Page 57 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Liz felt her blood funnel away from her face toward her feet. “Me?”
“Well, Mom isn’t here. I mean, I guess I can go alone.” There was something vulnerable in Rose’s eyes that gave Liz pause. When was her sister ever vulnerable? Never that Liz could remember. “There’s just this guy who’s going to prom. We’re not going together or anything, but he asked if I’d be there to dance with him. I sort of really like him and I want to look nice. He’s kind of preppy and . . .” She held her arms out by her side, “I mean, look at me.”
“Preppy?” Liz couldn’t hide the surprise in her tone. “You like a preppy guy?”
“And he likes me too,” Rose said, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. “Anyway, if you have something better to do today . . .”
“I was invited to go to Sunday lunch at Mrs. West’s house,” Liz said, clearing a path to say no to Rose. Not because she didn’t want to hang out or help her sister, but because this was about prom, and prom was not a topic of choice for Liz. She’d never made it to her own prom. Her life had changed that night. And the thought of watching Rose set off with a dress and corsage in a few weeks sounded like torture.
“Whatever.” Rose turned back to retreat to her room. Liz had seen the touch of vulnerability pass across her sister’s face right before she’d turned though. This was important to Rose, and it was another moment for Liz to prove to herself that she could resist her fear and do brave things.
“Wait.” Liz closed her eyes and took a breath. She reached for the charm bracelet on her wrist before remembering that Melody had it now. Liz didn’t need it though. She’d sat behind a steering wheel and had cranked its engine. She’d driven up and down the driveway. Liz opened her eyes to find Rose watching her. “I can cancel lunch at Mrs. West’s home. It’s not that important.”
Rose’s face lit up. “Really?”
“Yeah, of course. I can go with you. It’ll be fun,” Liz lied. It would be the furthest thing from fun that she could imagine doing except maybe driving a vehicle in rush hour traffic.
“Great.” A smile flickered on Rose’s lips. “Thanks. I mean it.”
“Of course.” Something warm crawled up inside Liz’s chest as she watched Rose turn and walk back to the guest bedroom. Her sister needed her and even though Liz didn’t want to go dress shopping this afternoon, she could do it. And she would do it.
She’d found a little bravery behind the steering wheel the other night. She’d faced a fear head-on and it hadn’t killed her. So, while it might hurt her heart a little, it was very unlikely that a little prom dress shopping between sisters would be the death of her.
* * *
Two hours later, Liz was sitting in a straight back chair with oversized armrests, drinking complimentary lemonade and nodding at the tenth dress that Rose had tried on.
“It looks awful. I can see it on your face.” Rose crossed her arms at her chest and poked out a sassy hip.
“It’s not really your style,” Liz said, taking in the bright orange silky fabric. There was a sash of sequins moving across the front of the dress. Liz scrunched her nose. “You don’t usually wear bright colors.”
“But bright colors can be cool. Maybe the black dress.” Rose turned back to the dressing room. The owner of the store kept bringing dresses and Rose kept trying them on. Finally, Rose growled in frustration and stomped her foot. “None of these are right,” she said, on the brink of tears.
“You must really like this guy, huh?” Liz knew that Rose normally didn’t care much about things like this. She would’ve picked a black dress and have been done with it if the guy wasn’t someone special.
Rose plopped onto the chair next to Liz’s. “He’s so cute. I can’t even believe he wants to dance with me. Like, some part of me thinks it’s a cruel joke and he’s really just toying with me, and he’ll show up with his real date. And everyone will be laughing about how stupid I was to think he wanted me.”
Liz lifted her brows. Maybe she needed to get Rose an appointment with Dr. Mayer. “Wow. You’ve really been hanging out with me for too long because you sound paranoid. Which is a form of anxiety. Or it can be.”
Rose rolled her eyes, but she also laughed a little. “We’re from two different worlds, sis. So, do I buy a dress that I would like? Or one that fits his personality? Or something completely different?”
Liz tapped a finger to her chin. “If he likes you, then he already knows your style and likes it. So I say pick something you like. Just be yourself.”
Rose slumped deeper into the chair. “Well, I don’t like anything in here,” she said loud enough to embarrass Liz because she was sure the owner bearing unlimited lemonade had heard her.
Liz cared more about Rose right now though. Her sister needed her support, which didn’t happen often. “I think I know where you might find the perfect dress.”
Rose looked over, hope glinting in her suspiciously shiny eyes. “You do?”
“I do.” Liz nibbled her lower lip. Hidden Treasures was closed today, but she knew the owner. She pulled out her cell phone and tapped off a message to Melody.
Liz: Any way we can have a private showing at your store this afternoon?
The dots started bouncing on the screen as Melody tapped out a reply.
Melody: We’re at Mrs. West’s house. But say in an hour?
* * *
