“I told you he likes you.” Debbie gave Savannah a high five. “Boys don’t change seats and ask girls for their number if they’re not interested.”
Her phone pinged again. “He asked Rainey for my address.”
Debbie grinned. “He’s asking you to prom, alright.”
Savannah’s smile faded.
“What’s wrong?”
She chewed on her lip for a moment before speaking. “I’m not sure my dad will let me go.”
“Why not? Doesn’t he let you date?”
“He hasn’t said I can’t date, but I’ve never really been asked out.” Savannah fiddle with the brush she still held. “It’s just that he’s pretty protective. I think he still views me as a little girl. I worry how he might react to my first date being prom.”
“Perhaps if you mention to him that somebody might ask you out, it’ll help prepare him for when it does happen.”
Savannah grimaced. “Maybe, but I’m afraid he’ll tell me I can’t go because I’m too young to date or…”
“Or what?” Debbie asked gently.
Savannah lowered her gaze and shrugged. “We can’t afford to buy a prom dress.”
Debbie wrapped an arm around Savannah’s shoulders. “I’d love to buy you a dress, Savannah. Don’t let that keep you from accepting when Caleb asks you out.”
“I can’t let you do that.” Savannah didn’t pull away but she turned, effectively loosening Debbie’s embrace. “My dad probably wouldn’t allow it, anyway.”
Debbie dropped her arm. “Why doesn’t your dad like me?”
Savannah picked up her pallet and turned back to the wall. “It’s not that he doesn’t like you, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“He’s just been burned too many times by wealthy people.”
No wonder he was leery to let Savannah work for her and didn’t like rich people. But he hardly knew Debbie. Just because she was wealthy, didn’t mean she was a ruthless socialite. Yes, she may have acted haughty on occasion, but that was usually an act of self preservation.
Austin worked hard to support his family, but Savannah shouldn’t have to miss prom just because he couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a dress. It wasn’t Debbie’s place to interfere, and Austin would probably hate her even more than he already did for getting involved, but she only wanted Savannah to be happy.
“Would you like me to talk to your dad about letting you go to prom?”
Savannah turned, wide eyed. “Would you really? I mean, you wouldn’t have to actually convince him to let me go or anything. But maybe if you bring it up, he won’t be too shocked or upset when Caleb asks me out. And if he knows you’re willing to pay for a dress, then he wouldn’t stress about that.”
“I can’t guarantee great results, but I’ll talk to him.”
And hopefully, it wouldn’t make him despise Debbie even more, because the more time she spent with the Reed children, the more she realized she liked their father.
Savannah dropped her pallet and brush and hugged Debbie. “Thank you.”
Debbie squeezed her eyes shut against a sudden onslaught of tears.
CHAPTER16
Austin’s heart rate kicked up a notch as he neared Debbie’s house. He shouldn’t be so excited to see her again, but he’d enjoyed hanging out with her family last Saturday. She’d felt a little more approachable surrounded by people who fit his social class more than they did hers.
Austin made the turn into Debbie’s driveway and slammed on his brakes to avoid running over a remote-controlled monster truck that zipped across the concrete.
Cody, monster truck in his arms, raced up to him as soon as he got out of the truck. “Look what Miss Debbie bought us, Daddy!”
