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I narrowed my gaze at her.
Something fishy was definitely going down.
A colossal, Spanish-style estate came into view. The morning light glinted off its stone-gated entrance with massive, variegated agave plants in pots perched on top. As we approached the barrier, it swung open automatically.
We pulled into the driveway and Clover refilled our glasses to the brim. “Mystery rides definitely go better with a buzz.” She stated.
As we stepped out of the limo, the morning sun played peek-a-boo from behind a puffy cloud and did its glittery dance with dewdrops on the expansive lawn.
My jaw dropped when a butler donned in a tuxedo appeared as we pulled up the circular drive. “You’ve got to be shitting me,” I murmured, unable to believe what I saw.
He held the door open, saying, “Right this way, Ms. Faith. Ms. Clover. Ms. Luna.” He welcomed us with a bow, his starched shirt perfectly pressed and black tie discreetly tucked into place.
“What’s going on here?” I demanded, trembling at the thought of the spanking that would follow if Daddy heard me.
The butler displayed an amicable grin as he spoke. “If you’ll follow me, please. The truth will reveal itself shortly.” He spun on his heel and strode towards the mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The crisp, salty breeze smelled of the seashore, and the distant roar of crashing waves filled our ears.
Luna winked at me, elbowing my arm as we strode a path between dense rows of roses ablaze in riotous pinks. Explosions of color ready to burst.
A tall, slim woman with gold hair swung the door open. She wore a raspberry ensemble as bright as her smile that twirled around her legs. “Oh, uh, h-hi! Name’s Melinda. I’m your helper for the day,” she announced, befuddledly. She gestured to follow her down a hallway. Her heel caught on the tiled floor and she stumbled forward before regaining her balance and continuing on. “Sorry, almost tripped there. Super excited to have you here today! Follow me to your dressing room.”
I hastily glanced over my shoulder, lingering on Luna before I silently mouthed, “Dressing room?” She offered me a dreamy nod and my sister bobbed her shoulders at me, mirroring my confusion.
Our guide strode down a lengthy corridor with floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, her legs taking two steps to my one. With every few strides, she tossed a peek over her shoulder, as if expecting us to stop following her.
Reassured, because in this intimidatingly grand setting she wasn’t as graceful as expected, I watched her high heels clatter on the marble flooring. There were a couple of near-misses where she almost bumped into the expensive sculptures lining the hall.
Melinda stopped in front of a towering door with intricate carvings and declared, “I’ll make sure everything is perfect for you today, Ms. Palmer.”
My mind buzzed with questions. I cleared my throat, leaning in slightly, “Why are we here?”
She paused. “This ought to clear things up.” She removed a key from her pocket, struggling to fit it into the lock. After several moments, it finally clicked, and she unlocked and pulled the door open, lightly banging the back of her hand against the frame as she waved us inside. “Après vous.”
My bestie and I spoke simultaneously.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Oh, dear,” gasped Luna behind me.
Melinda rubbed the sting out of her knuckles. “No harm done. Clumsy is all.”
A picture window spanned an entire wall, showcasing the turquoise blue of the Pacific. A line of brown pelicans flew over the first row of waves and an unspoken thrill hovered in the room, promising something that would make me shimmer like glitter.
“He instructed me to give you this.” Melinda exposed the closet interior by swinging the door wide and removed a huge cream-colored garment bag hanging from a brass hook.
“For me?” I questioned, trying to fit all the pieces together.
“Indeed.” Melinda’s smile took up nearly her entire face, the embodiment of sheer jubilance.
“Let’s not dawdle. Time is short.” Luna urged.
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Oh, so now you’re the impatient one?” I grated.
Clover interjected, “Get on with it, Faith. Unwrap that thing!”
“All right already, you don’t have to bite my head off.” I huffed and fumbled with the zipper. A nervous laugh bubbled in my chest.
I removed the garment bag and before me lay a vision of snowy lace that cascaded out, a waterfall of snow. I merely stared. Tongue-tied. Clover asked, “What on earth?”
