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But there was just one problem. If I expected to be ready in time for Thatcher to pick me up for the wedding, I needed to go find a dress.
“Actually,” I said, biting my lip, “I need to go shopping.”
“Did I hear you say shopping?” my mom asked, coming in behind me. She’d been out doing deliveries, and we looked like twins in our matching company polo shirts and jeans. “What are you shopping for?”
“A dress.” There was absolutely nothing in my closet that would be appropriate to wear to a wedding. Even a low-key, outdoor wedding at an American Legion post.
Not unless jeans and company work shirts were appropriate.
My parents looked at each other, and my mom arched a brow. “And why do you need a dress?”
“Because I have a date tonight,” I replied in a small voice.
The shock on their faces made sense. It wasn’t that I didn’twantto go out and meet guys and maybe find the elusiveone, it was just that I didn’t have time.
I’d had boyfriends in high school, sure, but in the eight years since I’d graduated, I’d only had maybe four boyfriends total? If you could even call them that. Helping my parents run the shop took up so much of my time that whenever I did have a boyfriend, we barely saw each other. And each one of them had gotten tired of it and ended things.
Apparently, they didn’t like playing second fiddle to the flowers.
“I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone,” my dad said, looking to my mom for clues.
“Neither did I,” she said.
I shrugged. “I’m not, actually. It was a guy I met at the venue just now.”
They frowned, looking at each other before turning their surprised expressions on me.
Dad cleared his throat. “You’re going on a date with a man you met this morning?”
“Well, if it helps, I’m just going back to the venue with him. His date canceled on him, and he asked if I wanted to come.”
“But,” Mom said, opening and closing her mouth a few times, “why?You’d only just met.”
I blinked. Honestly, I had no idea.
He’d said something about them not wasting the money they paid for her food, but with their budget, I couldn’t imagine it had been very much.
I wrinkled my brow. “Maybe he just didn’t want to go alone?”
Again, my parents looked at each other before addressing me.
“Well, all right, then,” Dad said with a sigh before turning to Mom. “Pearl, you wanna grab a bite?”
Mom looked like she was about to decline, so I held up a hand to stop her. “Unless you have more deliveries, the rest can wait. Go have lunch with Dad.”
She hesitated. “I’m finished with deliveries, but I should really do some research into advertising opportunities my friend told me about.”
“Later,” Dad said. “We could use a break. And we already told Hattie to take the night off, so let’s do the same. Deb’s closing, anyway.”
“Ithasbeen a long time since we’ve had a date,” Mom said, her tone wistful, even though she still looked undecided.
“You should go.” I beamed at her. “Have fun. You guys deserve it.”
“Okay, I suppose you’re right.” Mom squeezed my shoulder. “And you do the same.”
“But don’t go anywhere with this strange guy you just met,” Dad warned. “And if you need anything, we’re only a call away.”
“Dad, relax. I’m twenty-five years old. I’ll be fine.”
