by Cynthia Swan
The metal bleachers were cold, so Dalton brought cushions for them to sit on. He’d also brought thick wool blankets to keep them warm.
It was the most fun she’d had in a long time. Everyone was there, cheering the team on and chatting with each other. This date ranked right up there with the ice skating date on Valentines’ day.
Dalton saw her for her, not an image or brand of her. She liked that he cared for the woman and not the supermodel. As much as everyone told her to tell him, she resisted, worried it would change the way he saw her. It had happened too many times in the past. Why would he be different?
She remembered when Sara met a guy online. When they met in person, it was such a letdown she hadn’t dated for months afterward. The guy had wanted to show her off to his friends; he didn’t care what she thought or wanted in life.
As much as Christy worked, she dated little other than the scripted dates Jo or the agencies set up for her. She could never be sure if men wanted to date her because of who she was or if they liked the person inside.
Her looks intimidated some guys, as did the amount of money she made. Others were jerks. She’d met a couple of good guys, but they hadn’t wanted to deal with the press and nasty online comments.
And yes, she knew lots of women would roll their eyes, not feeling sorry for her and what they probably thought of as her silly model problems. But pretty women had problems too.
Look at the celebrities, or movie stars who couldn’t seem to make a relationship work. There was a gorgeous actress who came to mind, the one whose husband constantly cheated on her to make himself feel wanted.
She’d been lonely for so long. Until Dalton. Christy looked over at him as he leaned over to talk to Clem from the fish market.
The realization slammed through her. He would feel betrayed that she didn’t give him the benefit of the doubt to see her as a person and not a face. He would be angry she’d kept something from him while their friends knew.
And he would be right to feel angry and betrayed. She swallowed. This was a man she was falling in love with. He deserved to know. Not just the model thing, but everything.
It was time.
“Dalton?”
He tucked the end of her scarf into her coat and adjusted the blanket around them.
“Zip it all the way up or the cold air will blow down your shirt.”
“Thank you. I hadn’t noticed between the spiced wine and hot chocolate.”
It was halftime, so as they watched the marching band, she looked around. People were getting up and going to buy food from the concession stand or talking with each other, no one was paying attention to them.
He took her hand.
She had to do it before she lost her nerve.
“I wanted to tell you…”
But before she could finish, he cut in.
“Did Amanda already tell you? She cannot keep a secret. If they ever have kids, she’ll give them presents before Christmas because she can’t stand the suspense.”
“No?” Christy shook her head. What was he talking about?
“Good.” He grinned at her.
“Look at the sign.” The board on the field lit up as the marching band played a song from the 80s.
Christy, will you go to prom with me? Dalton
She gasped. People around them whooped and hollered and clapped.
“I know you never went to your own prom, so I offered to chaperone. Would you go with me as my date?”
The smile on his face made her heart swell.
“I’d love to.”
People around them clapped and cheered.
“How did you do this?”
“One of Chase’s friends works the sign for the games. He did me a favor.”
Dalton pushed her glove back and kissed the back of her hand. His lips were firm and smooth. The sounds of everyone around them, the band, and the game faded as they looked at each other. She leaned closer.
“Oops, sorry.”
Someone bumped into Dalton as they walked behind them carrying hot dogs and beer, breaking the moment.
“I’ll even wear a tux. Let me know what color dress you pick and I’ll make sure I match.”
She was going to prom.
“I don’t know what to say.”
She leaned into him, whispering to herself, “I’m going to prom.” It would be so much fun. And just as much fun to shop for a dress.
By the end of the game, Christy decided she’d come clean and tell Dalton the truth. The whole truth.
But not until after prom. She didn’t want to ruin their night by telling him beforehand.
15
“Where are we going?”
Christy was thrilled her aunt wanted to go shopping with her to find a prom dress.
“It’s a thrift shop called Used is the New Black. Miss Madison and Miss April own the shop. They’re sisters. Both in their sixties and never married. Miss April is the youngest by a year and never lets her sister forget it.”
“I think I drove by it one day. There were huge Easter eggs in the window.”
Her aunt turned on the radio, selecting an eighties station to get them in the mood for the theme of prom.
“That’s the place. They come up with the most interesting window displays. You said you wanted a retro dress, so I thought we might find something there. If not, we can go to the mall, though it might be crowded with more and more people coming to the beach for the weekend.”
“I’m so excited, I never went to prom or any school dance.”
Christy had spent the morning looking up hairstyles and old prom dresses. She’d noticed the influx of people on the weekends.
The weather had been all over the place lately. Warm one day, chilly the next, then cold, then hot again. It was like Mother Nature was going through menopause.
What would it be like during the high season? She wrinkled her nose. It would be crowded and noisy. While the beach in front of the rental houses wasn’t as crowded as the hotel beaches were, it was still something to think about as far as buying a place. Her frown turned to a grin as she realized she sounded just a like a local.
“You’re going to have so much fun at prom.” Her aunt turned up the new wave station on satellite radio.
Pretty in Pink filled the car.
“I love this song.”
Christy and her aunt belted out the lyrics during the short drive.
“I’ll have to turn on this station when I get home.”
Aunt Alice nodded.
“There are so many great songs from that time.” She glanced over to Christy.
“I’m glad you’ve decided to tell Dalton who you are.”
“Do you think he’ll be mad at me?”
Christy got out of the car and waited for her aunt. She always dressed so stylishly. Today was no exception. She’d worn navy slacks with a lightweight cotton white sweater and navy sandals. She tied a floral scarf around her head.
“He might at first, but he’ll understand. Before his ex, Dalton was easygoing and fair. She changed him, and not in a good way.”
Christy swallowed. “I didn’t purposely deceive him. I didn’t tell anyone. Of course, Hazel and a few others figured it out. But it wasn’t like I purposely lied to him.”
Her stomach flipped over, thinking of Dalton feeling hurt.
“Don’t worry. You’re telling him, he’s not finding out from someone else, and that will make all the difference.”
It surprised Christy to have gotten away with the deception as long as she had. Her dad told her people saw what they expected.
Her trademark waist length blond hair had been such a big part of her identity, the dull brown short hair threw people off. Plus, she normally wore a full face of makeup in all her social media posts. And let’s not forget Jo had been posting pictures of her on vacation overseas, so there was no reason for people to suspect she was anything other than what she said. A few people had figured it out, but most either didn’
t know or didn’t care.
Today she’d gone casual, knowing she’d be trying on clothes. A pair of sweats with a t-shirt and a pair of sneaker mules she could slip on and off.
A bell tinkled as the door to the shop swung open. It smelled like chocolate chip cookies.
“Oh, it smells so good in here.”
“Miss Madison, this is my niece, Christy.”
“Welcome.” The woman pursed her lips, then pulled up her phone.
“I knew it.” She arched a brow at Christy.
“Clever girl.”
“Sorry?” Christy’s attention was on a rack of frothy pastel prom dresses.
“You’re Christy Evans. And you’re not in Australia.”
She grinned. “I think you figured it out the quickest. I’ve been going by Christy Jones.”
“Your aunt showed me a picture a few years ago. The one where you modeled with the lions.”
Her aunt frowned. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Christy was telling Dalton after prom. Once he knew, she didn’t care if everyone knew. The people that mattered their opinions were the only ones she cared about.
Miss Madison nodded. “We all have times we want to blend in.” She patted Christy’s hand.
“April. Come see who’s here.”
“I’m fixing my tea.” The voice came from somewhere in the back of the deep store.
“We have a bona fide supermodel in the shop.”
There was a squeal, and then Miss April appeared, a pretty blue and white teacup in one hand, a plate of chocolate chip cookies in the other.
“Oh my. You weren’t kidding, Madison.”
Miss April held out the plate.
“Do you eat cookies? Or do you subsist on cigarettes, air, and lettuce?”
Christy grinned.
“What happens in Magnolia Beach stays in Magnolia Beach.” She took two cookies.
Miss Madison cackled. “Well said. What are you looking for today?”
Her aunt swallowed the last of her cookie.
“Dalton asked Christy to the prom.”
“These cookies are heaven.” She licked her fingers. “I never went to my prom.”
Miss April squinted at her.
“Are you going to change your hair back or leave it brown?”
She sighed. “I’d like to go back to my natural blond, but it will have to wait until after prom.”
At the questioning looks, she added, “Dalton doesn’t know I’m Christy Evans. He thinks I’m plain Christy Jones, a makeup artist on a break between jobs.”
She fingered the satin on a halter top. “I’m going to tell him after prom.”
The sisters nodded.
“You could go with jewel tones or some of the pastels.” Miss April went to the rack Christy had been eyeing and held up a blue satin dress with white ruffles.
“Not that one.” Miss Madison made a face.
Thank goodness. It was like something out of one of those over the top southern belle weddings.
She left her aunt talking with Miss Madison as she and Miss April sorted through the dresses. Before she knew it, she was in a pink and white dressing room, trying on dress after dress.
Christy brought her own heels. She had a pair of crystal encrusted sandals she wanted to wear. When the designer gave them to her, she’d immediately thought they’d be perfect with a prom dress. Thank goodness she’d bought them with her to the beach.
She looked at her toes and decided she’d get a pedicure and have them painted to match the dress. The same with her nails.
The dress was vintage. It was tea length, satin with a tulle overlay that had butterflies embroidered all over it. It had wide satin straps and, best of all pockets. The heels looked perfect with it.
Miss April had unearthed a few clips with rhinestone butterflies for Christy to put in her hair. As she twirled around, looking at the dress in the mirror, she thought this was just as good, if not better, than getting ready in high school and waiting for her boyfriend to pick her up.
“I’m coming out.”
She stepped through the pink gingham curtain and out into the shop where there was a dais similar to those in a bridal shop or designer’s atelier, with three enormous mirrors so she could see herself from every angle.
“You look beautiful.” Her aunt pressed a hand to her mouth.
“Come on up here.” Miss Madison watched as she turned in a slow circle. “Breathtaking.”
A Duran Duran song filled the air, and Miss April grinned.
“Thought we needed the music from the time to go with the dress.”
Christy couldn’t stop looking at herself. She’d been to a football game and was now going to prom. Dalton knew she’d missed out on the high school experience, so he was recreating it for her.
“He’s going to have trouble breathing when he sees you.” Her aunt stood beside her, her eyes bright.
“Even with the brown hair?”
“You’re a vision in that dress. May I take a picture to send your dad?”
“Of course. I thought I’d send him one of Dalton and I as well. The school has a balloon arch they’re setting up for pictures. It’s going to be so much fun, even if I am only there as a chaperone.”
As she paid for the dress and accessories, Christy almost blurted out the truth to her aunt. But at the last minute, old fears held her back.
16
The school set prom for a Friday Night the last week in March. It had been warm all week, such a change from two weeks ago. There were so many faces in the pub and Sip and Shop that Christy no longer recognized.
Magnolia Beach depended on tourists to make a go of the businesses during the winter. The shoulder seasons were peaceful, but the high season? Lots of traffic and people everywhere. Maybe she should rethink buying a place on the beach? If she could access the beach from Dalton’s place, it would be the best of both worlds. Beach and a place inland with room for an immense flower garden.
What if you marry him? A soft voice whispered on the salt-scented wind.
Marriage. To grow old with someone, to know they were always there for you.
The thought faded with the crash of the waves on the beach. No, she couldn’t even dream it until she told Dalton the truth. The whole truth.
Christy took a long bubble bath and shaved her legs. She’d been getting electrolysis over the years, so now she only had to do a touch up shave every few months.
Eighties music played as she rubbed lotion into her skin. This was the first time she’d had a real tan and while she knew it wasn’t healthy, it sure looked good. She had a touch of color, kissed by the sun. Anytime she was on the beach or lying by the pool, Christy applied sunscreen.
Photo shoots were scheduled so far in advance that she wasn’t allowed to get a tan. It would look odd on a shoot for winter clothes.
With her bright pink toes and pale pink nails, Christy felt like a princess in the pretty prom dress. She twirled around the room, looking in the mirror, watching the dress and the heels as they caught the light.
She’d pulled her hair back into a half up, half down style, using the crystal butterfly clips she’d purchased at the thrift shop to secure the braid.
The house had a keypad so she didn’t have to worry about bringing keys. She tucked shiny pink lip gloss in her pocket along with a couple of breath mints and her phone. With one last look in the mirror, she smiled.
It was going to be the most perfect night ever. With that thought, there was a knock at the door.
Dalton called out.
“Are you ready to dance the night away?”
He’d been more cheerful lately, as if the ghost of his ex had finally been banished.
“Coming.”
She walked down the stairs, grateful for all the years she’d spent walking runways, as she strode towards him, eyes locked on his.
His eyes widened, his mouth dropped open, and a look of pure male appreciation fi
lled his face.
“Wow. You look like a movie star. Where were you when I went to prom?”
Heat hit her cheeks as he stalked over to her, a clear plastic box in his hands.
“You look pretty amazing yourself. I love a man in a tux.”
At that slip of the word ‘love’, she held her breath, but he didn’t seem to notice as he opened the box and took out a beautiful wrist corsage. He tied the pink roses on her wrist and offered his arm.
“Your carriage awaits, my lady.”
“I’m so excited, I’m about to float away.”
At the bottom of the stairs to the carport, she gasped.
“It’s beautiful.” There was a vintage midnight blue Jaguar parked in the driveway.
“I borrowed it from Miss Madison in exchange for bringing them dinner next week.”
He opened the door for her.
“I didn’t think you’d want a big flashy limo.”
Dalton came around and got in the car.
“No, leave the limos to the kids. This car is elegant and perfect.”
By the time they’d walked into the gymnasium of the high school and had their picture taken under the blue and white balloon arch, Christy’s face ached from smiling so much.
They monitored the kids, though they were all well-behaved. Of course, she’d heard enough to know there would be plenty of after parties. Tonight was their night to dance and have fun.
They’d danced and talked to a few others who were also serving as chaperones, giving the teachers a much needed break.
A Fleetwood Mac song about dreams came on and all the kids filled the dance floor.
“Shall we join them?” Dalton held out a hand.
Christy followed him onto the dance floor, his powerful arms holding her as they sang along, the kids around them singing at the top of their lungs. It was better than any ball she’d ever attended.
Not because it was prom or in an old high school gym that still held the faint smell of gym clothes and sweat under the scent of flowers, but because of who she was with. The right person made everything fun.
