“Come.” Angelina took Joy’s forearm.

“What’s happening?” Joy asked.

“I told Dina tonight is a special occasion,” she shouted to Dina yet again. “And that you need an appropriate dress for tonight.”

Dina rattled off something in Italian again.

The two women stared at Joy. Grins slowly appeared on their faces as if they understood.

“What did you tell these ladies about me?”

“Nothing.” Angelina used her sunglasses as a pointer. “Only that two men are pursuing you.”

Joy turned to the women.

They smiled and nodded.

“Oh great.”

Dina shouted again at Angelina.

“Beh.” Angelina waved her off. “We should be as lucky as Joy. She has not one but two men in love with her, and tonight she must look spectacular.”

Joy grinned awkwardly as the two customers glanced at Joy’s shoes, then at her outfit and back down to her shoes.

“Tonight she must look like she doesn’t care about either man. Tonight is all about you, Joy.” Angelina used her hands to paint the picture. “You must have confidence. So much confidence that these two men won’t recognize you.” She ran her hands over Joy’s figure. “Something sexy but not too sexy. Something provocative but tasteful. Sleek and tailored, yet loose for dancing.”

“Dancing?” Joy smoothed out her blouse.

The two women nodded.

Angelina opened the door and said one last thing to Dina before pulling Joy out the door and shutting it behind her.

Dina’s voice echoed even through the closed door and into the piazza, causing many locals to stop and listen to the tirade for a moment.

“She’s angry. I should go back and apologize or something.” Joy rubbed her neck.

“She’ll be all right. Some things are more important than flowers for a wedding reception.” Angelina laughed.

Joy nodded, then her eyes widened.

“What is it?”

“I forgot my purse back in the shop!” She pointed to the door.

But Angelina shook her head. “You won’t need it. This is my treat for my good friend.”

Joy hesitated. “No. I can’t let you do this.”

“Nonsense.” Angelina put on her Prada sunglasses, looking like the movie star that she was. “Andiamo.”

In the shop, Angelina ordered the manager to bring out several dresses.

The older woman, dressed impeccably in a white suit with a red boutonniere pinned to the lapel, adjusted her thick black-rimmed glasses set on her nose. They didn’t hide her stoic expression.

“I think she’s busy. We should come back later?” Joy gulped.

But Angelina held up a black Versace dress with thick gold zippers down the sides and back. Joy cringed and shook her head.

“What about this one?” Angelina waved to a black Chanel dress.

“Too short. I’m almost sixty. I can’t wear that.” Joy rolled her eyes. Beads of sweat formed on her chest. “It’s causing a hot flash.” She fanned herself.

Angelina chuckled. She spoke Italian to the manager, who brought out a Michael Kors dress with a dangerous side slit. “And this?”

Joy didn’t cringe, but she didn’t smile either. “That could work.”

“Go.” She ordered Joy to the dressing room and handed her a pair of black Jimmy Choo pointed toe pumps.

Inside the dressing room, Joy stared at the dress, wondering how she would work her way into it. Here went nothing.

To her surprise, the dress slid onto her form perfectly, and the shoes, tight at the toes, fit too. How on earth did she know my size? Joy zipped up the dress and smoothed it out with her hands. Studying herself in the mirror, she nodded.

“Well?” Angelina asked.

“Not bad.” Joy spun around. “Not bad at all.”

“It had better be for that price.”

The price? Joy unzipped it, then searched for the price tag. When she saw it, she plopped down onto the bench in the dressing room. “Good grief.”

“What is it?”

“This dress costs as much as my first car did.” Joy stared with her mouth agape.

“Adiamo. Jewelry is next.”

Walking through the doorway of the Viva Verona Ristorante, Joy adjusted her shoulders and stared straight ahead at all the patrons drinking and chatting. Wearing the very expensive black Michael Kors dress with a side slit that made her nervous, Joy did her best to be confident.

“Don’t worry.” Angelina winked. “You look like a million dollars, darling.”

“No, you look like a million dollars.” Joy blinked. “I look like five hundred thousand dollars.”

Angelina laughed. “It’s the perfect little black dress for you, Joy.”

“I suppose.” She reached up and adjusted the braided gold necklace and earrings to match. But the new shoes were a little too tight.