Page 40 of Starfish Cottage
She widened the door and stepped out. “It’s a bit too big.”
Gina and Jules gaped then tried to arrange their expressions to not look so horrified.
“I’m sure we can do something…” Jules glanced at Gina.
“Yeah, maybe some pins or—”
“Yoo-hoo! Are you girls here?” someone yelled from the lobby.
“In here!” Jules yelled out. “That sounded like Aggie.”
Aggie rushed around the corner, holding out a hot-pink dress in front of her. “My dress. It’s way too small!”
The dress was simple but stunning with a plain, scooped-neck bodice, cap sleeves, and inches of layered fringe on the bottom.
Jules looked from Aggie to Maddie. “Interesting development. Maddie’s is too big. Maybe you guys should swap.”
The pink dress fit Maddie perfectly. The red was still a little big on Aggie.
“It’s great. I like having room to move around. Henry promised me a night filled with dancing.” Aggie swiveled her hips to show off her dance moves.
“Careful, don’t break anything,” Gina said.
“Don’t forget this.” Jules placed the headband with the ginormous red feather on Aggie’s head.
She glanced in the mirror. “Oh, I love it! Are you girls heading out?”
“In a minute. I think Maddie needs new shoes. Those red ones clash with the pink dress,” Jules said. “I have a pair in my room that would be perfect.”
Chapter Thirty
Jules’s hot-pink satin shoes did fit perfectly, although the heels were a bit higher than what Maddie was used to. They took two cars to the party. Nick could give Jules a ride back when she wanted, but Gina and Maddie wanted to go separately. Maddie was exhausted and didn’t know if she’d stay long.
The small parking lot near the pier was full, and they had to park a block away, but Maddie couldn’t complain. The turnout had exceeded her expectations.
“It looks amazing!” Jules said as they approached the pier. The crowd buzzed with excitement as women in sequined cocktail dresses and men in suits with 1930s-style hats mingled. The tent glowed with warm light from the faux candles on the tables, and the tiny lights strung along the tent poles and edges of the tent canopy gave it a magical feel. It was a cloudless night, and the stars shone bright alongside the crescent moon.
They ran into Deena and Chuck as soon as they stepped on the pier. The couple was holding hands and looked cute with Chuck in a white suit and two-toned wingtips and Deena in a simple sheath dress that looked quite elegant.
“You girls look lovely,” Chuck said.
“Thanks so much. You guys look great,” Jules answered.
“The party is fabulous.” Deena gestured to the crowd on the pier. “I hear most of that is down to you, Maddie.”
“Oh no, I had a lot of help.”
“Well, you all did a great job.” Chuck’s smile was genuine and kind. “And we’d like to thank you girls for the discount on rooms over at the Beachcomber. Our children have agreed to come to town.”
Chuck glanced at Deena, and the two of them suddenly didn’t look so happy.
“We have a plan to help them accept that we are right for each other.” Deena hugged Chuck’s arm.
“Hopefully it won’t backfire,” Chuck said wistfully.
“Let’s hope. Anyway, we can’t have them with us. It would be too awkward, so getting a discount on the rooms was a big help. We want you girls to have a discount on your purchases at Saltwater Sweets to help repay you,” Deena said.
“Thank you. That’s very kind but not necessary,” Gina said.
