Paradise Lake: A Love Story

Chapter Eleven: A New Dress

Daphne

"No! No! No! I wouldn't be caught dead at a funeral in this!" She stepped out of the gown, throwing the offending frock at the feet of the sales girl who cowed before the formidable red head before her.

The sales girl gathered up the dress. It was a beautiful dress; one the salesgirl could only wear in her dreams.

"It is a beautiful dress, Miss." The girl caressed the material.

"It makes me look pregnant! Do I look pregnant?" Dressed only in her underclothes, she certainly didn't look pregnant. "I know this isn't Paris. If I had more time I'd 'borrow' my parent's business jet and pick up something from a Parisian runway. But Daddy put the jet in for maintenance. Can you believe it? I need to go to Paris and he puts the jet in maintenance! Parents can be so trying sometimes.

"My boyfriend wants me to be 'stunning' at the Valentine Day dance. Momsy and Daddy were called away on business and I have to wear the family jewels. I need a dress that will show off the necklace and make me look stunning. That rag does neither."

Daphne thought of being 'stunning' just for Fred, of being swept over the dance floor, of a stolen kiss in the moonlight later. She felt an unbidden hunger to be kissed. It would start light and casual, a leisurely exploration. It would deepen, who deepened it didn't matter in her dreams. Her hands would play against the buff contours of his shoulders, pulling him closer. Was the searing heat rushing through her imaginary or real? Standing there in the dress shop in her undies, she couldn't be sure.

"Do you have another dress?" Daphne's rational mind told her this was crazy. Her irrational mind wasn't listening.

"Perhaps this one will be more to your liking." The girl removed a dress from a hanger, handing it to Daphne.

Daphne stepped into the simple gown with flared skirt, sliding up the side zipper. It fit as a second skin, hugging her curves. The bodice was antique black lace that embraced her breasts while slyly hinting what lay behind the soft covering. It would also serve as the perfect background for the pearl necklace and her red hair.

"It's not Paris but it'll have to do." She turned in the mirror, admiring the dress. "I'll take it." Daphne removed the dress, slipping back into her regular clothes.

"I hope you have a fabulous time at the dance, Miss." The girl smiled but with a faraway look in her eyes as she rang up the sales.

"Will you be going to the dance, yourself?" Daphne asked as she waited. The plan had been for Velma to have her hair done while Daphne did her shopping then change places when Daphne kept her appointment at the salon.

"No, I have nothing decent to wear," the girl replied.

"On second thought, I'll take that last dress I tried on. If you don't mind getting it."

The girl didn't mind, the commission earned would be nice and maybe the manager would offer a bonus for putting up with the difficult customer.
The chimes over the door sang out and Velma walked in just as the girl returned with the selected dress.

"Please wrap that one separately," Daphne instructed then turned to Velma, "Hi, that coiffure looks good on you, you should try it more often.

"This is Ms. Dinkley, a poor relation. I'm sure you can help her with a dress also." Daphne handed the package to the sales girl, "now you have something to wear to the dance."

"You're a fairy god-mother now?" Velma laughed.

"Not at all, Velma," Daphne signed the sales slip. Then speaking to the sales girl, "I'll look forward to seeing you at the dance. And Velma, no orange!"

Velma

"She sure is something else." The salesgirl said as she and Velma watched Daphne rush out of the shop with her packages.

"She sure is," Velma agreed, "I'm just not sure what."

"Will you be wearing black also?" The girl released an inward sigh at the thought of another difficult customer. There had better be a big bonus in this.

"No, no black for me. Do you have something in apricot?" Velma felt a slight pang of sympathy for the hairdresser that drew Daphne as a client. She followed the girl back to the dress racks.

Daphne

With shopping completed the afternoon was given over to getting dressed as many couples in Paradise Lake looked forward to the excuse of a party to dispel the gloom of winter. It wasn't a formal affair but all the women used the occasion to pull out all the stops in their best and colorful raiment. It would be a good excuse to gather and gossip. The expected appearance of the near famous Blake pearl necklace was on everyone's lips.

It had been Fred who suggested Mystery Inc. separate and arrive in different rental cars. Shaggy and Velma agreed with Velma looking at Shaggy coyly. It was Shaggy that drew the unpleasant duty of telling Scooby he couldn't come, the last thing they needed was Scooby tipping over a punch bowl at the worst possible moment. A downcast Scooby sulked as Shaggy and Velma left first.

Daphne had refused to allow anyone, including Fred, to see her new dress until the last moment. Fred let out a low wolf whistle when she entered the room.

"I take it, you like it?" Daphne twirled in a circle, an impish grin playing at the corners of her mouth. "Shall we go, we don't want to be late, do we?"

-Xxxxxx

The Paradise Lake Community Center was ablaze in lights, the bright lights flooded the parking lot which had been fully decorated in the Valentine theme. Daphne took a deep breath, hoping to ease the pangs of unease that had her chest tied in knots.

"Why so nervous, Kitten?" Fred eased the car into a slot, "We'll all be watching out for you."

"I know, Fred. I know now how Shaggy feels like, being bait in all our mysteries."

"I think what you need is a diversion." Fred killed the engine; the motor pinging as it cooled.

"What kind of diversion?" Daphne looked curiously at Fred.

"Something like this," Fred snaked his arm around her shoulders; she allowed herself to be pulled closer. The kiss was somewhere between a gentle caress and a demanding crushing of her lips. Her arm went around his neck, holding, lengthening the kiss. Several minutes past before they pulled apart.

"Whew!" Daphne whispered, "I think I should have bought this dress along time ago. Kiss me again, like that."

They were only fashionably late.

TBC