Sarah and the Angelic Magical Makeover Page 8

  Daniels narrowed his eyes as he watched Travis let his gaze roam over Valerie’s body. He cleared his throat. “Travis made reservations at Calico Italian City. He said it’s a quaint, secluded place.

  Without taking his eyes off Valerie, Travis spoke up. “It is, and I’m sorry for the hour. Daniels and I both had to wait till we got off work.”

  “No problem.” Valerie smoothed her hair.

  “Everyone ready to go?” Daniels glanced from Sarah to Valerie.

  “We’re ready.” Valerie moved toward the door with Travis following.

  Sarah stayed glued to the barstool.

  “Ready, Oceana?” Daniels expected Sarah to go first.

  Sarah nodded.

  After you.” Daniels lifted his brows while he waited for Sarah to move. She didn’t. He stepped aside, his obvious intentions evident.

  With a pounding heart and a deep breath, Sarah released the grip on her anchor and stepped forward. Wow! So far so good. Just a few more steps, and she’d be at the door with Valerie and Travis. Hooray! She was actually walking in the stilettos. She lifted her chin and decided to promenade with confidence.

  Without warning, her ankles wobbled and she pitched forward—right into Travis’ midsection. She tackled him like a lineman sacking a quarterback. Her blow made him tumble backward but he managed to catch his balance.

  Sarah then bounced off Travis and ended flat on her rear. With arms snaked one way and legs sprawled another, she landed in a position unbecoming to a lady.

  “Whoa, girl. You okay?” Travis extended a hand to Sarah to help her up.

  Sarah got on her knees and rocked back and forth. “I didn’t know getting up in high heels could be so hard. I usually just fly right up.”

  Daniels arrived and placed his hands under Sarah’s armpits and gently helped her stand. “Are you hurt?” His voice was filled with concern.

  “No, I’m not hurt, just embarrassed, and I guess I’m not ready for these shoes. Help me over to the barstool and I’ll take them off.”

  If Daniels hadn’t steadied her gait, she’d never have made it back to the chair.

  Fourteen

  Sarah glanced down at her navy flats as she entered the restaurant and sighed. She’d looked forward to wearing those red heels tonight. Maybe someday.

  Daniels pulled out her chair, and Travis did the same for Valerie.

  Travis unfolded his napkin. “I hope y’all like this place. They serve terrific Italian food.”

  Valerie laid her napkin in her lap. “I love Italian, but since you and Oceana got me started with diet and exercise, I haven’t had any.”

  Travis swiveled in his chair to look at Valerie. “I remember how amazing and beautiful you were when you first came to the gym, and now, well, all I can say, is wow!”

  Valerie’s eyes lit up as bright as the North Star, and a sweet blush crept into her cheeks. “Thanks.”

  Daniels raised his water glass in a toast. “I second that, and here’s to two of the prettiest women I’ve ever met.”

  Sarah smiled. “Nice one, Daniels. Women like compliments. It’s a shame we don’t hear them more often.” Her thoughts turned to Valerie’s dad and his cruel, negative comments. What a difference a positive reinforcement would have made in Valerie’s life. No person should suffer verbal abuse like that man gave to his daughter. Especially children. They didn’t know how to process it. Adults found it difficult too.

  Daniels sipped his water. “My dad complimented Mom often, and he meant the praise. I try to follow his example. I think positive remarks benefit a person. My parents were super kind to each other, and I think that’s one reason they enjoyed marriage. They had healthy self-images. Their encouragement helped me lose weight and dismiss the bullies when I was younger. Ugly remarks hurt. People believe the cruelty.”

  Sarah blinked. Had Daniels read her mind? He’d voiced her thoughts.

  Valerie’s face clouded fast enough to make a meteorologist shout with happiness. “You were fortunate. Many of us didn’t have that growing up.”

  Daniels cocked his head. “Your parents weren’t happy?”

  “No. They fought a lot. My dad criticized everyone and everything in his path. No one could please him.” Valerie picked up her menu and nosedived into it. She obviously wanted to change the subject. “Since we’re trying to be thinner and healthier, we need to watch fat content. What do you recommend, Travis?’

  “Choose anything that appeals. It’s okay to treat yourself in moderation. You ladies have been working hard, and you deserve an indulgence. My suggestion is to order a smaller portion of whatever you crave. Or ask the server to place half the order as take out and then eat a smaller portion. Either way, you get a reprieve and stay true to your goal.”

  Daniels nodded to Travis. “With the exception of those reality TV shows where people lost weight, I’ve never seen anyone work as hard as these two have. Exercise and diet has been their full-time occupation for weeks now, and the results look good on both of them.”

  Valerie gave a megawatt smile to Daniels. “I appreciate that, but our schedule will change now that school has started. We’ll have to slow down. I love my kids and their parents, but they bring me all kinds of goodies, and I’m expected to take a bite of whatever they bring. I always do—I don’t want to hurt their feelings. One brought fudge last week.” She giggled. “I confess. It was wonderful.”

  Travis touched Valerie’s hand. “Fantastic! Don’t worry about an extra bite of dessert. You’ll have a setback now and then, just acknowledge it and get back to the normal routine. That fudge went to all the right places.”

  Valerie ducked her head to avoid his admiring glances.

  Sarah listened as she perused the menu. “That’s what I told her. I can’t decide. It all sounds yummy, but some of the choices aren’t on our plan. Travis, what are you having?”

  “Chicken Piccata with pasta and mushrooms is generally a low calorie entrée, and I like it. It’s good here.”

  The server appeared, ready to take drink orders. All four people ordered water. She wrote it down on her pad and then said, “I’ll bring the bread basket with your drinks.”

  “Hold up.” Travis spoke a little louder as the server turned away. “No bread basket for us.” He then seemed to catch himself. “Sorry, I should have asked you guys first.” He returned his attention to the server. “Please bring it for my friends.”

  The server nodded and went on her way.

  Sarah’s mouth watered. Garlic bread smothered in butter sounded good to her, but on the other hand, she was here to help Valerie. Maybe she should ignore the longing. Giving up one food in order to have another wasn’t a bad idea.

  Travis frowned as though he’d made a grave mistake. “Didn’t mean to be rude. Force of habit. I usually decline the bread basket. I love bread, but I can’t be tempted if it’s not in front of me.”

  Sarah smiled and applauded softly. “That’s wise advice, and it applies to life, doesn’t it? I mean, if you avoid temptation of all kinds, then you can’t yield to sin because it’s not before you.”

  Travis scrunched his brows together. “That sounds like religious mumbo gumbo. I was talking about food—nothing else.”

  Daniels’ eyes grew round. “You aren’t a believer?”

  Travis gave a one shoulder shrug. “I believe in lots of stuff. Health, fitness, diet, doing good for others—junk like that, but I don’t believe in God.”

  Sarah and Daniels exchanged glances, and Travis fell silent. Valerie twisted her napkin in her lap.

  Clearing her throat, Sarah spoke up. “God is real.”

  Travis chuckled. “I don’t think so, but if He is, how do you know? Ever see Him?”

  Sarah grew as serious as a hot air balloon on fire. “Yes, many times.”

  Daniels gave her a huge smile, and Valerie appeared to grow smaller.

  Travis stared at her as if she’d lost her senses. “Tell us what He looks like.”

  “I
can’t do that, He’s an indescribable, beautiful, glowing Spirit, but think about it. You’ve seen Him too; I know you have. We all have. Look around you at a sunrise or sunset. A delicate rose. A tiny microbe too small to see with the human eye. Or how about a newborn baby? Miracles are all around us.”

  Travis relaxed his clinched jaw. “I agree. Wonders are here, but that doesn’t mean God is.”

  Daniels leaned forward. “How do you think the wonders came about?” His question was soft and his tone inoffensive, not the least bit confrontational. He appeared to want to know.

  Sarah inwardly approved of Daniels. He wasn’t arguing, just searching Travis’ opinions. Mother Goodness had taught this principle many times in The Heavenlies. She’d said the best way for humans to get another to examine his or her faith was to share testimonies, not squabbles.

  Travis closed one eye as if giving the answer some thought. “Truth be told, I haven’t given God stuff much thought. The universe just came to be—you know, the big bang and all that.”

  His remark cracked Sarah up and she couldn’t contain her hilarity. Tears ran down her cheeks.

  Daniels, Travis, and Valerie stared and waited for the hysterics to cease.

  Catching her breath, she responded. “Sorry to laugh so hard, but He laughs too when He hears people say that.”

  Travis arched an eyebrow. “Who laughs?”

  “God. His sense of humor is boundless. Remarks like that tickle His funny bone.”

  Travis shook his head. “Oceana, you’re one eccentric lady with a good imagination, but you’re fun to be around.”

  ~ * ~

  The server brought plates of food and Daniels focused his attention on Travis. “Mind if I say grace?”

  Travis shook his head. “Fine by me. I’m not used to it, but I might learn a thing or two.”

  Sarah picked up her fork when Daniels finished. She twirled the pasta around with it. Yum. “This is as good as anything Chef Andrew concocts.”

  Travis paused with a fork in midair. “You have a chef?”

  Valerie giggled. “We don’t, but her father does. She says that’s why she never learned to cook. I’m trying to teach her.”

  Travis studied Sarah. “You must come from a wealthy family.”

  Sarah curved her lips in a secret smile. “You have no idea, but you’ll know that one day.” Sarah glanced at her plate. “This is delicious. Thanks for recommending it.”

  The group quieted as they tasted their food.

  Valerie seemed to have trouble twining the pasta onto her fork, and Travis noticed.

  “Here, Babe, let me help.” He coiled a perfect sized bite and guided it to Valerie’s lips. Valerie placed her hand around the one Travis offered, and then closed her mouth around the fork of linguine as she stared into his eyes.

  Travis winked at her, and she blushed to the color of the rose in the budvase.

  “Do you like it?” Travis could tell she did, but he asked anyway.

  Valerie swallowed the food and seemed to choke down her embarrassment at the same time. “I could eat the whole thing, but I’ll take half home. It’ll be good for dinner tomorrow night. I’ve worked too hard at the gym to undo it all in one night.”

  Travis inhaled deeply. “Babe, I hope you’ll join the fitness center as a regular member, but if you don’t, I’m gonna find other ways to see you. You’ve got what it takes to keep a man coming back.”

  Valerie’s shocked expression rivaled a beauty contestant who’d just been announced the winner.

  Sensing Valerie’s speechless moment, Sarah jumped in. “That’s a lovely thing to say. I think Valerie would like that. Right, Valerie?”

  Valerie found her voice and gazed wide eyed at Travis. “Are you serious?”

  “Babe, I’m serious as a hurricane barreling down on Galveston in September. I want to see you on a regular basis. What do you say?”

  Valerie looked as though she might fall off her chair. “I’d like that.”

  Daniels’ glare could light a bonfire as he stared at the exchange between Travis and Valerie.

  Sarah saw the scowl. Now what was that all about? Was he an evil spirit sent to keep Travis and Valerie apart? Or was he an angel sent to help her put them together? Perhaps he was an actual, human guy interested in Valerie and that glower he gave Travis was a jealous look. If he were a mortal, then one of these men was right for Valerie, but which one?

  Poopty doopty. Falling down in red stilettos was easier than figuring out this puzzle.

  Fifteen

  The men said goodnight at the door, and Sarah and Valerie walked inside and plopped down in chairs.

  Sarah was the first to speak. “Did you have a good time?”

  Valerie’s eyes closed in a dreamy expression. “My first date was exciting and I feel giddy, and Travis wants to go out next weekend.”

  “It was my first time to be out on what people call a date too, and I can see how men and women enjoy an evening like that, but I’m not a candidate for marriage. On the other hand, you are. Daniels’ and I are friends, but he can’t get the wrong idea. You’ll need to go next Friday night with Travis by yourself.” Sarah kicked off her shoes and tucked one leg under the other.

  Valerie sat up, and bunched her brows together. “Why aren’t you marriage material?”

  “My Father plans to send me here and there. Marriage isn’t possible for creatures like me.”

  Valerie shook her head. “Creatures? You’re calling yourself a creature? Sometimes you say the strangest things and make no sense at all. For months now you’ve been encouraging me to think more highly of myself, get married and have a family. Yet, you say it’s not in the cards for you. What gives?”

  Sarah inwardly groaned. How to explain this mess? She was a spirit in human disguise. Angels didn’t marry. They weren’t supposed to go on so-called dates either, but she was trying to help Valerie. What would the Commander say about this evening? The anticipated lecture gave her chills, another new sensation.

  “My Father expects more from me with my music.” Sarah drew in a sharp breath. Well, that was true. Sort of. God had gifted her with musical abilities, and He wanted her to use them.

  Just as Valerie opened her mouth to speak, the doorbell rang.

  Valerie frowned. “Who can that be at this hour?” Going to the door, she called out. “Who is it?”

  “Your dad and mother.” A male voice could be heard from the other side.

  Valerie turned around to gaze at Sarah. The expression on her face said, “Help me, I’m about to be killed.” She opened the door and a large, burly man and petite woman entered the apartment.

  “Hi Dad, Mom. What brings you two over here tonight? Is something wrong?”

  Valerie’s dad spoke first. “No. Not with us. I want to know what’s wrong with you. Your mother and I were having a late dinner at the Calico Italian City tonight and saw you there with a guy. Who is he? Why was he with you?”

  Valerie gestured to the sofa. “Oh. I didn’t see you at the restaurant. You should have come by our table. I would have been happy to introduce you. Please come in.”

  The couple followed her.

  Valerie gestured to Sarah. “I’d like you to meet my roommate, Oceana Waters. Oceana, this is my mom and dad, Charles and Linda Townsend.”

  Sarah stood as the couple approached and smiled at them. “I’m honored to meet you.”

  Charles plopped on the sofa. “Harrumph. You’re the other woman I saw tonight.” His wife sat next to him and smoothed her skirt.

  Could this guy be grumpier? Or ruder? Sarah hoped her thoughts didn’t show. “Yes, sir. We had a lovely meal. Did you enjoy yours?”

  “It was all right until I saw Valerie.” Charles turned his attention back to Valerie. “Who is the guy you were with? What’s his reason to be with you? Did you lie and say I’m rich? Is that why he’s with you? Thinks I have money?”

  Valerie sat on the edge of her chair. “No, I’ve never mentioned you or M
om. His name is Travis Bottsworth.” Valerie seemed to withdraw and reluctant to give details. Sarah guessed she wanted to give the barest of essentials. Remembering the conversations they’d had about Valerie’s dad, she could understand Valerie’s foot-dragging.

  “How did you meet him?” Charles growled out his question.

  “He’s a physical trainer and works at a fitness center.”

  “You go there?” Another snarl.

  “Yes.” Valerie studied the arm of the chair.

  Valerie’s mom spoke up. “Good for you! I think you look lovely. You’ve lost weight, and I like your new hairstyle.”

  Charles turned to his wife. “Hush, Linda.” He then squinted at Valerie. “And you’re wearing makeup. What’s gotten into you? You were never pretty, but now you look like a hussy.”

  Sarah gasped and the group turned to gaze at her. “Sir, I don’t wish to be impolite, but calling Valerie names seems cruel to me. Surely you don’t mean that.”

  Charles rose and stood near Sarah’s chair as if to dwarf her. “I call ‘em like I see ‘em. Men have always spurned Valerie, and with good reason. She’s fat and ugly. Now she’s fat and looks like a brazen hussy.”

  Valerie burst into tears.

  Linda wiped her own eyes.

  Sarah’s mouth dropped to her chin, and she felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped on her. Good grief! Valerie must feel even worse. This was her father talking to her as if she were the most repulsive person on earth.

  “Mr. Townsend, I don’t know what a hussy is, but the way you say the word, it must be an awful person.” Sarah stood. She knew her eyes must be blazing with a righteous light. She advanced toward Valerie’s father and narrowed her eyes. Charles took a step back from her.

  Sarah shook her finger at him. “Now I want you to know something. Valerie is a fine, successful young woman, and she’d even be more so if you hadn’t bullied her as a child. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

  Charles’ face turned the color of pickled beets. “Young lady, you can’t talk to me like that.”

  Sarah lifted her chin and placed her hands on her hips. This guy was getting to her. What would the Superiors say about standing up to this dude? Never mind. It was too late. “Well, I just did talk to you like that. What are you going to do about it?” She spat her words and glared at him.