. “Alright, let’s do it.”
I led Penny down toward the studio where Crystal was ready and prepped for her pictures. We sat her down and Crystal started. Becky leaned toward me. “What if he doesn’t show?”
My belly tightened in nerves. “Leonard will show. Give me his contact info. I’ll make sure he’s there, even if I have to drag him there myself.”
Or figure out how to put out the fire if Leonard isn’t the man Penny hopes him to be.
“I should go to her reunion. It would be good for the piece to get the whole picture anyway.” Becky looked me in the eyes, sadness lingering in them. “And if you don’t convince him, she’ll need a friend to be there for her.”
“You can go, but contact the reunion committee to make sure it’s okay,” I said.
“I will.”
“By the way, have you told Eli about your new crush?”
She stiffened and didn’t look my way. “I decided not to go through with it.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” She looked at me, almost embarrassed. “It just didn’t feel right. I don’t want to play games with him. I’d rather stay in the friend zone if lying is what it takes to get his attention.”
“Just know that if he meets someone, that friendship between you will change.”
She turned away. “I know. I think if Eli does want to be with me, he’ll tell me.”
“You telling him you’re crushing on someone is what will trigger him to realize his feelings for you.”
“See, that’s the thing. Why do I have to go to that level to make him feel something? Either it’s meant to be, or it’s not.”
Oh, she was so wrong, but I had to respect her wishes. “I hope it works out for you.”
She pulled the clipboard closer to her heart. “Thanks.”
I watched Penny with her “before” pictures. She was shy and visibly uncomfortable with all the attention. I knew the only reason she was doing it was for a man who might stand her up.
Crystal gave me a sad smile when she was finished. “I hate ‘before’ photos,” she whispered. “Why do some people feel they’re not good enough as they are? My job is to make them seem not so beautiful, but, really, she is beautiful in her own way. I hate that I can’t tell her that.”
“You pick the best photo,” I said. “The ‘after’ shoot is only about highlighting the beauty you already see in her.”
Crystal smiled. “I knew there was a reason I loved you so much.”
I playfully shoved her. “Don’t get used to it.”
“So… tell me about Justin. How are his dates coming along?”
By the way Crystal looked at me the other night after talking about Justin, this was not a conversation I wanted to get into.
“Fine.” I turned to Becky. “Ready to help her find the perfect dress?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
It took two hours of scanning through magazines and online stores, but Penny found the dress that spoke to her most. I was insistent on the choice of color—dark blue. It went with her hair, eyes, and skin tone. The style was a bit much for me: a lace off-the-shoulder dress that flared out at the waistline. But it was perfect for her.
