CHAPTER 15
Arwyn
W ell. That was unexpected.
Me, Arwyn Baughn, Zaki Marsch’s date to the Biddington’s gala? Sitting at a table with pro hockey players?
That was not on my bingo card this year.
Or any year.
But we were going as friends, for research purposes, so that was totally fine.
I was totally fine.
Fine.
Super fine.
Fine and dandy.
Dandy.
Okay, I wasn’t. I had just over two weeks to make a dress. Or alter one. There was that blue one I’d made for a Wendy Darling costume for a Halloween event I’d taken Shanna’s kids to at the library a few years ago…
High-waisted pale blue satin brocade with a navy sash. It would make a decent enough base that I could adorn to match the theme.
Engage, Arwyn.
Yeah … this engagement was a whole new level of engaging for someone who wasn’t a joiner.
After Zaki left for practice, I went to the garage to retrieve the gown, July, and a stack of Regency-era fashion books to peruse. It took two trips to get it all into the house and through the doggie gate, since the dress form was an awkward carry. I set July next to June, who was still wearing Penny’s gown, and draped the blue over her.
The shape of the dresses was similar, and I debated adding sleeves to mine. Penny had opted for long, fingerless gloves to give her arms more freedom of movement. Last year, she’d played her harp as the main entertainer; this year she was just playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the opening. For the first time ever, she’d be able to enjoy the gala as a guest.
I’d never been, but I’d heard stories. Monty’s parents’ annual event went back generations and raised oodles of money for a different charity each year. It was always a different theme and location that fit the theme. Two years ago, it had taken place at a castle in Colorado Springs and carried a Renaissance theme. Last year at a lodge.
This year, the gala was taking place at Hotel L.O.VE, a massive and old resort, also in Colorado Springs. I’d been there only as a summer bride’s assistant, standing by with my sewing kit to make sure there weren’t any wardrobe malfunctions with a gown or bustle.
The resort was about thirty minutes from my house, so Zaki wanting to stay at the cabin that weekend didn’t make sense to me. Maybe he just missed it? For growing up in a city and playing in one for so many years, his heart seemed to be in the mountains.
I was probably overthinking things again. The girls loved it there, too, and it made sense that he’d want to spend as much time as possible at his mountain home.
I wondered if he would sell it when he moved back to Montreal.
Not wanting to think about the temporariness of our situation, I flipped through my books, and several ideas began to form into a design that would elevate my Wendy dress up a few levels to Regency Ball status.
Since the fabric was already textured, adding embroidery or a lace overlay would take away from the quiet simplicity of the brocade. I’d keep the sash and create a matching satin ruffle that would emerge up from the neckline and add the same feature to the bands under the puffed sleeves. Good thing I’d saved the extra fabric! A double strand of pearls around my neck and lacy glove-clad wrists would keep the ensemble understated and still classy.
And it was especially important to me that my gown didn’t upstage Penny’s. I wanted her to feel like the belle of the ball.
Or the gal of the gala.
I chuckled to myself as I sketched out my plan and then colored in the design with pencils in shades of blue. As I drew, it occurred to me that it wouldn’t be right to go out to dinner with Adler when I had a future date planned with Zaki.
It was a friends thing, nothing more, but … Adler didn’t know that or even had to. But even so, it didn’t feel right. And then if we did go out and he wanted a second date, wouldn’t he naturally assume I was available for Valentine’s Day, too? What if he wanted to be my Valentine? I didn’t want to miss the gala, and I knew in my heart I’d have a wonderful time with Zaki.
Canceling was the right thing to do. I took a deep breath and called Adler, leaving a message when he didn’t answer. I hated to cancel in a message, but what other choice did I have? Show up at the ER?
That settled, I went back to my drawing. I’d just finished the design when the dogs started barking.
“What is it, boys?” I asked. As I stood, they jumped off the sofa and ran to the front door. I wasn’t expecting any guests, and Zaki wasn’t due back until later this afternoon, so I was surprised to see that he’d returned early.
I opened the door, and he hurried inside. “Is everything okay?” I asked.
He replied as he peeled off his jacket and hat. “Big storm coming in from the mountains. The guys that live on the other side of Denver left early, so Coach called it.”
“Do you think we’ll get it bad here?” I asked. I hadn’t checked the weather since last night.
“We might.” He walked past me into the front room and flicked on the TV to the Weather Channel. “I checked the radar on my weather app and listened to predictions on the way home. There.” He pointed to the screen. “Seventy percent chance it’ll turn toward Colorado Springs. We’ll keep watching it. But the girls might have a snow day tomorrow.”
His grin at the prospect of a snow day melted my heart like wax over a flame. The flashes of the little boy inside of him always warmed my heart. His girls were lucky to have a fun dad.
I’d been lucky, too. My dad had been my hero.
“I love snow days,” I said. “And I know the best spot within walking distance to go tubing. There’s a big hill behind the businesses on the east side of Main Street, and the steepest part is behind the police and fire stations.”
His smile widened. “Do you have tubes or sleds?”
I shook my head sadly. “If I do, they’ve been deflated in the basement for a long time.”
“I’ll run to the sporting goods store and pick up the girls on my way back. Need any groceries?”
I shook my head. “Chef has us stocked through Friday.”
His smile faltered. “I leave for another long road trip Friday afternoon.”
“I can cook, you know,” I reminded him.
“I know. And I appreciate it. I just want to help out as much as I can.”
“I appreciate that, but you forget, I’m the hired help. It’s my job to take care of your girls, even if it doesn’t feel like one.”
He nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was low. “You’re so good at it, Wynna-bun. You’re going to make a great mother someday. Trust me on that.”
I swallowed. “Thank you.”