A NOT-SO-MERRY CHRISTMAS

Chapter 5: Beauty in This Dress...or Distress?

Mary sat cross-legged on the plush rug in her bedroom, her back pressed against the edge of her bed as she swiped powder across her cheeks with a brush. Across from her, Lily sat perched on the vanity stool, expertly blending eyeshadow onto her lids, a look of sheer focus etched across her face. Between them, an explosion of cosmetic products, hair tools, and half-folded outfits cluttered the floor like remnants of a small hurricane.

“This feels ridiculous,” Mary muttered, holding up a lipstick as she inspected it like it was a foreign object. “Like I’m preparing for battle.”

“Not as ridiculous as registering on a dating site,” Lily shot back without missing a beat, her tone playful.

Mary rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Yeah, yeah. You won’t let me live that down, will you?”

“Absolutely not.” Lily grinned, setting down the palette and turning to face Mary. “But listen, tonight’s simple. All you have to do is keep your cool and go with the flow.”

Mary paused mid-swipe, staring at her reflection in the mirror. “Go with the flow,” she repeated, as though testing the phrase. “Okay, I can do that.”

Lily arched a brow, skepticism painted across her expression. “Just remember—this is business. You’re not looking for Prince Charming here. You don’t need ‘the guy of your dreams,’ Mary. Just someone who can fit the role. That’s all.”

Mary sighed, resting her chin on her palm. “I know, I know.”

But Lily wasn’t convinced. She pointed an accusing finger at her. “Do you? Because I know you, Mary Crawford. The minute someone remotely outside your ‘standards’ comes over, you’ll shut him down faster than I can say ‘hi.’”

Mary blinked at her, then leaned back with an exaggerated sigh. “Fine,” she said dramatically, tossing the lipstick onto the bed. “I won’t snub anyone—be he ugly or not, short or tall, whether he has nice dentition or teeth like a crooked fence, whether he smells good or stinks like rotten fish, whether he’s—”

“Mary!” Lily interrupted, laughing as she held up her hands. “You know what I mean!”

Mary threw her head back, groaning as if surrendering the fight. “Fine! I’ll behave. Happy?”

Lily grinned triumphantly. “Ecstatic.”

They exchanged a look before both bursting into laughter. For a moment, the tension from the past few days melted away, leaving behind the easy warmth of their friendship.

“Alright,” Lily said, standing and dusting herself off. “Let’s finish getting ready. The sooner we get out there, the sooner you can start dazzling the city with your charm.”

Mary snorted as she stood up, brushing off her leggings. “Or chasing away unsuspecting men with my rotten-fish metaphors.”

“Let’s… not do that.” Lily winked before returning to the vanity.

As they resumed their preparations, Mary found herself smiling. This might be silly, but at least she had Lily by her side, making the impossible feel just a little more doable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mary and Lily strolled through the bustling mall, the air buzzing with the sound of holiday shoppers scrambling to pick up last-minute gifts. Even though they weren’t specifically here to shop for presents, the atmosphere felt festive enough to make everything seem a little brighter.

Mary adjusted the strap of her purse, glancing at the stores as they passed. “I still can’t believe I’m doing this,” she said, looking at a sparkling dress in a nearby store window. “I mean, I really don’t need to be here trying to catch some guy’s eye to make a point.”

Lily shot her a teasing smile. “Come on, don’t be a killjoy. You look amazing, and we’ve been planning this. A little sparkle never hurt anyone.”

Mary laughed but still felt a little uneasy. After all, it wasn’t just about the clothes and the jewelry—it was about meeting her father’s ridiculous demands. Still, if it meant getting through this ridiculous charade, she’d play along.

They wandered through the mall, picking up a few things here and there, glancing at the displays, and joking around as they tried on different outfits. It was fun in an absurd sort of way, though the thought of the board’s ultimatum lingered in the back of Mary’s mind.

After a while, they found themselves at the checkout counter with a pile of clothes and accessories. Mary was debating whether to get a necklace that seemed a little too flashy for her usual style, but Lily was all in, encouraging her to go for it.

Just as the cashier was scanning the items, she looked up and smiled at them, holding out the receipt. “Actually, the gentleman over there has already taken care of your total,” she said, nodding towards the back of the store.

Both Mary and Lily blinked in confusion before turning to look. At first, they didn’t see anyone they recognized, but then a man in a dark coat stepped forward from the shadows, a small, confident smile playing on his lips.

“Everything’s been taken care of,” the cashier confirmed, her voice warm and a little flirty. “He said he’d be waiting for you outside, if you’d like to thank him.”

Mary’s mind raced. She hadn’t even noticed anyone watching them, let alone paying for their purchases. She looked at Lily, who raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the situation.

“Well, I guess this is happening,” Lily said, her voice a little too loud in her excitement.

Mary gave a nervous laugh, her heart beating a little faster. “I don’t know about this... but I guess we’ll see.”

The cashier handed Mary a small, neatly wrapped gift. “He wanted you to have this, too,” she added.

The gesture seemed almost too perfect. Mary felt her face flush, and Lily immediately leaned in, whispering, “He’s definitely interested.”

As they left the store and walked toward the exit, Lily was practically bouncing. “See? Easy. You didn’t even have to do anything!”

Mary nodded absently, her mind still spinning with the sudden turn of events. They pushed open the heavy doors and stepped into the crisp air outside, looking around for the guy.

It wasn’t hard to spot him. He stood near a black sports car, the keys casually twirling around his finger. He was dressed well, though his face—pale and sharp, with disheveled hair—didn’t quite match his expensive car. His clothes were fine, but there was something about the way he carried himself that felt... off. Still, he was undeniably confident, and Mary couldn’t help but notice how easily he seemed to command attention.

As they approached, he flashed them a smirk, clearly waiting for them to arrive.

“Did you like the gift?” he asked, his voice smooth, but with a tone of something that made Mary’s stomach churn.

Mary’s smile faltered as she glanced at the small gift she was still holding. Her mind screamed that something wasn’t right. He wasn’t the man she had imagined. Her excitement from earlier evaporated. She couldn’t even find the words to respond right away.

Lily, ever the social one, smiled brightly at him. “Thank you so much! It was really sweet of you.”

Mary felt a wave of discomfort wash over her, and she struggled to hold herself together. “Uh, thank you,” she managed to say, but the words felt hollow, and she could feel her cheeks burning. The doubts that had lingered were now full-blown suspicions. This couldn’t be the same person who’d bought their things.

She gave a tight smile, quickly turning away without waiting for anything else. As she started walking toward the car, she heard the guy’s voice behind her.

“Hey, wait up,” he called out. “Let’s hang out for a bit.”

But Mary didn’t look back. She couldn’t. The thrill from the idea of meeting someone interested in her had vanished completely, replaced by the unsettling feeling that this guy was not who he seemed.

Lily, who had followed Mary in the same direction, caught up with her quickly. “What was that? You were looking so... surprised. Are you okay?”

Mary didn’t answer right away. They reached the car, and Lily took the keys from her hand, giving her a small, knowing smile. “You don’t look like you’re in any shape to drive,” she said softly. “Let me take over.”

Mary didn’t protest. She simply nodded, stepping around to the passenger side and sliding into the seat. She tossed the small gift onto the back seat, letting out a deep breath as she sank into the chair.

Lily started the engine, glancing at Mary. “What happened back there? You’re acting like you saw a ghost or something.”

Mary closed her eyes for a moment, letting the tension leave her shoulders. “I don’t know. That guy... He wasn’t who I expected him to be. And everything about it felt off. I thought he was something... more, but I was wrong.”

Lily glanced over at her, the concern evident in her eyes. “It’s okay. You didn’t owe him anything. Let’s just forget about it. You’re way too good for that.”

Mary shook her head, a weak smile on her lips. “Yeah, I guess you're right.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the engine humming softly.

“Let’s go to the park,” Mary said finally. “We’ve still got the rest of the day. Might as well make the most of it.”

Lily grinned. “Now that’s the Mary I know.”

The car pulled out of the parking lot, and as they headed for the park, the frustrations of the day slowly started to fade. There was still a little light left in the afternoon, and though the encounter had been unsettling, Mary knew she had a friend beside her to help her keep her head above water.