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“Why would she buy me something? She hardly knows me.” Brit wondered aloud, more to herself than to the others.
Ava’s phone vibrated on the counter. She looked at the screen and picked it up. “It’s her, they’re on their way over.” She quickly typed a reply and looked at the couple staring at her. “Act surprised!”
Act surprised, Brit wasn’t sure she could. Depending on what it was she might just be appalled. The timer on the oven started dinging and Brit spoke up. “Ava, can I give you a hand?”
“That would be great!” Ava said as she slipped on a pair of oven mitts. “You can set the table for me; the plates are in the cabinet beside the fridge.” She pointed across the room with a mitted hand.
Brit slid off the stool and walked over to the cupboard and looked over her shoulder at Ava. “Is your mom staying for dinner too?”
“Yeah, her and Ben are. His parents are visiting from England and are watching Annabelle.”
Brit counted out six plates while Mark grabbed the silverware. “Here you go,” he said, holding them out to Luke with a smile.
“Thanks,” Luke laughed, taking them from him. He got up and was headed to the table where Brit was already laying the plates when the doorbell rang. “I’ll get it,” he said, heading to the door.
Opening the door, he looked at the large square box held in his mom’s hands. “Hey what’s that mom?” he asked, looking at his sister as he stepped back for them to come in. Swinging his gaze back to them, he went to take the box from her. “Get me an early Christmas gift, did you?”
“No,” she laughed, pulling it away. “It’s not for you.”
He walked over to the table and began placing the utensils at each place setting. “Well, if it’s not for me, your favorite child, then who is it for?”
“Excuse me?” Ava said, as she sat the glass dish atop the dish towel in the middle of the table. “Oldest child, but everyone knows I’m the favorite.”
Ben laughed. “She has a point, you are the oldest.”
“I don’t have a favorite child! I love all my kids the same.” Abbi said. “I was going to wait until after dinner, but I can’t wait! Brit.” She moved to stand in front of her. “The second Kim and I saw this we knew it was made for you.”
Brit turned just as she was setting the last plate in place. Still holding it, she looked at Abbi. “Me? You bought something for me?”
Ava nudged her brother in the ribs, despite knowing ahead of time, the look on Brit’s face had been genuinely shocked. They silently nodded to one another as they watched the touching scene unfold.
“Yes... I know I can never repay you, but I wanted you to have it for saving Luke that day in the lake.” She held the box out to her and sniffed. “You saved our family from a huge heartache that day.”
“Abbi, you don’t have to repay me,”— Brit’s eyes briefly dropped to the box, — “I mean Luke and I...” She saw Abbi’s eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Brit took the box from her and handed it to Luke. Turning, she gathered Abbi in her arms and hugged Luke’s mom as if she were her own. “Thank you so much,” she whispered.
Abbi pulled back, still holding her in her arms and looked at her. “Thank you. Now, hurry and open it before the food gets cold!” Abbi smiled.
Luke held the box as she opened it and her breath stilled in her throat. It was a dress and nothing like one she’d ever worn before. She took the velvety material in her hands and pulled it from the box. “Oh my...” she said in a hushed whisper as her eyes met Luke’s.
It was a stunning, ruby red, velvety gown with intricate beading that dazzled over the bodice and ended at the narrow waistline. The gentle flare of the skirt pooled to the floor and Brit imagined the feel of it against her legs with every step she would take.
She looked at Abbi, stunned. “Abbi, this must have cost a fortune! I can’t accept this!”
Everyone started laughing around her as Ava’s cell phone started to ring on the counter.
“What?!” Brit looked at them like they were all insane.
“Brit, just go with it. Mom won’t take no for an answer,” Ava said, walking over to retrieve her phone.
Abbi put her hand on Brit’s. “You will look fabulous at the ball.” She smiled, and left Brit standing there as she, and Ben went with Mark to get some drinks.
Brit raised questioning eyes to Luke. “My mother is very generous with her money, don’t feel bad and Ava’s right, she won’t take no for an answer. When she has something set in her mind, you’re better off to just go with the flow.” He leaned close to her ear, his voice deep and raspy, he said, “Besides, I can’t wait to strip it off of you.”
A light blush bloomed on Brit’s cheeks as she smiled at him. “Fine, I’ll accept it,” she said, tucking it back into the box.
Mark, Ben and Abbi came back into the kitchen with their drinks in hand, laughing, when Ava said, “Oh my God!”
