Chapter 22: The Sleepover

 First off I want to thank Julie Demers for helping me with the Lewis plot and new developments with the storyline of Stacey. 

Secondly, I want to thank you all for being patient with me about getting the chapters out. I think I am back on track now and the chapters will be coming out more regularly like they used to.

The Sleepover

Stacey knew she was going to have to go to the Rotary party. There was no way around it, and she knew that like it or not, she and Sam were reaching a turning point. She decided to go shop for a dress at Bellaire's and talk to her mom.

Stacey made her way through the racks of the formal section. She wanted something blue to bring out her blonde hair. And maybe short or off the shoulder. Just because this thing with Sam was bothering her, she wouldn't let it affect her looking sensational. Flipping through she finally found it. An electric blue slinky dress with plunging sweetheart neckline and silver sparkly straps crossing in the back. It would also go perfect with her blue silver sapphire drop earrings Sam gave her for her birthday. 

She went to the counter and let the clerk check her out. Then she asked him if he could ring her mom in her office. Stacey was looking at silver purses while she waited when her mom came out.

"Stacey! So happy to see you!"

"Hi, mom! I was just shopping for the Rotary party. I was wondering if we could talk."

"Sure, sweetie. Let me tell my assistant and we can get a bite to eat."

Her mom clocked out and they walked a few blocks to the Rosebud. 

"Mom, for the first time in my life I am thinking about settling down. I want a family. I'm just not sure if that's what Sam wants. I'm not sure how to bring it up with him. And he seems so distant lately. I don't know how he feels about me."

"Oh, Stacey he is just like your father, a workaholic. And, truthfully, you kind of wear yourself thin, too. It may do you some good to slow down a little. Or take some time off. Show Sam that you are worthy of being a wife and mom. Perhaps he is having the same feelings you are, but you just aren't what he thinks of when he thinks of the motherly type."

At first, Stacey thought her mom was being very old-fashioned and Boomerish about the whole thing. But Sam could be thinking that way. What did she have to lose? 

She decided to start right away and the best person she knew to ask was Mary Anne. She was feeling better about the Rotary party already.

Dawn decided to face her situation with Mary Anne by approaching it head-on. She wasn't going to confront Mary Anne, but if these little things with her hinting at her and Lewis popped up she would just nip them in the bud, and eventually, Mary Anne would give up. 

While meditating that morning she had an epiphany. She hadn't spent that much time with the girls since she had arrived either. She decided to try to gather as many girls together as she could and have a good old-fashioned sleepover that night. They could work on the Rotary Club decorations and head over the next day and put them up. 

She quickly arranged everything with Mona and her and Mary Anne sent out text messages. They shopped with Shannon for the crafts to make centerpieces and Claudia was bringing over more supplies when she left Crookshanks. 

Dawn quickly set up the pool house for their gathering. She told everyone to just show up whenever they could and they would go from there.

The first person to arrive was surprisingly  Stacey followed by Mallory. Stacey had brought some margarita mix and Mallory brought several books on different cultures to make sure they were being authentic. Next was Jessi who had brought dome popular music from different countries and she was going to teach them some traditional dances. The very last to arrive was Abby who brought a funny book about etiquette in different countries that had belonged to Anna. 

They all got started. Claudia was working on banners to hang off each table with bunting in the colors of each flag to match. Mal and Jessi were busy teaching everyone a few phrases in each language to say to the guests while Abby interrupted them every once in a while with a funny etiquette fact. Stacey and Mary Anne kind of bounced back and forth decorating glass bowls with various trinkets and flowers. When they were done they decided to take a break and eat some food.

"What are we doing Friday night when Lewis comes into town?" Mallory asked.

"Claudia suggested we all meet here to greet him. We can have cake and ice cream and then all go down to Good Sport where we can all dance and watch the game and eat all at once."

"Glad I asked. Now I can figure out something to wear." Said Mallory. She hadn't told anyone, not even Jessi, about her feelings about Lewis. She thought about telling Jessi later that night. 

"I'll help you, Mal. I went there with Karen so I know what it's like there."

"Thanks" Mallory figured she needed all the help she could get. She knew Good Sport was more of a family-type restaurant with a dance floor that served alcohol, but she was more of a coffee house kind of girl.

It was getting later and the girls started to wind down a little bit. They began lounging around on the couch, floor, and bar stools with their wine and margaritas.

"What is Lewis like now?" Claudia asked.

"Well, he likes country music. He is good at line dancing too. We should probably pick out some country music for his welcome party. Nothing too sad though. He will want to be celebrating."

Oh boy, thought Dawn. She liked SOME country music and could tolerate it most of the time, but it was her least favorite. She DID like country line dancing though so she was glad she already knew something she could do to help Lewis feel welcome. 

"I only know a few country line dances. Jessi, could you show me a few?"

"Sure! The tush push and electric slide are my favorites."

All the girls practiced their dance moves until they had at least one line dance down to dance with Lewis.

"What else do we need to know about him," Mallory asked.

"Well, he likes southern food. Fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy are his favorite. He also eats grits for breakfast."

Dawn knew she wouldn't be binding over food with Lewis and it was the thing she was dreading the most. But as long as she didn't have to eat his retro fattening and meat-loving dishes she could deal with it. 

"He is really into sports like Logan and also loves Nascar races. He likes cars and trucks in general."

Another thing Dawn wasn't into. Cars already make pollution. Why have unnecessary car races pollute it even more? Dawn sank in her chair. She was going to just have to try hard to find something herb and Lewis could talk about. 

"He also likes to work out every morning. He is used to getting up early and going to the gym."

Well, that didn't sound all that bad to Dawn. Although she was pretty sure he wasn't taking yoga classes. 

"Does he still like horses? " Mallory asked.

"Yes. He never owned one but he used to ride them at his friend's ranch in Kentucky."

Mal beamed. "Maybe we should take him out to the trails."

Everyone thought that was a good plan. Stacey was the least experienced in riding but was willing to go along and try.

They were all pretty satisfied with their plans and began gossiping about other things too. Pete's campaign was a big topic along with the Rainforest Marathon coming up. Dawn kind of felt bad that Lewis didn't arrive in time to train for the marathon, but she knew he could enjoy the festivities that went along with it. They all began to drift off to sleep.