Seeing Red

An invitation

My day went by relatively the same, except for the random glances and smiles while taking Mia out and about for the evening.

"Why does everyone keep looking at you?" She asked holding her jar with a caterpillar in it.

"Maybe they're looking at the cool caterpillar in your hand!"

"Yes, it is very cool. This is Cali the caterpillar! It's beautiful isn't it!" She held the jar to my face.

"Cali is beautiful, now let's get home before Cali dies from lack of air!" I laughed.

I dropped her off and started my journey home, again with eyes tracing my path. I even heard a few whispers, it almost felt like I was in highschool again.

My phone rang, it was Charles. Hopefully this time he was going to tell me what was going on.

"Hello?"

"How far are you from your home right now?"

"I'm literally climbing the stairs to the apartment right now."

"Good! The stylist will be here with options for you soon."

"Charles, can you please be kind enough to tell me what we're doing? I can't tak this! My heart is going to fail one day-"

"Enough with the melodrama!"

"Then tell me why is a stylist coming to my house."

"The perfect event just showed up for us to attend."

"What is it?"

"The Royal family of Monaco is hosting a charity ball, I've been invited and asked to bring along a plus one."

"A ball! I've never been to one."

"I'm giving you your Cinderella moment, choose the gown you like best." He ended the call.

He was giving me my moment, but it sucked not having a Prince Charming. What felt even worse was he was right there and still completely inaccessible.

I tidied the home a little bit and the doorbell rang, it wasn't just a stylist it was a team! They were here with more garment bags than I could count.

"Good evening Miss Tara I am Franco." The man in a  crisp white shirt shook my hand.

"Hi Franco! You can just call me Tara." I smiled.

"Okay Tara, Charles has given me the idea of the event, I've got a few options for you here." He led me to now, an assembled rack with the most beautiful gowns I had ever seen.

Each one of them looked so exquisite, the fabric and textures felt so luxurious beneath my hand there was no way I could afford any of them.

Me: Charles, I can't afford any of these it's best I don't attend the event.

Charles: You're not buying any of them! It's my gift to you :)

Me: I can't possibly accept such an expensive gift from you!

Charles: Zip it. Just choose one so we can get done with it.

And he was back, just because he had been this petty right when I was starting to think he was being nice I decided to make his pockets hurt.

I tried on all of the gowns, but one particular elegant gown with the most delicate tulle skirt I had ever seen caught my eyes. I felt like the prettiest person alive just putting it on, looking into the mirror I had never felt this confident before.

"It looks lovely on you." Franco beamed.

"I think I'm in love!" I swooned.

"It fits like a glove too! Little to no alterations required!" The seamstress chimed in.