“ How is Simone, doing Whitney?”, Eve yelled upstairs.

” We’re almost finished Mom!”

“ Good. I have her flowers down here. Reese made a wonderful choice.”

The doorbell rang and Eve answered the door.

“ Mom! Is that Reese?”, Whitney yelled.

” No.  You don’t worry about it.”, Eve yelled back.

” Hi. Eve.”

“ TC. Come on in.”

TC walked through the door. “ I was surprised to get your phone call.”

” I was surprised to make it, TC. I didn’t want to see, but I thought this was an important night, and you should be a part of it.”

” Does Simone know?”

” No. I chose not to tell her. Even if she’s uncomfortable with it now, in the future, she’ll be glad that you’re here.”

“ Thank you.”

Just then, the doorbell rang again. Eve opened it.

” Hi Reese.”

” Hello, Dr. Russell.” Reese looked inside. “ Coach Russell?”

” Come on in, Reese.”, Eve said. Reese came inside.  “ I thought that Simone’s father should be a part of tonight.”

” Does she know?”, Reese whispered to Eve.

” No.”

Reeese rolled his eyes. “ Ok. Mother knows best.”

Eve smiled. “ Reese, take a seat. “

The first person down the stairs was a stylist from the local spa.

“ Hello, Henry. How’s our girl.”

” Dr. Russell, she’s wonderful. Beautiful.”

“ Thanks for helping us on such short notice.”

“ Anything for Mr. Crane.”

Eve saw TC cringe at the mention of Julian’s name, but she didn’t care.

Whitney was next down the stairs. She smiled until she saw TC. “ Daddy? Mom, what is he doing here?”

” He’s your father, and this is a big moment in her life.”

Whitney stared at TC, then shook her head. “ Whatever.” Turning towards the staircase, she yelled upstairs. “ Ladies and Gentlemen, I present Simone Lena Russell.”

Simone came down the stairs in her gown. Her hair and makeup made her look like a moviestar. Reese was mesmerized. Eve smiled and had tears. As did TC. Simone beamed until she saw TC.

“ Daddy?”

TC walked up to Simone. “ Your mother thought that I would want to be here tonight. I did, but, I’ll leave if you want me to. You look absolutely dazzling, Sugarbear.” He offered her a box. Simone opened it. It was a pair of pearl earrings.

“ They were my mother’s.”

Simone looked at them. “ I remember the gift you gave to Whitney. I didn’t think that you’d have anything for me.”

” Of course I would have something for you. “

Simone looked at the earrings. “ Thank you. They’re special.”

There was a silence and then Eve spoke up. “ Well, it’s time for pictures. Reese present Simone with her corsage.”

Reese did as instructed. “ You look breathtaking, Simone.” Simone felt the goosebumps when Reese put the corsage on her wrist.

” Thank you, Reese.”, Simone said as she smiled.

Eve took pictures. Simone with Reese. Simone with the stylist. Simone with Whitney, then TC. The stylist offered to take the picture of Eve with Simone and Whitney. Finally, there was a picture of Simone with both her parents. It was a tense moment, but they smiled together.

” Well, if Simone and I are going to get to the Prom, we have to go.”

” Reese, what about driving?”, TC asked.

” I hired a limo, Coach. Everything is taken care of. They’ll be no drinking and driving tonight.”

” Thank you, Reese.” Eve hugged Simone. “ Have a wonderful time, Sweetheart.”

” Thanks, Mom. Daddy.”

Reese and Simone left the Russell house. Whitney turned to TC. “ Simone’s gone, now you should too.”

” Whitney!”, Eve admonished.

” Eve, it’s ok. Thank you for this chance. Bye, Whitney.” TC left the Russell house.

” Whitney Russell..”

” Mom, stop! I’m not ready to remotely forgive him. At all.” Whitney stalks upstairs.

Eve turned to the stylist. “ Divorce is hell.”

” But, it’s a whole lot better when you have someone like Julian Crane to pick up the pieces. “

Eve rolled her eyes at the stylist, who faked being offended. “ What? Like I’m wrong. There are a lot worse things than to have such an attractive, good looking, RICH ‘friend’ like Julian Crane concerned for your welfare. Am I right, or am I right?”

Eve laughed and sighed. “ I suppose so. But, I’m not ready for anything.”

” Honey, you don’t have to be ‘ready’. Just the illusion of you being ready ‘someday’ will keep him coming.”

” You know, Simone is gone.”

He laughed. “ Yeah, but I know that Julian Crane sent over a spread, complete with Cristal. And, I’m hungry and thirsty! Every woman needs a gay boyfriend, and you know I’m yours, Dr. Eve. How long I’ve been doing your hair?”

“ Twelve years.”

” So, don’t even front. Let’s get full and drunk.”

Eve walked towards the kitchen. “ Well, are you coming?”

” Hell yes!”

They both laughed.
 

“ So, you like the limo?”, Reese asked.

” It’s like something out of the movies.”

“ You look beautiful, Simone. Simply stunning.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself, Mr. Durke. You clean up good.”

Reese blushed. “ Thanks.”

” I was shocked to see my Dad there.”

” Are you upset about him being there?”

” I was. At first. And, I don’t know how comfortable I was around him. But, in some ways, I’m glad he was there. When I look back on this night, he won’t be missing.”

” That’s a good thing.”

” Reese?”

” Yeah, Simone.”

” What do I tell people?”

” What do you mean?”

” I mean, people might ask….why we came together.”

” Well, I don’t know what you’re going to say, but I’m going to tell people I brought the woman I love to The Prom.”

Simone stared at Reese. “ Love?”

Reese sighed. “ Yeah, love.”

Simone smiled. “ Oh, Reese. I love you too.”, she declared as she pulled him into a kiss.