“How much?” she asked, but the woman just waved her hand. “Price? Cost?”
“Shoe size?”
“Uh, eight?”
The woman frowned. “Ja, American size. I know, I know.” Then she ducked into the back room, emerging with a pair of stylish black suede shoes with narrow ankle straps, as well as a delicate looking lacy black shawl. Holding them beside the dress. “You like?”
“Oh, yes, it’s all beautiful. But how much is—”
“All done. You go now,” the woman gave her a gentle nudge toward the door.
“But I need to pay for—”
“We deliver. You go up. You wait. We bring,” she spoke slowly as if Meredith didn’t understand English. “To your suite.” Her nudge grew firmer. “You go. Preparation. Now.”
Unused to such service, Meredith hurried back to the suite, going directly to the room she was sharing with Kat and then into the bathroom. She took a quick shower and, wanting to look equal to the lovely evening clothing, even applied a bit of makeup. There wasn’t much time for her to do her hair, so she pinned it up in a simple French twist. She was just finished when Kat called to her. “Your gown has arrived.”
Meredith cracked open the door, sticking her hand out. “Thank you.”
“It looks pretty,” Kat said. “Good choice.”
Meredith began to pull it on then said to Kat, “Can you help with the zipper?”
Kat came in, fastened the back, and stepped back to look. “Wow, Meri, I didn’t know you were this beautiful.”
Meredith laughed. “You’re sweet. Thank you. Maybe the makeup helps.”
“Will you show me how to use makeup?” Kat asked eagerly.
Meredith blinked. “Well, I, uh, I don’t know. Would your father mind?”
Kat huffed.
“Well, there’s no time for a lesson now.” She slid her feet into the shoes, stooping to buckle the narrow ankle straps. “But if your father doesn’t mind, maybe I can show you what I know tomorrow. And trust me, I know very little.”
Kat brightened as she handed her the shawl. “Thanks.”
“Do I look acceptable for this fancy restaurant?” Meredith extended her arms.
Kat grabbed her phone. “Let me grab a pic, and I’ll send it to you just to prove it.”
Meredith giggled as she struck a pose.
“Want me to take one with you and Papa too?”
“That would be lovely.”
Feeling like she was going to the prom, something she’d never done in high school, Meredith stood next to Spencer, who looked more princely than ever in his dark tuxedo. “I feel like a celebrity,” she giggled. “Or maybe it’s Cinderella.”
Mishka suddenly burst out of his room then stopped in his tracks. “Meri, you look like a real princess.” His eyes widened. “You’re beautiful.”
“Well, thank you very much.” She stroked his hair. “Coming from a real prince, that means something.”
A knock on the door distracted them, and room service began setting up the children’s dinner, with Geoff directing. Spencercalled out goodbyes and just like that Meredith Cardwell, the poor schoolteacher from a Podunk town in Oregon, was going out with a prince and trying not to go into total shock over the whole thing.
19
There was an uncomfortable silence on the ride to the restaurant, and Meredith began to worry that Spencer was regretting the evening. Finally, she decided to speak. “Do you think it’s slightly suspicious that Kat and Mishka both so eagerly agreed to send us out tonight?”
