Page 82 of The Charmed Friends of Trove Isle
Liz almost laughed. “It’s probably the burgers from last night. I’ll be out in just a second.”
“Okay. Good thing you have two bathrooms because I need to touch up my face.” She scrunched her face. “And I don’t want to go in that bathroom after you.”
Liz stood on shaky legs and walked over to the mirror to inspect her reflection. She barely recognized herself. Rose had done her hair and helped with her make-up. She was wearing her favorite stud cubic zirconia earrings that perfectly complemented the rhinestone neckline of her dress. “You can do this,” she whispered to herself. “You’ve got this.” Turning toward the door, she opened it and found Rose standing there, wearing the dress she’d gotten from Hidden Treasures. It had been beautiful on the rack, but it was even more gorgeous tonight, hanging off Rose’s shoulders like it was made just for her. Her hair was swept off her neck in an updo, secured by pins accented with black rhinestones. The look was dressy, but also perfectly Rose. “I thought you went to the other bathroom,” Liz said, overwhelmed by a sudden outpouring of her emotions.
Rose shrugged. “I was going to. But something told me to stay. In case you needed me. Do you?”
Maybe their mom wasn’t the only one who could read Liz’s cues.
Liz sucked in a breath. “I’m not going to lie. It’s a hard night for me.”
“I know that,” Rose said quietly. “But I’m hoping it’ll also be a wonderful night. For both of us.”
The doorbell rang and Rose’s entire face lit up. She didn’t move to go answer it just yet though. She looked torn between staying with her sister and racing to the door where her boyfriend was waiting.
Liz forced a smile. “Go ahead. I’ll get my camera.”
“Thank you.” Rose reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. Then she squealed softly and hurried toward the front of the house.
Liz took another deep breath and then went to retrieve her camera from her bedroom dresser, noticing that her hands were shaking. She wanted this to be a good night. She did—for Rose’s sake and her own. Tonight was a milestone for her, just like when she’d driven with Melody and then Matt. She was making progress, little by little. Turning, she walked out of her bedroom and down the hall. “Hey, Josh,” she said as she entered the living room. “You look handsome in that suit.”
Josh looked down at what he was wearing and then gestured to Rose. “I don’t look half as great as Rose does. Or you,” he said, looking at Liz.
“Aww, that’s nice of you to say.” Liz liked Josh, which surprised her. “You’re going to drive the speed limit tonight, right?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“Liz.” Rose folded her arms over her chest.
“Sorry. I just need some reassurance for my own sanity.” Liz looked at Josh expectantly.
“I will drive the speed limit, make sure Rose is buckled up at all times, and only take the main roads. No backroads.”
Liz’s lips parted. This guy was impressive. “Matt’s right. He’s a keeper, Rose.”
Rose intertwined her arm with Josh’s and leaned in to him. “Okay, take your pictures so we can be on our way.”
Liz lifted her camera to her eyes and directed the happy couple on where to stand and how to position their bodies. After a dozen or so pictures, she lowered her Canon and made a shooing motion with her hands. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Rose rolled her eyes playfully. “That’s not too hard to accomplish.”
Josh opened the front door and then paused. “Liz, your date has arrived,” he said, shaking Matt’s hand.
Liz imagined that she lit up in the same way that Rose had ten minutes earlier.
Rose pointed a finger at Matt. “Don’t drive over the speed limit. Make sure you both buckle up whenever the vehicle is in motion. Take main roads, no backroads. And don’t do anything we wouldn’t do,” she said, gesturing between Liz and Matt.
“That shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish,” Liz said, impersonating Rose’s level of sarcasm.
Rose offered back a smirk. “See you two at the prom. Take good care of her,” she told Matt.
Matt glanced over at Liz and everything inside her warmed. “Roger that.”
Liz lifted her camera and took photographs of Josh leading Rose out to his older model Mustang. She snapped pictures as they reversed out of the driveway and drove away, suppressing the urge to cry. “I can’t help thinking about the night that me, Alyssa, Melody, and Bri set out,” she told Matt quietly.
“I’d worry about you if you didn’t think about that on a night like this one.”
She turned to face him. “You would?”
“Of course. You don’t need me to validate your feelings tonight. It’s okay to feel any way you want to. And you don’t have to hide it from me.”
