"You're kidding!" Julia said the next morning as they waited for class to begin.
"I'm totally serious, but I still can't believe it. And I didn't tell you the best part." Bernice said excitedly as she paused for effect.
"What, Bernice? Come on! This is torture, waitin' like this!" Julia said.
Bernice laughed. She loved getting Julia all riled up.
"Okay..." She said with a mischievous smile. "You know that dress at Rachel's? My dream dress?"
"Yeah?"
When Bernice smiled, Julia gasped. "No way!"
Bernice nodded, causing Julia to squeal with excitement. "Oh my God! I feel like I'm goin' with you! This is incredible!"
"I know! He bought me that $300 dress, just because."
"So where in the world did Justin get that kind of money? I mean, I know he does fixin' up projects and all, but that's a hay load of money."
Unexpectedly, Bernice's eyes filled with tears.
Sensing it was her fault, Julia put her hand on Bernice's arm. "Hey, I was just kiddin'. I didn't mean it."
"It's not that."
"So what's wrong? I thought you'd be happier than a kid on the last day of school about this." Julia said.
"Oh, I am... It's just..."
"What?"
"You asked me where Justin got the money?"
"Yeah. But Bernice, I'm sorry about that. I mean..."
Bernice swallowed hard. "Julia, he used the money he had been saving for his new truck!"
Julia gasped. "Oh my God! Wow... he must really love you, Bernice. You're so lucky!"
A tear slid down Bernice's cheek and another sob escaped.
"Bernice! Why are you carryin' on like this?"
"I don't know." Bernice said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I mean, this is the most wonderful thing
anyone's ever done for me, and Julia? I have no idea how I'm gonna repay him. I worked a million hours at the
soda shop and... Well, it'll never be enough!"
Julia hugged Bernice. "Hey, enough of that! I'm sure Justin doesn't expect anything in return. He just wants you
to be happy."
Bernice smiled. "Thanks, Julia."
Just then, the bell rang.
"Hey, will you come over in the morning and help me figure out what to do with my hair and makeup?" Bernice
asked.
"Sure." Julia said, tucking a lock of Bernice's hair behind her ear. With a sigh she smiled. "Your daddy's gonna
feel like the Prince of Smithville when he sees how pretty you look in that dress."
"I'm beyond excited." Bernice said. "Daddy's gonna call me tonight with the details. I can't believe the dance is
in two days! He should be in town by now. He's staying at the St. Regent."
"In Austin?" Julia asked, her eyes widening. "Bernice, that place is over $200 a night! The President stayed
there!"
Bernice smiled proudly. "Nothing but the best for my daddy."
Julia nodded. "Well he's definitely got the best daughter, and don't forget that!"
Bernice hugged Julia. "I love you. That sounds crazy, doesn't it?"
"Well... Yeah, but I love you too." Julia said. "In the best-friend in the world-kind of way!"
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow. Oh Julia, I can't wait to show you this dress up close and personal!"
"You're gonna look like a dream, Bernice. I just know it!"
(3pm)
"God, why does this class always drag so slowly?" Bernice whispered as the teacher droned on and on about
the upcoming major assignment. As much as she wanted to do well on it, she just wasn't in the mood to hear
about homework.
All she could think about was her daddy and of what a good time they were gonna have at the dance.
Finally the bell rang and the class scrambled to put away their books, even while the teacher was still talking.
Usually Bernice found this rude, but today she joined in. She had bigger things to worry about.
"Don't forget to call me later." Julia said.
"I'll call." Bernice said.
(Late afternoon)
"Hey Bernice."
"Hey, Mom."
"Tomorrow's the big day, huh?"
"Yeah. I can hardly wait! I still can't believe he's taking me!"
"I know, Sweetheart."
Bernice couldn't help but notice a bit of sadness in her mom's tone.
"Are you okay, Mom?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a rough day at the studio."
"Julia's gonna come over in the morning and help me with my hair. I have a load of Seventeen magazines to go
through. I want to find the perfect hairstyle.
Birdie smiled and kissed her daughter's cheek. "You will, Sweetheart."
Bernice walked out of the living room and paused at the stairway.
"You're okay with all of this, aren't you?"
"With what?"
"Daddy taking me to this dance."
"Oh... yeah. Of course. I mean... it's a Father/Daughter dance. You and your dad will have a wonderful time."
"Thanks, Mom." Bernice said as she ran toward her mother and gave her a hug.
She ran up the stairs and headed straight for her bedroom. She could hardly turn on the computer fast enough,
and as usual, the internet took forever to connect.
Come on... Come on... she urged silently.
Finally the email screen opened and she scanned the list for the familiar email address.
But her heart sank when she realized it wasn't there.
She glanced at the clock; surprised to find that it was almost 8pm. Surely her dad would be back at the hotel.
He was probably doing some work at the fancy desk that his hotel room always had. All she had to do was
search for the hotel name and get the phone number. She couldn't wait to talk to him!
But first, just to make doubly sure that they could talk, she sent him a quick message;
Hey Daddy,
You promised to call me about the dance tomorrow night. It starts at 8, and I need to know what time to be ready. I
can't wait to see you, because... well, I love you, but also because we're gonna have the best time ever!
Love,
Bernice
By pure coincidence, her cell phone rang. Eagerly she glanced at the display, disheartened when she saw that
it was Julia and not her dad.
"Hey Julia."
"Did you hear from your dad?"
Bernice sighed. "No..."
"It'll be all right. He'll contact you one way or the other. You're his daughter!" Julia said enthuisatically.
"I was gonna call the hotel, just in case."
"Good idea. Well, let me know what happens, okay? What time do you want me to come over tomorrow?"
"How about 10? Travis should be up and out of the house by then. I hate when he always bothers us!"
Julia laughed. "So did you find a hairstyle?"
"Oh Julia! You're gonna love it! It's in the prom issue of Seventeen."
"I can't wait to see it! I'll be there in the morning." Julia said.
Bernice hung up the phone and then quickly dialed the number for the St. Regent Hotel in Austin. Her dad had
stayed there so many times, she knew the number by heart.
"Room 436 please."
Classical music filled the line and then she heard her dad's voice.
"Hey Daddy, it's your favorite daughter." Bernice said, laughing at the joke she and her dad shared since she
was a little girl. But her heart sank once more when she realized she'd gotten his voice mail.
Reluctantly she left a message, and tried to force herself not to be disappointed.
Instead she focused her attention on her homework. After what seemed like hours, she glanced at the clock,
amazed to find that it was after midnight.
Later, unable to sleep, she tossed and turned in the darkness. Finally she could take the suspense no longer;
she climbed out of bed and turned on her computer. As she scrolled down the long list of emails, her heart
caught in her throat when she saw a reply.
It said simply;
I'll be there at 7.
Love, Daddy.