Her friend paused. “I hope so.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes. Then Laura said, “What kind of jewelry are you going to wear?”
Amy smiled, relieved that Laura had dropped the subject and wasn’t mad at her. “Gold hoops?”
“Do you have any rhinestones?”
Amy smirked. “What do you think?”
“That would be a no then. We’ll get you some. And you must get your hair and nails done too.”
“I’ll do that later this week.” Oh boy. She could practically feel the cash sliding out of her account. Oh well. After decades of scrimping and saving, she finally had enough margin to spend frivolously like this. As they headed for an accessories store, she hoped it would be worth it.
***
“Oh, I just knew you two were meant to be together!”
Britt arched a brow at Maude as she set her sketchbook on the table in the education room. After she left Yo Jo’s yesterday, she’d gone home and sketched out some preliminary dress ideas. Her dad was probably expecting her to go to a fancy dress shop to get her gown for the party, but after dress shopping with Savannah, Britt knew she wouldn’t find anything she liked at those stores. With Maude’s help, she’d create the perfect outfit, though. “What are you talking about?”
“You and Hunter. He’s taking you to the party, right?” Maude sat down next to her.
Britt fiddled with edge of her sketchbook. “Um, no. It’s not just a regular party. It’s black tie.” Hunter would never go to one ofthose parties, even if he did have the opportunity, and she couldn’t imagine he ever would. Britt was still stunned that she was going.
“Then who are you going with? Savannah?”
“No. I’m going with Dad.”
For once, Maude was speechless. Her eyes widened behind her red-framed glasses. “Yourdad?”
Britt nodded.
“The one who hasn’t been around for years?”
“Yes.”
Maude frowned. “Does your mother know about this?”
“No, and please don’t say anything to her.” Britt explained about Dad coming back into her life. “I’m going to tell her when the time is right.”
Maude shook her head. “Keeping secrets isn’t good. It isn’t right either.”
“I know.” She turned up the bottom corner of the sketchbook page. “I feel so guilty about it.”
“Then tell her.” Maude covered Britt’s hand with her own. “Be honest with her.”
“I will, after the party.” She pushed the sketch in front of Maude. “Can you help me make this?”
Maude lifted a brow, then sighed and looked at the drawing.
Instead of taking her inspiration from the seventies, Britt went back a decade and designed a simple dress with a rich, crimson velvet tank top and a long, straight white skirt. Around the waistline she drew a bright pink belt with a bow on the side. Next to the dress she’d penciled in some long white gloves.
“Very Audrey Hepburn,” Maude said, her expression relaxing. She took off her glasses. “I expected more ruffles and chiffon. That was the style in the late seventies and early eighties.”
“I thought about that. Then I was looking at some online imagesand fell in love with this.” She smudged the hem of the dress with her finger, giving it a softer look. “What do you think?”
Maude smiled. “I think you’ll be stunning.” She tapped on the gloves. “I have a pair just like these. Would you like to borrow them?”
Britt grinned, thankful Maude had dropped the subject of telling Mom about Dad and seemed excited about the dress. “Will it be hard to make?”
