Page 70 of Hibiscus Heights

Deb turned over the card, but it was blank. “I have no idea. Matteo or Grant? Or maybe my parents. Someone must have asked Whitley to put them in here with my bag.”

“They got your name wrong,” April said. “The middle name should be Lynn, not Rose.”

“I was named after my grandmother, whose middle name was Rose. She led a charmed life.”

April sucked in a breath. “This is too much of a coincidence. We are in room 418.”

“Shh.” Deb inclined her head toward Carmela and Desiree. “These must be from my father. Maybe they belonged to his mother, but I never saw her wear anything like this. I would have remembered.”

“Are you going to wear them tonight?”

“I suppose I should. They’re dazzling.”

“Wow,” Junie said, overhearing the last part of the conversation. “Those are from Grandpa? You have to wear them. They’re meant for tonight.”

When Deb held them to her earlobes in front of the mirror, the effect was striking. They framed her face and complemented her dress far better than the simple pearl studs she’d planned to wear.

Maileah snapped a photo as Deb held them up. “They’re perfect with that dress. Put them on.”

Deb fastened the jewels to her earlobes. “They’re so elegant. Truly of a different era.”

“You look stunning,” April said softly, leaning into the mirror beside her. “I feel like I’ve seen those before. But they’re magical on you.”

Deb put her arm around her dearest friend. “We all look gorgeous tonight.”

April and Maileah crowded in, and Deb gazed at their images, admiring their collective transformation. “Tonight is for all of us.”

Carmela captured the final group photos for them. As they gathered their satin and beaded bags and prepared to head downstairs, Deb felt a slight chill brush past her shoulder. Yet, it didn’t seem threatening.

Quite the opposite.

Deb shook her head, and the earrings tinkled against her neck. “Time for the Sunset Room. Let’s make an entrance, ladies.”

The light flickered on their way out.

Deb grinned at April. Perhaps Princess Noelle had enjoyed having them there after all.

20

Deb paused with her friends at the entry to the Sunset Room, which was aptly named.

A bank of glass doors and floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the ocean. Countless marriages had been performed here at sunset. While it was still early, the sun’s waning rays bathed the room in a golden glow. Deb and Maileah had specifically planned the burnished bronze and sapphire theme around this time of day.

A pianist played off to one side, but instead of classical music, they’d agreed on upbeat contemporary songs.

The familiar pre-event energy was building. The next few hours would dictate their measure of success, and Deb was ready for it. The cocktail hour was purely professional, and she felt at ease in this role. At some point in the evening, she would undoubtedly see Grant.

That would be a different matter.

Ryan greeted them at the entry, impeccably attired in a dark evening suit. “You’re all right on time. Everything here is outstanding, and people are just arriving.”

Deb nodded toward a photographer, who motioned for them to gather for photos. These were important for marketing and social media purposes, so Deb and the others readily complied as Maileah orchestrated the shots.

The mayor arrived with her husband, and invited media and celebrities began to drift in. The photographer captured the growing crowd against the backdrop of the restored Victorian architecture.

Deb moved through the gathering, greeting guests and fielding questions about the design choices. A travel writer from San Francisco asked about the original fixtures they’d preserved, while a lifestyle blogger from Los Angeles wanted details about the color palette employed.

A journalist from a home and garden magazine spoke up. “Did preserving the historical design elements prove challenging?”

---