Angel Love

Chapter 8 - Fancy Dinner

Maree wakes up feeling like she just woke up from the best dream, a dream she can't remember. There's energy coursing through her body and she feels like she can do anything. Her clock says it's seven in the morning and she tries to recall what time she finally went to bed the night before. It must be late because it appears she cleaned up after eating her Chinese food.

Letting the details of last night unremembered, she gets out of bed and stretches her arms into the air.

"Hmmm..." She feels great and she can't remember the last time she had the same feeling.

Maybe never, she whispers to herself.

She needs to be at work in an hour, so she goes straight to the bathroom to take a warm shower, singing Jingle Bells as the water goes down her body. It should be chilly today, and she makes sure she's all bundled up. Looking at her limited choices, she remembers about buying some new clothes yesterday. She got too lazy and too busy stuffing her mouth with good food.

Without even eating breakfast, she's out of the house in fifteen minutes with her coffee mug. She waves at the Ho's and makes a mental note to bring them something special tonight.

Tonight.

Maree's eyes widen, and she stops walking. Adam is taking Maree and Celeste to dinner. She has nothing to wear for dinner outs because she never goes out to dinner. The only dress in her clothes rack is an old black one she got from the thrift store. She wore it twice both for attending funerals, it will not be good enough for wherever Adam plans to take them.

Maree resumes walking toward the bus stop. She has an hour for lunch, she can use that to get something from TJ Maxx. Surely they have something decent she can wear, and they're supposed to be inexpensive too.

With a solid plan in place, she sits in her seat on the bus smiling. Is her light mood because of the good food she had? The extra money? Or is it because for the first time in her life, she got her own Christmas story?

That's it! Maree resolves to herself to not neglect Christmas anymore. She may not have a family, but she can make her own tradition to celebrate the season. Besides, she believes in God because after everything that happened to her, she's still alive.

If that's not something to celebrate about, she doesn't know what is.

Macy's is extremely busy, and by her lunch hour, Maree is exhausted. She skips eating lunch, and walk inside the mall to get her dress. Obviously, she has no fashion sense, and she feels overwhelmed as she looks for a dress to buy. There are a lot of choices, and the prices are not that bad. She watches other shoppers taking clothes off the racks , examine them and put them back. They all look like they know what they're looking for.

"Excuse me," she says to the lady in front of her. She looks older than her, pretty and fashionable in her neutral color attire and black heeled boots.

The lady looks at her suspiciously, but it doesn't seem like she's going to walk away. Maree takes this chance to ask for her help.

"Can you help me choose a dress?" she asks shyly. She doesn't enjoy asking for help just as much as she doesn't enjoy accepting charity. But lately, she's learning that there are times it's okay to ask for help and accept charity from people. "I have to go to dinner tonight, and I do not know what to wear."

The lady breaks out a smile, and Maree smiles back.

"If you trust me, then sure I can help you," the lady says. "Do you know where you're going?"

"No," Maree answers. "And, I don't have a lot to spend on," she adds.

"I understand. Well, I'm sure we can find something."

The lady looks at her from head to toe and starts going through the rack of dresses. She picks out a pretty blue dress then puts it back.

"This one looks good." She pulls up an emerald green knitted turtle's neck dress that has long sleeves and goes down to the knees.

"This is perfect for dinner anywhere. You have a body to pull this off and it matches your eyes."

Maree stares at the dress, and she's in love with it. She reaches out to touch the material, and it's soft. She must admit, she wouldn't pick this out by herself, but the lady is right.

"It's gorgeous," she agrees dreamingly, excited to try it. She's worn nothing this pretty.

"It's thrifty-five ninety-nine, is it up to your budget?"

Maree nods happily. If it's fifty dollars and up, she might not take it.

"There's a pair of knee-high boots over there, it's on sale for twelve dollars that will look good with this dress."

Maree follows the lady to the other side of the store.

"What size are you?"

"Nine."

"These are nine and a half, I think it will work."

"Thank you so much for your help," Maree says, holding the dress and the boots close to her chest as if to protect it.

"Oh, you're welcome. That's fun."

"I'm Maree by the way."

"Nice to meet you Maree. I'm Hilda," she extends a hand and Maree takes it.

"Thank you so much for helping me." Maree is beyond grateful. She doesn't believe much in people's good heart because she grew up experience the opposite. But she's discovering it's not always the case. "I need to pay for this and go back to work." She wishes she can stay for a chat because Hilda looks like someone she would like to have long conversations over coffee with.

"No worries, and I'm glad I can help you."

Maree pays for her purchases and heads out of the store. She has about twenty minutes to get back to work.

"Maree, wait up!"

Hilda is walking up to her and hands her a small bag.

"What is this?"

"Well, I figure you need a bag and accessories to go with your outfit." Maree doesn't know what to do, and just stares at the bag. "Come on, take it. It's not expensive."

"You don't need to do that," she says thankfully.

"I know, but I want to. I have to go," Hilda tells her. "But it's really nice meeting you, I hope your dinner goes well tonight."

"Thank you," is all Maree can say because she's still trying to process the kindness of this stranger as she watches her walk away.

Maree called Celeste before she clocked out of work to ask if it's okay to get ready in her house. She doesn't want to be late for the dinner, and she wants to be there for Celeste if she needs help to get ready herself.

"Of course, my dear."

She stands in front of the full-length mirror in the bedroom she spent the night in Celeste's condominium, admiring herself. Hilda is right, the dress is perfect. Maree doesn't really give much thought about how she looks or how nice her body is because those are the least of her priorities. But tonight, she gives herself the attention and appreciation.

She pulled her curly brown hair into a loose bun just like the one she watched on YouTube, and it came out just as she wants it. Her face is bare except for the lip gloss she used, realizing that her parents have good genes. Her eyebrows are full and naturally shaped just like her lashes.

The face of her mom suddenly flashes in her mind. Sometimes she thinks she's forgotten her completely, but tonight her beautiful face is clear in her memory. Maree doesn't look exactly like her mother, but the obvious resemblance is there. Maybe her father is also a handsome man, and she got something from him too.

Adam is sitting in the couch with his grandmother waiting for Maree to come out. He's out getting a haircut, and to pick up a coat from the store when Maree arrived in the house. When he asked Celeste where they will pick up Maree, she said she's already there.

It's a welcome surprise to Adam because he's been looking forward to seeing her again. He doesn't really know her, but from his grandma's stories about her, he now desires to know her better.

The door opens, and he stands up slowly without realizing it. Celeste follows his eyes, and gasps. Adam looks at her with anticipation as she gets closer to them. She walks with uncertainty, avoiding the pairs of eyes looking at her. But Adam cares less if she trips at that moment because Maree looks beautiful and perfect. He noticed that since he first laid eyes on her by the door. But tonight she seems to harness her innate beauty and put it in a package.

"Sorry I took so long," she apologizes to her two companions for the night.

Celeste gets up from the sofa using her cane. "I don't mind waiting, you look remarkable, my dear."

"Thank you," she says, blushing instantly. She's not used to receiving compliments, but she like how it makes her warm.

"You," Adam adds, but he seems incapable of verbalizing his admiration. "You look amazing."

He keeps telling himself that he's only there because he needs to be sure that Maree doesn't remember a thing about last night. But he feels foolish for standing in the dark behind a post outside Au Chef, one of the most expensive French restaurant in San Francisco. Lucas frequents the place when he's in town. But tonight, he's there not to enjoy their Boeuf Bourguignon. He's not there to drink expensive French wine.

"Mr. Lucas, content de te revoir!" the Maitre d' greets him pleasantly. Lucas is not in his usual mood, and all he can muster is a nod to the man. He gives his order to the server even though he intends to eat nothing.

She looks divine tonight, and Lucas is struggling to focus because all he can remember is the kiss they shared. He's been restless the entire day, thinking about her. He's kissed no one before and he thought he has enough self control and loyalty to never cross the line he is so against.

Boy, he's so wrong, he admits to himself.