Chapter 5
The next weekseemed to go by in a flash. Greg had me help him out on a few more projects. Lilly, Erica, and I seemed to become closer as we agreed on girl night almost every night. Adam kept me on a short leash, calling and texting every day. I wasn’t complaining, though, because just as I had said before, after every time we had a rough patch we would always come out stronger, and we were gettingthere.
Adam and I had finally chosen a home for us, but it wouldn’t be ready for move-in until next week. We would be staying at a hotel until we could move. I was excited because he was supposed to be coming in this afternoon, just in time for our office party, or well, Max’s birthday party. I had just found out about it yesterday after work. Lilly had insisted I wear a dress she had already picked out forme.
It was Saturday morning and I knew Adam would be on his plane coming here, so I was surprised when my phone started to vibrate and I saw his name flash onto the screen. A photo popped up of us together a year ago in New York. I smiled at the memory of us running through the snow. I couldn’t get enough of it, or enough ofhim.
“Adam?”
“Hey, babe.” I could hear noise in the background. I got excited thinking he was already here. “I have some badnews.”
I didn’t say anything to his comment because I knew the look on my face and the ones on Lilly’s and Erica’s were just how I felt. We were sitting outside a Starbucks, trying to get our caffeine fix for theweekend.
“They want me to stay in California for a few more days, until the house is ready to move in to.” I knew what that meant. It meant he wouldn’t be in my arms. I wouldn’t get to hold my husband for anotherweek.
“Okay.” I could hear the disdain in myvoice.
“Babe. Don’t be like that. You know I want to be there withyou.”
“I know. It’s just hard.” I felt defeated, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to do anything. It was his job. It was demanding and we both knew it. “Just make sure you get here soon. I haven’t even seen the house yet and I don’t want to move everything in bymyself.”
“Don’tworry.”
A thought popped into my head, the listing he had sent me of our new house. “Babe.”
“Yeah?” He sounded distractednow.
“I know you sent an email about the house, but I didn’t see a price range forit.”
“Don’t worry about it.” It was like he was waving me off with hiswords.
“But if I need to workmore—”
He cut me off immediately. “I said, don’t worry about it.” This time the words were so easy going. I could tell I was making him agitated, and with what had happened last week, I didn’t want to push myluck.
“Just know that I’ll be there to move everything in. Everything won’t come until after I’mthere.”
I took his word for it and we hung up with a quick goodbye. I looked up to the girls who were sitting in front ofme.
“He isn’t coming home today.” I didn’t have to tell them. They knew, but it felt good to say it outloud.
“Let’s take these drinks back to the apartment and start getting ready for tonight.” I looked at my watch and then back at Lilly, her words not making sense. “The party isn’t for hours, but I have some of the best products. We can have a full pamperingday!”
I knew this to be true because her skin was flawless and she always had her nails done. I wasn’t always big on getting dressed up, but this was the first big party that I was going to since my wedding, so a good pampering sounded like just what Ineeded.
* * *
It was almostsix before we finished our nails and makeup. The girls wouldn’t let me look in any mirrors. They said it was a surprise, and I knew I would be surprised. Erica was doing my makeup and by the way she came into work every day, I was shocked it wasn’t what she did professionally. Her contour was always onpoint.
I looked around the room. Dresses were laid out everywhere, but Lilly said she had already picked mine out. I was about to ask her which one was mine when Erica put a blindfold over my eyes and both girls started to put me in my dress. I had been traipsing around in only black lingerie for the last hour, so I was excited to feel the smooth silk slide against my skin. The blindfold fell from my eyes and I was looking at both Lilly and Erica who had on their own dressesalready.
“What?” I questioned. Both girls couldn’t stopsmiling.
“Just turn around.” Lilly’s eyes shone with excitement as she turned me aroundherself.
I was not expecting what I saw in the mirror. The dress was a beautiful dark green smooth silk and stopped just above my knee. It wasn’t too tight, but it still hugged my curves. It was strapless with a sweetheart neckline that looked stunning against my pale skin. I never would have thought I’d look this good ingreen.
“You look gorgeous.” Erica’s smile didn’t fade as she looked over her and Lilly’swork.
