by Lynn LaFleur
She lowered her head and rested her forehead on her fingertips. Respect, trust—those were the most important things a man and woman brought to marriage. If Lauren was right, Brett didn’t know the meaning of either.
Still Abby’s thoughts warred. The practical side of her mind urged her to distance herself from him while her heart cried out to her to stay and fight.
She swallowed back the tears that burned her throat and stung her eyes. She always believed the most coincidental things in life weren’t coincidences at all. Everything happened for a reason, like Aunt Rose leaving town at her busiest time of the year. Why? To force Abby to return to Seaside? Rose wasn’t a cruel woman. She wouldn’t have done it if she’d known Abby faced heartbreak. For once, Abby took reassurance from her mother’s favorite saying—things aren’t always what they appear to be. Her heart ached to believe her mother was right. She had to give Brett the benefit of the doubt or at least time to explain. They owed each other that much.
“There you are, Abby.”
She cringed. Jordan. Without waiting for Jordan to ask, she said, “I haven’t seen Brett since he left with you.”
“I’m not looking for him this time. I’ve put him to work auditing the pledges and receipts.” She’d stopped a few feet from the table, and still held the seating chart at her side. “May I talk to you, Abby, privately?”
“If there’s a problem with the flowers, you need to see Ronn.”
“No, no—the flowers are lovely. In fact, Love In Bloom outdid itself this year.”
Abby rubbed her eyes then glanced at her watch. Ronn said they’d leave at three. Only fifteen minutes to go. “What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to show you something. Do you have time now?”
Abby pointed to Lauren’s chair. “As much as you need.”
Instead of sitting, Jordan hoisted the chart onto the chair and propped it against the back. Up close, Abby saw a schematic as elaborately drawn as any engineer’s. The tables were numbered and the names of the guests assigned to each table printed in precise block letters near their places, barely large enough to read without a magnifying glass.
“After our talk yesterday,” Jordan began, “I wanted to assure you I’d taken care of things.”
Something in her tone, perhaps a hint of deception, made Abby suspicious. “What things?”
Jordan glanced over her shoulder even though no one stood within twenty feet of them. “I presumed you’d changed your mind about attending the Ball so I took the liberty of deleting your reservation and reassigning your place to one of the people on the waiting list.”
Abby looked back at the schematic, to the table where Jordan pointed. She saw a red X written across her name, and the name of another person printed above it. How dare she? It wasn’t Jordan’s place to presume anything. Shemight lead Brett around by the nose but not her.
“I’m sorry, Jordan, but you presumed wrong,” Abby said. “Of course I’m attending the Ball.” Even though I’d rather eat ground glass.
“But you can’t.” She gestured toward the table again. “I’ve reassigned your seat. You know I was only trying to… I mean, under the circumstances I thought you’d want to…ah…save face.”
While Jordan stumbled through a list of excuses, Abby searched the chart for what she hoped Jordan missed. At a table on the opposite side of the room, she saw the name Lily Granger. How many Lily Grangers lived in Seaside and planned to attend tonight’s Ball? She remembered Rose’s parting words at the airport. “Your Gala ticket’s in the top drawer of my desk at the shop. Have a wonderful time!”
“I’m truly sorry, Abby, but you can see for yourself. We’re completely sold out. I couldn’t squeeze in another chair.”
Abby answered with a smile that bordered on a grin. Jordan didn’t know Rose called her Lily, or that Rose refused to acknowledge Abby’s marriage to Pierce. Her aunt so despised Pierce she even offered to pay whatever the courts assessed to restore Abby’s maiden name. Today, this minute, Rose’s generosity paid off. Aunt Rose, I love you!
Abby pointed to the spot on the seating chart marked with the red X. “I’m sorry, too, Jordan, but you’re going to have to find a place for me. I have a ticket and I plan to use it.”
“You can’t do that, Abby. You’ll only embarrass yourself if you make a scene.”
“That’s your problem, Jordan, not mine. Deal with it.”
*
“Lauren said what?” Judy gasped when Abby repeated Brett’s mother’s remark about their wedding attire. They met in the design studio. Judy sat on one of the empty design tables while Abby paced. Twenty-four hours ago, the shop had been knee-deep in roses. Now not even a lone sprig of baby’s breath remained. “She couldn’t have meant that.”
“I swear, Judy, those were her exact words.”
“Then she misspoke. There’s no way in hell, and trust me, it would be hell, if Brett married Jordan.”
“Oh, and get this. Jordan cancelled my reservation without even asking.”
“I thought you said you didn’t want to attend?”
“I don’t, but nothing short of an earthquake’s going to keep me away now.”
“How? She’s given away your seat.”
“With this.” Abby waved the invitation she found right where Rose told her she’d left it. “A ticket my aunt purchased for Lily Granger.”
“Oh…my…god. Jordan’s going to have a fit when you show up tonight.” She laughed right from her toes. “I don’t know if she’ll be angrier that you’re messing with Brett or that you’ve dared to mess with her seating chart.”
Abby laughed too, even though she felt no joy at the prospect of the hours ahead. It was her last chance, and now she understood the competition she faced. “Even if I wasn’t in…” She stopped herself. “Even if…”
“If you weren’t in love with Brett.”
Abby winced at the heat rising up her neck. “I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.” Judy drummed her fingers on the table. “What’s wrong with admitting it. We both know it’s true.”
Finally Abby nodded. “It is and I am.”
“There, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
Abby rolled her eyes. “I’m not admitting it to anyone but you.”
Judy raised her thumb and forefinger to her lips and made a turning motion, like turning a key in a lock. “My lips are sealed.”
“Good because we’re got a bigger problem to deal with.”
“What’s that?”
“It’s almost four o’clock. The reception starts at seven, and I have nothing to wear.”
“What about the dress you wore to Whispers?”
“To a Red & White Masqued Ball? I don’t want to fade into the scenery, but I don’t want to look like the lone sardine in a tin of caviar.”
“Give me a second to think about this.” Judy pushed off the table and began pacing alongside Abby. Suddenly she snapped her fingers, cupped her hands and shouted, “Ashley, we need you.”
A few minutes later, Judy’s daughter wandered in from the showroom, an apple in one hand, and her iPod in the other. She’d draped the earphone around her neck. “D’you call me?”
“Does Hayden still work at the Junior League Thrift Store?”
Ashley nodded and bit into the bright red apple.
“Is she working right now?”
The teen looked at the clock. “Until six.”
“Get rid of the apple,” Judy said and shoved the phone into her daughter’s hand. “Call her. Find out if they have any cocktail dresses or evening gowns in red or white? And if they do, in what sizes?”
The formalwear racks at the thrift shop stood almost as empty as the showroom at Love In Bloom. Hayden had reported they still had three dresses in red and two in white. None of them had size labels. Hayden had set all of them aside.
Abby eliminated the two white dresses as soon as she saw them. One was a bridal gown, the other perfect for an aft
ernoon barbecue.
Of the three in red, Mrs. Claus would have loved the first. All it needed was a white fur collar and cuffs.
The second would do but needed a fresh lining and the hem raised.
The third fit like it had been designed for Abby. A Fendi in tomato red silk, an asymmetric off-the-shoulder design.
“This is lovely,” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe someone didn’t snatch it up before today.”
Hayden’s manager had joined them. “It’s priced a bit higher than our customers usually want to pay. If you look closely at the seams, you’ll see it’s been altered too. Someone did an excellent job, but it’s no longer a true size. You’re quite lucky it fits you the way it does.”
Abby hadn’t seen the price tag. She took a deep breath and crossed her fingers. “How much?”
“The owner showed me a receipt for almost $1,900.00.”
Abby smile faded. She’d taken time off without pay and had refused to accept any money from Rose.
“It’s a consignment item,” the manager said. “She won’t release it for under $800.00.”
Abby turned in the three-way mirror. Nothing she’d ever owned would compare to the dress Madame designed for her, but this one came in a close second. She almost heard the plastic melting in her wallet.
“Would the owner consider renting the dress for the evening?” Judy asked.
Immediately, the manager shook her head.
“Then think about this.” Judy had been standing outside the dressing room. Now she nudged her daughter and Hayden aside and took her place beside Abby, facing the manager. “I’d bet the gal who owns this dress is attending the gala tonight.”
“I’m sure of it.”
“I’ll also bet she wore this dress to last year’s event and doesn’t want to be seen wearing it again.”
The manager stood with her hands on her hips but nodded. “You’re probably right.”
“That makes the design at least a year old. If she holds out for a higher price, by the time it sells, two years old.”
Again the manager agreed.
Abby wasn’t sure where Judy headed but she liked the direction so far.
“You know us poor folk shop here for bargains. We’re not going to pay that kind of money for a dress that’s two years old no matter whose name is on it.”
Abby silently watched the negotiations. She held her hands behind her back, her fingers crossed.
Finally the manager countered, “Seven hundred but not a penny less.”
“Seven hundred and that includes the lacy stuff for underneath.”
“All of our intimate wear is new, not resale. Seven-fifty.”
Seven hundred fifty dollars! After Abby paid her rent, she’d have nothing left to live on for the rest of the month. “Judy, I can’t afford…”
Judy stepped in front of her and pulled a credit card out of her pocket. Abby saw the name Love In Bloom pressed into the plastic. “Put it on this.”
The manager snatched the card out of Judy’s hand, likely afraid she might try to bargain further. “I’ll see to her underthings and meet you at the register.”
“We can’t do this,” Abby cried once the manager was out of earshot.
“Do what?”
“Charge the dress to the shop. My aunt will be horrified.”
“Au contraire. Rose knows the price of doing business. You’re representing Love In Bloom this evening. Knowing Rose, she’ll laugh when she sees the bill and say, ‘Well done, Judy’.”
Hayden piled into Judy’s SUV with them while Ashley phoned another friend. When they arrived at Rose’s house, a skinny little teenager with purple and pink bangs, pasty white makeup and every hair on her head cut a different length, stood waiting at the curb.
Hayden and Ashley looked at Abby’s hair and grimaced. “Don’t worry, Abby, Chantel can work magic, even with hair like yours.”
Abby grimaced too, not only at the prospect of a half-starved Goth taking charge of her hair, but at all of Chantel’s body piercings.
“You’d better be right about that,” Judy joined in. “Or all three of you will be grounded for life.”
At a little after seven, Abby carefully descended the steps and floated into the living room. Chantel followed behind her.
Between them, they had worked miracles. Chantel possessed a gift for hair styling. Somehow she’d managed to harness the natural curl in Abby’s hair and use it to soften some of the fatigue a nice hot shower hadn’t been able to erase.
She’d helped Abby apply her makeup too, offering suggestions that even Madame’s minions hadn’t thought of.
The teenager approved of Abby wearing the earrings Brett had given her, but really wished Abby had a pair of nice lace-up combat boots to wear instead of the T-strap dancing slippers Brett had sent. Abby won that battle.
“Oh, Abby, you look soooo beautiful!” Ashley crooned.
“And soooo hot,” Hadley added.
Abby took Chantel’s hand. “You two were right. Chantel is a miracle worker.”
“I’ll say,” Judy agreed a little too enthusiastically. “I never thought you’d pull it together, even in a Fendi.”
“Thanks to you.” Abby hugged Judy. “And you and you and you.” She spread hugs all around. “Now where are Rose’s car keys. I’m late enough already.”
Judy shook her head. “No way we’re letting you out of this house alone. I want to make sure you don’t chicken out in the parking lot. Got your ticket?”
Abby fished it out of the beaded purse she’d carried to Whispers. “Lily’s ticket, right here.”
“Come on, gang, we can’t keep Cupid waiting.”
On the way over, Hayden, Ashley and Chantel huddled in the backseat chattering in code no adult would ever understand, except for the “ums” and “you knows”. With each mile closer, Abby’s anxiety grew. Judy glanced over at her and smiled.
“If we’d let you drive, you’d be turning back right about now, wouldn’t you?”
Abby nodded. Her stomach had bunched into knots and with each mile closer to the club, the knots tightened.
Judy reached over and squeezed her hand. “You look wonderful. Definitely not the lone sardine in a tin of caviar.”
That made Abby smile.
Looking serious now, Judy continued, “The Universe is handing you and Brett a gift, Abby. A once-in-a-lifetime gift.”
“I know. I hope it’s not too late.”
“The Universe doesn’t make mistakes, only the people who are unwilling to accept its gifts. Nothing about you says second chair, girlfriend. Grab what’s offered and hold onto it with both hands. You deserve it.”
Abby swallowed hard. She’d met Judy for the first time less than a week ago. In those few short days, she realized she wanted Judy as a friend for life. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I love you.”
Chapter Fifteen
“Showtime!” Judy slowed her SUV and brought it to a stop behind a white stretch limousine. Young men attired in white dress shirts and glittering red jackets scrambled to assist them.
Judy had driven halfway to the club when Abby realized she’d forgotten to buy a mask. Always the problem solver, Judy had snapped her fingers, said, “No big deal,” and whipped a U-turn. After backtracking a few miles, they pulled up to the curb in front of Love In Bloom. Judy ran inside and plucked an elegant red mask made of feathers, sequins and silk ribbon ties from the front window display. She was back behind the wheel before they’d lost more than a minute or two. Hadley and Chantel spent the rest of the trip bickering over how best to secure the mask without ruining Abby’s hair.
At the club, a handsome young valet opened Abby’s door and offered his hand. With his help, she slid gracefully out of the tall vehicle. “Thank you all again,” she called over her shoulder.
Hayden waved, Ashley gave her a thumbs-up, Chantel two.
“Break a leg,” Judy added.
The mask helped bolster Abby’s courage. She hoped
to hide behind it long enough to reach her table before she ran into Jordan again.
Abby walked quickly along the red carpet, up the three steps leading to the verandah, and stepped into the magical world Seaside Party Production had created. Not even the most senior club member would have recognized the lobby. With expert lighting design and draping, the production company had turned a formal, staid lobby into a starry night with a pathway through the heavens. Clouds of spun gold and angel’s hair swayed with the stars that lighted the way to a curved path made of gilded flagstones and led into the ballroom. The path was lined with flowering pink, white and red rose trees and white doves cooing inside their spacious gilded cages.
After taking the gilded path, partygoers entered the ballroom through a twenty-foot tall glittering heart and past another of Ronn and Judy’s floral masterpieces. Abby hadn’t seen anything as lavish since the classic musicals of the thirties.
“Welcome to Hearts Afire, Ms. Granger, we’ve been waiting for you.”
The woman’s voice startled Abby. She’d been so caught up in the decorative details, she hadn’t noticed the group ahead of her had been ushered inside.
How does she know my name?
“You are Lily Granger, aren’t you?”
Just for tonight. “Yes, I’m Lily Granger. Did I meet you earlier?”
The woman didn’t answer except to smile and nod to another attractive young man. “Will you show Ms. Granger to her table, please?”
“Right this way, ma’am.”
The celestial theme continued into the ballroom. The draping and soft lighting enhanced the fantasy. Tall candlesticks lighted the tables that were covered with either red or white linens, and matching chair covers with tie-back bows. A soft din of laughter and chatter floated on the air.
Abby didn’t see an empty seat until her escort stopped at table fifty-seven. He helped her with her chair and waited until she settled in.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ms. Granger. Please enjoy yourself.”
Abby opened her napkin and glanced around at the local gentry, all beautifully attired in a fortune’s worth of designer gowns along with enough bling to light the room.