The Perfect Match (Blue Heron #2)(93)

That was a good face.

“Thank you,” she said, looking up.

“It was nothing,” he answered. “I hope it matches your dress.”

“It’s perfect.”

“Good. What time do we need to be ready?”

“A little before seven.”

“I’d better shower, then. You’re sure it’s all right if Charlie comes with us?”

“Sure,” she said. “My niece will be there, so he’ll have someone to hang out with.”

“I’ll tell him. Should make the evening less painful.” And that came out wrong, as well. He started to explain, realized he had no idea what to say and went upstairs instead.

* * *

HONOR TRIED ON her dress for the fifth time.

It just wasn’t happening. Yes, it was the obligatory black; white made her skin look like a piece of Wonder Bread left out in the rain. So black it was. But this dress was somewhat...nunnish.

She grabbed the phone and hit Faith’s number. “Do you possibly have anything I can wear tonight? Something black?”

“Sure! I bet I do! Hang on, let me check my closet. You know what? Why don’t you come over instead? I can help with your hair and stuff.”

And so it was that ten minutes later, she was standing in Faith and Levi’s bedroom, staring into her sister’s closet. “How many black dresses do you have, anyway?” Honor asked.

“Um, six? No, seven. The problem is, half this stuff will be big on you, and a pox upon your house for that.”

Right. Faith was curvalicious. Honor was not.

“This one? No. That’s even big on me. How about this one? Nope, never mind, it’s cotton. Not formal enough. This one? Um, nah. Too froofy for you. Oh, hang on! How about this one? I bought in a moment of self-delusion that, someday, I’d be a size smaller.”

“You’re perfect,” said Levi from the doorway.

“Thanks, honey. You are definitely getting some tonight.” Levi smiled, and Faith glanced at Honor. “Not that he’s deprived, mind you.”

“Glad to hear it,” Honor said. “I’m really not, you guys are welcome to keep that to yourselves, but you’re nothing compared to Prudence.”

“I know. Did she tell you about make-your-own-sundae night? Honestly, she’s ruined seven desserts for me. Okay. Levi, babe, get out. Honor, try this on.”

The dress was long and sleeveless, high-necked but with a keyhole opening in the front. The black silk fell to the floor in a liquid rush, brushing against her skin.

“Perfection,” Faith said. “I’m so good at this! Do you have shoes? Never mind. You don’t. Here. Try these.”

She handed Honor a pair of strappy black heels adorned with a sparkly decoration. “And let me do your makeup, what do you say? Tom’s gonna die when he sees you.”

“I hope not.”

Faith dabbed foundation on Honor’s cheek and started blending with a little sponge. “So Dad said something, and I’m not supposed to tell you, but here I go.”

Honor frowned in the mirror. “What?”

Faith dabbed some more. “He’s afraid you guys are rushing. He wants you to wait.”

“I’m sure he does,” Honor said, keeping her voice casual. “Maybe twenty years, like him and Mrs. J.”

“Yeah, he’d probably prefer that.” Faith laughed, then opened a peachy-colored eye shadow, held it next to Honor’s left eye, then chose something else. “Don’t take it personally. He didn’t like Levi dating me, either. Close your eyes, hon. No, Dad just said that he wasn’t...convinced.”

Well, this sucked. Her family sensed the lie, apparently. “That’s just Dad,” she said weakly.

Faith paused. “Like I said, I think you guys are good together. And I do believe that, sometimes, love comes out of nowhere and hits you fast. But...you know, Dad does have a point. You just met the guy.”

“I know,” Honor said, her voice sharp. “But the years are precious, okay? I mean, I’m thirty-five, Faith.”

“So?”

“So I’m not you,” she snapped. “Men don’t fall over themselves for me. You know how many boyfriends I’ve had in the past five years? None, that’s how many.”

“I thought you were seeing someone last fall.”

Ah, yes. In October, she’d told Faith there was a special man in her life. That was when she thought things were moving forward with Brogan. Honestly, how had she so misread the signs? “Well, I wasn’t. So if Tom wants to marry me and if I’m gonna have a baby before I hit menopause, I have to get moving.”

You tell her, sister, the eggs said.

“Easy, girl,” Faith said, lifting an eyebrow. “I know what you’re saying—”

“No, you don’t, Faithie.”

“—but it doesn’t mean you have to settle.”

“Settle for what? Tom is great!” she barked. “He carried me, okay? He carried me from Ellises’ pond to your truck. He’s great.”

“He is,” Faith said, putting her hand on Honor’s. “And I really, really like him. But you don’t have—”

“Look,” Honor interrupted. “We can’t all be like you and Levi. Tom and I are happy. We’re...content. Okay? Please back off.”