“Five thirty.”
“Girl, you better clear this desk. I’m going to clear mine too. We’re going to be sure he is speechless when he lays eyes on you.”
“It’s kind of cool, right?”
“Kind of? It’s black-tie. It’s his work. A gallery opening. It’s Williamsburg, which is so beautiful at night. Remember the Grand Illumination at Christmas the time we all went? Lighted candles in every window. It was breathtaking.”
“That won’t be happening in May, and I’m not even sure the gallery is in the historic section.”
“But still. It’s exciting.” She gathered her things. “You can’t not tell me these things.”
Whitney felt bad now. “There was so much going on. It wasn’t intentional.”
“I know, and I’m losing sleep too.” Carina paused, her brows pulling together. “William is acting weird. I think he senses something is wrong.”
“Don’t tell him.”
“I won’t. Don’t worry. I got this.” Carina got up and walked to the door. “And I got you. I’ll do your hair. It’ll be like college. Call me when you’re ready to leave. I’ll follow you home. Am I more excited about this than you are?”
Whitney shook her head. Her nose crinkled, and she knew there was no hiding her excitement. “No. I haven’t been this excited since JT asked me to the Ring Dance. My heart is absolutely fluttering.”
Chapter
Fourteen
Whitney put on the bracelet that Matthew had returned. It had a timeless look to it; it went with anything from jeans to dressier outfits. That’s what she loved about it. Tonight, it was time to shine without taking away from the dress itself. Besides, in a way, that bracelet was how they met.
It had a complex clasp, and it wasn’t all that easy to get on and off. It was funny that it had slipped from her arm that night. That had never happened before.
Carina had pulled Whitney’s hair up, adding in some loose curls that hung down her back. She felt elegant, and a little nervous, even though she wasn’t sure where things were heading with Matthew.
“You look so beautiful,” Carina said.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been on a date-date.” She pressed her hands to her stomach. “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“Take a breath.”
Whitney and Carina inhaled together, then Carina counted down the exhale. “Good.”
Whitney shook out her hands. “My palms are sweating.”
“Relax. You’re going to have a great time. You’re just out of practice, and if this doesn’t turn out to be something more, then what’s the harm? Maybe it’ll get your groove back. Drop the lawyer’s edge and just be you. Wonderful, fun, you.”
“Why is it so hard to balance real life with work?”
“I don’t know. I’m not so sure it’s really any harder than being a full-time mom was for our moms. It’s different. We’re wearing more hats. Kind of shifting gears between nurturing and negotiating with bottom-lines and depositions. I guess the negotiating is helpful no matter which hat we’re wearing.”
“True.” She looked in the full-length mirror again. “Are you sure this dress isn’t too bright for black-tie? I could wear the black one.”
“You look beautiful. It’s the perfect dress. I promise.”
“Okay.” She smoothed her hands along the lines of the dress. “He’s really interesting.”
“Good, because so are you. And you are just as good at your job as he is at his. It’s a pretty even match. That’s hard to find. Relax and let tonight be what it’s meant to be.”
“I don’t really have time for a relationship. I?—”
“Uh-uh.” Carina wagged her finger. “No ma’am. You take that comment right off the table. We have to make time for the priorities in our lives. Jobs are not the priority. It’s what we do, not who we are. You’ve wanted to be married and have a baby, two actually, since the day I met you. Being a lawyer was not your only dream. A family is your dream too. That’s personal, and you deserve that happiness.”
