02 The Moon And The Tide - Marina's Tales by Derrolyn Anderson Page B

reminded again of how bare it
really was. Cruz had found a gauzy wrap that looked good with the
dress but wasn’t really warm; I could feel a chill in the air as
the sun slipped below the waterline outside the window.
    Taking a deep breath, I stepped out and
gasped in shock. Ethan was standing there smiling at me. He had
changed into a dark gray suit paired with a light gray shirt. He
wore a black tie with silver threads shot through it that looked
like it was made to go with my dress. He looked so good he could
have just stepped out of the pages of a fashion magazine.
    “You look... gorgeous,” we both blurted out
at the same time.
    “Jinx!” Cruz hollered, looking darkly
handsome in his black tuxedo, tailored to perfection with a
matching black shirt and tie.
    Ethan laughed at my shocked expression, “Cruz
helped me pick a suit. Do you like it?”
    “Yes! You look incredible!” I said, thinking
about the trouble he’d gone to. He came up to me and took me by
both hands, looking me over.
    “Wow,” he said, making me blush.
    “Let’s see the hem,” Cruz said, pulling me
away from Ethan, “and I need you to lose the wrap.” I took it off
and tossed it on the couch.
    “See what I mean?” I said to Megan with an
apprehensive look as Cruz knelt down and futzed around with the
draping in the back.
    “Did you run out of fabric there, Cruz?”
Megan teased him.
    “Very funny,” he said, making a face at her,
“Don’t you think she looks amazing?”
    “You do,” Megan smiled, trying to reassure
me, “You can pull it off.”
    “I’ll try,” I said nervously, I smiled down
at Cruz, and suddenly realized how much this really meant to him,
“I think you’re done.”
    I turned, pulled him to his feet and hugged
him. Poor Cruz had been so stressed this past week I was starting
to feel bad about all my complaining.
    “You look fantastic,” I said, taking him by
the shoulders for a pep talk, “Evie’s gonna love your work... are
you ready?”
    “Really?” said Cruz, his sarcastic mask
crumbling.
    “Absolutely,” I said with conviction, “Let’s
roll.”
    We took the short walk across the hallway to
Evie’s door. I rapped on the lion-head door knocker a few times and
a tuxedoed butler opened it, gesturing us into the foyer where Evie
was waiting to receive her guests.
    “Marina! Darling! You look divine!” Evie
swept me into her perfumed embrace, squeezing me tightly and
blowing air kisses. She released me and looked at Ethan.
    “Aunt Evie, I’d like you to meet Ethan, and
my friend Megan,” I gestured to each in turn.
    “It’s so good to meet you,” she said warmly
as she took Ethan’s outstretched hand with both of hers. She
flashed me a glance that spoke a thousand words. I know, I thought,
believe me, I know.
    “Megan,” said Evie, turning towards her, “I
hear that you are an extraordinary talent; I hope that you’ll do us
the honor of a song sometime this evening.” Megan blanched as they
shook hands and Evie air kissed her.
    “And Cruz!” Evie cried, embracing him, “Are
both of these lovely girls wearing your designs?”
    He nodded, overwhelmed, as Evie inspected our
dresses with a critical eye.
    “You,” she announced ceremoniously, “have
outdone yourself! There are a few people I want you to meet
tonight... but for now, please come in and make yourselves
comfortable.”
    Cruz led Megan on a tour of Evie’s place,
each vast room decorated in a different color scheme, sumptuously
outfitted with handsome sofas, ornately carved tables, and richly
upholstered chairs. He pointed out the priceless original artwork
that lined the walls, interspersed with many portraits of Evie.
There were old Hollywood style glamor shots as well as photos of
Evie posing with famous artists and various luminaries going back
fifty years.
    “That’s her?” Megan said, looking at a
picture of Evie with Frank Sinatra, “How is that even possible? She
must have a portrait of herself tucked away in