How does one work this blasted thing? Alex wondered as she stared at her BlackBerry. She searched through the menu, found the call section, and started dialing. She brought the BlackBerry to her ear and waited as the ringing noise continued.

A moment later, she heard her brother's voice saying, "Hello, Tim speaking."

"Hey, Tim, it's me."

"Alex?" He chuckled. "Man, you sound weird and so far away."

"Of course I'm far away. I'm in America."

"You got there all right, huh?"

"Yeah, I'm here safe and sound."

"Cool."

"Hey, how's Mum and Dad?" she asked, wondering if her dad was taking things easy or was he up to his old, stubborn self again and working hard.

"Dad is taking things easy. Mum makes sure of that."

Alex sighed with relief. "That's good. Is Mum there?"

"Yeah. Hold on a sec."

A few seconds later, Alex heard her mum's voice through the phone. "Hey, sweetheart. Glad to hear your voice. I'm worried, you know. I know you're a big girl now. Your dad's doing well. I make sure he eats. He went to see Dr. Johnston today. He said your dad is making good progress."

"I'm glad to hear that."

There was a knock at the door, and Alex glanced up to see Kelly poking her head in. "Hey, are you ready?"

"Hold on a sec. Just talking to Mum."

"Okay," Kelly said, walking into the room and taking a seat on the side of the bed. "Take your time." She picked up a sports magazine on the bedside table and flicked through it.

Alex turned her attention back to the BlackBerry.

"Mum, I'm glad Dad is doing well. I hope he'll recover fully when I return. Anyways, love you and Dad and everyone at home. Miss you already. Bye now."

"All right, sweetheart. You look after yourself. Love you."

Alex grinned and then terminated the call. "I can't believe I miss them already."

Kelly threw the magazine down and patted Alex's arm. "Sounds like you really love your family."

Alex nodded. "More than anything."

Kelly cocked her head to one side as though she were considering something serious. She stood up. "Come on, missy." She pulled Alex to her feet and led her out the door. "I hope you're not upset with Beth."

Alex shook her head. She knew Beth didn't like her, but she wasn't going to dwell on that. "I think she's just watching out for Jay."

Kelly glanced at Alex with interest. She laughed; that rich, smooth sound belonged to a woman who lived her life to the fullest and was afraid of nothing.

"Yeah, she is," Kelly said with a hint of doubt in her voice.

Alex wondered if Beth truly was that worried about Jay's love life. Did she think it was her duty to find the right woman for him? Well, Alex could safely conclude she was not the girl for Jayden in Beth's eyes.

"I hope at least one of my dresses will fit you," Kelly commented. "Silly of Jayden not to tell you to bring dresses and gowns. After all, the party was his idea."

Alex opened her mouth as if she were about to say something. But of course being shocked as she was right then, she couldn't think of what to say. Jayden planned the party for her? And he never bothered to mention it to her all those times they chatted on Facebook? She'd have to ask him when she saw him next. She didn't like parties, even normal parties back home, either the BBQ type that mainly involved families and close friends or the loud parties some of her acquaintances threw. Often she was so shy and so tongue-tied she never made good conversations with anyone—especially guys. If she got invited to a party, she'd be there at most half an hour, unless her family happened to be there, and then she'd be out the door before anyone caught her.

"Whoa! This is very nice," she said once they were inside Kelly's huge, elegant bedroom.

"Thanks," Kelly replied, frowning slightly. She was thinking she must talk to Jay about what his real relationship with Alex was. And what happened to Sarah Taylor? Since he had returned, he had never once spoken of Sarah. Then there was this morning. She thought Jay and Sarah were back together after their fight, but instead of seeing the demanding Sarah at the front door, she saw Alex. How confusing everything was.

"Okay," Kelly said, strolling toward the walk-in wardrobe. "Let's see what I have that fits you."

Alex clamped her lips together nervously as she followed Kelly. The first thing that came into her mind was that the wardrobe was bigger than her parents' master bedroom back home, and only then did the oh my God kick in.

Kelly had thousands of clothes—designer brands. She wouldn't be surprised if those so-called "fashion boutiques" in Dunedin blushed in shame when compared with Kelly's wardrobe.

Kelly went through the many dresses that were hung along one side of the wall. "Which one?" she muttered to herself as she expertly inspected each one in turn. "You're smaller than I am, so I don't know if there's anything. But of course I do sometimes wear a size smaller than I am. What size are you anyway?" She turned to look at Alex. "And don't just stand there. Come here and help me pick."

Alex hesitated. She didn't want to mess up Kelly's perfectly arranged clothing, even though she wanted to explore.

Kelly shook her head at Alex's lack of response. She grabbed Alex by the wrist and said, "Wherever you're from and whatever your relationship with my brother is, I don't care. I'm going to dress you up, and that is that."

Alex's heart did a startled kick. "What do you mean?"

Kelly bit her lip for saying too much. Damn! "Nothing," she said quickly. "If I guess rightly, you're a size zero."

"What? I'm not a size zero. I'm a size eight."

"No, you're not. You're a size zero."

"Eight."

"Zero. Look at you. You're so slim. You're a zero."

Alex cocked her head to one side. A size zero? That was truly ludicrous. Unless they had a different size system here in America. That made sense, then.

"Okay, I'm whatever size you're saying." She agreed.

Kelly nodded in satisfaction and turned to pick a green day dress. She brought it out and showed it to Alex.

"What do you think?"

Alex touched the silk fabric. It was smooth and soft under her fingers. She loved the tiny frills and the pleats that gathered to one side of the shoulder. It reminded her of a Greek Empire dress, only this one had less fabric, was shorter, and in a pale leaf green instead of pure white or gold. She was already falling in love with it. She could never afford anything this elegant.

"I can tell you really like it."

Alex glanced at Kelly. "Are you sure you don't mind? But what are you going to wear?"

Kelly laughed out loud at that remark. "You silly girl, I have hundreds of dresses I can wear. Now, try it on."

"Now?"

"Of course now," Kelly demanded, striding out the door. "Hurry up. We don't have much time. We have to do your makeup as well." She closed the wardrobe door.

Alex quickly undressed herself and put on the dress. Once done, she hesitantly scrambled to the full-length mirror and stared at herself.

"Oh my God," she breathed. This is me? She looked different. She looked pretty.

"Are you ready yet?" Kelly burst in.

Alex turned to look at the laughing intruder.

"Well, well. You know, I never look good in that dress. But on you, you're a different story altogether. Jay's going to love this. I hope he knows how to breathe properly when he sees a pretty woman."

"Why would he love this?" Alex asked.

Kelly laughed as she dragged her back into the bedroom. "Time for your makeup."

"Oh, right," Alex responded as she was gently pushed into the seat in front of the mirror.

* * * * *

Jayden never thought Beth would interrogate Alex as though she were a suspect in a murder case. Alex kept looking at him for guidance every time Beth fired a question at her. As if any of that were important, Jay thought gloomily. He rested his head against the back of the sofa and closed his eyes. He could feel a headache coming.

"Heard your girlfriend has finally arrived," a voice said at the door.

Jay flashed his eyes open to see his dad, Tom McCartney, standing there with his hands in the pockets of his trousers. Tall, brown hair, and grey eyes—and right then dressed in a Zegna suit—he looked handsome and powerful. He must have just returned from the McCartney Hotel.

"Hey, Dad," he greeted. "Yeah, Alex is here."

Tom came to sit beside his son. "You don't look too happy."

Jay thought his dad could say that again. "Beth."

"Ah, Beth," Tom said as if that explained everything. "Has she mentioned Britney yet?"

"Yeah. I hope she realizes it's not going to happen."

"Don't you mind Beth. She's only watching out for your future. A perfect granddaughter-in-law means everything to her. And you know how much she wants great-grandchildren."

"Yeah," Jay replied. He suddenly felt guilt mounting in his chest. Beth wanted great-grandchildren. It was his pleasure to provide her some. He loved her despite her controlling ways.

"There you are," Gracie said from the door. "The two most important men in my life." She waltzed into the room and kissed her husband smack on the lips. "I've missed you today."

"I've missed you, too," Tom replied.

"The guests are arriving."

"Already?" Jay muttered. He wondered if he should've cancelled the welcoming party. He knew Alex wasn't prepared for this. After all, she was hardly prepared for Granny Beth's spiteful ways.

"Don't worry, honey. Everything is in order," Gracie said. "Come along." She dragged Tom by the arm and led him to the door.

Jay groaned and stood up. He thought he'd better go up and see how Alex was getting on.

As he came out, he saw many guests mingling at the foyer. The men were dressed in suits and the women in their lovely designer dresses. The hallway was in a chaotic state of guests greeting.

"Ah, Jayden, how are you?" Mrs. Greenwood said, a rather large woman with fiery red hair, large green eyes, and Irish skin that tended to get red at the slightest of irritation—emotional irritation. She strolled toward him elegantly, and her red dress that didn't quite suit her complexion hung about her body like a tent. She grabbed his hands and smiled widely, showing her snow-white teeth that would have taken the dentist many times to get to perfection.

"Where is this girlfriend of yours? I can't believe she's from New Zealand, so your grandmother told me. Where is New Zealand, anyway? A state in the US? I've never heard of it. Or is it some small town in the UK or France?"

"How are you, Mrs. Greenwood? How is your husband doing? And no, New Zealand is not a state in the US, nor is it a small town in the UK or France. New Zealand is a country of its own."

"Really now? Why, your grandmother said it is such a ghastly place to have met a girl. A plain place for a plain girl. She wonders why you went there in the first place," she said, chuckling away enthusiastically.

"Excuse me."

"Oh, all right. We'll chat again at dinner, yes?"

"Of course," Jay replied. Then he struggled his way through the throng of guests who one by one stopped him with their polite greeting. When finally he managed to reach his intended destination, which was the stairs, Beth elegantly stepped in front of him with a big smile on her face.

"Jayden, you must come along and meet Britney," she said. Without giving him any choice on the matter, she led him to the drawing room.

"You'll love her, Jay. Britney is such a darling," she said excitedly. "Britney, darling, you remember Jayden, don't you?"

Jayden noticed a slim woman in a sexy red designer dress. She was talking to a young man with light-blond hair and grey eyes. Ted Wilson was his name. His family was extremely well off. They just moved into the neighborhood of the Upper East Side a year ago.

Britney Marcelo turned slowly and smiled brightly at him, showing her perfect, white teeth as though she practiced that bit many times to perfection. She had dark-brown hair that curled into loose waves about her shoulders, bright-green eyes, and full ruby-red lips that any man would want to kiss.

Britney was one hot chick. And from the look of adoration from young Ted standing next to her, she wasn't one to be missed.

"Jayden," she said, her voice smooth and sweet like melting chocolate. She touched his arm and moved her face closer to him, which caused Ted to glare at Jayden.

"Britney, long time no see," he said, managing a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. He saw Beth nodding her head furiously, her smile bright with glee. He knew she was up to her matchmaking tricks again.

Still dressed in his casual clothing, Jayden found himself being dragged along with Beth and Britney to greet other guests that had just arrived. And before he knew what was going on, it was dinnertime.

They were just passing the hallway into the dining room along with their fifty or so guests, when Jayden saw Kelly descend the grand stairs. She was fetching in her yellow sundress. But he didn't notice her for too long because he glimpsed someone directly behind her. Jay couldn't make out who it was because it looked as though the woman were hiding and trying hard not to draw attention to herself. He noticed that Kelly had a smirk on her face. He knew she was up to one of her mischievous plans again. He wondered what it was.

Kelly cleared her throat loudly so everyone turned to look at her in some sort of expectation. Standing there atop the stairs, she said, "Evening, everyone."

"Kelly, darling," Mrs. Greenwood said. "My, you do look radiant. Heard your fiancé isn't here tonight. What a shame. Where is he, by the way? And who is that behind you?"

Kelly politely said, "Yes, it is a shame Sam can't be here. He is in Hawaii, sorting out business there." That out of the way, she proceed to move to one side. As she was doing so, she said, "Why, Mrs. Greenwood, it's Alexandra Stewart, of course."

As Kelly stepped aside, Jayden got a good look at Alex, and silence fell into place.

All Jayden could do was to stare at her as though he were in a trance, lost in another world. Alex looked enchanting in that emerald-green dress, her long hair styled in a loose bun like a Greek princess. He didn't know he was gawking until Beth nudged him. Britney commented that the green dress was so last year.

Jay came to his senses and then just realized that his mouth was agape in marvel as he gazed off at his hired girlfriend. He cleared his throat, and it was only then that he saw the nervousness in Alex's posture. He stepped up the stairs and reached one hand to her. Alex glanced hesitantly at his hands, smiled in relief at him, and then placed her small, cold hand into his large, warm one.

"So that's Alexandra from the State of New Zealand," Mrs. Greenwood stated. "Such a pretty little thing. Not so plain at all."

As Alex stepped down the stairs with Jay, she whispered, "Why did Kelly do that?"

Jay could hear the embarrassment in her voice. He moved his lips to her ear and softly said, "She didn't mean to embarrass you, darling. But I'm glad she did it."

Alex felt his warm breath against her flesh and shivered. "Jay, how could you?" And he just called her darling?

"How could I what, sweetheart?" This he said loudly so everyone could hear him, and then he kissed her cheek. She turned to him. He smiled and winked at her, then proceed to lead her toward the guests.

Alex was dazed. Jay was so hot when he smiled and winked at her. Stop, Alex. Jay is gay. Remember that!