A Tiara Under The Tree

Alisha turned. Lexi and Kenzie squealed. Without thinking, Dominic’s hand clutched his heart when he saw her standing behind Alisha. She wore her hair in a ball at the top of her head, no makeup and a tan turtleneck paired with what looked like a pair of denim overalls. Waverly glared at him with her dark eyes. If looks could kill...

“I’ve seen you around,” Alisha said. “I didn’t realize you and my brother were friends.”

Waverly blinked and glanced at everyone in the living room. “Apparently your brother has a lot of friends these days. Lexi? Kenzie? What’s going on in here?”

“Surprise!” Lexi cheered, followed by Kenzie pumping her fist in the air.

Chapter 3 (#ud1e8716b-18da-5755-8cb9-5b01604fb29a)

A sticky, sweet smell of hair spray hugged the air behind the backstage curtains of the Miss Southwood Beauty Pageant, masking the stench of fear as well as envy. Waverly sat in her black swivel chair as her makeup artist, Titus, applied a fresh layer of foundation on her face, hopefully covering the embarrassment of the last five days of pure pageant torment since she’d entered.

The moment Waverly arrived at the Magnolia Palace, where the pageant would take place, she knew Tiffani had abandoned her. Tiffani took one look at her and Waverly knew not to step foot in The Cupcakery for a while. It was clear to Waverly from the beginning that no one appreciated her being there. So much for the friendly Southern hospitality she had grown used to.

On the first day of rehearsals, she’d been accidently tripped by a girl who claimed to be a virgin stiletto walker. The women Waverly practiced the opening number with told her to go in the wrong direction, so Waverly ended up bumping into everyone when they all gathered together. The dance instructor and director of the pageant talent team at Grits and Glam Studios, Chantal Hairston, took mercy on her and gave Waverly a few pointers—which didn’t help the camaraderie from the contestant girls. Waverly tried to remember her cause. For everyone else, this was just a title and a crown to wear around town. For Waverly, this was her last shot at staying on task for her lifelong dream at a shot of becoming Miss Georgia. Pageanting was the only thing she knew how to do.

As the pageant neared its end, at the head of the pack were Tiffani, a girl from the teen division and Waverly. Waverly steadied her breathing. Surprisingly, she made it through the top five—beating the odds stacked against her. Not only did Waverly lack support from the other contestants, but she didn’t have any fans with the judges, either. At least not with one. The current Miss South Georgia, Lexi’s successor had been a thorn in Waverly’s side for as long as she could remember. Before opening Grits and Glam Gowns, Lexi had worked as a private pageant coach for Vera Laing. As children, Waverly and Vera often competed for the same crowns. Waverly always got the win. Waverly blew out the nervousness in the pit of her stomach.

“You all right, chérie?” Titus asked. Her makeup artist stood at least six feet five inches tall and towered over her in the chair.

“I’m good,” Waverly lied. “How are you doing? I heard a lot is at stake for you.”

Titus pressed his lips together, took a step backward and kissed his fingers. “Girl, it’s more than just a stake. My job is on the line.” He leaned closer, nodded and whispered, “Against that heifer right there.”

Ravens Cosmetics, one of the longest-running black-owned cosmetic companies catering to women of color, sponsored the event. This year the executives decided to take the opportunity during the pageant to choose their next employee. Titus and the other makeup artists vied for the creative design director position. Titus’s work on Waverly had got her this far. There was one other person giving him competition. The renowned makeup artist Zoe Baldwin worked on Tiffani’s touch-up. Titus was equally talented. Waverly just had a penchant for anything eighties and Zoe’s makeup brought back a lot of the bright colors. Titus and Waverly looked over at Zoe’s station. Tension hung in the air. Thankfully the lights dimmed.

No matter how many pageants, sashes and titles she won, nervousness washed over her. All it took was for someone to not like her dramatic eye makeup or the song she sang or the way her body jiggled after weeks of a steady diet of pizza, beer and cupcakes. Waverly’s heart raced. Why did she bother entering? Was she so desperate to get the Miss Georgia crown?

“Next time I see you,” said Titus, helping Waverly to her feet, “you’ll have the Miss Southwood tiara on your head.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Waverly said with a weak smile. She gathered the hem of her buttercup-yellow gown—not designed by Lexi. The deep V-neck might be the reason she lost. In the past she’d won only with a Grits and Glam gown.

Panic set in again. Waverly lined up behind the curtain with Tiffani and the other girl. Surprisingly, Tiffani reached for Waverly’s hand and gave it a squeeze. The crowd clapped when they took the stage. Waverly glanced into the crowd out of habit for her mother. Jillian didn’t even know she’d entered. Bright lights blinded her. Did Lexi show? Was anyone out there cheering for her?

Consumed with doubt and fear, Waverly moved on autopilot. She smiled and answered her questions. Even though she couldn’t see them, Waverly felt Vera’s daggers. Knowing the hatred her nemesis had for her motivated Waverly. The judges narrowed their choices, and then there were two—Tiffani and Waverly. Standing close together, Waverly and Tiffani held hands again. She searched the crowd for the spot where she last spotted Dominic. His smile and gentle, encouraging nod calmed her soul.

“No matter what happens,” Tiffani whispered, “I am kinda glad to be standing next to you.”

Waverly blinked back a threatening tear. “Tiffani, I am really sorry for the way things turned out. I don’t want you to think I underhanded you.”

“I don’t,” Tiffani said with a toothy smile. “At least, not anymore. Being up here with you means I am with the best of the best.”

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee announced into a silver microphone, “it is now time to present to you the second runner-up, Miss Frosting. Congratulations, Tiffani.”

The crowd erupted into what Waverly deciphered as cheers. Tiffani hugged Waverly’s neck, then stepped backward for Waverly to take her walk to the front of the stage. The former Miss Southwood placed a seven-inch, diamond tiara on top of Waverly’s head. Welcome to the family, she said silently to the tiara. With her head held high she walked forward on the stage, blowing kisses and mouthing “thank you” to the judges. The triumphant walk refueled her dreams of Miss Georgia.

Titus grabbed Waverly by the hand and swung her around in the air. “We did it!” he cried.

“Thank you so much,” said Waverly. She touched just under her right eye to make sure her mascara didn’t run.

“It ain’t going anywhere—you’re wearing Ravens Reign-Proof mascara,” Titus reassured her with a wink.

A man in a dark suit approached them with a bright smile across his handsome face. “Ah, a man who knows his products,” he said, extending his hand to Titus.

“Waverly, allow me to introduce you to Charles Ravens.”

Waverly wasn’t sure if she needed to curtsy for the heir to makeup royalty.

“May I say what an honor it is to meet you?” Waverly settled on a handshake.

Mr. Ravens clapped his soft hands over hers. “The honor is all mine, Miss Southwood. You wear our products well.”

The tiara tilted when she nodded in appreciation. Mr. Ravens went on to congratulate Titus on his new appointment as creative design director at Ravens Cosmetics. Zoe Baldwin came over and congratulated Waverly. Honor filled Waverly. As the executive spoke with Titus and Zoe, reality sank in for Waverly. All this started from a silly wager over pizza. How different would things be right now, if her original thought of the wager had been a simple kiss? She and Dominic might be in bed together. Rehearsal this week left little time for Dominic. She owed him everything. Dominic reset her track to becoming Miss Georgia. Hell, she still couldn’t believe she’d won.

“I knew you’d win.” Dominic’s deep voice whispered as he stepped up to Waverly, causing a chill down her spine when his large hand wrapped around the curve of her waist. Waverly shifted the dozen roses in her arms and realized another man had come over with Dominic. Dominic made the introductions. “Waverly,” he said against her ear, “I want to introduce you to my brother Will Ravens.”

“Brother?” Waverly looked back and forth at the two of them. The judge, Will Ravens, was the CEO of Ravens Cosmetics. When Dominic wanted to look sharp in a suit, he definitely looked the part of a business mogul...even standing next to one.

“Frat brother,” Dominic explained. “We went to college together.”

For some reason it surprised Waverly to learn Dominic joined a fraternity in college. She pictured him as a loner, honing his mechanic skills on his car. But then again, Dominic did say over dinner that he hated being referred to as a mechanic. He was an engineer.

“Yes,” said Charles, “Will was one of the judges today.”

“That’s right.” Waverly nodded and recalled the introduction. The contestants had been sequestered in downtown Southwood and kept away from the judges just to lower the odds of fraternization. The judges weren’t revealed until the pageant. Turning slightly to her side, Waverly came face-to-face with Dominic with the help of her four-inch strappy sandals. Dominic pressed his lips against her temple. A warm and fuzzy feeling washed over her.

Photographers shoved cameras in her face. Flashes blinded her. People stood by her side, wanting photograph after photograph. All the shame she’d gone through by losing the Miss South Georgia title washed away. She tried to focus on the main goal—the road to Miss Georgia—but the only thing on her mind was the secure hold Dominic kept around her waist as he stood next to her.

Zoe Baldwin and Will Ravens appeared together. “Pleased to meet you, Waverly. Congratulations on your win.”

“Thank you,” Waverly said slowly. Waverly stepped forward and shook Zoe’s hand. “You’re awesome, Miss Zoe. It was a real pleasure to meet you this afternoon. I am a huge fan.”

“But better working with me.” Titus brought up the rear of the group. His smugness was enough to knock Zoe off the stage with a quick hip bump. Waverly frowned at the action.

But any time she had to be alone, she wanted to spend with Dominic. She wanted to properly thank him for the dress he had flown in from Italy.

“I thought we could go out and celebrate tonight,” Dominic said with a hug.

“Sounds good to me.” Waverly inhaled his scent, committing it to memory. He smelled spicy.

“I know we haven’t spent any time together this week due to practicing for the pageant, and I am looking forward to spending more time alone with you,” Dominic began. “Will’s leaving in the morning and I wanted to include him tonight for dinner.”

The pit of her stomach dropped. Waverly prayed she covered her disappointment with a wide, toothy smile. “Sure.”

Another reporter came over, this one from Pageant Pride Gazette, wanting a few words. Running in the same circles as her, Waverly had come across Marion Strickland several times before, and she knew this interview was important, especially if she was ever going to shake the dethroning incident.

Waverly reluctantly left Dominic’s side to take care of pageant business besides winning a ton of products from Ravens Cosmetics and a chance to apply for the Miss Georgia. Waverly’s heart swelled with pride. She hadn’t even told her mother about trying out for another pageant. This one she’d accomplished without her mother’s help. And it felt good.

For a better background, the reporter and her cameraman suggested filming the interview outside on the docks of Magnolia Palace. Dominic and his friend moseyed outside, as well. From across the lush, green yard, Dominic nodded in her direction. They both caught each other at the right time. He stood listening to his friend and winked. Dominic’s smile made her toes curl. What a shame they were going to share dinner tonight with his friends, Waverly thought. Maybe for dessert she’d find another way to thank Dominic for his help. A burning desire to run her hands underneath his jacket consumed her. From being around him, she’d memorized every inch of his body. It was time to commit the feel of his body, as well.