CHAPTER 23
During the next week, Amanda was a regular visitor to the house. It had been a long time since
she'd been in touch with her domestic side, and truly enjoyed watching Beth and Esperanza
create their deserts … sometimes joining in under the older woman's watchful and wary eye.
Their trip to San Francisco had turned into an overnight … and by the time they arrived back in
Seacouver, the two were becoming quite close. She hadn't had a nightmare in almost a week,
and hoped they were a thing of the past. Between Amanda's arrival and the constant presence of
Adam and Duncan … she could almost relax if she would let herself.
Beth missed her sisters back home, and Amanda's sense of humor reminded her so much of
them. When the day of Claudia's opening arrived, she was almost too excited to work.
Esperanza couldn't help but notice, and practically threw her out of the kitchen shortly after the
mid day crowd tapered off.
It had been decided that Amanda get dressed at Beth's and they would help each other with hair
… makeup and all the rest. Beth spent a long afternoon soaking in the tub, polishing her nails
and worrying for the thousandth time that she shouldn't have allowed Amanda to talk her into the
dress they'd bought on their shopping trip.
A little before five Amanda arrived and by the time Duncan had joined Adam and Joe in the living
room, the ladies were almost ready. Esperanza complimented each of the gentlemen on their
attire … thinking they all looked very dashing.
"Are you sure you won't come with us?" Duncan asked her again.
"Heavens no." she replied. "I have baking to do and don't want Beth to worry about the shop. I
don't expect you to bring her home until very late … " she ordered, shaking her finger at them. "I
want her to have a good time."
Upstairs Beth pivoted and took one last look at the back of her gown … or lack thereof. Her dark
hair had been curled and pulled loosely on top of her head with rhinestone pins … leaving only a
few stray tendrils hanging down. The black velvet gown was modest enough in front … a fitted
bodice left her neck and most of her shoulders bare before catching just the edge of her shoulder
at the top of the short, tight fitting sleeves. The full material of the skirt flowed out slightly before
reaching the floor. Beth ran her hand over the form fitting waist and the slight swell of her
abdomen.
"It's not noticeable Beth." Amanda reassured her, noticing the way her friend worried about the
fit. "You look amazing."
Beth looked up and smiled. "You want amazing? Look in the mirror." She nodded at Amanda's
reflection. Her blond hair looked impeccable as always and the silvery-blue gown shimmered
over her body like a second skin.
Amanda gave herself an "I do look fantastic." look in the mirror before turning back to Beth.
"Let me see the back again." She ordered and Beth complied by turning, the worried look on her
face confirming how unaccustomed she was to showing this much skin. The back of the dress
had three thin chains of rhinestones that ran across her shoulder blades, mid-back and just
above her waist before the skirt of the dress finally began.
"That dress was made for you." Amanda insisted, rubbing a little bit of shimmer lotion on Beth's
shoulder blades before handing her the earrings she'd remembered.
"Made for me to catch my death of cold is more like it." Beth mumbled as she put the delicate
rhinestone dangles on each ear. Amanda ignored her friend's protest and simply smiled.
Beth was at least thankful they'd bought a matching full-length cape to wear over the dress …
She wondered if she could get away with keeping it on. "Amanda … have you seen my cape?"
she asked, looking through the closet for the third time.
"It's downstairs … there was a crease and Esperanza volunteered to steam it out." Amanda
answered, taking one last look in the mirror. "Ready?"
"Do I have a choice?" Beth replied, suddenly becoming very nervous.
"Come on … you look great and I'll do good to keep at least one man's attention once they get a
look at you."
Amanda took the lead as they walked downstairs. Beth started to follow her and then
remembered her purse and turned back to retrieve it.
Amanda wasn't disappointed when she made her entrance in the living room. Joe and Adam
stood up quickly and Duncan crossed the room, making a big fuss about how beautiful she
looked. "You look amazing as always my dear."
"Just remember that when you see our little baker's transformation." She reminded him, brushing
an imaginary piece of lint from his lapel.
They heard Esperanza gasp from the foyer and walked in just in time to see Beth coming down
the last few stairs.
"Claudia is going to be furious with me." Duncan said as Joe let out a wolf whistle from behind
him. Adam swallowed hard and pulled a little at his collar, expecting her to look nice … but as
she walked down the last stair she was much more than that …
"And why would that be darling?" Amanda asked, loving the look of complete shock on all three
men's faces.
"She's expecting to share the attention with you … but she is not expecting this." Duncan
nodded.
Beth was more than aware of the looks she was getting and needed to say something to feel less
self conscious. "Hmmm I don't know if I should feel complimented or worry that my normal
appearance was a little on the shabby side."
"You always look lovely Beth." Adam stepped past the rest to compliment her. "But tonight you
are positively ravishing."
Amanda exchanged an "I told you so" glance with Beth … She was very pleased with the
transformation ... Amanda noticed Adam was more than a little taken aback … and they had only
seen the front of the gown. Not able to resist having a little fun, Amanda noticed Esperanza
holding Beth's cape.
"Uhm Adam … would you be a dear and help Beth with her coat?" she said, slipping her arms
into the one Duncan held for her.
Adam saw Amanda's eyes gleam with mischief but couldn't guess what she thought was so funny
… until he stepped behind Beth with the cape.
"Wow." Adam let his reaction slip. Beth flushed a bright shade of pink and quickly slipped into
the wrap, pulling it tightly around her with a quick word of thanks to Adam.
Duncan raised one eyebrow, wondering what was up … but Amanda moved him out the door
quickly by looping one arm through his and the other through Joe's as they walked out.
"May I." Adam offered Beth his arm and she felt almost like a teenager on prom night as she
slipped her arm through his. They paused at the door long enough for Esperanza to remind her
to have a good time and the next thing Beth knew, they were in the limousine and on the way to
the Opera House.
During the next week, Amanda was a regular visitor to the house. It had been a long time since
she'd been in touch with her domestic side, and truly enjoyed watching Beth and Esperanza
create their deserts … sometimes joining in under the older woman's watchful and wary eye.
Their trip to San Francisco had turned into an overnight … and by the time they arrived back in
Seacouver, the two were becoming quite close. She hadn't had a nightmare in almost a week,
and hoped they were a thing of the past. Between Amanda's arrival and the constant presence of
Adam and Duncan … she could almost relax if she would let herself.
Beth missed her sisters back home, and Amanda's sense of humor reminded her so much of
them. When the day of Claudia's opening arrived, she was almost too excited to work.
Esperanza couldn't help but notice, and practically threw her out of the kitchen shortly after the
mid day crowd tapered off.
It had been decided that Amanda get dressed at Beth's and they would help each other with hair
… makeup and all the rest. Beth spent a long afternoon soaking in the tub, polishing her nails
and worrying for the thousandth time that she shouldn't have allowed Amanda to talk her into the
dress they'd bought on their shopping trip.
A little before five Amanda arrived and by the time Duncan had joined Adam and Joe in the living
room, the ladies were almost ready. Esperanza complimented each of the gentlemen on their
attire … thinking they all looked very dashing.
"Are you sure you won't come with us?" Duncan asked her again.
"Heavens no." she replied. "I have baking to do and don't want Beth to worry about the shop. I
don't expect you to bring her home until very late … " she ordered, shaking her finger at them. "I
want her to have a good time."
Upstairs Beth pivoted and took one last look at the back of her gown … or lack thereof. Her dark
hair had been curled and pulled loosely on top of her head with rhinestone pins … leaving only a
few stray tendrils hanging down. The black velvet gown was modest enough in front … a fitted
bodice left her neck and most of her shoulders bare before catching just the edge of her shoulder
at the top of the short, tight fitting sleeves. The full material of the skirt flowed out slightly before
reaching the floor. Beth ran her hand over the form fitting waist and the slight swell of her
abdomen.
"It's not noticeable Beth." Amanda reassured her, noticing the way her friend worried about the
fit. "You look amazing."
Beth looked up and smiled. "You want amazing? Look in the mirror." She nodded at Amanda's
reflection. Her blond hair looked impeccable as always and the silvery-blue gown shimmered
over her body like a second skin.
Amanda gave herself an "I do look fantastic." look in the mirror before turning back to Beth.
"Let me see the back again." She ordered and Beth complied by turning, the worried look on her
face confirming how unaccustomed she was to showing this much skin. The back of the dress
had three thin chains of rhinestones that ran across her shoulder blades, mid-back and just
above her waist before the skirt of the dress finally began.
"That dress was made for you." Amanda insisted, rubbing a little bit of shimmer lotion on Beth's
shoulder blades before handing her the earrings she'd remembered.
"Made for me to catch my death of cold is more like it." Beth mumbled as she put the delicate
rhinestone dangles on each ear. Amanda ignored her friend's protest and simply smiled.
Beth was at least thankful they'd bought a matching full-length cape to wear over the dress …
She wondered if she could get away with keeping it on. "Amanda … have you seen my cape?"
she asked, looking through the closet for the third time.
"It's downstairs … there was a crease and Esperanza volunteered to steam it out." Amanda
answered, taking one last look in the mirror. "Ready?"
"Do I have a choice?" Beth replied, suddenly becoming very nervous.
"Come on … you look great and I'll do good to keep at least one man's attention once they get a
look at you."
Amanda took the lead as they walked downstairs. Beth started to follow her and then
remembered her purse and turned back to retrieve it.
Amanda wasn't disappointed when she made her entrance in the living room. Joe and Adam
stood up quickly and Duncan crossed the room, making a big fuss about how beautiful she
looked. "You look amazing as always my dear."
"Just remember that when you see our little baker's transformation." She reminded him, brushing
an imaginary piece of lint from his lapel.
They heard Esperanza gasp from the foyer and walked in just in time to see Beth coming down
the last few stairs.
"Claudia is going to be furious with me." Duncan said as Joe let out a wolf whistle from behind
him. Adam swallowed hard and pulled a little at his collar, expecting her to look nice … but as
she walked down the last stair she was much more than that …
"And why would that be darling?" Amanda asked, loving the look of complete shock on all three
men's faces.
"She's expecting to share the attention with you … but she is not expecting this." Duncan
nodded.
Beth was more than aware of the looks she was getting and needed to say something to feel less
self conscious. "Hmmm I don't know if I should feel complimented or worry that my normal
appearance was a little on the shabby side."
"You always look lovely Beth." Adam stepped past the rest to compliment her. "But tonight you
are positively ravishing."
Amanda exchanged an "I told you so" glance with Beth … She was very pleased with the
transformation ... Amanda noticed Adam was more than a little taken aback … and they had only
seen the front of the gown. Not able to resist having a little fun, Amanda noticed Esperanza
holding Beth's cape.
"Uhm Adam … would you be a dear and help Beth with her coat?" she said, slipping her arms
into the one Duncan held for her.
Adam saw Amanda's eyes gleam with mischief but couldn't guess what she thought was so funny
… until he stepped behind Beth with the cape.
"Wow." Adam let his reaction slip. Beth flushed a bright shade of pink and quickly slipped into
the wrap, pulling it tightly around her with a quick word of thanks to Adam.
Duncan raised one eyebrow, wondering what was up … but Amanda moved him out the door
quickly by looping one arm through his and the other through Joe's as they walked out.
"May I." Adam offered Beth his arm and she felt almost like a teenager on prom night as she
slipped her arm through his. They paused at the door long enough for Esperanza to remind her
to have a good time and the next thing Beth knew, they were in the limousine and on the way to
the Opera House.