Surprise Offer 2: is a direct continuation of the story about Lily and her ‘brother’ Lance. Can she find acceptance and her place in the world as Lily instead of Lance? Emotions run high as Lily’s new best friend and ‘adoptive’ family members move things forward at lightning speed. Can she handle it all? How will a surprise just before Thanksgiving change everything? Lily and Sammie are back, ready to take on the world with pigtails and dancing, in a way only ten-year-old little girls can do.

Author Note: Sorry about the late posting. Work and some late editing got in the way.

Monday morning, Lily was eating breakfast in her nightie when she was unexpectedly hugged from the back. “Good morning, Sammie … You’re up early.”

“No, you slept in. I got up thinking it was school… then Mommie told me there’s no school.”

“What are you doing today?”

“Ballet practice?”

“Yeah, we do that most days. We haven't been to Granny’s shop for a while. Maybe we can stop by the Hobby and Toy shops first?”

Sammie sat down next to Lily and talked as Lily worked her way through breakfast. As she was finishing, ding dong rang the doorbell.

“Fiddlesticks, I’m not dressed to get that,” Lily thought a moment before calling out. “Mommie, can you get the door?”

“I’m on the phone with a customer. Samantha, can you get that?”

Shrugging… she’d basically become part of the family anyway… Sammie went to the door to discover Julie there.

“H h hello, Sam Sam Samantha. I h hope you don't m mind, but I borrowed some of your c clothes. Your M Mommie told me I could do it.”

“It’s fine. Come on in.” … “Lily, Julie’s here… and you’re still in your nightie.”

Samantha Berger died laughing when that statement was rewarded with the sound of footsteps running up the stairs. She took that moment to appraise how Julie was dressed. There was a pink t-shirt peeking at the neckline just under her black Minnie Mouse sweatshirt. She couldn't tell whose closet the jeans came from. As Juliette removed the borrowed pink shoes, they revealed pink socks.

Taking a second look at the shoes, “I thought I got rid of those dirty old sneakers?”

Shrugging, “Your M M Mommie gave th th these to me. She did s say that I could probably keep them.”

“I d…”

“Julie, you look nice,” Lily said as she came into the room, looking quite young, wearing a sweatshirt with a drawing of a little girl ballerina on the front. “We were gonna walk to my Granny’s shop today.”

“For?”

“We usually play dress-up there. Lily’s grandma owns it.” Sammie explained.

Overhearing, Mrs. Vanderbilt instructed, “That’s fine with me, but Lily, you’ve got a two o’clock hair appointment next door. Samantha, you’ll need to help during that appointment. And all of you… including Juliette, are going to have a babysitter tonight at four.”

“Including me?!?!” Juliette inquired. “My parents know?”

“Yes. I can't say any more, other than you girls won't be here.”

“I just had an appointment like a week ago?!” Lily looked at her mom in utter confusion. “So we’ve got, like, fourish hours?

“Yes, and,” Susan paused to look at the clock, “Yes.”

The girls walked very quietly into the Hobby shop. Lily was leading the three to the craft aisle. “Fiddlesticks… Fiddlesticks… It’s gone!” The girl’s face dropped, like something inside her had just sunk.

“What's gone, Lily?” Juliette asked.

“Her dollhouse kit… the one she’s been wanting forever,” Sammie explained.

Scaring the three girls, “Yes, some guy bought that last week. Said his daughter has been wanting it for a while.”

“Are you getting another one in, Mrs. Byrne?” Lily asked.

“Not before Christmas, if that’s what you mean. It didn't make this Wednesday’s shipment.”

Lily’s face fell. She also realized that Julie wasn't with Sammie. “Where’s Julie?”

“Julie! Where’d you go?” Sammie said loudly.

A voice came from another place, “At the train stuff.”

‘Of course she went to the trains.’ … “You always liked the trains, Julie,” Lily mentioned when the two girls got there.

“Is that okay? Dressed like this?”

“I can't see why not, Julie,” Sammie whispered. “A dress doesn’t change anything.”

Shrugging, Julie continued looking at the HO scale buildings. “I don’t even know why I’m looking. I don’t have any money. And Daddie won’t let me get an HO set yet.”

Lily had walked away, and Sammie suggested to Julie that they leave the store.

Back on the sidewalk, Lily handed a bag to Julie.

Julie blinked, surprised.

“Here… this is for you, Julie. Merry Christmas.” Lily mentioned, as if it was nothing.

The cross-dressed boy looked in the bag to discover the current month's ‘Model Railroader.’ “Thank you. That's really nice.”

The two girls headed into the toy store. They meandered through the aisles. Not really shopping for anything. The two genetic girls didn't miss the longing look Julie was giving at various girls' toys.

“Do you want a specific toy, Julie?”

“Any girl toy’s fine, but I’m out of room in my hiding spot. Rachel gave me a bunch of stuff, and I filled it up.”

Not knowing what to say, Lily turned to the next aisle.

Sammie smirked when she saw it was the baby toy aisle. Whispering so Juliette couldn't hear, “Do you want a new toy, Baby Girl?”

Lily’s blush switch broke with that statement, remembering the day when she had fun being Sammie’s baby girl.

“What’d you say to her to make her turn red?”

“It's a secret between Lily and me, sorry, Julie. I can't tell you.”

“Aww.”

Lily said to Sammie, “The answer is yes.”

Sammie’s eyes lit up. “Really?!?!” She realized that meant that Lily had enjoyed that day weeks ago. Whispering, "We'll do that again sometime.”

Lily nodded.

“Do what again?” Juliette asked.

“You weren't supposed to hear that, and I won't tell you what I was talking about.”

"Aww. You two and your little secrets.”

“Maybe Rachel wants a new best friend,” Lily suggested, “then you two can have your own secrets.”

The girls had arrived back on the sidewalk while they were having this discussion. Sammie looked at the children’s consignment shop, trying to decide if she wanted to visit there. If it were just Lily, she could have her best friend's face very red. Unfortunately, with Julie here, she didn't want to embarrass Lily that much. Plus, Lily wouldn't give her true thoughts with an audience. Instead, she opened the door for Gilbert’s Costumes.

“Hello, Samantha, Lily, and I'm not sure what your name is.”

“This is Julie. Umm, Juliette, Ms. Gilbert.”

“Well, hello, Juliette. I suppose you girls want to play dress-up?”

“Yes, Granny,” Lily said before looking around the store. She noticed that the number of formal gowns had grown. There was a bridal gown, a bunch of lilac bridesmaid gowns, and most importantly for Lily, a small flower girl dress with lilac petals in the sheer organza overskirt right next to the bridal gown.

Alison looked at the cameras to see what the other girls were doing in the girls’ costume aisle before returning her attention to her granddaughter, “You like the bridal party gowns?”

Lily nodded, “Yes, Granny.”

“Any specific dress?”

Lily pointed to the prominent display near the front windows that everyone could see upon entering the store, “The flower girl dress. I really, really like it.”

“Yes, it's a beautiful dress, isn’t it. It’s Hanna’s most favorite design she’s ever made. However, that 3T dress won't fit you,” Granny thought for a moment. “We do have Flower Girl dresses in your size, but that particular design doesn’t come in a size eight, unless you can convince my daughter to make one for you.”

Lily had no idea how she could convince Aunty Hanna to make her one of those dresses, so she went towards the size 6 to 12 dresses and stared at all the choices. Frozen deep in thought, Lily couldn’t decide which one to try on.

Meanwhile, in the girls' aisle, Sammie was suggesting outfits to Julie, “Belle? This Cinderella I wore for Halloween? Minnie Mouse?”

Julie quickly grabbed the Minnie Mouse costume.

After grabbing a southern belle costume, Sammie and Julie went to the counter, “Ms. Gilbert, can we try these on? Where’s Lily?”

“You can try them on girls if you remember to use the magic word.”

Sammie and Juliette blushed before saying in unison, “Please.”

“That’s better,” Granny smiled at the girls. “Lily's looking at the flower girl dresses. Here are the changing room keys. Stop to grab a hoop skirt on the way, Samantha.”

Samantha opened the door to a changing room, allowing Juliette to go into it. The girl wearing the reddish-brown wig was surprised when the other joined her in the room.

A couple of minutes later, Minnie Mouse and a pink with white trim southern belle walked out of the changing room. Sammie grabbed Juliette's hand and dragged her to the accessories area. A set of Minnie Mouse ears was put in the mouse's hair.

Minnie Mouse went towards the mirror at the end of the girls' aisle to admire herself. The southern belle went to Lily. “So, Little Girl, which one do you like?”

Shrugging, “There’s a lot… I can’t pick.”

“How old do you feel right now?”

“Not ten.”

“Leaning in, Sammie whispered, “Six or my baby girl?”

Lily just shrugged.

“Go to the changing room and go get changed, okay?” Sammie said as she continued to whisper. “I'll bring my little girl a dress in a minute.”

Shrugging, Lily did as instructed.

A few minutes later, “Lily, close your eyes, please.” … Samantha gently removed the regressed girl’s bra before raising the girl’s arms to drop the dress on Lily.

As the buttons were done, Lily felt the silky fabric of the dress. She felt her waist get tight as a sash was tied.

“OK, Little Girl, keep your eyes closed.” The southern belle directed the flower girl to the mirror in the measurement area. “Okay, Little Lily… You can open your eyes.”

Lily opened her eyes to see she was wearing a white silk dress with a full skirt, pink sash, peter pan collar, and puffy sleeves.

The dressed young girl and the southern belle went towards the counter.

“Lily, if I didn't know your age, I would assume that you were in Kindergarten or first grade.” Granny noticed the expression of pure joy on her granddaughter’s face. Thinking back to Sunday, Granny asked, “You don’t mind being treated younger than your actual age?”

“I like being treated little, Granny.”

Sammie was looking around, “Where is Juliette?”

Granny glanced at the camera feeds, “She is still staring at herself in the mirror at the end of the girls' aisle.” … “Southern Belle, there should be a pink flower crown near the flower girl dresses. Can you grab it and put it on Lily’s head?”

After Sammie had done that, Lily went back to the mirror in the changing area to look at herself.

Alison Gilbert watched Lily on the security camera.Without a reference for height, the ten-year-old girl looked very young, almost three or four years old.

Minnie Mouse took that moment to return, “Where’s Lily?”

“She’ll be right back. She wanted to look at her full outfit in the mirror.” Samantha answered.

When Lily returned, Juliette admired Lily’s outfit from the flower crown to the white socks with frilly lace, “Aww,” Juliette took in Lily’s outfit. “That's cute!”

The door rang, causing the three girls and one lady to look at the family walking towards them.

“I'm here to pick up the Wilson Bridal party dresses.”

“It's right here, fully paid for,” Granny said. “That is not the flower girl, right?”

“No, her three-year-old little cousin is the flower girl. You wouldn't find this six-year-old tomboy in a silk dress.”

“OK, I was going to say,” Grandma looked at the supposedly six-year-old standing in front of Lily. The two girls were almost the same height. Granted, Lily was in her socks, and the other girl was wearing cowboy boots with maybe an inch heel. The older lady then examined the height difference between Lily, Samantha, and Juliette.

The lady from the Wilson bridal party turned to look at Lily, “Oh, that dress is beautiful. A simple but elegant design. I wish I had seen that one before I made my choice.”

The six-year-old girl turned to look at Lily and suddenly got huge eyes when she realized the dress was about her size, “Why, Aunty? No way! I’m not wearing that dress!”

“Now, Amilia, dresses come in multiple sizes, right, Ms. Gilbert?”

“Correct, my daughter can make any dress in any size. Unfortunately, we can't make one in 3T by the day of your wedding. I can deliver a 6X for Amilia before next weekend,” Alison Gilbert smirked as she teased the tomboy girl.

“No way!” The tomboy backed away from Lily and the adults.

“Relax, Amilia, she is teasing you,” the customer turned from her niece to Mrs. Gilbert. “How did you know she wears a 6X?”

“That is the size that Lily's wearing.”

“Why are they wearing it anyway?”

“My six-year-old granddaughter and her older neighbor and friend were playing dress-up with my stock. Basically making work for her Aunt in the return department.”

“Oh, I was hoping you were making a catalog of your inventory. It would be so convenient to browse your collection from the comfort of my own house.”

Alison, who had not thought of that, stared at her two or three possible models, “I might just do that.”

“Lily, take Samantha and Juliette to show your Aunt Hanna while I finish the paperwork with Miss Pifer.”

The three girls were greeted by Hanna going, “Aww, my six-year-old niece is back.”

“Back? You dressed young before Lily?” Juliette questioned.

Sammie hit her friend lightly, “Sunday, silly. Don't you remember?”

“Oh, duh. You do look nice in that dress. You just need some flower petals to scatter.”

Lily’s blush switch broke again at that. She just whispered, “I do.”

With the girls back at the counter after the customer had left, “Samantha and Lily, I'll talk to your parents about being models for the website idea that the customer had. Juliette, you can model too. I'll have to get your parents' phone number for permission.”

“Umm.”

“Ms. Gilbert.” Samantha said, “Umm, there’s kind of a problem.”

“Which is?”

“Juliette is October Lily… without the November surprise.”

Alison stared at Samantha, trying to figure out where the girl was going with this. Suddenly, the light bulb went off. Juliette was biologically a boy. The older lady stared at the girl who called herself Juliette, looking for evidence of a boy.

Juliette headed quickly towards the changing room.

“Juliette… Hey… Where are you going?” Alison Gilbert expressed in her gentle grandmotherly voice.

As Julie slowly returned, she was crying and mumbled, “To change… so I can go before you yell at me.”

“Juliette, you don't know me very well. I’m not going to yell at you for being yourself.” She had stepped around the counter and was drying the girl's eyes. “Even if your brother shows up, you can play dress-up in the girls’ aisle.” Turning to look at Lily, “Just like a certain boy did before we knew Lily was a girl.”

Juliette looked between Ms. Gilbert and Lily. She saw Lily smiling and nodding. Julie turned back to Ms. Gilbert.

“Do your parents know?”

Juliette wiped her eyes. “That’s… kinda complicated, ma’am. But… no. They don’t.”

Lily heard Sammie’s stomach make noises. “What time is it, Granny?”

“Almost one.”

“We gotta get out of these dresses… Sammie’s hungry, and I have a hair thing soon,” Lily pointed out.

Sammie led the pack to the changing room. When she got there, she realized that Lily was missing. “Julie, go start changing. I’ll be back. I gotta find Lily.”

Samantha discovered Lily in the measuring area, twisting and spinning, looking at herself in the mirror. “C’mon, Little Girl, let’s go. We’ve got your hair thing.” Sammie gently directed her best friend towards the changing room.

Lily tried to keep her eyes on the mirror as long as possible. She even walked backward so she could keep the mirror in her sights.

“Hey, Little Girl! Turn around! We gotta go!” Samantha exclaimed as they neared the changing rooms.

As the two girls turned the corner into the changing area, Hanna Kane stopped watching them from the doorway into the back room and went up front.

“Mom, Lily doesn’t want to take that dress off.”

“No, she doesn’t,” Alison agreed, as she had watched the whole scene play out on the cameras.

“You know, that would be very appropriate for her to wear to church. I’d be happy to make her a few different Sunday dresses.”

“Maybe,” Alison looked at her daughter. “I’m just not sure what age range the dresses should be designed for. That one definitely did not make her look ten, but I think that is one of the things she liked about it.”