#60 - Mary Anne's Makeover

[ozqueen]

More Mary Anne and Richard cuteness, because...

When Joyce finished, I almost jumped out of my seat. I looked … well, let’s put it this way. I did not look like the model, but I did look like a new person. I felt like one, too. I could see my grin growing and growing in the mirror. I didn’t know what to say, so I sort of squealed.

“She’s excited,” Joyce said to my dad.

“Yes,” Dad replied. He wasn’t exactly bursting with praise, but he was smiling.

I could barely feel my feet touch the ground, I was so happy. I must have stared in that mirror for ages. I wanted to see every possible angle. Eventually Dad paid the cashier and gently led me away.

“Thanks!” I said to Joyce.

“My pleasure,” Joyce replied. “Say hi to Stacey for me.”

What a feeling came over me as I walked out of the salon. Who ever knew there were breezes in a mall? Well, there were, and I felt every one of them on my neck.

“Oh, thank you, Dad!” I exclaimed. “Do you like it?”

“The important thing is, do you like it?” he replied.

My stomach went into knots. He hadn’t said yes. “I love it … but …” I felt my lower lip start to tremble. “You don’t like it, do you?”

Dad gave me a concerned look. “No, I think it’s wonderful, sweetheart. It makes you look like a beautiful young woman. It’s just …” He shrugged and tried to smile. “Well, you’re growing up, Mary Anne. That’s never easy for a parent to see, especially an old grump like me.”

So that’s what it was. The look in Dad’s eyes was sad and proud and happy, all at the same time. Oh boy. Now I felt like crying for a different reason.

OH, SPIERS, ILU SO MUCH ♥