Charlotte laughed, “Yeah. I’ve been slow to adapt to that whole thing. My sister makes fun of me for it.”
“No, it’s a good thing,” Allyn said. “I respect it a lot. It means you’re actually living life and not just doing it vicariously through a screen like so many of us do.” Allyn smiled. “You look gorgeous. But then again, you were always beautiful. I was so jealous. So many things seemed to come easy to you. And I was dealing with so many issues with my self-esteem and sense of who I was. But you always had it so together!” Allyn laughed. “No wonder Declan DeGraff fell so hard for you! God, so many girls envied you.”
Charlotte shook her head, “That’s so insane. I didn’t have it together at all! I was poor as dirt, always stressed about money and class, and all kinds of things. And you and so many other girls seemed so carefree and vivacious.” Charlotte sighed. “It’s funny. I guess you just never know what a person is going through.”
Allyn nodded, “Ain’t that the damn truth.” She reached her hand across the table and placed it on Charlotte’s. “I hope you can forgive me. I really feel like this was my chance to tell you in person how sorry I am. I’ve actually prayed somehow it could happen. Selfishly for me, but also for you. I was lucky to have you in my life, even for a brief amount of time. And I wish we could have been friends. I could have used a Charlotte Sanders in my life.”
Charlotte found herself almost tearing up, “Wow. Allyn…Of course. Thank you, for apologizing. As far as I’m concerned, we’re friends now. If you’re ever in Nashville, I’m just a phone call away.” She was surprised to know she meant it.
“Well, that’s great!” Allyn beamed. “But you know what? I’d love to see you more while you’re here! How long are you staying?”
“I’m not sure,” Charlotte confessed. “Maybe a couple weeks.”
“Fabulous! So you can come out to the Carolina Ball!”
“I can?” Charlotte asked. “What is the Carolina Ball?”
“It’s this event we hold for charity. I’m on the committee for it. It’s actually tomorrow night, which I know is short notice. But I would love for you to be my guest. My husband is out of town. We can sit at a table and drink and gossip and have a good ol’ time. What do you say? It’s an open bar!”
Charlotte laughed, “Well, you did kind of say the magic words right there.”
********
By the next night, Charlotte was starting to regret agreeing to this whole ball thing. It helped her keep her mind off Declan and his revelation, but other than that it seemed like a lot of work to get gussied up. And Charlotte dreaded having to socialize.
Allyn had her housekeeper bring over three gowns for Charlotte to pick from.
“Since I’m springing this on you, the least I can do is dress you,” Allyn said as they’d left the café the previous day.
“Are you sure? I could run to the mall or something,” Charlotte said.
Allyn shook her head, “Nope. You’re wearing couture, honey. You’re going to be the belle of the ball!”
The thought of wearing a designer dress in a room full of people who would have at one time ignored her as she served them limp Caesar salads was more than a little tempting. Allyn was really giving her a chance to have her own coming out in a way. And she couldn’t help but accept.
But now that it was time to actually go, Charlotte was dreading it. She really just wanted to stay home and listen to the ocean while she sat on her porch and drank wine, staring at Declan’s house and reliving the past in her mind.
That was until the dresses arrived. All three were exquisite. One was a Badgley Mischka in blue, another was a Carolina Herrera in red, and then an especially stunning Valentino in blush pink. Charlotte’s head was spinning at the options. She had no idea which one to choose.
She texted Allyn: This is insane! These dresses are gorgeous. How am I supposed to choose between them??
Allyn replied: Such a terrible problem to have, I know! If I were you, I would go with the Carolina Herrera. The red with your coloring will knock everyone to the floor when you make your entrance.
Charlotte replied with a smile: Red it is.
********
If there is anything Charleston knows how to do, it’s throw a party. The Carolina Ball was one of biggest social events of the season, something Charlotte had remembered hearing about the year she’d lived here. She never in a million years would have ever thought she’d be attending it as a guest. Especially as one of Allyn Legare’s.
As she waited for Allyn to come pick her up (She’d insisted on it. “That way we can drink as much as we want!” she’d cackled over the phone) Charlotte took one last look at herself in the full length mirror in the bedroom.
Right at six o’clock, a sleek stretch limousine pulled up in her driveway. Charlotte couldn’t believe it.