23. December 23rd
December 23rd
Lorelei
Scott: I can't wait to see you tonight, beautiful. And show you off!
Tonight is Scott's annual Christmas party. I'm a little nervous, the butterflies in my stomach have kicked up a notch today. It’ll be the first time meeting his friends in more than a friendly neighbor capacity.
I spent the night with him last night but had to come home this morning to finish a dish that I had here, and to get ready.
My girls are coming over to help me get ready and give me a pep talk. I tried to convince them to come with me, but Lacey said I needed to do this on my own.
Scarlett said that she had the perfect outfit for me, which makes me a little bit scared because I haven't seen it yet. She said that I would tell her no, so it isn't the best selling point for her.
The front door opens and I can hear all the girls chattering about what we are going to do with my looks.
"No way!" That's Addy. "Mom doesn't need a hot pink lipstick! What is with you and bright lips?"
"Um, it's sexy," Lacey retorts and completes it with an over the top eye roll.
"Lace, seriously. Nude is in," Scarlett says. “Aren’t you in the beauty industry? How are you so out of touch?”
"Do I get a vote?" I ask, coming around the corner to greet my girls.
All three respond in an adamant, "No."
I hold out my arms and all three girls come in for a hug.
They can drive me nuts, but I love them. I just wish my Willow would come home. I don't trust those people she has in her life down there in Nashville.
"Mom, please tell your daughter over here that bright lipstick is out," Addy says, staring at Lacey.
"Excuse me, I'm the one who is in the industry as Scarlett pointed out. You spend your day with teenagers!" Lacey argues back.
"Exactly! They do not hold back in telling me what is out of style," Addy rolls her eyes.
We all laugh because we've heard all the ways that she is uncool, and so are we. Me probably most of all.
"Sweet Scarlett, can you show me what you brought for me to wear?" I reach out to take the bag in her hand, skillfully ending this argument.
"Oh yes! Let me go lay it all out for you on the bed, you need to see it together!" She runs off to my bedroom.
Lacey and Addy are already setting up an intimidating amount of makeup and hair accessories on my dining room table. I walk to the refrigerator and pull out a bottle of water, taking a sip to calm my nerves. Scarlett calls for us to come to join her.
I walk in and see the outfit that Scarlett has laid out. A hunter green long sleeve, velvet dress with a v-neck and ruffles on the bottom of the hem. Cream colored tights, and brown riding boots.
I was honestly expecting something very revealing but I'm pleasantly surprised to see how wonderfully she has done at picking out an outfit that is not only beautiful, but I will still be comfortable in.
Tears spring to my eyes. I wipe the wayward tear off my cheek, trying to hide it from my girls.
Scarlett walks back in, "I forgot to add this necklace, it's – oh, mom! What is wrong?"
"Nothing, nothing. I'm just feeling a little emotional is all." I wave her off, "Show me this necklace."
She gives me a knowing look, but doesn't push me any further. "Okay, well if you want to talk, we are all here for you. I brought this gold locket. Do you remember it?"
She hands me a gold locket that I very much remember. When she was little she was desperate for a locket. I didn't want to buy her one because she was so young I just knew she would lose it. But Andrew insisted that she wouldn't lose it because it would be so special to her. Clearly, he was right. I pop open the locket and see Andrew's face smiling at me. He took the photo with a six year old Scarlett to put in her locket.
"Oh Scarlett. I can't take this tonight," I say, shaking my head and handing it back to her.
"I want you to take it, Mom. It will match your outfit perfectly, and you can have a little bit of Dad to give you the courage you need. He would want you to be happy and loved. And Scott loves you. Whether he has said it or not, we all see it. So let yourself be loved." She walks around me and I pull up my hair for her to clasp the necklace.
I turn to give her a hug. "Thank you so much, sweet girl."
"Why are you always making Mom cry?" Addy has her arms crossed in the doorway.
"Ugh. Way to ruin a moment, Adelaide." Scarlett rolls her eyes at me after giving her sister a look of, really?
"Listen, it's not my fault! You're always making Mom cry before a big event!"
"One time, Adelaide. She cried one time and it wasn't my fault!" Scarlett argues.
"Girls, stop. Scarlett didn't make me cry in a bad way. They're happy tears. Now go let me get dressed!" I say as I shoo them out of the room.
I park my car on the road outside of Scott's house. I sit there taking in the amount of cars and let my nerves get the best of me.
I start my car again. Maybe I can't do this.
A knock on my window startles me, causing me to jump. I look to my left and see Scott with his hands in his pockets. Rolling down my window I look at him sheepishly. I've been caught trying to run.
"Lorelei, are you coming in?" He asks with a knowing smile.
"I was going to," I say.
"Is that why you started your car back up?" He grins. "I was told by your girls, very emphatically, to not let you back out and leave early. I was promised that you look smoking hot."
Gosh, what is wrong with those girls?
"I'm so sorry, Scott. I'm just nervous." I shut off my car for a second time.
"I figured you were." He opens my door, "That's why I came to rescue you." He holds his hand out to me.
Once I step out of the car, he holds me at arm's length and looks me up and down. "I can confirm, you are definitely smoking hot." He says grinning ear to ear.
My cheeks flame and I swat at his chest. We turn our heads as we hear a commotion in the front yard.
"We aren't looking, but Grandma wants to know where you ran off to. I figured you'd rather us than her. Especially if you're kissing Lorelei!" Keith yells out with his hand over his eyes. Jason is next to him doing the same. Apparently the commotion was them walking into decorations on the deck.
"Boys, you can move your hands before you fall and get hurt. I'm not kissing her," Scott replies.
"Oh. Well. I mean, that's a mistake Pops. You always kiss your girl when she shows up and looks beautiful!" Both boys walk over to me pulling me into a hug and kissing me on the cheek.
They loop their arms through mine and lead me inside. These boys sure know how to break the ice. I am laughing as they walk me through the front door, and introduce me to Scott's mom.
"Grams, this here is the beautiful Lorelei Harper. The one who's stolen Dad's heart," Jason winks at me. I suck in a sharp breath.
"Oh boys, will you leave this poor woman alone? I'm sure she's nervous enough coming into this house full of strangers. She doesn't need you two knuckleheads making a show of it." She swats at the boys and rushes them out of Scott's kitchen, while simultaneously pulling me in.
"What did those two do now, Mom?" Scott walks into the kitchen, coming to my side and wrapping his arm around my waist.
"Oh you know, the usual, causing a scene and acting like they're casanovas." She rolls her eyes. For an older lady she sure has a lot of spunk. I bet she'd give Mabel a run for her money. The thought brings a smile to my face.
Before long Scott's mom is giving directions to anyone who dares enter the kitchen. The nerves have subsided some as I meet more people. Everyone is so kind.
As the party winds down, only Keith and Jason are left. We are sitting at the kitchen table playing card games, munching on some snacks.
"So boys, what is your plan for tomorrow?" I ask them.
"Probably just hanging around here. Waiting for Dad - I mean Santa to come,” Jason says laughing.
Keith adds, “And downing some of Pops’ beer,” they both laugh.
"Why don't you just come with me tomorrow to Lorelei's? You can stay here tonight. You still have some clothes up in your rooms," Scott says, placing his hand on mine.
"Oh, yes! Please come. You are more than welcome in my home," I encourage them.
Keith pops a cookie in his mouth. "Well, if you do insist. I suppose it would be tough to turn a beautiful woman down," he winks at me.
"You are impossible, you know that?" Scott says to his most outgoing son, even though I see a twinkle in his eye for him, he loves them and their outlandish behavior.
"Well that's settled then. I will see you both tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, I should probably get going so I can be up early to start making food." I push the kitchen chair in and walk over to grab my coat. All three follow me.
"Well, we won't cramp your style, Daddio. Thank you for the invite, Lorelei." Keith leans in for a hug, and Jason follows. They disappear to their rooms, leaving Scott and I alone.
We get our coats on, and he walks me out to my car. He seems nervous about something, and I hope I didn't make a bad impression on his friends.
"Lorelei, would you mind if I asked you something?" He spins me around to face him after I place my things in the car.
"Of course you can."
"Well, God, I feel stupid asking this. And you can absolutely say no and I will totally understand. But, are we dating? Like boyfriend and girlfriend dating?" He asks, fumbling over his words, clearly nervous to scare me away.
Chuckling, I answer, "Are you asking me to go steady, Scott?"
"Well, I guess I am. If you want to. You don't have to do anything you aren't ready for," he assures me.
"I would love to be your girlfriend, Scott."
As soon as the words are out of my mouth, his mouth is on mine. The kiss deepens and he pushes me up against my car.
"I really wish I didn't offer for those boys to stay here tonight," he grumbles.
I steal one last kiss. "How about you spend the night tomorrow?"
"Mmm, I think I would really love that, Lorelei Harper," he responds, opening my door.
I climb in, and he kisses me once more before he closes my door and heads back inside.
I check my phone and see several texts from the girls asking how the night went, which turns into them speculating about my sex life. Unfortunately, their imaginations are more active than said sex life tonight.
I ignore their texts, and head home. To my empty bed. But tomorrow, hopefully it won't be empty anymore.