from?”
Lynne chuckled as she stood to shake out the stiffness in her limbs. “You also gave me a good eye for clothes. I need your help. I have to wear something suitable for a date.”
Her mother picked at some imaginary link but a knowing smile peeked out. “With tall, dark and cobra-like?”
“The proper word's handsome. Yes, he’s calling it a business dinner, but I call a spade a spade. I don’t have anything new at home. I...” Rarely go out would be a lie.
She never went out. She had flings. A woman had needs but that woman couldn’t exactly tell her mother about those needs.
She cleared her throat. “I need you to pick something out from the store, and then we can run home to fix me up.” She checked the clock before shutting down the computer. “We’ve got forty-five minutes.”
Her mother jolted as if slapped. “That’s not enough time.”
“That’s the time I have.”
The small huff filled the quiet room. “Then you need to hurry up. You still need to bathe.” She gave Lynne a pointed look. “You were going to bathe, right?”
“That’s going to take twenty of those minutes, because I’m shaving my legs.”
Her mother let that one slide and said, “And fifteen for hair and makeup? You do need to be on time.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my hair. I don’t have on any makeup. I rubbed most of it off an hour ago. I don't see the point of putting more on.”
“Your hair is stiff, with absolutely no gloss to it, but it’s done?” Her mother threw up her hands and sighed. “Come on, then, since you expect me to create miracles.”
Lynne grabbed her purse and said, “I might have to wear my hair normal.” She mimicked air quotes. “If this is a date, or to him business, he’s taking me somewhere really fancy. Can’t go as myself, you know.”
“Not everyone can accept you as you are.”
Another silence fell between them, but this one held all the words Lynne wanted to say, all the questions she wanted to ask. She wouldn’t. Why stir things up when her mother didn’t plan to stay long?
She told her mother, “We should pick something red that goes with my hair.”
“Emerald or even an auburn shade would go better with the shade you have.”
“You’re right. I don’t know why I’m better at dressing other people.”
“It's easier to see someone's strengths and weaknesses. It’s just the way things are.”
Jeremy stepped in their path. “Are we closing early today?”
The store was empty and it was a Satuday night. Not a good sign. “Probably not a smart business move, but yes, we're closing early. I’m guessing you have plans?”
“Me?” His high-pitched tone gave him away. He cleared his throat when Lynne only stared at him. “Yes.”
She told him, “Do a deposit and then you're free to leave. Have fun. Be safe. Don’t sell your soul.”
“I’ll give you the same advice.”
“Bite me.”
He smiled. “I thought I said I already have plans tonight.”
“You man-whore.” Her mother gasped beside her. Lynne ignored the silent condemnation. Instead she turned to her with a knowing smile. “The good stuff is in the back.”
Her mother’s lips turned into a thin line, but she nodded. “Show me.”
Eloise took ten seconds to find a dress, which still left Lynne with thirty-five minutes to get ready. She locked the door behind her and dread filled her stomach at what she had to do next. Her mother stood silently beside her.
She sighed. “I need to step into the store next door for a few moments.”
“I’ll come with you.”
She’d known that would be the answer. She’d listened to her mother chatting with Nate earlier and not once did Eloise reveal she was Lynne's mother. It wasn’t like they resembled each other, especially with Lynne’s current appearance.
Lynne pushed through the doors with her mother trailing behind. The silence inside surprised her. Maybe her store's quiet had nothing to do with Nate trying to put her out
Lynne chuckled as she stood to shake out the stiffness in her limbs. “You also gave me a good eye for clothes. I need your help. I have to wear something suitable for a date.”
Her mother picked at some imaginary link but a knowing smile peeked out. “With tall, dark and cobra-like?”
“The proper word's handsome. Yes, he’s calling it a business dinner, but I call a spade a spade. I don’t have anything new at home. I...” Rarely go out would be a lie.
She never went out. She had flings. A woman had needs but that woman couldn’t exactly tell her mother about those needs.
She cleared her throat. “I need you to pick something out from the store, and then we can run home to fix me up.” She checked the clock before shutting down the computer. “We’ve got forty-five minutes.”
Her mother jolted as if slapped. “That’s not enough time.”
“That’s the time I have.”
The small huff filled the quiet room. “Then you need to hurry up. You still need to bathe.” She gave Lynne a pointed look. “You were going to bathe, right?”
“That’s going to take twenty of those minutes, because I’m shaving my legs.”
Her mother let that one slide and said, “And fifteen for hair and makeup? You do need to be on time.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my hair. I don’t have on any makeup. I rubbed most of it off an hour ago. I don't see the point of putting more on.”
“Your hair is stiff, with absolutely no gloss to it, but it’s done?” Her mother threw up her hands and sighed. “Come on, then, since you expect me to create miracles.”
Lynne grabbed her purse and said, “I might have to wear my hair normal.” She mimicked air quotes. “If this is a date, or to him business, he’s taking me somewhere really fancy. Can’t go as myself, you know.”
“Not everyone can accept you as you are.”
Another silence fell between them, but this one held all the words Lynne wanted to say, all the questions she wanted to ask. She wouldn’t. Why stir things up when her mother didn’t plan to stay long?
She told her mother, “We should pick something red that goes with my hair.”
“Emerald or even an auburn shade would go better with the shade you have.”
“You’re right. I don’t know why I’m better at dressing other people.”
“It's easier to see someone's strengths and weaknesses. It’s just the way things are.”
Jeremy stepped in their path. “Are we closing early today?”
The store was empty and it was a Satuday night. Not a good sign. “Probably not a smart business move, but yes, we're closing early. I’m guessing you have plans?”
“Me?” His high-pitched tone gave him away. He cleared his throat when Lynne only stared at him. “Yes.”
She told him, “Do a deposit and then you're free to leave. Have fun. Be safe. Don’t sell your soul.”
“I’ll give you the same advice.”
“Bite me.”
He smiled. “I thought I said I already have plans tonight.”
“You man-whore.” Her mother gasped beside her. Lynne ignored the silent condemnation. Instead she turned to her with a knowing smile. “The good stuff is in the back.”
Her mother’s lips turned into a thin line, but she nodded. “Show me.”
Eloise took ten seconds to find a dress, which still left Lynne with thirty-five minutes to get ready. She locked the door behind her and dread filled her stomach at what she had to do next. Her mother stood silently beside her.
She sighed. “I need to step into the store next door for a few moments.”
“I’ll come with you.”
She’d known that would be the answer. She’d listened to her mother chatting with Nate earlier and not once did Eloise reveal she was Lynne's mother. It wasn’t like they resembled each other, especially with Lynne’s current appearance.
Lynne pushed through the doors with her mother trailing behind. The silence inside surprised her. Maybe her store's quiet had nothing to do with Nate trying to put her out
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