Chapter 217

“Lana! Victor!” I called as I rounded the back of the other limousine in time to see the man lift Lana into a wheelchair.

“Daisy, dear,” Lana said when she saw me approaching her. “It’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to be mistaken for my son,” Harry laughed as he closed the limousine’s door and turned around.

“Don’t let it go to your head, Harry,” Lana giggled. “Maybe Daisy lost a contact lens.”

My disappointment that he wasn’t Victor was crushing me, but I tried not to show it. “It’s good to see you, Harry. I didn’t know you enjoyed shopping with Lana.”

“I don’t enjoy shopping at all.” Harry smiled at his wife. “But Lana can’t get around by herself yet, so I was drafted to be her nurse today.”

“Nurse?” Lana rolled her eyes. “I just need a little help getting in and out of the car.”

“Daisy, will you help me raise my darling wife’s leg?” Harry asked. “It must be elevated until the cast comes off, or it swells.”

I adjusted the wheelchair pedal while Harry lifted Lana’s casted leg. When he was satisfied she was comfortable, he covered her to her waist with a silk throw.

“Victor told us you broke up with him,” Lana said as she reached out with open arms. “I hope you know we can still be friends.”

I leaned over to accept her hug. “I’ve missed you, and I hope we can be friends too.”

I was surprised I could speak with the lump that had formed in my throat. Between missing Victor and Lana and Harry’s kind acceptance of the situation, I felt like crying. I refused to give in to tears.

My head was starting to ache, and I could hear Diana still whispering. Who was she talking to?

“Diana, is there something wrong?”

“No, I’m disappointed that Victor and Adam aren’t here, and I was talking to myself.”

“I know how you feel,” I told her. Even though she never said so, I knew Diana preferred Adam over William’s wolf, Mark.

“I miss Victor badly, and I wish things could be different,” I told Lana.

“Then why did you choose William?” Lana asked. “Is he the mate with whom you truly wish to spend your life?”

I couldn’t answer her. I didn’t want to be disrespectful toward William, and not many people would believe I received a vision from the Goddess.

But Lana put me at ease. “Everyone is talking about how William found a lab with a new treatment for Alex. Is it true that he is cured?”

“So far, it looks very likely that he will live much longer than anyone expected,” I replied. “He’s acting like a much younger man, and it’s only been a week since he started the new treatment.”

“That is fantastic news.” Lana cheered. “Did William have a part in making it happen?”

“Yes,” I replied. “He wrote to several labs until he found one with a new treatment for Alex’s disease.”

Lana nodded. “Forgive me if it seems like I’m interfering, Daisy.”

She paused to choose her words. “I must tell you that being grateful to someone is a good thing. It's in your nature. There is no reason good enough to throw away a life with the person you love.”

I locked my fingers to keep from fidgeting with my hands. “There’s more to it than I can say.”

“Honey, spending your life with the man you truly love is more important than you realize,” Lana advised. “Taking the wrong man for your mate is bad for him too. He will be as miserable as you.”

I let her words sink in, and the urge to cry returned. Lana’s words had upset Diana too. She was whispering again, but I couldn’t make out what she was saying.

“I made a promise,” I told Lana. “No matter how I feel, I must keep it.”

Lana nodded and turned her chair to greet Amy. “Hello, Amy. It’s nice to see you.”

“It's nice to see you too, Mrs. Klein,” Amy said. I could tell she was surprised Lana remembered her.

“What are you girls shopping for today?” Lana asked.

“Prom gowns,” Amy said a bit too enthusiastically.

It made Lana smile. “I heard you are dating a splendid young man.”

Amy blushed. “Justin is wonderful.”

Lana sighed dramatically. “Ah, to be young and in love.”

Harry grinned at his wife. “Let’s get the shopping finished, and I’ll take you home and remind you what it’s like to be in love.”

Amy and I giggled, but it was nice to see the affection between the older couple. It told us love does last.

“Let’s go inside and shop,” Lana said. “I hope you brought your credit card, Harry.”

“I’m sorry, my love.” He turned his palms up. “I forgot my wallet.”

Lana laughed and patted her shoulder bag. “I thought that would happen, so I tucked it in my purse before we left home.”

Harry chuckled and began to push Lana’s chair towards the shop's entrance. Amy and I followed, suppressing our own laughter.

Gisele had extra assistants working, most likely due to it being prom season.

Amy was in awe of the selection of gowns in every color and style imaginable. She was instantly drawn to a pink dress with a lace tattoo back and sleeves.

But when she looked at the price tag, her eyes widened, and she fell back a few inches.

“Is that really the price of the dress?” she hissed.

I didn’t bother to look at the tag. “Yeah. But I told you, Alex is buying anything we want today. Try it on.”

“It’s so pretty,” Amy moaned. “But I can’t let your dad pay that much for a dress.”

“Why not? He knows how much things cost here. If he didn’t want to buy you a dress, he wouldn’t have offered. So, stop worrying about it and try it on.”

Amy gently took the dress from the rack and held it in front of her.

“Do you think the color works for me?” she asked.

“It’s perfect for you,” I replied and repeated, “Go try it on.”

Gisele approached us from behind another rack of gowns. “Miss Wilson, it’s always a pleasure to see you. What can I help you and your lovely friend with today?”

“Gisele, this is my best friend, Amy Gray,” I said. “We are here to buy our prom gowns. My father said to send him the bill for whatever we want. Amy found the pink gown and would like to try it on.”

“That’s an excellent choice for her,” Gisele said. “The pastel pink silk will enhance her ethereal beauty. I suggest a pair of matching silk slippers with jeweled toes to go with it.”

“They sound perfect,” I replied.

Gisele called for two of her assistants. She instructed the one to assist Amy with anything she wanted. The other was to help me.

“And what can I get for you today, Miss Wilson?” Gisele asked.

“I’m not sure, but I know I want something different,” I replied. “I am open to your suggestions.”

“If you follow me to the back of the shop, I will show you where I keep a rack of my latest creations that have never before been for sale,” Gisele said.

I followed her and was dazzled by the rack of gorgeous gowns hidden behind the changing rooms. The glowing fabrics were too beautiful to touch.

With your complexion, hair color, and exquisite figure, I suggest the emerald green gown.” Gisele pulled the gown from the rack and held it up for my inspection.

It was breathtaking. Made of shimmering emerald green silk, the gown had a scoop neckline and three-quarter sleeves trimmed in braided silver cord, a column skirt with a thigh-high slit, and a portrait back.

It was innocent yet daring, or as my mother called it, sophisticated innocence.

“I’d like to try it on, please,” I said.

Gisele gestured at the changing rooms. “Right this way, Miss Wilson. While you try it on, I’ll find shoes in your size that will compliment the gown.”

We left the shop after Gisele pinned both gowns for alterations and bought new shoes and jewelry that set off the gowns perfectly.

“We’ll do another spa day on Thursday to get ready,” I said as we walked past Lana and Harry near the shop’s entrance.

The prom left my mind when I spotted a sly smile on Lana’s face when she thought I wasn’t looking.

What was she up to?

I knew Lana well enough to know she was planning something.

Did it have anything to do with me and Victor?