I must have gone deep and it took me a long time to resurface. I gasped for air.
“That was so fun!” Amelia screeched in the distance.
“Yeah, I missed this last year,” Heather added, both of them swimming towards me.
I didn’t even know when the girls jumped. They must have immediately jumped after me.
Strangely, I felt really good. I think it was the thrill and adrenaline and I wanted to do it again but I wouldn’t because at the sight of the water, I was sure I’d chicken out again.
“You guys shouldn’t have pushed me. I was going to jump in,” I said.
“It was Heather, not me,” Amelia said.
“You were taking too long and I didn’t have all the time in the world.”
“Took you long enough. I though you weren’t going to jump in anytime today,” Ethan said, swimming closely.
“Whatever. Can we go now?”
“What’s the hurry, birthday girl. Can’t squeeze in some time for a little water fight?”
Just as Ethan said that, my face was splashed with water.
“Whoa!” I said, rubbing my eyes to get the water out of them.
“Yeah! Water fight!” Amelia shrieked, already splashing water on Heather and Ethan.
Heather went straight towards her and pushed her into the water. I guess she was the pushy kind.
I grinned and joined them, splashing whoever was near me except Heather because I knew better than to not mess with her. We had a lot of fun and spent about an hour just playing in the water.
At one point, we formed teams with Amelia and I in one team and Ethan and Heather in the other. We targeted one person each of the other group. I want after Ethan and Amelia’s target was Heather.
I felt sorry for Olivia because she was missing on some serious fun. She had wanted to come but told me that Mrs. Jenson had asked for her company for a while. I knew well enough that it was for Olivia’s opinion about the décor of the hall in some hotel, menu, guest list and cake orders.
After we were done, we dried ourselves off with towels. The whole ride back I chattered with Amelia. I really got along well with her than I did with Heather.
Heather was a little scary at times but Amelia was so vibrant and fun to be around. She was always so enthusiastic and her energy was contagious. It instantly put you in a? happy mood.
When we returned to the mansion, I went in to have a nice, warm shower.
It was almost three when we all finally had our lunch. I wanted to catch up with Keith but after lunch when I went into the kitchen to see him, he was not there. Samara told me that he had gone out to get groceries. So I made a me mental note to talk to him before leaving for the dinner.
When I was about to make my way up to my room, Ethan stopped me by tossing a nicely wrapped box at me.
“What’s this?” I asked him.
“See for yourself.”
I tore the wrapping around it and looked at Ethan with a flat look on my face. He had given me a box of dog food.
“Is this your way of calling me a bitch?”
Ethan chuckled and walked away while I just glared at him.
Stomping towards my room angrily, I threw open the door and slammed it shut behind me.
I heard a quite bark and my head snapped to my bed where there lay an adorable pug.
“Aww…” I neared it and it looked up at me with adorable eyes, already reaching out for me. I cradled it in my arms, hugging it to me.
The pug was so cute. I mentally thanked Ethan for such a wonderful gift. But he could have at least given it to me properly, not making it seem like he was calling me a bitch at first.
“What should I name you?”
I racked my brain for some good names but came up with nothing good enough.
“I’ll name you later. I’m very tired. Let’s take a nap.”
I snuggled the pug close to me and fell into a dreamless sleep. About an hour later, I was woken up by Amelia who pushed me into the shower again because according to her, showering was the first step to getting ready.
When I was done, I walked out in my white bathrobe and saw two wrapped boxes that weren’t there before sitting on the edge of my bed.
Curious, I examined them before tearing off the wrapping paper off of it.
When I opened the first box, I couldn’t help but marvel at the sight. It was a gown. A red silky Sherri Hill gown. I took it out and it was so gorgeous. But I didn’t know how it would look on me.
Inside there was a note.
I? don’t? know much about? women’s? fashion? but? I? thought? it? would? look? good? on? you.
Ethan
I smiled and proceeded to unwrap the second box. This one contained a breathtaking necklace. I didn’t doubt that it was made up of real diamonds and rubies. A Harry Winston.
There was another note by Ethan.
It? would? look? good? with? that? gown.? Wear? both? of? them? if? you? do? decide? to? wear? this? to? the? dinner.
Deciding to wear it to the dinner, I put it aside and went downstairs to the saloon to get my makeup done. Mom had called up a few makeup artists for my look today.
Two hours later, my makeup and hair was done. I had asked them to keep it simple and they did so in a beautiful way. My lips were painted red to match my dress and my eye makeup was amazing with broad, black eye liner and red eye shadow.
The hair on the side of head was pinned back and the hair on the back of my head was let loose with the ends slightly curled. A few strands of hair fell on my eyes and I brushed them back.
When I was finally into the gown, I couldn’t stop looking at myself in the mirror, twirling around and looking at myself again. The necklace looked as if it was made for the gown. I didn’t think I have ever looked so beautiful in my life. I guess money did make you beautiful and it wasn’t even mine.
I glance at the clock hanging on the wall and quickly hurried up when I saw that it was seven-forty and I was supposed to be there by eight.
I walked out of my room and down the staircase to the living room. I was going to ride with Olivia but seeing the expanse of the gown, I thought that it was better if I rode alone.
Everyone was waiting downstairs for me. Charlotte looked anxious for some reason but the moment her eyes fell on me, she gave me a wide smile and rushed to engulf me in a hug. She looked resplendent in a black gown. She looked twenty years younger than her age and if we were to stand next to each other no one would guess that she was my mother.
“We should hurry up,” Amelia said, glancing at her watch. She was dressed in a rose gold colored halter gown with thigh high slit which exposed her long leg. Her lower back was exposed and she looked the definition of hot. “And you look beautiful, by the way.”
“Thank you, and so do you.”
“Where’s Olivia?”
“Here I am,” my best friend said on cue as she stepped into the living room, her gown suspiciously similar to Amelia’s. I didn’t know if it was intentional or not. Olivia was in a metallic rose colored backless gown with a plunging neckline and a studded belt around her slim waist.
“And where are Ethan and Heather? And the rest of the others?”
“They already left. You’ll meet them at the dinner. You’ll be the one fashionably late today on your special day,” Charlotte informed me.
“Uh, mom, can I ask you how many people are invited?”
“Not many, dear. Roughly around a hundred.” She took my hands in her and looked at me to see if I was okay.
“A hundred?!”
“Yeah, but don’t worry. They all are our close family friends and relatives. You’ll be very comfortable.” She squeezed my hand to reassure me.
“Oh, okay.”
“Stop overthinking everything. Today will be perfect for you. So just be happy, and let’s go.”
I nodded and followed behind her.
I would have to deal with eighty something unknown people who thought they knew me very well. The biggest challenge was to not get caught.
I hoped I could survive today.