Page 77 of Valentine's in Bayberry

“Well, let’s not keep your Prince Charming waiting.”

“But I don’t even know where I’m meeting him.”

“All will be revealed in time.”

She wasn’t used to her grandmother being so mysterious. But she was game to play along.

She quickly changed into the dress, which fit her perfectly. And then she slipped on the sparkly heels.Definitely modern-day Cinderella slippers.The shoes were a little snug but not to the point of being painful. Hopefully, they’d stretch out.

She stood in front of her grandmother. “What do you think?”

Gran’s pointer finger moved in a circular motion. “Turn around.”

Carrie did a pirouette. When she stopped, she noticed her grandmother had a frown on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s your hair.”

“My hair?” She reached up to see if some of it was falling out of the bun she’d put it in. Not finding any clumps or loose strands, she asked, “What’s wrong with it?”

“You need to wear it down.”

“Down?” She wasn’t used to having it down. It always got in her way.

She reached up and loosened her hair. It fell over her shoulders. She bent over and finger-combed it. Then she straightened, throwing her hair back and letting it fall naturally.

“Oh, yes,” Gran said. “That’s much better. You’re so beautiful.”

“Thanks, Gran. Now what do I do?”

“You go downstairs. There’s a car waiting for you.”

“A car? Is it Jackson?” She got a giddy feeling in her stomach. No one had ever gone to these lengths for her. She was deeply touched.

As Carrie rushed down the stairs, her grandmother called out to her. “Wait. I need to get a photo of you. I promised your parents.”

Carrie stopped in the doorway and turned around. “Mom and Dad know about my date with Jackson?”

“Of course. By now I’d say the whole town knows.”

Of course.It shouldn’t surprise her. There’s only one thing this town loved more than rumors, and that was a love story. She still couldn’t believe in the beginning that she’d so quickly dismissed Jackson as being the secret valentine.

She wanted to rush out the door, but she waited for her grandmother, who didn’t move as fast as she used to. In the foyer, her grandmother offered her a white dress coat to help fight off the frigid winter breeze.

Carrie turned to her grandmother. “Thank you. You make a wonderful fairy godmother.”

“Oh.” Gran’s cheeks pinkened. She reached out and pulled Carrie close for a hug. When they parted, Gran said, “Listen to your heart tonight.”

And then Carrie was out the door. There was a car waiting at the curb. It wasn’t Jackson’s car. As she approached it, someone else got out of the driver’s seat. It wasn’t until they stepped into the glow of the streetlight that she realized it was Mark. And he was wearing a dark suit and tie. Now she was even more intrigued.

“Mark, what are you doing here?”

He opened the backdoor. “I’m here to chauffeur you to dinner.”

She glanced at the backseat. “I can just sit up front with you.”

Mark didn’t budge. “You should ride back here. Tonight, I am your driver.” When she opened her mouth to argue, he said, “Just go with it.”

She shrugged. “Okay.”

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