Tough Love N.O.: It’s Southern Ho . . . Down!

So what the hell is a cotillion, exactly? It’s the southern equivalent of a debutant ball intended to introduce highly cultured and well mannered innocent young women into adult society.

Yep innocent. That’s our girls.

Well, I guess for Melissa this will be an authentic experience.

Essentially, what the girls are about to experience is an incredibly formal dinner, which would normally be followed by fancy dancing, but I think the girls get a reprieve on that part.

The proud parents await the debut of our darlings.

Everyone has been announced, descended the stairs with grace and poise, picked up a date and is seated for dinner.

But where is Stephanie?

She’s busy knocking everyone’s socks off.

Hubba hubba!

As Melissa says, Stephanie looks like a glamorous movie star of yester year. I think she is just stunning like this. I wonder if she has gone beyond even what Steve imagined was under all that pink plaster. By the way, this has been her in some of the confessionals.

I saved this for after her debut.

In appreciation for his work in reducing the amount of ocular
offense in the world, Steve Ward wins this achievement.

Of course, Steve can’t just let the girls enjoy their pretty dresses and their fancy dinner. He’s decided to challenge their new etiquette skills by planning a menu of nothing but difficult to eat foods. First up is escargot and poor Shalana doesn’t even know how to eat them.

But Aubrey solves that problem.

Shalana is actually glowing.

Interestingly enough, Aubrey brings up the question about having more kids. Shalana says she does want more and is thinking it would be nice to have two girls. Aubrey says he’s down with that. So I’m a little confused… I thought kids was one of those hot topics you don’t bring up on a first date. Also, Aubrey’s interest seems a little intense. To be talking about kids seems kind of fast – I’m on the fence about this guy. He could be a dream come true or he could be one of those intense scary whirlwind stalkers who sucks you into their vortex and spins you around for decades before you even realize where you are and try to get spit out.

Good John asks Stephanie about the previous night. Apparently he got a text from a friend asking if he was at Bourbon Heat . . .

Is Stephanie about to be busted?

She admits she got really drunk and although GJ looks a little suspicious, he seems to let whatever he knows pass. Steph tells us that she kind of felt like she wanted to tell John, but since they aren’t in a committed relationship,she didn’t really have to. Also she realized the timing would not be good. I kind of agree with her about not having to account for her actions to John. And I’m impressed with her ability to avoid drama by recognizing appropriate situations for confessions.Steve disagrees and says one should be honest, since they are just starting out the relationship. Oops!

Steve announces dinner is over and Good John “has a surprise” for Stephanie. Yes, a surprise that John arranged, if by surprise you mean product placement . . . Anyway, they go or a horse and carriage ride through the streets, which sucks Stephanie into feeling like Cinderella with her prince charming and she and John finally get that romantic first kiss.

No wonder she keeps that pucker so padded. It gets a lot of tread!