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Melissa’s eyes toggle between me and Glinda a few times before it clicks. “Beckett Windsor? Beckett is the man you’re going to Italy with?”
“Yes.”
She looks at Glinda and breaks into a huge smile. “Ilovethis.”
Glinda nods. “Me too. He’s incredibly smitten with her.”
“Of course he is. Amanda is fantastic.”
“I agree.”
I look at the two of them. “You guys know I’m standing right here, don’t you?”
They both giggle.
I ask, “How do you two know each other?”
Melissa thinks for a moment before answering. “We’ve sat on many charitable boards together through the years, though I couldn’t tell you when we first met. It’s been decades.”
Glinda nods in agreement. “I think it was when you were married to Jackson. At one of Beckett’s famous holiday parties.”
“Yes, you’re right. That’s exactly when we first met.” She lets out a laugh. “Remember that year a certain senator drank too much and made a spectacle of himself?”
“Oh god. I nearly forgot about that debacle.”
I feel so out of place. I slowly walk away and quietly begin browsing dresses while they catch up. At some point, I look up at the saleslady. “There are no prices on these dresses. How much are they?”
The woman looks at both Melissa and Glinda before turning back to me. “Mr. Windsor called ahead. He’s already taken care of it.”
A blow out a breath. “This was a mistake.” I turn around and start heading for the door.
Glinda catches up to me and grabs me by the shoulders. “Let him do this one thing for you.”
“I don’t want his charity, Glinda.”
“It’s not charity. Sweetie, I don’t know the men you’ve been with in the past, but I’m gathering you haven’t always been treated very well. Let me ask you something. Would it give you genuine joy to do something nice and special for Beckett? Or for your daughter?”
I reluctantly nod, knowing where this is going.
“That’s right. Don’t rob him of his joy. He wants to do this for you. He’s so excited for the trip. Honestly, I haven’t seen him this excited for anything since…well, since before his world fell apart.”
“I want him to be happy, but it makes me uncomfortable when he buys things for me. He knows this.”
“How about after we leave here, you buy something special for him? It can be anI-can’t-wait-for-Italygift exchange.”
“Will you at least tell me how much these dresses cost?”
“It’s better that I don’t.”
I turn to Melissa. She shrugs. “I go through this with Jade all the time when I want to buy her clothes. I can’t begin to express to you the joy it gives me to buy nice things for her. She wears them like a boss.”
I smile at that. “She does.”
She winks at me. “No doubt, with your body you’ll wear whatever dress we choose like a boss too. Just this once, let him spoil you. You deserve it, Amanda. When was the last time you were spoiled?”
About twenty-five years ago. “Fine, but will you two promise to help me find something for him when we’re done? I want to give him a nice gift too.”
They both smile and nod.
