“It won’t fit.”
“Try it.” Delphi was insistent so Hattie took off the black dress and slid into sequins. Instantly, she was transported back to that night of the college ball. Music thumping, hair down, drinks flowing. It had been before her father had died, before she’d even met Brent. She’d been young and living in the moment. Another life.
Delphi smiled. “It fits. And it looks like Christmas.”
Surprisingly, it did fit. Maybe that was what stress and being too busy to eat did for you. And she could see why Delphi thought it looked festive—all she needed was a red bow in her hair and she’d look like something that had fallen off the Christmas tree.
She smoothed the fabric over her hips.
“I can’t wear this to dinner with Noah.”
“Why not?”
How to explain to a five-year-old the nuances of dressing for an evening out that definitely wasn’t a date?
“It’s too sparkly.”
“Sparkly is good.” Delphi grabbed her hand. “We need to ask Aunt Erica.”
“Excuse me?”
“You always say that if you don’t know something then you need to find out.” Delphi tugged her toward the door. “Aunt Erica is in the library.”
“I know, but she’s with her friends and they’re having lunch and talking about a book. I don’t want to disturb them—” But she was talking to herself because Delphi was already sprinting ahead, leaving Hattie with no choice but to follow.
Delphi knocked on the door of the library, but didn’t wait for an answer before entering. Hattie made a mental note to talk to her about being a little too comfortable intruding on guests’ spaces.
She heard laughter and the sound of Delphi’s voice and then Erica’s.
Feeling self-conscious, she followed her daughter and saw Erica, Anna and Claudia seated around the low coffee table. In front of them was a plate of freshly cut sandwiches and a pot of coffee. There were three copies of the novel they were reading, one of them peppered with pieces of paper covered in scrawled notes.
“I’m sorry to disturb you—” Mortified, she reached to tug Delphi away but Erica stood up.
“You’re not disturbing us. And that dress is incredible. Delphi was telling us you have a date on Thursday.”
She’d said that? Now they’d ask her who with, and then they’d make more of it than they should. And what if Delphi accidently said something to Noah? It was a meal; that was all. People had to eat, didn’t they?
Hattie felt her cheeks burn. “It’s not a date exactly. It’s more of an evening out. I haven’t been out in a while and I was trying to find something to wear and—”
“And I think you’ve found it,” Claudia said. “That dress is gorgeous. And perfect for Christmas.”
“It’s just dinner.”
“No reason why you can’t look pretty to eat dinner.” Erica studied her from all angles. “That dress wants to be taken dancing, but I’m sure it would settle for dinner.”
Hattie smoothed the fabric over her hips. “I’m not sure it’s right.”
“Mmm.” Erica narrowed her eyes. “I have just one question. Does wearing it make you feel good?”
It did make her feel good. More than that, it made her feel human. Like someone who had a life, and might actually go dancing on occasion.
Hattie felt herself weaken.
She did love the dress so perhaps she should wear it. It was Christmas, after all. So maybe Noah wouldn’t think she was overdressed or trying to dazzle him. Maybe he’d just think she was taking advantage of the season.
“If you think it’s okay, then I’ll wear it.”
“Good decision.” Erica sat down and helped herself to a slice of cheese. “You should let us help you get ready for the evening. There is nothing we love more. Anna is good with hair.”
Delphi brightened. “Can I do your makeup?”
Hattie had a horrifying vision of how she’d look if Delphi was allowed to do her makeup. “That’s kind, but maybe we will save that for another day.” Preferably a day when she wasn’t going to be seen in public.
“I’m in charge of makeup,” Erica said, “but I could use an assistant if you’re available, Delphi.”
“I’m available!”
Rufus whined from the doorway and Delphi shot toward him. “He needs to pee. I’ll take him outside. Come on, Rufy. Hold on to it.” She disappeared, leaving Hattie with the others.
“Eat your lunch.” She waved a hand at the table. “Enjoy. If you need anything, shout.”
“Don’t rush off.” Claudia patted the empty space on the sofa next to her. “Please tell us that the date you’re going on is with the gorgeous Noah.”
“Yes, but it’s really no big deal. I don’t think it could be described as a date. It’s not romantic or anything.” But he had called her several times since the incident with Stephanie, to check that she was okay.
“But it’s a big enough deal that you’re thinking hard about what to wear.”
“That’s because I never go anywhere. I mean, obviously I go to plenty of places—” she corrected herself, hopefully before they could think she had a very sad life “—but mostly it’s the farm with Delphi, or shopping with Delphi, or we go for pizza or milkshakes or ice cream. We don’t go to fancy places that require you to dress up.”
“But Noah invited you to dinner.”
“Technically, it was his mother who did that.” And because they were so friendly, and looked so interested and sympathetic and because she couldn’t possibly talk to anyone in the local community about this, she told them what had happened.
“I like Lynda already.” Anna cut a slice of cheese and added it to her plate along with a few grapes. “And Noah doesn’t strike me as someone who is going to do anything he doesn’t want to. If he agreed, then I suspect he wanted to take you out.”
“Maybe, but the whole thing feels so awkward.” She clenched her hands in her lap. “Probably because I’m out of practice.” And because she’d kissed Noah, although there was no way she was sharing that piece of information. “The last man I dated was Brent, and that was a long time ago.”
Anna put her plate down. “You’re nervous.”
“Terrified.”
“Understandable.”
“Yes,” Claudia said. “When you’ve been with someone for a long time, the idea of starting again is daunting. You get comfortable with someone, life has a rhythm and a predictability—you know them, they know you and you share a kind of emotional shorthand, which makes everything easy and then wham, suddenly that’s gone. Dating feels like arriving in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language.” She eyed her friends. “What? I’m just saying I understand, that’s all. It’s hard. Sometimes it feels easier to stay home.”
Hattie saw Erica give Claudia a sympathetic look. “You’ve lost someone?”
“Not like you,” Claudia said. “But my relationship ended after ten years. I can’t imagine dating someone else, although I admit to not having the more complicated emotions you’re probably feeling.”