A Turn in the Road (Blossom Street #8)(84)

“I think it’s time you spilled the beans,” Ruth said, planting her feet squarely on the sidewalk and refusing to budge.

Annie’s shoulders heaved in a sigh. “I guess we might as well,” she said, glancing at Bethanne.

“I suppose you’re right,” Bethanne agreed, trying not to smile.

“Okay,” Annie said, looking at her grandmother. “Craig and I were talking and I asked him if he knew what happened the night of your senior prom.”

“He did,” Bethanne added, “because he was well aware of what a disaster it turned out to be.”

“And I was thinking,” Annie said, picking up the story, “what a shame it was that the two of you were so disappointed. Then Craig said it was too bad we couldn’t turn back the clock and do it all over again.”

Annie threw her hands in the air as if that was explanation enough.

“That’s when the two of them came to Grant and me,” Bethanne said.

“With the idea of redoing prom night for you and Royce.” Annie’s face glowed with pride. “Only this time we’re going to make sure everything goes perfectly.”

“Redoing prom night,” Ruth repeated.

“So right now we’re taking you to pick up your prom dress.”

“Pick it up? My goodness, I can’t imagine where that old dress went…. The rain must have ruined it. In any case, I don’t recall ever seeing it again. And need I mention that it most likely wouldn’t fit even if I could locate it?”

“Royce had a picture your mother took that night. Apparently, you’d given it to him.”

What he didn’t know was that Bethanne and Grant had that photograph blown up so the couple would see themselves at seventeen and eighteen as they walked into the prom.

“I found a dress shop here in Vero,” Annie said. “I showed them the photo and asked if they had any dresses similar to the one in the photograph.”

“They couldn’t have anything close to that dress.” Ruth shook her head. “Fashion’s changed a lot over the years.”

“You’re right, they didn’t.” Bethanne was eager to fill in the details. “But they knew of a secondhand shop that had high-end wear at reasonable prices and, well, I found a gown with an empire waist and took it to the seamstress who works at that dress shop…and all I can say is that she’s very talented.”

Ruth looked stunned.

“Come on, Grandma,” Annie said, urging her grandmother along the sidewalk. “We haven’t got all afternoon, you know.”

“We need you to try on the dress first,” Bethanne told her.

“First?”

“Yes. You have a hair and nail appointment next.”

“Hair and nails,” Ruth echoed as though in a trance. “I feel like someone needs to pinch me. Is this really happening?”

“It’s really happening,” Annie said gleefully.

“And Royce knows about this?”

“Yes, some of it, but only because we needed his cooperation. We didn’t tell him until we had everything in place.”

“Royce wants to do this?”

“He does.” Bethanne slipped an arm around her and guided Ruth toward the dress shop. “He knows and approves.”

“He’s excited, Grandma. He always felt bad about how that night turned out.”

“It wasn’t his fault.”

“He told me how wonderful you were,” Bethanne said. “You could’ve been really unpleasant about it but you weren’t.”

The owner of the dress shop met them at the door and held it open. “I think this is a delightful idea,” she said, welcoming them inside. She led them to the back where the seamstress stood waiting.

“This way,” she said, and gestured toward one of the dressing rooms.

Ruth started inside—and stopped. Then, looking over her shoulder, she stared at Bethanne and Annie. “Why, it’s almost identical to my dress the night of the prom. Even the bow is the same.” The lavender, floor-length empire-waist dress with its straight skirt and cap sleeves resembled the dress in the photograph to a remarkable degree. The seamstress had done exquisite work.

“Oh, Ruth,” Bethanne breathed once her mother-in-law had tried on the dress. “You’re absolutely gorgeous.”

Annie nodded. “Grandma, this is going to be a night you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”

“I can’t believe you’d do this for Royce and me,” Ruth said tearfully.

“Mom and Dad worked really hard on this,” Annie told her.

Rarely had Bethanne seen her daughter happier. It wasn’t until she’d overheard Annie talking to Grant the day before that she understood why. In Annie’s eyes the fact that Grant and Bethanne were getting along so well meant a reconciliation was imminent.

Until then, Bethanne hadn’t fully accepted that her attitude toward Grant had changed. Without realizing it, she’d lowered her guard and allowed herself to become vulnerable to him. That recognition gave her pause. They’d worked together, running all over town, and had frequent “strategy” discussions. They’d laughed until they were giddy, and sipped wine until she felt light-headed. When Grant kissed her goodbye she could almost believe the divorce had never happened.