Page 95 of 12 Days of Mistletoe

May Elliot has her hair pulled up in a soft white bun, she’s in flowy pants and a cute top, and she’s searching through a rack of red strapless gowns. The kind I have no business wearing.

She peers back at me standing there—not searching. “Or maybe you’d rather have a green dress?”

“Um—I, either way. Whatever you want.”

“Bonnie, dear, this is your gift. Your dress. It’s not mine. Which would you rather? What will you wear again?”

A laugh bubbles from my lips and Noel—who May convinced the woman behind the counter to allow inside—bumps my palm with the top of her head. “Wear again? May, I’m a dog walker, an activity director at a senior center, and a nonprofit volunteer?—”

“Don’t forget the doggy photographer. Elliot told me all about that one. Very interesting.”

“Right, that too. The only place I’m likely to wear one of these dresses again would be my living room for a private dinner with my dog.”

She laughs as if I’ve told her a joke. “Yes, well, that sounds fun.” She knots her hands together and lays them infront of herself. “I’m happy to buy you something more practical, but I thought this would be more fun.”

“Oh, it’s definitely more fun.”

“You could always sell it after and put the money toward something else. I wouldn’t be offended.” She turns back to the dress racks. “I like red. How about you, dear?”

Forty minutes later May has made me try on a dozen dresses. A dozen. The same number of days she’s asked me to kiss her grandson. Man, it’s been a weird month. It wasn’t that long ago that the most exciting thing in my life happened to come in the form of a coupon for a free six-piece from our local fried chicken joint.

I have found my favorite dress. But the anxious, frugal girl inside of me isn’t sure she can say it out loud. It’s a sexy dress, a fancy dress, a stupidly expensive dress. One a girl like me would never ever own.

“I won’t make the choice for you,” May says, looking over our options.

I bite my inner cheek and peer down at the tags of a simple V-neck, straight-skirt dress. I hold it halfway up for Noel, lying next to a cushioned bench, to see, but she looks bored with my visual.

“Not that one.” May’s blue eyes dart from my hand to my face. And then, that sweet old woman smacks me on the wrist. “Are you looking at price tags? Well, that’s rude.”

“I wasn’t trying to be rude. I just don’t want you spending?—”

“Bonnie Faith Miller. I am a grandmother, and I’ll spend whatever amount I like on whomever I like.” She sets her hands on her hips. “I have a mind to buy the most expensive dress here, whether you like it or not.”

“May,” I moan.

“Bill is on his way. Maybe we’ll just let him choose.”

“Bill? Why would Bill come dress shopping with us?”

“Because I asked him to. And he’s a lovely sort of man and said he would—right after his audiologist appointment. He should be here any moment.”

I huff out a breath. This is exhausting.

“At least pick your top three.” She waves her hands at me while peeking out the window.

I put the plain, long-sleeved V-neck in my like pile, no matter what May said—it is the cheapest, and it’s pretty. Plain, but pretty. I add a green spaghetti strapped thing that flairs at the skirt and reminds me of Cinderella to my pile. And I add my favorite, which I’ve known all along—the crimson-red, draped shoulder, corset bodice, soft cowl neckline with the thigh-high slit. I have never in my life worn something so delicious or elegant. Not even to the junior prom.

May is still watching out the window while I give the armful of dresses I’ve decided against to the store clerk.

“Oh! Oh! I see him. There he is.” May shakes her finger to the window, her sweet smile wide.

I think May might have a crush on my friend, Bill. The man is a charmer. After eighty-four years, he has perfected the skill. Plus, he still has quite a bit of hair on his head. Believe me, after working at the senior center for as long as I have, you learn that it’s like finding a rare gem.

She shuffles to the door, meeting him as he walks through the entrance. “I’m so glad you’re here. We need a man’s opinion.”

Do we? Or does she want to spend the afternoon with Bill?

May leads and Bill follows over to the trifold mirror and cushioned bench where I stand with my top three.

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