I slip into it, then accept the heels she passes to me. “You really have thought of everything. You have such a beautiful full closet.”
She grins. “That’s the advantage of working for my aunt. I don’t get charged rent. It’s just kind of rolled into the price of my salary, which means there’s plenty for me to spend at Sew Cute. Mallory makes all of these cool vintage dresses. We should go shopping there sometime soon.”
“We definitely should,” I agree, thinking of how nice it is to have another girl to plan shopping trips with. I pause, wondering if it would be weird to say this before I decide to just for it. “If I ever had a sister, I’d want her to be just like you.”
Lauren sniffs and puts her arm around my shoulders. “I’d love that too.”
Lauren’s phone dings with a message, and she frowns.
“Is something wrong?” I fiddle with the clutch she loaned me, checking my phone but I don’t have any messages.
“I don’t know yet,” she says. “I’ll know more later.”
We leave together for the dance. The orderlies are helping the residents to the garden, and Ethan volunteered to personally oversee that.
I think he’d rather help the patients than get sweaty outside with the cowboys. Some of them were outside working earlier this afternoon without their shirts. Not that I peeked. I only have eyes for one man, and he stayed full clothed throughout the project, damn him.
The garden outside is even more magical tonight than it normally is. The paving stones I suggested have been added with solar lights illuminating the path so it’s easy to see where to step.
Overhead, Edison bulbs have been hung to allow even more light and cast a romantic glow over everything. Soft jazz music thrums from strategically placed speakers blending with the sounds of singing birds and chirping crickets.
I can’t help the soft smile on my face at seeing Dalton’s work. “He really went all out for this. All of the guys did.”
Lauren nods beside me, a dreamy smile on her face, and I realize she’s staring at Bronco who is assisting an elderly woman in her wheelchair. “It’s definitely a magical night.”
My phone dings with a text from Dalton. My stomach drops as soon as I see it. Another pipe burst. I’ll be there when I can. Have fun.
I show my screen to Lauren. “Is this what the big emergency was about?”
She frowns. “Aunt Elaine didn’t say anything about that.”
As we’re talking, Elaine approaches us. The look on her face tells me she’s worried. She hands me a paper. “Bree, I was planning on hosting the event tonight. Do you think you could handle the task?”
With everything going on and how worried Elaine is, I nod and immediately accept the paper.
Elaine turns her focus to Lauren and says in a low, serious tone, “We need to talk.”
Lauren nods and follows her further away from the festivities.
I don’t know what’s going on, but I have a job to do. I carry the sheet of paper to the raised platform. I follow Elaine’s notes, thanking the people she has written down, including the sponsors of tonight’s event.
I heap lavish praise on the other staff members before I thank the residents for choosing to make the Wildflower Retirement Community their home.
When I’m done with the speech, the dancing begins. I look around, wishing that Dalton were here. But it’s best that he’s not since several people approach me with minor problems and crises.
Fortunately, they’re all minor problems that are easily resolved. When I do have a spare moment, I go in search of Lauren and Elaine.
I find them in an alcove, sitting together. Lauren has her laptop and Elaine’s head is in her hands, muttering to herself about how she can’t believe this has happened.
Lauren is trying to reassure her, but half her attention is focused on the screen. I can’t see what they’re looking at from here, but it doesn’t seem like the time to interrupt, so I continue my duties as hostess.
A couple of hours later, when it’s nearing the nine o’clock deadline for meeting my letter writer, Lauren approaches me. I ask if something is wrong.
She looks around and shakes her head, mouthing the words, “Not here.”
She explains that she’ll take over the hostess duties for the rest of the evening. I pass her the papers Elaine gave me and hurry to the footbridge, wondering if Dalton will show.
He may be too busy dealing with the water pipe. Still, I wait for him under the moonlight, my boot making a thumping noise as the breeze ruffles my hair and the honeysuckle fills the air.
