Page 138 of Lone Star Longing
“Oh, just something I need. I’ll be back.”
But before she heard the door open, she heard all kinds of commotion in the living room, and she braced herself for the babies’ cries. She would call out to ask what her mother was doing, but that could wake the babies, too.
Finally, she heard the door open and close, but a long time passed before she heard the engine of her car start.
“So tell us what happened last night. Javi said Beck had an accident? That you went out and found him?” Ginny said as she dug in Poppy’s bag.
“He flipped his truck. He’d been on the phone with his mom.” Man, talking with this mask on was a pain. She carefully slid it back into place while being careful not to mess up her wet nails. “She called me to find him, and I did, and stayed with him until Austin and Javi got there.”
Ginny had produced a curling iron and was searching for a place to plug it in. “But he’s okay?”
“He dislocated his shoulder, and had a bump on his head, but yeah, he’s okay. What are you doing?”
“I told you, we’re fixing you up for Beck.”
“He might not recognize me if you curl my hair. I haven't curled my hair since high school.”
“Beachy waves,” Ginny said, finding a plug, then waiting for Poppy to finish with her nails before she urged Lacey to her feet and dragged her chair closer to the counter. “I watched a YouTube on how to do it.”
“What is going on?” Lacey demanded. “I don't fix myself up for Beck.”
“But this is the first weekend he’s been back since you got engaged. It should be really special.”
“My hair is just going to get messed up when I take my nap later,” she warned as Ginny pulled a strand of hair away from her head and wrapped it around the curling iron. She’d been wearing it in a bun lately anyway, secured by a scrunchy.
“Should I do your toenails?” Poppy plopped on the floor in front of Lacey and grimaced at Lacey’s feet in her flip flops. “I think I better.”
“Remember, I couldn't reach my feet for months,” Lacey said.
“Remember,” Poppy echoed. “I’m an excellent friend.”
Her mother returned when Poppy was sitting in front of Lacey with a make-up sponge. Joyce put a hand to her chest.
“You just look lovely. I’m so happy I ordered this dress for you online. I think today would be the perfect day to wear it.”
“What dress? When did you order it?” Lacey demanded, but her mother had left the room. Her mother and she did not have the same taste, so she couldn't imagine what the dress would look like, and she didn't remember getting a delivery this week. Of course, she tried to sleep as much as she could, so maybe the package had arrived during one of her naps.
Her mother returned a few minutes later with a pretty cream colored dress on a hanger. It had capped sleeves in a sheer fabric, with monochromatic embroidery across the bodice and waist, and the skirt was long and flowy.
“Oh, that’s way too fancy,” Lacey said. “And I don't know how it will work with my super-sexy nursing bras.”
“I thought about that when I ordered it,” her mother said. “Try it on. We can send it back if it doesn't work.”
“Almost done with the make-up,” Poppy said, focusing on that, and not the dress, which was weird, for Poppy. She brushed powder on Lacey’s face, which was possibly the most make-up Lacey had ever worn, then sat back on her heels to inspect her handiwork. “Okay, dress.”
“Guys, you know that just because I have babies now doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten how to take care of myself.”
“We just want to pamper you,” Ginny said, unplugging the curling iron and winding up the cord. “Go try on the dress.”
They were being weird, the lot of them, but Lacey allowed herself to be led to the other room. She peeked in at the sleeping babies before she shrugged out of her robe, carefully removed her t-shirt and yoga pants, and slipped the soft dress over her head.
She in no way had her figure back, but the fullness of her breasts helped detract from the softness of her tummy. For an online order, the dress fit pretty well, especially considering she had one-week-old twins.
“This is lovely,” she told her mother, stepping out of the bedroom to see the three women huddled together. “But it’s just not practical for out here.”
“It’s a gift. Indulge me. And you have to have better shoes than those flip flops.”
She hadn’t worn shoes other than flip flops or sneakers for months. But she did have some cute shoes she’d bought before she found out she was pregnant. They might go. She turned back into her room to look, her pulse picking up a little as she thought about what Beck would think when he saw her.
