“Oh shit.” Wanda giggled and took off her father’s jacket and handed it to her mother. “Mom, if I give you my credit card, could you pick me up a jacket for tonight.”
“Sure, but you don’t have to give me your card. I’ll buy it. What are you wearing tonight?”
Wanda turned and saw that Fern had already unzipped her garment bag and was holding up the four dresses. “Please, tell me you’re wearing this black number.”
“I am. Tonight. I was thinking of the blue one tomorrow. Or maybe the red tonight and black tomorrow.”
“No, black then blue. The red is too sexy for some dry gallery. You’ll want to wear that for a date. Same with the green. What do you think, Mom?”
“I think the same thing. And how about a long maybe mid-calf trench coat in black?”
“Perfect. Now you go jump into the shower, Wan. Mom and I will unpack for you, and we’ll be back by six to help you with your hair and makeup. Do you need anything? A glass of water?”
“That would be wonderful.”
“Lime?” Fern asked as she poured it and handed it over.
“Yeah, believe it or not, the lemon was getting too sweet.”
“Wow, never thought that would happen. So, how did the blood test results come out? Last I heard, you’d gone in for your annual draw.”
Wanda laughed. “You make me sound like some vampire or something. But good. I’m still in remission and still accepting the kidney.” Her sister and mother squealed and hugged her. There was no way she was going to tell them she was pregnant. Christopher needed to know first. She went into the bathroom and the shower, halfway through, her mom stuck her head in the door and said she and Fern were leaving and that they’d have a coat for her when they returned at six. Wanda said okay and finished her shower. She was asleep before her head even hit the pillow.
*****
She jerked awake when the phone beside her bed rang, at first, she was disorientated. “Hello?”
“Ms. Perkins. This is the front desk with your wake-up call.”
“Oh. Thanks.” She hung up and threw the covers back. The first thing she did was pour herself a glassof lime water and then decided to take another shower. She was glad she did because she had fallen asleep with her wet hair still in a towel and it had dried all over the place. She just automatically rewashed it, and when she finished, she used her lotion and went out and donned her panties, bra, and stockings. She frowned at the knock on the door.
“Mom, you’re early.”
“I know. I told Fern I’d come up early. She’s finishing getting the kids ready. I have to ask how are we doing tonight?”
“What do you mean?” she said as she began brushing out her hair. She smiled when her mother sat her on the closed toilet and grabbed the dryer and started blow drying her hair. When she was done, she followed up on her question.
“Do you go to the gallery with us? Are you meeting Christopher? When will they introduce you as Willow?”
“I don’t know.” She frowned and then jumped when the phone she’d plugged in on the bathroom counter rang.
“Hello?”
“Wanda. It’s Gypsy. Where are you?”
“Sitting in my hotel bathroom with my mother getting my hair and makeup done.”
“Thank god you made it. What room you in?”
“Eleven Eleven.”
“See you in five.” She hung up, and three minutes later there was a knock on the door. Wanda let Gypsy in, and they hugged. “God, thank god, you made it. I’m so sorry it was so bad for you to get here.”
“It was nothing but chaos.” As soon as she said that she looked at her mother and they both burst out laughing. Waving her hand in front of her face she laughed. “That’s what Christopher always said about airports. That’s why he drives everywhere he goes.”
“Wow. I wanted to tell you how tonight’s going down. I’m assuming your mother knows you’re Willow?”
“Yes, but her sister doesn’t,” Angie said and looked at her watch. “She should be here by six, six fifteen at the latest. She’s going to do Wanda’s makeup.”
