Page 120 of Babies for the Christmas Grump

Marjorie smirks. “Told you. Now what to wear…”

Her eyes sparkle as she opens the closet door, revealing something I wasn’t expecting. She pulls out a deep, sapphire blue dress—one that looks both vintage and stunningly modern at the same time, its satin fabric catching the light with a shimmer I wasn’t prepared for.

“Wait… what’s this?” I ask, trying to hide that I’m immediately in awe.

The dress could be something from an old black and white movie, but with enough sparkle to make it feel like a secret treasure.

“Pearl,” Marjorie says with a sly smile. “She gave me a whole stash of her old clothes. Said they were too glamorous for a woman her age, but she’s crazy if she thinks these aren’t gold.”

I didn’t even know she’d gotten close to Pearl. Damn, I really have been distracted.

She pulls out more dresses, one after another, each more fabulous than the last. A rich, emerald green velvet with intricate beading around the neckline. A champagne-colored gown with delicate lace accents that might as well be straight out of a vintageVogueshoot.

I’m speechless. “These… these are amazing.”

Marjorie shrugs, but I can tell she’s just as awed as I am. “Apparently, Pearl had them tucked away in the attic, saved for ‘special occasions.’ She said you needed to wear one tonight. Said they were for women who have something to prove.”

I laugh nervously. I don’t belong in anything so gorgeous. “But… I don’t know if I’m worthy of something like this. These look like they belong at a fancy gala, not… not a Christmas Eve mess.”

“Oh, trust me,” Marjorie says, giving me a pointed look. “They belong to you. And you’re about to own this gala. Now, pick one.”

I hesitate, running my fingers over the luxurious fabrics. There’s no way I’m leaving the hotel tonight without feeling I’ve got some control over my life. I slide my hand over the blue satin one more time and then reach for it.

“This one,” I finally announce.

Marjorie gives a satisfied nod. “Good choice. This is going to wow them.”

I head for the bathroom, already picturing how it’ll look once I’ve got it on. As I change, the cool satin is a dream against my skin, and when I step out to show Marjorie, her eyes widen with approval.

“You are absolutely glowing, Sunny,” she says, full of awe. “Pearl’s got taste, I’ll give her that. This is perfect. You’re going to turn heads for sure. Hell, you’ll bethehead turner.”

I look at myself in the mirror. The dress fits perfectly, hugging my curves just enough to make me feel confident, but not uncomfortable.

The fabric has this incredible sheen that catches the light, making me appear as if I belong on a red carpet rather than in an ongoing hotel crisis.

I feel… different. Not like the mess I’ve been all day, but someone who could handle this night, who could pull it together.

“Holy crap,” I whisper. “I actually look like I know what I’m doing.”

“You do,” Marjorie says with a grin. “Now, let’s finish you off.”

She pulls out a pair of silver heels and hands them to me with a flourish. “Pearl didn’t hold back on these either. Now, get those on, and let’s get you ready to rock this night.”

As I slip on the heels, Marjorie moves quickly to finish up my hair. She pins a few stray curls into place and steps back to admire her handiwork.

“Okay, you’re good to go. You’ve got this, Sunny.”

I take one last look in the mirror. The transformation is almost surreal. I barely recognize the woman staring back at me, but somehow… I do.

She’s strong, confident, and ready to take on the world. And tonight, I’m going to need all of that.

Tinsel lets out a little meow from her perch on the bed, her eyes narrowing, as if she’s giving me the final stamp of approval.

I smile at her. “Thanks for the support, Tinsel.”

Marjorie winks at me, tossing me a clutch to match the dress. “All right. No more second-guessing. You’re about to slay this gala, Sunny. Let’s go. We want to be there to greet the guests when they finally start arriving.”

I grab the clutch, my fingers trembling slightly, and take a deep breath. Whatever tonight brings, I’m ready.