Page 12 of Broken Dreams
“Where’s Elodie?”
“She’s in the playroom watching a movie. I fed her, gave her a bath, and she’s in her pajamas.”
“Just in time for me to feed her sugar and soda and stay up all night.”
I roll my eyes. “Please, you’d never.”
“True, but this is a special occasion and all.” Devney places the bottle on the table and looks at me with pursed lips. “Is that what you’re wearing?”
“Yes, what’s wrong with it?” I look down at my sundress.
“It’s...well, are you going to church or a date?”
“It’s a dress.”
“It’s not exactly sexy.”
I look heavenward. “I’m nottryingto look sexy.”
“Then you’re doing a good job,” she says with her brows raised. “Look, I know Phil is absolutely not going to be the man you fall for, but this is your first date in like...thirty years. You practically came out of the womb and attached yourself to your husband. You have to go into this with a little effort.”
I glance at my attire again, feeling a little stupid. “I thought I looked pretty.”
Devney steps forward, her hand resting on my arm. “You do! It does, but you look pretty to go to work or the store, not your first date.”
“This isn’t what I planned, you know?”
She smiles. “I know and while you’re pretending to stay mad at Chloe, which I’m really enjoying, you have to hand it to her. This is the best scenario.”
Now I wonder if she cracked that bottle before showing up. “Umm, what?”
“Phil is a noncontender. What a perfect practice run.”
Again with the practice run.
“I don’t want a practice run. I need a real date.”
Devney sighs loudly. “You have no idea what you’re stepping into. I wouldn’t even begin to imagine it. This date is your first time sitting across from a man in a romantic situation since losing Isaac. Think about how hard this would be if it was with a guy you actually thought you might be able to date for real. It would be so hard, Addy. Use this date to test that water before you dive in.”
I imagine what it would be like if it was someone else, someone who was tall, commanding, sexy, and made my stomach do little flips. Someone like Grady Whitlock who left a note on my car when it magically showed up at Run to Me.
Shaking my head to dispel that line of thinking, I look at my friend who has a soft smile on her lips. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I know I am. Come on, let’s go up there, find something really sexy to wear, and do your makeup just a touch heavier, so you can really let yourself have this experience.”
The whole point of this is so I can keep my promise to myself that I will not go to this wedding the sad widow. I’m ready to be happy again and that means moving on with my life. This date doesn’t have to be perfect or with the perfect guy, it just has to happen so I can find that guy who I want to bring.
So, I should try, give myself over to the whole idea of dating, and Phil is nice. He isn’t going to be creepy or rude, he’s just not my type.
Elodie runs in before we head upstairs, leaping into Devney’s open arms, and giggles. “Aunt Devney!” she says, which sounds more like “Deb-knee.” “Tomorrow Mommy take me to the park!”
“The park!” Devney’s voice is laced with excitement. “I love the park! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You tan tome!” Elodie offers.
“I would love that. We should bring Aunt Chloe too.”
“Mommy, tan Chloe come too?”
