Page 20 of A Second Chance in Seabury
‘Don’t look so freaked out!’ laughed Connie. ‘He just said it made him think of you. It doesn’t look like much on the hanger but wait until you try it on. Ewan’s a genius… and I promise I’m not just saying that because he’s my other half!’
‘I don’t know…’ said Hannah, not because she didn’t love the look of the dress, but because… why would Mr Eaves be busy choosing hypothetical dresses for her?!
‘Pleeeeeease try it on,’ whined Connie, fluttering her eyelashes. ‘I honestly think you’ll look gorgeous in it!’
‘Okay. Fine, I’ll give it a go,’ laughed Hannah, unable to stand firm in the face of such flattery.
‘Yay!’ said Connie. ‘Now… how do we feel about black with a slit up to the thigh?’
‘Uncomfortable, that’s how we feel!’ said Hannah, shaking her head. ‘It’s gorgeous, but no way.’
‘Maybe you’re right,’ said Connie, cocking her head. ‘This one’s more of a third date dress.’
‘Now hold on just a sec,’ said Hannah, her eyes wide. ‘This isn’t a date!’
‘Of course not,’ said Connie with a small smile.
‘I mean it!’ said Hannah, the wriggle of nerves firmly back in her stomach. ‘This is just Jason and Mr Eaves—I mean David—being neighbourly. They’re just taking pity on me!’
‘Sure,’ said Connie, looking thoroughly unconvinced. ‘Absolutely.’
‘I’m serious,’ said Hannah, her voice low. ‘Please… don’t even think the worddate.’
‘Got it,’ chuckled Connie, miming zipping her mouth shut.
‘Good,’ Hannah shook her head and then laughed. ‘Sorry. It’d just be super awkward if that spread all over town.’
‘For the record, I do know what you mean,’ said Connie. ‘But… just for your information… you know, in case you’re wondering… Davidissingle.’
‘Oh. Well… okay.’ Hannah shrugged, doing her best to look indifferent. ‘I mean, I’m not surprised.’
‘Ouch!’ laughed Connie.
‘I didn’t mean…argh!’ Hannah clapped her hand over her mouth. ‘I just meant… he’s a bit… odd.’
Connie snorted. ‘Poor David, this is getting worse and worse.’
‘I didn’t mean… I…’ Hannah sighed. ‘Look. Aunty Millie really liked him, and they were neighbours forever. She saw him lose his wife and learn to be a single dad to a toddler. I mean, I guess he was only in his early twenties, but I was just a teenager, so he’s always been Mr Eaves to me. Mr Eaves with the bees.’
‘You know he’s probably only something like eight or nine years older than you, right?’
Hannah cocked her head and then nodded. ‘Yeah. I guess. But… he’s…’
‘Odd?’ laughed Connie.
Hannah shrugged.
‘He’s a bit eccentric, but he’s a good guy,’ said Connie with a small smile.
‘Yeah, I’m getting that,’ said Hannah, her mind wandering back to the box of goodies that had been waiting for her on the doorstep.
‘Anyway, enough of all that,’ said Connie, waving the armful of dresses at her. ‘We’ve got our work cut out here… you ready?’
Hannah nodded. ‘Let me at ‘em.’
CHAPTER 10
Hannah stared at the tissue-paper-wrapped packages spread out across her bed and grinned. Her hunt for a dress to wear that evening had turned into a full-blown retail-therapy-fest… and she regretted nothing.
