Sybil took it and slipped her arms through the sleeves. “Oh my goodness. This is so comfortable. It feels like I’m wearing a sweatshirt.”
“Glad you like it.” Rysa made a fleeing motion with her hands. “Go try it on.”
Padding to her room, Sybil said a prayer of thanks for Rysa. She didn’t know who she was praying to, but it only seemed right to acknowledge her gratitude. She changed into the new outfit, amazed at the result. Cute and flirty, yet completely modest—a new concept for her on a date.
“I could sleep in this outfit,” she told her reflection. “It’s that comfortable.”
Before she walked the runway for Rysa, she found a pair of sandals in her closet that complemented the dress. Fortunately, despite it being mid-October, she hadn’t had to give up her open-toed shoes yet. Once she did, she’d have to go shopping for some pregnancy-friendly footwear.
Rysa came down the hallway and knocked on the open bedroom door. “Can I see?”
“Sure. Come in.”
“Love it.” Rysa winked. “Jared will, too.”
“What about my hair?”
“Pull it into a loose ponytail. It’s supposed to get breezy tonight.”
Sybil arched a brow. “Am I going to be outside?”
“You’ll find out.” Another grin spread Rysa’s lips.
“You’re enjoying having this secret, aren’t you?” She put a hand on her hip and shook her hand as a mother would to a child.
“No, but I do enjoy seeing you happy. I’m excited for you.”
Chapter Nine
Jared checked his outfit for the eighth time. He hadn’t been on a real date in over two years. Not one that mattered. Were his khakis and a chambray button-down good enough? He’d purchased new shoes for tonight, and the insoles didn’t form to his feet yet.
If he hadn’t been impulsive, he could have asked her out for a day next week. That would have given him more time to prepare. But, waiting had never been his forte. Once he got an idea, he ran with it.
He checked his phone. Five minutes to six. Time to get going. He shoved his phone and wallet into his pants’ pocket then grabbed his keys from the counter. Taking a deep breath, he walked to the door. Turned right back around.
A small bouquet of flowers sat on the counter. He’d picked them out at the florist next to the shoe store. Another impulse, but one he didn’t regret, especially if it made Sybil smile. She’d spoken of her insecurities, but he sensed they ran deeper than she admitted. He wanted her to know her worth, that she wasn’t the sum of her past mistakes or bitter childhood.
His renewed relationship with God had helped him out of a pit deeper than he’d been able to crawl out of on his own. The freshness hadn’t worn off, and he prayed it never did. Because he’d experienced the life-changing power of leaning on Him, he wanted the same for Sybil.
But he’d have to take it slow and approach it with caution. Any talk of church made her skittish, the same with her friend Rysa. He didn’t know the whys, but he intended to break through the walls.
All that aside, his primary objective for tonight was to spend time with Sybil. Yes, he wanted her to find peace in God and to know her value, but they didn’t play as ulterior motives for the date tonight.
Plain and simple, he liked her. A sweetness lurked behind the façade she’d erected. Her quips and easy comebacks made him laugh and kept conversation interesting. She was a complex woman, but he looked forward to unraveling the layers to find the true Sybil.
He grabbed the flowers—he’d paid extra for the set already in a vase—and ran out the door. As he pulled into Sybil’s driveway a minute later, he cringed, realizing he’d forgotten to lock his front door. Making a stop back at his house wasn’t the way he’d hoped to start the evening.
Don’t let the small things get you down. He took his conscience’s advice and reached for the flowers. Holding them in one hand, he rang the doorbell with the other.
Sybil opened the door. A bashful smile flitted across her face. “Right on time.”
“These are for you.” He handed her the flowers, watching for her reaction, hoping to see a brighter smile.
“Thank you.” She lifted them to her nose, then immediately began sneezing. “Oh, no.”
“What?” His chest tightened in fear that he’d made a monumental error.
“It’s been so long since anyone’s given me flowers, that I forgot I’m allergic to baby’s breath.”
