anne lovett

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Sunny gazed into the main ballroom of the Piedmont Driving Club, aglitter with candles in hurricane lanterns on each round table. She thrilled to see small white roses nestled in the greenery surrounding the candles. Were they wild roses, Cherokee roses? Miss Lillian had taught Sunny about growing the state flower, but Sunny still had a lot to learn about gardening.

And here she was at the Hospital Ball.

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Neil rested his hand on her shoulder and she looked into his eyes, melting, not believing she was actually here. Here at the ball in silver slippers, waiting to be escorted to their table. Standing with them were Miss Lillian, the Senator and his daughter India, Alex, and Angus, who’d come home from school for the weekend to escort Avery. Sunny’s daughter looked fabulous in one of her own creations that she’d transformed from Julie’s maroon satin prom dress. Miss Lillian wore shocking pink, and India had chosen a serene gown in celadon green crepe.

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Sunny hardly dared to breathe. She fought the urge to look around, for she was waiting for the sound of a voice she knew well. The voice came before she was ready, the unmistakable voice behind her, a glad-handing, working-the-room voice, welcoming people and thanking them for coming. And then the man belonging to the voice was right next to them, extending his hand to Lillian, to the senator, to her...

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She knew she looked good. Lillian’s hairdresser had managed to tame her curls into sophisticated waves, and Lillian’s diamond ear studs twinkled in the soft candlelight. Sunny’s creamy satin gown, a rhinestone clip at the single shoulder strap, clung to her curves like liquid silk. Avery had used her talents to the utmost. Looking up at the man with the outstretched hand, Sunny wondered why she’d ever allowed him to make her feel as if she wasn’t enough. 

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“I believe we’ve met.” She gave him a confident smile and a brief handshake. It was a hoot to see him bug-eyed.

“Sunny? Sunny Iles?” he choked.

“It’s wonderful to see you, Troy,” she said. “I’m Sunny McEvoy now. Neil is my husband.” She turned to the handsome man behind her and laid her hand on his sleeve. And this, love, is Dr. Troy Bentley. who I used to work with. Occasionally.”

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Neil, looking amazing in what he called a penguin suit, stepped forward and shook hands. “Pleased to meet you, Doctor. Here’s my son Angus and Sunny’s daughter, Avery.”

Avery didn’t stick out her tongue at him, but smiled charmingly. Sunny, watching them exchange greetings, felt her last remnants of anger drip away. She relished his discomfort.  

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A volunteer came to direct the party to their seats. During dinner, Alex complimented Avery on her gown, saying he wished his girls could have come, but they were busy with their new school in Asheville, where they were both on the cheerleading squad. The girls, Sunny knew, were staying with their mother while Alex was dealing with all of the fallout from Kiki’s death. After that, Alex and his former wife planned to work something out to share custody. Catherine wasn’t sure she wanted Alex back, but maybe they could at least be friends for the sake of the girls.

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 Champagne flowed freely during dinner, and when the band struck up the classic “Stranger in Paradise,” Sunny felt that she was stepping on to a carpet of stars instead of a dance floor. In Neil’s arms, gliding across the floor, the whole place disappeared, except the little space where she and Neil danced, two on an island, an island they had discovered together.