Grace looked blank.
“Where’s that drawer full of giveaway makeup, moisturizers, whatever you’ve accumulated over the years?”
“Oh,” Grace said. “That drawer. This way.”
It was late when the two couples got to the prom, but it was still in full swing. The band was on a break, but the teenagers were milling around, laughing and talking loudly.
Abby was standing by the entrance door, still shaking, still scared of what was coming. Would the sheriff come to her with horrific news?
When the door opened and her mother came in, Abby nearly collapsed in relief. She flung herself on her mother, the tears at last coming.
“It’s okay,” Grace said, holding her daughter’s head to her shoulder. “Everything is fine. This is your prom and you should dance. Where is Baze?”
Abby didn’t lose her grip on her mother but she sniffed. “He said I was no fun and he went back to Ashley. I want to go home and stay there forever, but you look beautiful.”
Grace pulled her daughter’s face away to look at her. “He wasn’t worth you, and thank you. Now, I want you to get back on that floor and—”
She broke off because the music began, only this time it was a much better band. It was loud and professional.
Chelsea, standing nearby, said, “Who are they?”
“I would imagine it’s the band I hired for Scully,” Eli answered.
“You did what?” Around them, the teenagers were looking at the band in awe. The kissing couples started coming back into the gym.
Eli gave a small smile. “You’re not the only one who can make plans in secret. Shall we go see the show?” He held out his arm for her.
While they’d been away, dealing with Orin, new speakers had been set up and instead of local kids playing, some men in their forties, maybe fifties, were on the stage. Their faces had lines and wrinkles that only decades of substance abuse could produce. Their leather outfits looked as though they’d been through a lot of partying. One guy with a guitar nodded at Eli, then looked at Chelsea and gave a thumbs-up.
Sh
e looked at Eli. “Friend of yours?”
“He’s needed help a couple of times, so he owes me.” Eli pulled her into his arms, her back to his front. “I think you’ll like their music.”
Abruptly, the band stopped playing. There was a drumroll, and everyone turned to look toward the back. The gym doors opened with a crash. Standing in a spotlight was Scully, wearing a tuxedo. He was flanked by two beautiful young women wearing short, revealing dance costumes.
As the band began again, this time very loud and throbbing, exciting, Scully and the girls danced into the room. Everyone stepped back to watch.
The dance show the three people put on was nothing short of spectacular. It was a story of the two beautiful young women fighting over the guy in the tux. The girls pranced and mock-fought, and Scully—who had mastered the art of looking disdainful—tried to make up his mind over which woman he wanted.
The dancing and the music had everyone clapping and cheering. Which woman should Scully choose?
When the girls seemed about ready to get into a brawl, Scully stepped away from them and walked toward the surrounding crowd. They parted to let him pass.
Scully walked to Abby, who was standing by her mother. Her eye makeup had run a bit, but that just made her look more like a beautiful damsel who desperately needed rescuing.
As the music pounded, Scully held his hand out to her.
With a smile that dazzled, Abby accepted his hand and walked with him to the center of the floor. When the music slowed, Scully began to dance with Abby in an old-fashioned ballroom style. He dipped her, flung her out to the end of his arm, then pulled her back. It didn’t take Abby long to begin to add moves of her own. Everyone around them was clapping, smiling, cheering.
When the music stopped, Scully pulled Abby to him and kissed her full on the mouth.
The entire school erupted into cheers. As Eli’s two pretty cousins slipped sparkling crowns onto the heads of Scully and Abby, confetti rained down from the ceiling, covering everyone.
Again, the crowd parted as, holding hands and wearing their crowns, Abby and Scully left the gym.
“Limo outside?” Chelsea asked Eli.