With a glint of mischief in her eyes, Joanne enlisted the help of one of the younger staff—Amelia, a cheerful girl with clever hands who seemed to love the idea of playing fairy godmother for the morning.
Her makeup was soft but radiant. The emerald dress hugged her in all the right ways, the color catching the morning light like dew on fresh leaves. She twirled once in front of the mirror, cheeks flushed, heart fluttering.
"Do you think he'll like it?" Joanne asked, smoothing the dress.
Amelia grinned. "If he doesn't fall to his knees, he's blind."
Joanne laughed, cheeks warm, and grabbed her clutch.
She made her way through the halls with quickened steps, trying to contain her giddiness. The soft hum of her heels against the hardwood floor echoed like a heartbeat—each step closer to Jeffrey's room, each second closer to him.
She was ready. For a beautiful day. For compliments, teasing, maybe a photograph or two.
But she wasn't ready for what was coming.
