Page 31 of About Last Christmas
His gaze sweeps over me. “Red’s your color.”
I raise a brow. “You told me black was.”
“Right.” He grins, but his eyes remain fixed on me. “I can’t believe you made that.”
“Thank you.” I’m no Edith Head, but I’m proud of this dress as if I designed it. I wish Gran could see everything. I press my lips together. No sad thoughts tonight.
Because it’s nearly go time.
It takes us thirty minutes to crawl across town and get in the parade line. We meet up with Mom and Leonard already in full costume. I make the awkward introductions.
“Mom, this is …” How am I supposed to introduce him? As Remington? Leo?
He answers for me by sticking out his hand. “I’m Leo.”
Mom shoots me a sly smile that makes me want to hide under the trailer. I can’t have her making cringy remarks as some sort of weird psychological move for all the times she never embarrassed me during my teens. “I’m glad to meet you,” she responds sweetly. “I’m April. But tonight, I’m Judy Haynes. Greta outdid herself.” Pride coats her voice as she glances over. “People are always saying we look like sisters, right?”
Alwaysis a stretch. It happened once. And the person who made such a claim, Mrs. Haskell, has had four LASIK surgeries, so I wouldn’t count her as a reliable source. Yet Mom does have a youthful glow about her. She can easily pass for early to mid-thirties.
I finish the introductions. “And this is Leonard, one of the founding members of the Mavericks.” I smooth out Leonard’s collar. “He’s our Phil Davis.”
Leo shakes his hand. “Greta’s talked about you.”
The older man tugs a slip of paper from his pocket and shoves it into Leo’s palm. “This is all you need to know.” The Maverick claps his shoulder, and I wince, knowing full well what he just handed an unsuspecting Leo.
Leo begins reading, and his eyes dart to mine. “Is this … an obituary?”
“Course it is.” Leonard huffs. “Tells you my life story. Saves on small talk.”
Mom laughs, but I wonder if I should’ve prepared Leo better for this encounter.
Leo politely reads the life summary until his head rears back. “This says you dated Marilyn Monroe.”
“The butcher’s daughter,” I insert. “Not the icon.”
“She was iconic enough for me.” The decrepit Don Jaun gives an exaggerated wink and elbows Leo.
Just as the Maverick is giving Leo a detailed rundown of his time with Marilyn, the butcher’s daughter, Tilly approaches wearing a pink bunny costume. This day can’t get any weirder.
“Don’t laugh.” Her bottom lip rolls out. “I drew the short straw. Literally.”
“Going out on a limb here, but I’m guessingA Christmas Story?”
She adjusts an ear. “I pulled forIt’s a Wonderful Life. I even have a wig set in victory rolls, but no.”
“When did you get a wig?”
She scowls. “You’re not keeping up with the real issue here. Tell me, on a scale of one to ten, how ridiculous do I look?”
I step back and take her in. From her wired ears to her bunny-slippered feet, her outfit is nearly an exact replica from the movie. I’m impressed, but I don’t think Tilly would appreciate my remarks on the craftsmanship. “You look very warm.”
“That means ten.” She exhales a sigh. “But Iamactually warm. If someone pulls my tail, I won’t be accountable for my actions.” She seems to put aside her current rabbit drama and studies my gown. “But you. You look beautiful. Though, where’s your red lipstick? Betty Haynes always has red lips.” She pulls out a bag from some hidden compartment in her bunny suit. “Come here.”
I humor her, mostly because she’s dressed in a bunny suit. It’s a humble day for the beauty queen. Tilly, who’s used to wearing glitz and glam, has googly eyes on her feet. She applies the lipstick and hands me a tissue to blot.
“There.” She fixes a lock of my hair. “You look like a movie star and me a giant Peep. Whatever. I’m good. Actually, I’m great.” The glow returns to her face. “I didn’t get to tell you yet, but Mitchell gave me my Christmas gift early. He’s gotta go to NYC for something. Don’t ask because I can’t remember. But”—she clasps her hands together—“he’s taking his baby sis along. Complete with Rockette tickets!”
Along with beauty pageants, Tilly also had dreams of being a Rockette, but she’s a quarter inch too short. “Ah, you get to see the kick line in person!”
