Page 43 of Coastal Reflections

“Perfect.” Audrey went over to Elaine’s wardrobe and pulled out the sweater and a pair of black pants. “Go put these on and then show us.”

Elaine smiled. “You’re all so sweet to be helping me like this. I haven’t had this much fuss made over me since—well, I don’t know how long it’s been. Why don’t you three go downstairs and enjoy your board games? I don’t want to interrupt your game night.”

“You seem to have forgotten we volunteered for this,” Harper said with a grin. “I’m having much more fun helping you get ready for your date than I ever do playing board games.”

“Me too,” Penelope said. “I’m in awe of you, Elaine. I can’t believe you got Shep to say more than four words to you at once, let alone go out on a date with you. You’re clearly some kind of magician.”

Audrey chuckled. “I think that’s about right.”

“It wasn’t magic, it was persistence,” Elaine said cheerfully. She waltzed into her private bathroom and shut the door, and the rest of the women turned to each other with grins on their faces.

“I’m pretty sure if anyone else had barged into his kitchen, he would have just been irritated about it,” Michelle said, laughing. “You do have a magic touch, Grandma.”

“I agree,” Audrey said. “It took a strong woman like you to finally get Shep out of his shell, but not every strong woman in the world could have done it. You’re special.”

“Oh shush,” Elaine called from the bathroom, and the other three women tittered.

“What should she do with her hair?” Harper said, sitting next to Michelle on the bed. “I love her curls—should she just leave her hair down like that?”

“She’s got these amazing diamond chips,” Audrey said. “She should use those.”

Michelle shook her head, laughing. “She’s going to be wearing a hat, sillies. It’s way too chilly to be wandering around without a good warm hat.”

“Right.” Penelope laughed. “How about that cute white one with the pom-pom on top? And a bright red lipstick, so Shep knows she’s ready to be flirty.”

Audrey chortled and shook her head. “Are you sure lipstick is a good idea?” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “He might try to kiss her.”

Michelle squealed and Elaine called from the bathroom, “What are you three talking about out there?”

“Nothing,” they all chorused at once, exchanging impish smiles.

A moment later, Elaine stepped out of the bathroom, wearing the mint green sweater and the pants. She looked flushed and starry-eyed, and Michelle’s heart ached in the best of ways. She felt a surge of happiness for her grandmother, who was stepping out in search of love after many years of believing she would never find it again.

“You look amazing, Mom,” Audrey said, stepping forward to kiss Elaine’s cheek. “Really.”

“That’s the right outfit,” Harper said, nodding.

“And put on this hat,” Penelope said, handing Elaine the white hat with the pom-pom.

“It’s warm and cozy, and you look adorable in it.”

“And you should wear these black boots,” Michelle said, going over to the wardrobe and pulling out a pair of comfortable but stylish short black boots. “They’ll complete the outfit.”

“You’re all so sweet,” Elaine said, opening her arms for a group hug. “I would be so nervous right now if you weren’t all here helping me out.”

“We’re loving every second of it,” Audrey assured her.

“Shep’s a lucky guy,” Penelope said.

“Shep’s a sweet guy,” Elaine said as she settled the hat on her head. “Have you seen those boxes he had made for the hotel, Penelope and Harper? Just darling. And so thoughtful.”

“We have.” Harper smiled. “And I hear he gave you a box of pastries before that.”

“Yes.” Elaine adjusted the hat slightly, a dreamy look passing over her face. “All my favorite kinds. I hadn’t even known he knew what they were. He might seem like a gruff and grumbly kind of guy, but he’s not really like that at his core. I think everyone is like that. One only needs to look past the masks that they put up in order to see the softness beneath.”

Elaine made eye contact with Michelle for a brief moment, and Michelle inhaled. When she heard her grandmother’s words, she thought instantly of Theo, and she wondered if Elaine had been thinking of Theo too.

I do sense that there’s a lot of sweetness in Theo that he just doesn’t show me most of the time, she thought, biting her lip. I wonder what he would be like, if we weren’t always teasing each other? I wonder what the dynamic between us would be?