Page 60 of Full Circle

A few minutes later I recognized one of the ladies from Mr. Hendricks’ room as she strode through the door. Introducing herself as Kaila, she shoved me into a chair and set to work on taming my unruly hair. I lost track of how much product she used to slick my hair back before using the clippers to even out the baby hairs on my neck and around my ears. She frowned as she scrutinized her work and asked if I would be open to cutting my hair.

“Not a chance,” I huffed. Why was everyone harping on my hair all of a sudden?

“Well in that case, you look downright handsome! You and Celeste are gonna be pretty as a picture!” she cooed.

That’s what I was hoping for.

CHAPTER 26

PROM PERFECTION

CELESTE

The ladies from the salon were some of the sweetest people I had ever met. They reminded me of butterflies with how they fluttered around me as they fawned over my hair and makeup. Each one gave me step by step instructions on how to properly care for my hair type as well as how to properly do makeup with my skin tone. I had never had so much attention before and as cliché as it sounded, I truly felt like a princess. All of the products they used were included in the fee Wesley paid them because of course they were. Wesley always thought of everything.

Picking out my dress was much more difficult than I imagined, primarily because of the lump in my throat. More than anything, I longed for Mama to be here to tell me what color would look best or which neckline was appropriate. In some ways it almost seemed like a waste of time because no matter what dress I put on, Wes would tell me I was the prettiest girl in the room. I wanted to really knock him off his rocker, a gown that had a real “wow” factor.

In the end, the personal shopper from Saks who brought the dresses was helpful in identifying not only the style I preferred but the appropriate cut for my body type. There were matching shoes for every option, too, so I didn’t need to agonize over footwear. Daddy hummed with approval when I stepped out wearing a pale blue gown with ruffles on the A-Line skirt. There was glitter along the bodice that shimmered as I moved. My hair was twisted and curled into an elegant bun on the back of my head, with soft curls that dangled around my face. A headband of the same glittery blue had been woven into my tresses to add a bit more sparkle.

The heels might match the dress perfectly, but they were far too tall and made me feel like I was walking on a tightrope. I had no intention of keeping them on all night, but there wasn’t enough time to properly hem all of the ruffles in the dress I selected so I had to make due with them. At least I could get a photo with Wesley where he didn’t tower over me for once.

The final result was rather stunning, I was reluctant to admit. I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror, but then again, I hadn’t been able to do that for several months. All the makeup helped put some color back on my cheeks and erased the permanent crease in my forehead from all the frowning I sported nowadays.

Marla and Nana joined Daddy while I was getting ready and all three of them had tears freely flowing when I exited the bathroom. Marla clapped her hands in delight.

“Sugar bee, you are gonna take that boy’s breath away,” Daddy sputtered.

Nana nodded in agreement. “You look just like your mama.” She lost control then, bursting into a crying fit that nearly bowled her over. Marla wrapped an arm around her, swiping the tears from her cheeks and smiling.

“Come on, y’all can’t make me cry after all the work they put into makin’ me look like this!” I cried. Now I finally understood why those silly pageant girls always waved their hands over their faces when they won.

Willow came back into the room with two male nurses and explained they were going to help Daddy shower and get ready so he could go upstairs with me. While he looked frail climbing out of bed and needed the nurses’ help to stand upright, he was able to walk into the bathroom with them without much assistance. It buoyed my spirits tremendously.

“Now let’s get a few pictures before Wesley gets here!” Marla exclaimed. “Trust me, someday you’ll have a daughter who will want to see your prom dress!” She winked at me.

By the time I got done modeling my gown, then taking pictures with her and Nana on her cell phone, Daddy was showered and in clean clothes. He even donned a button up shirt with a clip on bow tie for the occasion. Marla whispered that his goal was to stay out of his wheelchair for as much of the night as he could.

A loud knock on the door interrupted the conversation and Marla squealed with delight. “That’ll be Wesley!” She rushed to answer the door.

More tears streamed down her cheeks as she came back around the corner, this time with Wesley close behind. Forget my outfit—Wesley in a crisp black tuxedo with black satin lapels and a black satin pocket square should be the outfit of dreams. The effect was dazzling since the jacket was clearly tailored to fit every muscular contour on his body. For once, his shaggy scruff was slicked back away from his face except for one stray curl that fell down just into his eyes. My favorite megawatt smile was in full force, and I idly wondered if the blue of my gown now looked frumpy in comparison to the bright cobalt of his eyes. He was magnificent, my prince charming here to take me to the ball.

Judging by the way he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight of me, however, the feeling was mutual. Wesley slowly let his gaze start at my feet and wind slowly, seductively up my body, lingering just a fraction more on my hips, then my breasts, before finally settling on my face. The heat from his gaze made my skin tingle, and I knew I had to be blushing redder than a tomato. If my family noticed, they didn’t comment.

Nana let out a wolf’s whistle. “You sure shine up like a new penny!” she commented.

“Give her the corsage, Wes! Go on!” Marla urged. Her cell phone had become a permanent fixture in her hand, taking photos of every second of the process.

Wesley grinned sheepishly at me as he pulled out a plastic box holding a corsage made of white orchids and calla lilies out from behind his back. His fingertips caressed my wrist as he slid it on, the fire in his eyes telling me just how much he was affected by my attire.

“You’re perfect,” he breathed, barely loud enough for me to hear.

I shook my head slightly, still dazed by how incredible he looked. The long diamond earrings dangling from my ears swayed. “Not hardly.”

Gingerly, he tilted my head up with his fingers so I couldn’t hide from him. “For my whole life.”

Warmth coated my insides and my knees quaked. This boy would be my undoing.

“Now it’s not prom night unless we get three dozen pictures in, y’all, so get over here and pose!” Nana interrupted. Thank goodness, or I would have been lost in the depths behind Wesley’s eyes.

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