Girl Online(48)

I’ll be spending Christmas and New Year in New York. I’ll be able to see Noah. My life cannot possibly get any better.

“And Sadie Lee has invited us to spend Christmas with her, at her home in Brooklyn,” Mum says, instantly proving me wrong. My life can and did just get a trillion times better.

? ? ?

Elliot and Dad join us for the evening reception. Elliot looks amazing in a vintage suit and cravat. I look down at my servant’s attire and sigh. It’s hardly what I’d have chosen to see Noah in—I feel so dowdy, but at least I look in character. We all gather around as Cindy and Jim start their first dance together as husband and wife. Cindy has changed into a stunning twenties flapper dress. It’s made of shimmering silver-blue satin, which changes color in the twinkling lights like a moonstone. As I watch the band play the opening chords of “Unchained Melody,” my skin tingles as I think back to yesterday, when I first spotted Noah sitting on that same stage in the dark. It’s only three hours till midnight now. As I glance at the ornate clock on the wall, I feel even more like Cinderella—only in my case I’m looking forward to midnight, rather than dreading it.

“Penny, why haven’t you gotten changed?” Mum whispers in my ear.

I turn to face her. “What do you mean? Into what?”

Mum frowns. “I thought I told you about the dress. Didn’t I tell you abut the dress?”

I look at her blankly.

“Oh my goodness! I must have been so busy I completely forgot.” Mum grabs my arm.

“Downstairs, in my room, there’s a dress for you.”

“What kind of dress?”

Mum smiles. “You’ll see.”

“But don’t I have to stay in theme?”

“You will be.” Mum’s smile gets increasingly mysterious and she passes me her key card.

“OK then.”

I turn to go—and quickly snap a picture of one of the flower girls crawling under a table, clutching a chicken leg.

? ? ?

As soon as I walk into Mum and Dad’s room, I start to laugh. Dad’s side of the room is practically empty, apart from a copy of a sports biography on his bedside table and his suitcase placed neatly against the wall. Mum’s side looks like a tornado has hit it—a clothes and cosmetics tornado. I pick my way through the chaos and go over to the bed.

There, laid out on top of the covers, is a beautiful flapper dress. It’s made from emerald-green silk, with a beautiful fringe of silver beads around the bottom. There’s a matching beaded headband lying on the bed next to it and a pair of black Mary Jane shoes. I can’t believe that’s really for me, but there’s a note on the hanger marked: FOR PENNY.

I’m so excited I can barely breathe. But then, of course, my good old inner voice starts going to town. What if it doesn’t fit you? What if it looks stupid on you? However, as I pick up the dress, I can’t imagine it looking stupid on anyone. I wriggle out of my starchy servant’s outfit and pull the dress over my head. The material feels so soft it gives me goose bumps as it brushes against my skin. I actually gasp out loud when I see my reflection in the full-length mirror. The dress fits me perfectly and makes me look so grown-up and so—well, so interesting, like an old movie star. I put on the shoes and then look at my hair. I’d tied it up in a bun for my servant look but it’s not really working with the dress.

I shake it loose and grab a brush from Mum’s dressing table. Once I’ve got it under control, I plait both sides and pull them up into a milkmaid braid. Then I place the headband on top. Finally, I sit down at Mum’s dressing table and put on some liquid eyeliner and some more mascara. A quick dusting of powder and a squirt of perfume and I’m finished. I go over to the full-length mirror for a final check.

I suddenly get a flashback to the day I was getting ready to go and meet Ollie, and how nervous and unsure I’d felt. Now I look at myself and I can’t stop grinning. It’s hard to believe that was only a week ago—it feels like a whole lifetime. And I feel like a whole new person. I put on the shoes, pick up my bag, and head for the door.





Chapter Twenty-Six

When I get back to the wedding suite, I find Mum and Dad and Elliot sitting at a table in the corner of the reception room.

“Darling!” Mum says.

Dad gapes at me. “You look . . .”

“Flapper-tastic!” Elliot exclaims.

“Thank you!” I do a twirl and the beaded fringe at the bottom of the dress fans out around me. Then I sit down with them. “Thanks so much, Mum.”

“My little girl’s growing up,” Dad says wistfully.

“Dad!” I say, blushing with embarrassment.

“OK, I need to try calling my parents again,” Elliot says. “Keep everything crossed that they say I can stay for Christmas.”

Mum and I immediately cross our fingers. Dad crosses his eyes.

“So, Sadie Lee tells me that Noah’s coming by to see you later,” Mum says as soon as Elliot’s left.

I nod.

“Hmm, I think I’d better meet this Noah,” Dad says.

“You will,” Mum replies. “We’re going to be spending Christmas with him.”

Just hearing her say this makes a heavenly chorus ring out in my head. Then I realize it’s the text notification on my phone. The text is from Noah.