Page 29 of Kiss and Makeup
Both of their outfits left me with so much I wanted to say, but I decided to hold off until we got to the hotel.
“You look incredible,” I told Kristen after we had Emma out of the car and I could really look at Kristen’s dress. This was a chance for her to show off her love for color and her taste for mixing and matching, and she had taken full advantage of it. She had reached out a hand and swirled the starry night sky into her dress, encased the white moon inside a beautiful necklace with a white stone against her chest, and taken two flaming meteors for her red heels.
“Thank you.” She smiled brilliantly, adjusting the deep brown curls that fell about her shoulders.
“And you look incredible too, Emma,” I told her, taking her hand so she wouldn’t crouch down and get the hem of her own little dress dirty.
“I know. Mommy helped me, and Mommy always looks in-cre-di-ble.” So matter-of-fact a statement had me laughing before we even reached the elevators.
The 40th floor was ablaze with lights. Soft colors glowed in every corner and four tall, real trees stood around the large, wide-open room. Tables with refreshments and snacks lined the walls unobtrusively, tables with white gossamer cloths provided comfortable places to sit and talk, and there was a square set aside for dancing, although no one was on the floor just yet.
And the bar. Of course, there was a bar. And if I knew my father, it was well-stocked with anything guests could want.
Dad had wanted this all to be a surprise. Even though I’d attended these holiday parties in previous years, he had still managed to impress me with the scale of this one and the many men and women from other companies who had turned out to celebrate another successful business year.
“Oh, hello Madison.” I turned at Kristen’s voice and spotted the creative director sauntering up to us in a black dress so long it trailed the ground. “Thank you again for your work for BeautyBee. The ads you and your team created were a great success.”
“That’s wonderful,” Madison said genuinely. “A lot of my team are here tonight, and I’ll be sure to pass on your thanks.”
I saw my parents standing together with an elderly couple I recognized as old family friends. They moved on the same moment Madison and Kristen broke off their conversation, so I took one of Kristen’s hands and one of Emma’s and started in that direction.
Kristen’s hand tightened in mine and I stopped immediately. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing. Let’s go say hi.” She started to walk and Emma and I had to jog a little to keep up.
“Mom, Dad, you remember Kristen.”Wow, I really, really hope they remember Kristen.Things were about to get very awkward if they didn’t and I had to explain what happened back in college so they would remember.
“Of course, Xavier. Kristen! Oh, it’s been forever. How have you been?” my mother asked immediately, beaming. I swear, once or twice, years ago, I wouldn’t have put it past my mother to kick me out of the house and adopt Kristen instead.
“Wonderful, Mrs. Paula,” she replied, mirroring my mother’s smile. “How have you been? Hello, Mr. Marcus.” She shook my dad’s hand. “How have both of you been?”
“Oh, you know. Busy. But glad to be working in this business as a family.” My mom shot a significant look at me. “Kristen, I’m so glad to see you here. Which company are you with?”
“BeautyBee Cosmetics,” she answered immediately. “Cruise Media helped pull us out of a rather tight spot.”
“BeautyBee, of course.” This next look was even more suggestive. Maybe I should have mentioned something before this party. “What’s your job with BeautyBee?”
“Head of Marketing. Xavier and I worked closely together on the ad campaign.”
“That’s wonderful. He didn’t tell us you had reconnected.” I didn’t really deserve the glare she sent me, the one that told me not telling her Kristen had re-entered my life was a capital offense. “And who is this?”
For the first time, my parents noticed Emma, who had been hiding half behind Kristen and hugging her legs. “This is Emma,” Kristen explained, holding her shoulders. “I adopted her after my sister passed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. But that is the cutest dress! Did you pick it out yourself?”
The question tugged Emma out of her shell just a bit. “I helped my Mommy.”
“And you did a great job, Dear. Do you want to play? And see some more dresses? The kids’ room is right over there,” my mother told Kristen pointing at a half-open door through which could be heard laughter and shrieking.
She only hesitated a moment, then knelt next to Emma. “Go play now, okay Honey? Mommy will be right out here. I’ll come get you later.”
“Okay.” Hand in hand, my mother and Emma headed to meet some of the other kids. Within a minute, I spotted Emma careening between tables in a game of chase with a little boy.
“It’s good to see you again, Kristen,” my dad said, now that he could get his own words in. “I hope we can do some more catching up later. Apparently being host means everyone wants to thank you,” he laughed, noticing a woman hanging around and waiting nearby.
“Well, let me be the first, and then I won’t keep you. Thank you. This is a great party.” The three of us laughed, and my dad headed off to greet the new faces joining the partygoers.
“Were you afraid they wouldn’t like Emma?” I asked, now that I had finally managed to connect the dots.
“A little.” Her earrings tinkled as she tilted her head. “You’ve been so focused lately, and I can see how proud they are of you. I didn’t want them to think Emma and I would get in the way of your accomplishments.”
“You’re the reason I have these accomplishments,” I told her softly. Music had begun to play from hidden speakers. It was beautiful, slow, and calm like a winter morning spent by the fireside, perfect for dancing, and already a few couples had taken to the floor and were swaying with the pleasant tune. “Will you dance with me to celebrate?”
Kristen took the gentlemanly hand I offered her. “Of course. I would love to dance with you, Xavier Caruso.”
