“Hey, where is everyone?”They turned at the sound of Emily calling out.
“We’re out here, Em,”Olivia called through the open door to the main room.
Emily rushed out, her arms full of garment bags.“Guess what.”
Donna smiled at her granddaughter’s enthusiasm.“What?”
“I found out about this costume shop and I rented costumes for the gala. It’s set in the nineteen twenties…so I got all of us clothes to wear. Just look.”She opened up bag after bag of elegant twenties-style ballroom gowns. From full-length to flapper length complete with gloves and hats.
“Oh, Emily, those are such fun.”Evelyn stood and admired the outfits.
“I guessed the sizes and got a few extras. The lady at the shop said she’d been having a run on twenties’outfits the last week. I think a lot of people are dressing the part for the gala.”
“Well, that will settle the question of what I was going to wear.”Donna admired a long silvery gown that looked just her size.
Emily laughed and handed it to her.“I knew you’d love that one.”She turned to Evelyn and handed her a sapphire full-length gown that had a classic cut to it.“And I thought you’d like this.”
“It’s perfect.”Evelyn reached for the gown.
“Mom and Heather, I got you some flapper dresses. And I got this one for me.”
Donna gaped at the lovely formal gown that Emily held up. It was an emerald green shimmering fabric, ankle length with a dropped waist. It would set off her granddaughter’s pretty green eyes so nicely.
“It reminds me of a dress in one of those old Cabot portraits I found.”Emily held the dress up and admired it.
“These are all perfect, honey.”Olivia hugged her daughter.
“I’m so excited. I’ve never been to an event like this. I can’t wait for people to see the history alcove, too. The whole hotel looks magical. You should see what Evelyn’s done with the ballroom. It’s so enchanting…just like you stepped back in time.”
“I can’t wait to see it,”Donna was excited to see what Evelyn had done to the ballroom.
“I can’t wait either.”Emily danced around the kitchen, holding her dress up against her.“It’s going to be a magical night.”
Donna stood in the doorway,waving goodbye to all of them. They were all coming back to her house tomorrow to get ready before the gala, then they’d go early to help Evelyn with anything she might need. They would all drive together since parking space would be limited. The gala promised to be every bit as magical as Emily insisted it was going to be.
She glanced up at the starry sky and then over to Barry’s house. Faded light drifted out from his windows. Maybe she should call him. Invite him over. But then, it was really last minute and she still felt guilty about sending him away last night.
And right that minute, Barry stepped out onto his front porch. He glanced over and saw her standing there in the open doorway. Her mother’s voice ricocheted through her mind.And letting out all the air-conditioning.She smiled in spite of herself.
Barry waved and she waved back. He pulled the door closed behind him and walked over to her front porch.“Hey.”
“Hi.”Suddenly she was shy with him. Uneasy. Uncertain.“Um…do you want to come in and have a drink?”
“Yes. I mean, no. I mean—”He raked his hands through his hair, standing there in the moonlight looking impossibly handsome.
She stood there, uncertain whether he was coming in or not.
He took a step closer and touched her arm. Electricity boomeranged through her, and she looked down where his hand rested on her arm, almost surprised to not see a burn mark there from the heat between them.
He reached his other hand out and tilted her chin up to look at him.“Let me start again. I’ve been wanting to talk to you. There’s something between us, isn’t there? I mean, I feel it. You do too, don’t you?”He looked directly into her eyes.
Her heart fluttered and her pulse swept through her like a raging tide. She stared at his face for a moment before answering him honestly.“I do.”
“Great. I feel better knowing I’m not imagining it.”Barry grinned, relief evident on his face.
“No, it’s there. Something is definitely there.”She’d felt it for weeks now. Maybe longer. But had been so unsure if she’d imagined it. Guess not.
He gently pushed a lock of hair away from her face.“I want to kiss you.”
