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I checked my hair, making sure I’d pinned it securely. I’d put it up in the back and curled ringlets around my face. It wasn’t perfectly authentic, but it was close. My phone rang, so I hurried out to the bedroom to answer it. It was Zachary.
“Hello?”
“Hi, baby. Slight change of plans. I’m going to be a little late for the party. I’m really sorry, it’s a work thing. If I leave things the way they are, it’ll be dangerous. I have to finish up. But I’ll meet you there as soon as I can.”
He’d been called in that morning for an emergency electrical issue at one of his client’s businesses. I was the tiniest bit disappointed he’d be late, but of course he couldn’t leave a problem that could be dangerous.
“That’s totally fine.”
“You sure? It’s your day, I don’t want you to be sad.”
“I’m not sad. Promise. I’ll just be that much more excited to see you.”
“You’re the best. I love you.”
“Love you too. I’ll see you there.”
“Sounds good, baby.”
He ended the call and I finished getting ready, donning a pair of ballet-style slippers that matched my gown. They were surprisingly comfortable, and one of the reasons I loved the clothing from that period. Trends had changed from binding corsets and stiff shoes to flowy, feminine gowns and wearable slippers.
Outside, the air was cold, although it hadn’t snowed yet. We’d had a few flakes earlier in the week, which meant it wouldn’t be long before the mountains were blanketed in white. My costume didn’t have a proper coat, but it wouldn’t be cold indoors. I hurried to my car and drove to the Grand Peak Hotel.
I parked and went in through the lobby, glad to be out of the chill. A pretty chalkboard sign pointed the way to the room where my party was being held.
Walking in was like stepping back in time. String ensemble music played in the background and, to my amazement, everyone was in costume. I’d expected my friends and I to be among the only ones to dress up. But the women all wore gowns with short sleeves and empire waists, and the men were in suits with tails and trousers. It wasn’t a large gathering, but the effect almost made me burst into tears.
Annika and Isabelle rushed to greet me. They looked so pretty, Annika in a striped green dress and Isabelle in cream with a touch of lace at the neckline. Their husbands stood a short distance away, talking with drinks in their hands. They were similarly dressed with short tailed jackets, white shirts, and black trousers.
“Look at you,” Annika said, grabbing my hands. “You’re a vision.”
“Where did everyone get costumes?” I asked.
“The Tilikum College theater,” Annika said. “Audrey interviewed the director a few months ago for a Hometown Spotlight in the newspaper. Of course they became friends and she asked if they had anything we could borrow. Turns out, they had trunks full of stuff.”
“Everyone looks so pretty,” I said. “This is amazing. It’s way too much for just my birthday.”
“Don’t be silly,” Isabelle said. “Your birthday is a great reason for a costume party.”
“Where’s Zachary?” Annika asked.
“He’s running late. Work issue.”
She shared a quick look with Isabelle. “Oh, okay. I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
They led me deeper into the room so I could start saying hello to the other guests. A number of my clients had come, and my parents were there, of course. Brielle looked like a dream in her lavender gown. She was starting beauty school after the first of the year but had been shadowing me at the salon. She had real talent.
The Havens were also there. Paul looked so uncomfortable in his outfit, I felt bad for him. Marlene looked radiant and gushed about how Brielle had done her hair for her. She wore hairpins with little pearls on the ends and had ringlets framing her face.
Zachary’s brothers looked great. Garrett and Luke wandered around the room, looking confident, as if they always dressed that way. Theo and Josiah mirrored their dad’s discomfort, although they both wore their suits well. They gave me brotherly hugs and wished me happy birthday.
A murmur ran through the small crowd, and as I turned toward the entrance, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.
As if it had been choreographed, the guests parted, moving to each side to create an aisle down the center of the room. Zachary stood just inside the door, dressed in a short black tailcoat, white shirt with a tall collar, tan trousers, and riding boots. He flipped the tail of his coat back and strode toward me.
He looked like he owned the place. He certainly owned me.
I walked out to meet my dashing gentleman. He grinned and his eyes swept up and down, as if he liked what he saw. He stopped in front of me, took my hand, and placed a gentle kiss on my knuckles.
