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“What’s her last name?” Faye asked.
“Embers.”
“Is she the one from the elevator?”
“Yes.”
“Hawk Danielson.” She liked using my full name.
I returned the favor.
“Faye Carroll, are you telling me my date for the ball tonight is your granddaughter?”
“Yes, and that girl deserves all the red carpet you can give her. I’ll get you the dressmakers and the salon, but I have a condition.”
The surprise of this revelation almost made me forget to answer. I shook the dregs from my mind and said, “What’s that?”
“You stay out of it and let me handle this. I want to see her face when she finds out I’m your godmother, and you need to be surprised when her makeover is done. That won’t happen if you’re there watching it take place.”
“I—”
I wanted to argue. I’d been looking forward to spending time with Ella, to seeing her spaz out over dress options. Thinking it over now, Ella might feel awkward trying on dresses and getting primped with me watching.
Fair enough.
“That’s acceptable,” I said. “As long as Ella is okay with it.”
“She’ll be just fine.”
“You’re sure about this?” I said. “I don’t want to tear you away from your family. I really only wanted suggestions of places to call.”
“Pfft. My other granddaughters are here.The girls will probably want to come along, too. Our board games can wait.”
She listed the dress shop owner and the number I could contact him at.
“And we like going to Missy at The Cut Above. Things are tight for her family right now—her husband just died. She could use a leg up too.”
At the mention of this, I remembered Ella telling me a similar story during one of our text conversations. With Faye being her grandmother, it was entirely possible they used the same stylist. I’d wanted to do something for the woman at the time, but Ella had shut me down.
That made the situation even better because I was glad to know the money I’d be offering would go to someone who really needed it.
“Bless you, Faye,” I said, making a note of the dress shop and the salon. “Get yourself ready to go because my driver will be picking you up in twenty minutes and then you’re getting Ella. I’ll let her know what’s going on.”
“Got it,” she said. “Remember now, not a word. If you spoil it, I’ll wring your neck.”
“I won’t,” I said with a laugh, thanking her and ending the call.
The moment that followed was filled with stuttering, speechless silence. I stared at my bed again, while my heart raced. What were the chances?
Faye was Ella’s grandma? Ella was one of the infamous grandchildren I’d heard of for all these years?
There had been many conversations regarding Faye’sgrandkids, and though she’d suggested I come with her to certain of their birthday parties or school performances, I’d always declined.
What if I hadn’t, though? What might have happened if she’d introduced us sooner?
There wasn’t much time to dwell on it. I had to act now if this was going to work.
I lay back on my bed and dialed the number Faye had given me. A suspicious-sounding female answered, and I tried to picture what the woman who did Ella’s and Faye’s hair might look like.
