Free Glamour by Melody Carlson Page A

hop into my Jeep, where I simply shake my head. My grandma has a boyfriend. That is just crazy.
    Mom and Paige are already at Acapella’s when I arrive, and before long we’re all being manicured and pedicured and coiffed and pampered. As the stylists work, I tell Mom and Paige about Grandma Hebo’s boyfriend. Naturally, this brings on speculation and humor, and it feels like we’re three old girlfriends just out having a good time.
    “I could do this every other day,” Paige says as we’re all relaxing in the big leather recliners at the pedicure station.
    “I feel so spoiled,” Mom admits. “But I like it.”
    By six thirty we are finished with our appointments and in the dressing room getting ready for the rehearsal. Paige’s phone rings, and suddenly she is jumping up and down in her underwear, squealing like she’s won the lottery.
    “What is it?” Mom asks as Paige hangs up.
    “Dylan!”
    “Yeah?” I peer curiously at her. She doesn’t normally do the Snoopy happy dance when Dylan calls.
    “He’s here.”
    “In LA?” Mom blinks.
    “He made it after all. He’s on his way here to pick me up. So I won’t be the only one without a date at dinner tonight after all.” She frowns at Mom. “I was going to give you a ride to the—”
    “Oh, I forgot to tell you,
my date
is picking me up.” Mom looks at her watch. “I’d better hurry. Jon said he’d be here by six forty-five.”
    “And Erin’s going with Blake, so I guess we’re all set.”
    As we scramble to get dressed and do our final primping, I just can’t bring myself to tell them that Blake won’t be at the dinner tonight. For one thing, they’ll want to know why. And then they’ll probably feel sorry for me. I just don’t think I can deal with all that in seven minutes or less, so I say nothing.
    But I am determined not to feel sorry for myself tonight. This is about my mom and Jon, and I don’t want anything to put a damper on it. At the rehearsal, when I’m asked where Blake is, I simply say that something came up and he couldn’t make it tonight, but that he will definitely be at the weddingtomorrow. No one seems to question it. And, as far as I know, since he was invited, he will be at the wedding tomorrow. He just won’t be
with
me.
    The rehearsal goes fairly smoothly. We all realize it will be a bit different at the rose garden in the park tomorrow, but this was the best we could do for an evening rehearsal. For the dinner afterward, also in the hotel, I sit with Grandma and Howard, who fortunately don’t know anything about Blake, so there are no sticky questions for me to answer.
    Instead we talk about cameras and photography. It turns out that Howard has been taking photos for decades and has just recently decided to step into the digital world. I’m thankful for the distraction of explaining all the latest, greatest technology to him. Because, frankly, I’m practically the only one here without a date tonight, and it feels a little lame.

Chapter

8
    On the morning of Mom’s wedding, I call Blake. “I need a really huge favor,” I tell him.
    “What?” He sounds like I woke him up.
    “I know we’re not together, but last night at the rehearsal dinner, my mom seemed concerned about me being alone. Dylan arrived yesterday for Paige, and even my grandma has a date. I don’t want mom getting worried if it looks like you and I aren’t speaking to each other. I just don’t want to be that one gray cloud on her otherwise sunny day. You know? So, I’m begging you, Blake, could you please just
act
like you’re with me today?”
    “Okay.”
    I’m surprised but relieved. “Okay then. Well, thanks. I appreciate it. I just don’t want Mom heading off to her honeymoon all worried that I’m back home dying of a broken heart.” I instantly regret that last bit.
    “Not that there’s any chance of that,” he says wryly.
    I let that comment pass. “So do you want to just meet there then?”
    “Works for