exceptâ¦
âIsnât that too close to what Sharon might wear? I mean, itâs almost ivory.â
âI have no idea what Sharonâs wearing.â His brown eyes suddenly looked worried. âShould I know that?â
âYou have absolutely no idea?â
He shook his head.
âSo she might be going down the aisle in full regalia? Veil and all?â
âI doubt it, but you never know.â
The salesgirl brought out four dresses, all in different colors.
âIâll just go try these on,â Kitty said. She took a second to sneak a look at her cell phone but there were no messages. She hadnât seen Steve since Sunday afternoon when heâd left for the Mexico Beach house. Theyâd talked on the phone, but it wasnât the same thing. Tomorrow night, sheâd go out there to help him say good-bye to the house âin style.â She could hardly wait. It had been nice sharing a house with Dad and Sharon, but she was ready for her life to get back to normal. Hopefully, Steve had missed her as much as sheâd missed him.
She came out of the dressing room wearing a baby blue halter dress with a slightly flared skirt. âWhat do you think?â she asked, twirling around so that both her dad and the salesgirl could give their opinions
âItâs perfect,â Dad said.
âFor real? Or are you just saying that so we can finish up and get a drink?â
âBoth?â
The salesgirl chimed in. âI think it looks great on you.â
The dress fit well and it was nice enough for the event. Plus, the price wasnât outrageous, although her father had offered to pay for it and she was going to let him.
âOkay, Iâm sold. Just make sure Sharon isnât wearing blue,â Kitty told her dad.
Dad punched some numbers into his cell. âHey, hon, are you wearing blue to the wedding?â he blurted without bothering to say hello.
Kitty rolled her eyes. Men .
âGreat.â He gave Kitty a big thumbs-up. âWill do.â Then he lowered his voice but Kitty was still able to make out what he was saying. âI was going to take her out for a drink. Yes, I plan to do just that. â He put his cell phone back in his pocket. âSharon says you can wear blue.â
âSo I gathered.â Kitty refrained from asking him why heâd felt the need to whisper to Sharon when they were on the phone. She figured sheâd find out soon enough.
Twenty minutes later, they were seated at a little Italian grill where happy hour was in full force. Dad ordered Scotch on the rocks and Kitty had a martini.
âTo your upcoming birthday!â Dad said, raising his drink in a toast.
âAnd to your upcoming wedding!â Kitty shot back. She picked up the menu. Now that she didnât have to worry about sucking herself into a too tight dress for the wedding, maybe sheâd order some fried calamari to celebrate.
âYou know, Kitten,â Dad began. âIâve become a totally different man since I met Sharon.â
âIâve noticed.â
âYou have?â He began fidgeting with the edge of the napkin beneath his drink as if he was suddenly nervous.
âCan I ask you something?â
His gaze shot to hers. âAnything.â
âWhat made you change? I mean, the other women youâve dated havenât exactly beenââ
âAppropriate?â He shook his head sadly. âAh, I believe Freud would have probably had a field day with me.â
She reached out to squeeze his hand. âIt doesnât matter. Thatâs in the past. And I know I keep saying it but Iâm really happy for you. Over the moon, actually, but I was kind ofâ¦hurt that I seemed to be last person to find out about you and Sharon.â
âI know, Kitten, and Iâm sorry about that. My only excuse is that I didnât want to introduce her to you until I knew for sure that she was the one.