Chapter Fourteen
Everly
“Can we watch it again?” Belle asked, and Lacey and I both groaned as we hit the play button on our TV. She thanked us and settled back on the couch for our third showing of “Frozen.” Lacey kept the lucky girl home from kindergarten to spend time with us, coincidentally at the same time that Belle found the dusty Blu-ray of the movie buried deep within the coffee table’s drawer.
“Can’t really blame her,” I admitted as Lacey and I finished our mimosas. “I have a soft spot for movies about sisters hating each other.”
Lacey grinned and asked if I wanted a refill, which I stubbornly refused.
“So, you have a big date on Saturday?” Lacey teased me. I had mentioned it briefly after she asked me to see a movie with her and Belle Saturday night, and had stressed that it wasn’t a big deal.
“It might not even be romantic,” I said. “He didn’t really seem to like my opinion of children.”
Lacey shook her head. “You don’t tell a man that you don’t believe in having kids and you’re against getting married until at least the fourth date,” she said. “You haven’t even been on one.”
“He’s my boss!” I argued. “I didn’t think there were rules on that sort of stuff in a work relationship.”
“This is very obviously not your everyday work relationship. Look how much he’s paying you for four meals a week.”
“Four meals that I teach him.” I clarified. “But yeah, you’re right. It feels like there’s a catch.”
“The catch is that he’s a very handsome man interested in a young, vulnerable woman and is using his looks and wealth to manipulate her into falling in love with him,” Lacey said as we both took seats on either side of Belle on the couch. “I’ve read this story a dozen times at my book club.”
“My life is nothing like those books you read,” I argued. “It’s a lot more complicated than that. And he’s not manipulating me. I needed a job; he needed a cook. That’s it; plain and simple. Why do you have to be like Mom and read more into simple things?”
“Ouch.” She narrowed her eyes and glared. “Because his chef just so happened to retire or die or whatever you said.” Lacey gave me the ‘are you serious’ look.
“Lacey, I’m already stressed enough about this date, or whatever this is,” I said. “You’re not helping.”
“Okay, I’m sorry.” She patted Belle’s head as the little girl sang along with the movie. “Tell you what, we both have the day off. Let’s make a girls’ day out of it. We’ll get our nails done, go shopping, do something with your hair.” I rolled my eyes at the last bit. “How does that sound?”
“I don’t know, Lace,” I said.
“You can’t use your bank account as an excuse anymore,” she reminded me. “That man is paying you way too much for your hair and nails to look like that.”
“Could you be any subtler?” I snapped and turned to Belle. “What do you think? Do you want to go shopping?”
Belle paid me little attention as a snowman sung a song about summer on the television. She nodded, at least, and that was enough for Lacey.
“You drive. I’m going to look up new hairstyles on Instagram for you on the way.”
After finishing the movie, we spent a few hours browsing through stores far too expensive for us, and each bought a few outfits at the department store in the mall.
“Is this pretty?” Belle asked as she slipped her new scarf around her neck in the food court. Belle and I shared a plate of Chinese food while Lacey ate a taco salad.
“Who are you trying to impress?” I teased her. “Any cute boys in kindergarten?”
She blushed, and her mom gasped.
“Belle, you do not have a crush on a boy,” she accused, and I felt bad for the poor girl.
“Calm down, Lace,” I said. “But yeah, it’s really pretty. It brings out your eyes.”
Belle offered me a weak smile and tightened the scarf. “Thanks, Aunt Everly,” she said, and I was reminded of when she used to call me Auntie Evie.
“I got the wrong size,” Lacey complained as she looked through her bag. “Could you take Belle to the hair salon downstairs and I’ll meet you there?”
I agreed, and I walked hand in hand with Belle to the salon. The three of us had gotten our nails painted, and Belle showed me a pretty powder blue on hers.
“I love it,” I said.
“Don’t tell Mom, but Miles’ favorite color is blue,” Belle said.
“Is Miles the boy you like?” I asked.
“Not really. I mean, he’s nice and cute, but we barely talk.”
“So you just think he’s cute.” We waited at the salon until the hairdresser was ready. “Well, you can tell me anything, you know that right?”
“Of course.” Belle smiled. I never truly noticed it, but we were always told that Belle looked just like me when I was her age. I felt like I was beginning to see it.
“Thank you, Aunt Everly,” Belle said. “I had a lot of fun today. And I hope your date tomorrow is fun.”
“I hope so, too. You’re the best kid, do you know that?” I said honestly. “And I also had fun.”
Lacey met us just as I sat in the seat. They sat nearby as the hairdresser did a small trim, despite Lacey’s best efforts to convince me to replicate the latest trends on Instagram.
“Which dress are you going to wear?” Lacey asked.
“Oh, I love the blue one,” Belle said.
I winked an eye at her. “Good thing my favorite color is also blue.” Belle blushed, but Lacey didn’t notice.
I dropped them off at Lacey’s house and went inside to help her prepare dinner.
“I’ll stop by on Sunday to let you know how it went,” I said, once I was done chopping vegetables. Lacey handed me a glass of wine, and I ended up staying to make dinner as well.
“Send a picture of how you look in the dress,” Belle said. She really liked the blue dress.
“Of course.” I hugged Belle and said my goodbyes.
“Don’t fall in love.” Lacey teased, and I rolled my eyes.
“Not even an option,” I said in a loud voice to make sure Belle heard. “I want an established career before I fall in love with anyone, even a cat.” I thought fondly of the tuxedo cat at the cat café. What a keeper.
“Or a dog,” Belle added. She’d been begging her mom for a puppy for nearly three years now.
“Whatever you say,” Lacey said to me and closed the door as I left.
Don’t fall in love, she suggested. I laughed as I even considered it.
But then again, what if it was too late?