Page 69 of Proof

Luna was giddy. “I’ll come with you for moral support. As long as they serve high tea.”

“Of course,” Felipé replied.

Chi-Chi looked through her phone calendar.

“Make sure it’s not when I’m away,” Luna added, and provided the dates of her travel plans.

“June thirtieth it is,” Felipé confirmed. “You girls go have some fun now, but stay out of trouble.”

Chi-Chi laughed. “That is why I am here.”

Luna was walking on air. “I can’t believe how good all of this feels. My transformation. My metamorphosis.”

“It is true. You have gone from a caterpillar to a butterfly.”

Luna frowned. “I was a caterpillar?”

“Do not be ridiculous. I was simply using a metaphor. Do not be so touchy.” Chi-Chi gave her a tap on the elbow.

“Ha. Let’s call Cullen and tell him to meet us for dinner.”

“You still need to get new glasses.”

“Right. There’s a one-hour place on the way back. We’ll stop there and then call him.”

“One more thing,” Chi-Chi added. “You should stop at Blue Mercury and have them recommend some makeup.”

Luna looked surprised. “Why? Do I look awful?”

“No, you do not look awful, but with your new hairstyle and color, perhaps they can recommend something that would go better than what you have been wearing. Maybe you will not need anything, but if you are going all this way, it could not hurt. We shall pick out your glasses and go to Blue Mercury while we wait.”

“Good idea. See? This is why I need you with me.” Luna grinned.

When they arrived at Spectacular Spectacles, Luna gravitated to the rack of cat-eye – shaped glasses.

“Love your hair,” one of the clerks commented.

“Thank you!”

“Can I help you with anything?” the clerk asked. She was a woman in her forties and was wearing a name tag in the shape of eyeglasses that said MAUREEN.

“I need a new pair and am thinking about this shape.” Luna pulled on a pair of cat-eyes with a tortoise frame.

“I think that’s too busy for your hair. The frame is good, but maybe in a solid?” Maureen handed Luna a pair of amber frames.

“They’re perfect!” Luna exclaimed. “Can you have them ready in an hour?”

“That’s what we do here,” Maureen assured her.

“Terrific!” Luna replied. She turned to Chi-Chi. “Can you call Cullen and tell him to meet us at Three Brothers at, say, seven?”

“Of course, I can.” Chi-Chi punched in Cullen’s number on her speed-dial and relayed the instructions.

“What are the two of you up to?” Cullen asked with mocking suspicion.

“You will see. Bye.” That was Chi-Chi, alright—blunt and to the point.

Luna and Chi-Chi walked two blocks to Blue Mercury, where a young man greeted them with, “Love your hair!”