Jane stared at her reflection in the floor-length mirror at Mrs. Vance’s home. She’d tried on a handful of gorgeous gowns, but when she pulled on the red sheath with spaghetti straps, Mrs. Vance had clapped her hands together. “That’s the dress! Turn around and look.”
She’d been transformed and could see why these types of dresses were so expensive. They did the job well of tucking in and enhancing Jane’s figure. The red color made her dark hair gleam, and the soft silk fabric made her feel like she was floating in a warm pool of water.
“It’s really beautiful,” Jane said. “But it’s so... red.”
Mrs. Vance laughed lightly. “Not everyone can pull off red.” She joined Jane at the mirror. “You’re young and beautiful. It’s all right to flaunt it once in a while.”
Jane met Mrs. Vance’s gaze in the mirror. “I don’t want to stand out.”
But Mrs. Vance only winked. “I need to get over to the lodge, and Selena can help you with your hair.”
“Selena?”
“She’s my assistant, and she’s great with hair,” Mrs. Vance said. “I told Cameron to pick you up here, since it’s on the way to the benefit.”
Jane opened her mouth. The red dress was gorgeous, but she didn’t like dressing to stand out in a room. But Mrs. Vance was already on her way out of the bedroom suite, calling for Selena.
Maybe Mrs. Vance was right. Tonight Jane could dress like royalty and mingle with the Who’s Who of Pine Valley. Some were sure to be her clients, but she’d deal with that later. It wasn’t like she was living in the eighteenth century when maids didn’t socialize with the elite. Although she’d told Cameron that a man like him didn’t date a woman like her, she wasn’t necessarily referring to their social and financial statuses. His world was so large, whereas her world was very, very small.
“Hello, Jane,” a woman said, coming into the bedroom suite. “Louisa said I would find you in here. Oh, goodness. That’s a great dress on you.”
Jane turned to face a petite, dark-haired woman. “It makes me very nervous, to tell you the truth. I’ve never worn anything like it.”
Selena gave her a sympathetic smile. “No one will ever know.” She approached Jane, looking at her with a critical eye. “I think an updo will show off your neck and shoulders. What do you think?”
Jane shrugged. “I trust your judgment. Like I said, this is all new for me. I feel like Cinderella.”
Selena had a warm laugh. “Cameron is no prince, mind you. But he is a nice boy. I’m glad he’s going tonight. Louisa told me the circumstances.”
Jane flushed. She was his charity date—in more ways than one. But the dress she was wearing would be consolation enough for knowing that her sole purpose at the gala would be as an arm piece. “I’m glad I can help him out. I think in the long run, he’ll be better off without Crystal.” She bit her lip. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
With a nod, Selena placed her hands on her hips. “I will just say this, and then not bring it up again, but I agree. Cameron would have been miserable with a woman like Crystal. She didn’t have an empathetic bone in her body.” She moved in front of Jane. “Pearls. You need pearls. Do you have any?”
When Jane shook her head, Selena said, “I’ll text Louisa about lending out some of hers.” She lifted her hand to stop Jane’s protest. “She won’t mind, but I need to let her know. Now, let’s get you out of that dress and come back here by 7:00 so we can get started on your hair.”
“Cameron’s coming at 7:30.”
“He can wait.” Selena’s gaze was sly. “You don’t want to be early in that dress. Walking in a little late would be more of a statement. What about shoes?”
“I have some black heels.”
“Perfect.” Selena moved behind Jane and lowered the zipper.
Jane stepped out of the dress and changed back into her clothing while Selena hung up the gown.
“Thank you so much,” Jane said when she was ready to leave.
“You’re welcome,” Selena said with a smile. “This is one of my more enjoyable tasks. All those emails Louisa has me send make me want to stab my eyes out. Now, go. I’ll see you at 7:00.”
Jane felt practically pushed out the door, but Selena was probably a busy woman. Jane left the elegant home and climbed into her car. Today had been a whirlwind. If she’d imagined this morning the turn of events the day would take, she wouldn’t have believed it.
She drove through the wealthy neighborhood, then turned onto the boulevard that would take her to her dad’s house. When she pulled up to the small house, her dad was outside, with his cane, watering the flower bed. It was good to see him outside doing yard work; it must be one of his better days.
Jane pulled into the driveway and climbed out of her car. “Hi, Dad,” she called loudly enough so he could hear through his earpiece.
He swung around and peered at her through his thick glasses. “You’re home late. Did you have a lot of jobs today?”
“No, it was a half day, but some other things came up.” She crossed to him and kissed his cheek. “You shaved, and you smell nice.”
Her father smiled, his brown eyes twinkling. “It’s game day.”
Jane grinned. “Right. Let me fix you something to eat, then I’ll take you over. Mrs. Sherwood said she’d bring you home. I’m going to a hospital benefit tonight.”
“Oh?” He narrowed his eyes. “Why am I just hearing about this now?”
Even though Jane was twenty-seven, her father had no problem treating her like a fifteen- year-old sometimes. “Because I was just invited a short time ago.”
“To a five-hundred-dollar-a-plate dinner? That’s some invitation.”
“I know,” Jane said. “I don’t have to pay, though. One of my clients had his guest drop out.”
“His? Who is this man?” Her father didn’t look pleased.
“Don’t worry, Dad,” she said with a sigh. “It’s Cameron Vance, and it’s just business. His mother organized the whole thing, and it was all her idea.”
Her dad’s brows shot up. “Louisa Vance?”
“Do you know her?” Jane asked.
“She’s donated to the assisted living center, that’s all,” her dad said. He used his cane to walk over to the water spigot and turned it off. Then he bent with a grunt and wound the hose.
Jane knew better than to offer to help him. He was fiercely independent and stubborn. “I’ll get your dinner fixed. I’ll be eating at the gala,” she told him.
“It’d better be worth the money,” he said.
Jane smiled. “I don’t think it’s a meal worth five hundred; most of the money goes to the hospital.” She hurried inside and realized she’d been holding her breath. Why her dad’s reaction had bothered her, she didn’t know.
She busied herself with making a chicken teriyaki meal for her dad with pre-cooked chicken. Then, while it was simmering, she went to her bedroom to find her shoes. She hadn’t worn her black heels in a while, and she didn’t realize how scuffed they were. So she grabbed a rag and buffed them out with a bit of Vaseline. She hoped no one would pay too much attention to them.
She heard her dad come inside with his distinctive shuffle and turn the TV on in the kitchen. Some news program blared, and Jane sighed. He kept the TV on high volume when he was watching it, and the sound irritated her, but there was no use asking him to turn it down.
Jane found a bag and put the heels in it, along with several makeup items, then went into the front room. She left the bag next to the door and joined her dad in the kitchen.
“Smells good,” he said from where he sat at the kitchen table, facing the TV on the end of the counter.
Jane checked on the meal, stirred it, then turned down the heat. She fixed a glass of ice water and set it on the table along with a plate and utensils.
“You need to watch out for people like the Vances,” her dad suddenly said over the volume of the TV. “They’re uppity.”
Jane turned to look at him. “They’re actually nice people.” She’d seen a whole different side to Cameron the past couple of days, and even though he was wealthy, there were worse flaws than that. Like Crystal-type flaws.
Her father shook his head, but he remained silent until Jane served the food. She sat across from him and watched the news. The weather report had just come on.
“Looks like it’s going to rain,” her dad said. “Take a jacket with you.”
Jane almost rolled her eyes at the thought of wearing one of her old jackets over the thousand-dollar red dress. “I’ll be inside the whole night.”
“You don’t want to catch a chill,” her dad said, his gaze sliding to hers.
Jane appreciated the concern, but again, she was a grown woman. “I’ll be sure to keep an eye on the weather.”
The next hour passed agonizingly slowly as her dad continued to make comments about the Vances and Jane straightened up around the house. Finally, it was time to take her dad to his game night. Jane usually went with him and enjoyed playing at one of the tables with the residents. Her dad’s friend, Pete Southerland, was a character and always made her laugh.
The drive to the center was only a few minutes, and as they arrived, rain started to sprinkle on the car’s windshield.
“I told you it was going to rain,” her dad said as she handed him his cane after opening his car door.
She pursed her lips together and walked with him into the center. Once they were inside the gathering room, and the residents found out she wasn’t going to stay, Jane almost regretted accepting the invitation to the gala. Pete Southerland always joked with her, and several of the other residents had become dear to her.
“I’ll be back next week,” she told Pete, squeezing his hand.
She left and hurried out into the rain. It was coming down pretty hard now. She drove straight to Mrs. Vance’s home and parked in the circular driveway, hoping she’d be out of the way of any other cars that might come and go that night. Cameron would be picking her up here at 7:30, but Jane failed to see how she’d be completely ready by then.
Selena answered the door. “What a night,” she said when she saw Jane on the front porch. “Come in out of the rain.” She scanned Jane’s hair. “Good, you’re not too wet. Some dampness might work to our advantage.”
“I don’t have a jacket that will go with the dress,” Jane said. “Do you have one of those large umbrellas?” She’d hate to get any water damage on the dress.
“You can borrow Mrs. Vance’s wrap if it’s still raining when Cameron comes,” Selena said, leading the way up the curved staircase. “We have plenty of those golf umbrellas.”
“Okay, great,” Jane said as they headed along the upper hallway. “I just don’t want to ruin the dress.”
“A little rain won’t hurt it, but you don’t have to worry.” Selena opened the door to the bedroom suite. “These gowns are more sturdy than you think.”
Jane walked into the suite and started to undress as Selena fetched the dress. With a little help, Jane was wearing the dress in a few minutes.
“Have a seat at the vanity table,” Selena said and produced a large velvet jewelry box. “Mrs. Vance said you’re welcome to wear her pearls tonight. I think it will be just the thing.”
She opened the box, and Jane stared at the lustrous pearls. They were beautiful.
Selena swept back Jane’s hair and brushed it smooth, then pinned it into a French twist. When Selena had secured the pearl necklace, and Jane had put on the pearl earrings, Selena stepped aside. “Come to the mirrors to see what you think. Did you bring your shoes?”
Jane pointed to the bag she brought with her, and Selena went to pull them out. She handed them over to Jane, who slipped them on and turned toward the mirror.
“What do you think?” Selena asked.
Jane wasn’t sure she knew the woman in the mirror. “I don’t think anyone will be recognizing me.”
Selena gave a soft laugh. “Perhaps not, but they’ll certainly be noticing you.”
Jane bit her lip. “I’m not sure I want that.”
Selena turned back to Jane’s bag and pulled out her makeup pouch. “I’ll leave you to do your makeup. I’m going to slip on my dress too.”
“Are you going to the gala?”
“In an official capacity,” Selena said. “I’ll be running the credit card machine for the winning bidders. You won’t even notice me in the background.”
“Thank you for everything.” Jane spread her hands. “I couldn’t have done all this without your help.”
Selena smiled. “You’re most welcome.”