Page 121 of Third Time Lucky

‘Nothing is perfect,’ I sigh.

‘I know that feeling all too well; it seems to run in the family. Back in my day, there were no walk-in closets, so I had to turn a spare bedroom into one. Whenever I threw a party, nothing in my wardrobe felt just right, so I would always go out and buy something new. Looking back now, I wish I had kept those items for you.’

‘Considering you are the queen of parties, any suggestions?’

‘I think I can help,’ she says, walking back into the hallway and returning with a dress bag. ‘Why don’t you try this on?’ she says, handing me the bag.

I can’t help but hold back my excitement as she hands me the dress. She has impeccable taste, and I’m sure it will be stunning.

‘Please don’t tell me a ten-thousand-dollar diamond-studded cocktail dress is inside.’

She grins guiltily. ‘I didn’t go overboard; this one was only three digits. It’s simple, elegant and has no connection to any past relationships. Perfect for brand-new love.’

‘Were you ever in love, Mitzi?’

‘Do you think I was a dinosaur?’

‘No,’ I say as I unzip the bag. ‘I’ve just never heard the story if you were.’ I take a deep breath as the dress falls out of the zipper. ‘This is stunning.’

It’s a simple yet elegant black mesh midi dress with a fitted silhouette. The flesh-colored lining adds an element of intrigue, stopping mid-thigh and giving the illusion of being naked underneath (something Ash will surely appreciate). The dress features a sweetheart neckline with ruching down to the mid-calf on one side and a wide slit stopping just below my hip on the other.

‘Try it on,’ Mitzi insists, sitting on my bed as I enter the closet to put it on. ‘And yes, I was in love in 1975.’

I peek out of the closet, suddenly interested. ‘Dad’s dad?’

‘Lord no,’ she says. ‘A man named Jesse. Oh, he was wonderful. Tall, dark, handsome, polite, employed – all the things women want. I was head over heels for that man. I truly thought nothing could change my mind.’

‘What happened?’

‘He felt the same way, about somebody else.’ Her tone is soft, almost sad, and my heart drops.

‘Oh, Mitzi. I’m so sorry. What did you do?’

‘I let him go, darling. Because that’s what you do when you truly want the best for someone and you’re not it.’

How could someone not choose her? She’s incredible. I want to hunt this Jesse down and shove him over, but only because he’s likely in his eighties or nineties and doing anything more than knocking him down would probably be wrong.

‘Do you regret it?’ I ask, zipping the side of the dress, then smoothing it down in front of the mirror at the back of my closet.

‘I dream of him, still, to this day. Sometimes I’ll read the letters he wrote me. But he died happy a few years back, and happy is all I ever wanted for him.’

Tragic.

‘What about you? Are you happy?’ I ask, now concerned she has regrets.

‘Dear girl, I’ve had eighty-something wonderful years. A son I love. A granddaughter I adore. I’m as rich as can be, and I don’t mean by way of money – that part was a bonus. Now, I get to watchyoufall in love, and that makes me happier than you’ll ever know. I’m alright with living vicariously through you.’

Now I’m thinking back to the times Ash included her in this journey, and I understand why she was so joyful to go dancing and get flowers even though the man treating her was more interested in me. She’s missed it, and I wish she wasn’t alone, but there’s not much I can do about that if she’s truly happy.

When I walk out of the closet, she gasps.

‘Beautiful, darling girl, like it was tailor-made for you. Asher won’t be able to take his eyes off of you.’

And I’m perfectly OK with that. I like his eyes on me.

‘You’re right,’ I say happily. ‘And I have the perfect shoes to go with it.’ I step back into my closet and come out with my favorite – barely worn – black rhinestone strappy heels.

‘Wonderful choice,’ Mitzi nods approvingly.

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