When I get home, Amelia’s waiting for me with a keen expression on her face.

“How was your day, honey?” she asks.

I shrug. “Mostly like any other.”

“Oh, it’s going to get better.”

“What do you mean?” Why are people talking in riddles today?

“There was a delivery for you.”

“Where is it?”

“In your room.”

I dash into my room. An amazing dress is draped on my bed with a Post-it note on it that says, “Wear me.” Next to it, there’s a dock station with another Post-it saying, “Play me.” This is a surprise date version of Alice in Wonderland. What are we celebrating, my Very Merry Unbirthday? I wonder if a white rabbit with a ticking clock is going to make an appearance soon to tell me I’m late, which I kind of am considering it’s already six. Well, at least I won’t have problems choosing what to wear. I’m intrigued. Where’s Richard going with this?

I push play on the dock station and it’s The Blues Brothers soundtrack. I smile, thinking back on our first date at the film club.

To the sound of ‘Everybody Needs Somebody To Love’, I hop in the shower while dancing and singing like a maniac. I’ll give it to Richard: he knows how to set the right atmosphere.

I quickly blow-dry my hair and step back into the room. Now, ‘Do You Love Me?’ is on and I can’t help but shake my booty to the melody.

“Having fun?” Amelia asks, leaning against the doorframe.

“Much. Did you see this dress?” I slip it on. “It’s a dream.” It’s a navy midi-length dress with a see-through hem and shoulder straps. It has blue floral appliques and beads all over. It’s gorgeous. “My blue suede pumps will look great with it.”

“Yeah, I think that was the idea.”

I twirl in front of the mirror, excited. “What do you say, hair up or down?”

“Up, but loose. If you give me a comb, a hair band and ten bobby pins I can pull the perfect bun off in five minutes.”

“Yes, madam.”

I give her everything she asked for. Amelia starts by backcombing the base of my hair, then pulls the back half in a side ponytail that she transforms into a side bun, and finally, zip-zap, she pins the rest of the hair on the bun in a perfectly-messy fashion. As promised, I’m red carpet ready in five minutes.

“Wow! This is super. Thank you, Ames.”

“You’re gorgeous.”

I put eyeliner on, a generous quantity of mascara, blush, and lip-gloss, so that when the bell rings, I’m just about ready.

I shut off the dock station. “I’m going.”

“Have a great night.”

“I will.”

“And be home by midnight,” Amelia yells jokingly after me. “Or, don’t come back at all.”