Page 39 of Starfish Cottage
“Great. We can go to the costume store and pick something out. I’m supposed to wear a hat with a silver band. Don’t let me forget.”
“Why silver?”
“To match with her dress. Jules went into great detail about their dresses. Hers is black and silver, and Maddie’s has a giant red feather that sticks up from the headband. Gina’s is turquoise.”
“Boy, you’re really getting into girls’ fashions,” Dex teased.
Nick shrugged. “Whatever makes her happy. Let’s finish these and get to the costume store before they’re sold out.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Maddie was exhausted. She’d spent the day running from the tent area to the pier and back again. There had been a problem with Burt’s moonshine. The barrel had spilled, and the whole merchant area smelled of whisky. It probably wouldn’t be too good for the grass, either. She’d straightened things out there just in time to run down to the pier and get the caterer set up in the old donut shop.
She’d been so busy that she hadn’t had a chance to check in with her cousins and see how things had gone in the Beachcomber vendor tent. When she was done with her tasks, she drove straight to the Beachcomber Motel to meet them to get dressed for the party.
“You guys should see the pier! It looks amazing with the twinkle lights in the tent and round high-tops that you can stand and set your drinks on. It’s going to be amazing, dancing under the stars tonight.”
“How romantic.” Jules looked starry-eyed, and Maddie and Gina exchanged disgusted glances. The longer Jules dated Nick, the sappier she got.
“So how did things go in the tent today?” Maddie asked as they took their dresses out of the bags in the lobby. Gina was still set up in the storage room as her living space, and they would change in there in case someone came in.
“Pretty good. Everyone loved Gina’s pies.” Jules pulled her dress out of the bag and held it up in front of her. It was gorgeous, with a black satin lining and beads of silver in a geometric design. The bottom had at least three inches of silver fringe. Jules jiggled it so the fringe swayed.
“You’re going to look great dancing.” Gina inspected her own dress. It was a gorgeous shade of turquoise, low waisted with scalloped tiers of fringe on the bottom half.
“I’m going to try mine on.” Jules practically skipped to Gina’s room.
“So, what kinds of pies did you make? Sorry I didn’t get a chance to stop by.” Maddie slid the plastic off her dress. The shade of red was gorgeous, and the beaded detail on the sleeves and hem were better than she’d expected, though the dress seemed a little big.
“No worries. I know you were busy.” Gina hung the coat hanger on the arm of a floor lamp and fluffed out the skirt of her dress. “I made three apple, since everyone loves those, and one rhubarb and one peach.”
Maddie smiled at the obvious excitement in her cousin’s voice. “I bet people gobbled those up.”
“They did. They even called their friends over to try a slice.”
“You’re getting really good at the pies. Have you thought any more about doing it professionally?”
Gina looked away, but not before Maddie saw a sly smile. Gina was thinking about it but wanted to keep it to herself for now. Maddie didn’t want to press her.
“Maybe. But right now, the motel needs my help.”
Suddenly Maddie felt guilty. “I’m sorry that I haven’t been around. I hate leaving all the work to you guys. The three of us are supposed to be a team.”
Gina touched her arm. “Don’t feel bad. You’re doing the most important job of all, bringing people to Shell Cove. And it’s working.”
“Ta-da!” Jules emerged from Gina’s room. She’d put her long dark hair into a roll at the nape of her neck and looked radiant.
“You look amazing!” Gina said.
“Just gorgeous.” Maddie smiled as Jules turned this way and that, letting the beaded fringe fly out.
“Come on, you guys need to change so I can see what you look like.” Jules glanced at the clock. “We’re supposed to meet Rose, Leena, and Pearl in fifteen minutes.”
Maddie went into the bathroom next to the kitchen, and Gina into her room. But as soon as Maddie pulled the dress over her head, she knew it was going to take more than a few pins to make it fit. She was practically swimming in it.
She poked her head out of the bathroom. “Uh, guys, I don’t think this dress is going to work.”
“Why?” Gina had already put her dress on. The turquoise color brought out the green in her eyes. Strings of beads dripped from every inch of it, and it fit her like a glove, unlike Maddie’s, which fit her like a tent.
