broadly as she spun around to show off the results.
“Mamma mia!” Sonya said.
“Wow!” Lydia said.
“She looks amazing, doesn’t she?” Liz said.
“I’ll never be able to do this myself,” Julia said. “You know I’ve never bothered with makeup, except lipstick and a little blush on special occasions. I wouldn’t know where to begin with all these brushes and compacts.”
“It’s easy. Let me just show you a few things.” Liz spent a few minutes explaining how to apply everything and demonstrating brush strokes. “The eyes are what you have to be careful with. Go too light and you look washed out, but go too heavy, and you look like a hooker. I know this is more color than you’re used to but you really do look good.”
“Oh, I agree. I would never have thought so, but I like how you combined these three different colors to emphasize my eyes.”
They continued to admire Julia’s new hair and makeup as they put everything back in the RV. It had been a long day, and the women were going to bed early so that they could get an early start. Tomorrow was a big day. They would reach their final destination by early evening.
Lydia tried to push all the troubling thoughts out of her mind as she enjoyed the spectacular scenery and felt pleasantly warmed by the sun smiling on her through the big, front window of the camper.
“And now, I’m going to model my new outfits for you all,” Julia said.
Liz didn’t completely trust Julia to get the ensembles properly assembled, so she and Grace went to help her.
“You’ve been pretty quiet this morning,” Sonya said to Lydia after Liz and Jules went to prepare for their little fashion show.
“I’m scared. I made this trip to solve this mystery, but now that I’m—hopefully—about to get my answers, I’m not sure I want them.”
“I know what you’re saying, but you’re not here because you want to know, but because you need to know. Julia is a perfect example of why you have to do this. You don’t want to be haunted by ghosts of relatives past,” Sonya said.
“But can I live with what I find out?” Lydia asked.
“As Julia just pointed out, knowing the truth is always better than not knowing. Our imagination works overtime if we don’t quash it. You’ll get through this. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“I don’t feel very strong.”
“It’s okay to be scared or sad. It’s even okay to accept help,” Sonya said, placing a hand on Lydia’s shoulder.
Before she could respond, Liz and Julia returned.
“ Ta-da! ” Liz said, introducing Julia in her first ensemble. It was a pair of camel slacks with a matching sweater that had animal-print sleeve caps and collar. An animal-print handbag, large gold earrings, an exquisite, gold link loose belt, and suede boots completed the outfit.
“I wish I had bought that. You look gorgeous,” Lydia said.
“You really do,” Sonya agreed.
“It’s funny. This is something I would never have picked out for myself, but I love it. I feel good. I feel confident,” Julia said. She spun around for them to get a good look before disappearing for the next wardrobe change.
“I have to warn you that this is a risqué thing for Julia, and I had to practically have a fit before she agreed to buy it. I’m not sure she’ll ever wear it in public, but just the fact that she sees it hanging in her closet may empower her. And she could wear it for John. I know he’d love it. So please be sure to tell her how fabulous she looks,” Liz whispered as she disappeared into the back of the RV when she heard Julia emerge from the bathroom.
The others were not prepared, despite the warning Liz had given them. When Jules appeared, wearing a bright red evening dress that clung so tightly that a piece of tissue paper couldn’t have been inserted between skin and fabric, Lydia nearly wrecked the camper and Sonya almost fell out of her seat. The dress was strapless on one side and was cut very low in
“Mamma mia!” Sonya said.
“Wow!” Lydia said.
“She looks amazing, doesn’t she?” Liz said.
“I’ll never be able to do this myself,” Julia said. “You know I’ve never bothered with makeup, except lipstick and a little blush on special occasions. I wouldn’t know where to begin with all these brushes and compacts.”
“It’s easy. Let me just show you a few things.” Liz spent a few minutes explaining how to apply everything and demonstrating brush strokes. “The eyes are what you have to be careful with. Go too light and you look washed out, but go too heavy, and you look like a hooker. I know this is more color than you’re used to but you really do look good.”
“Oh, I agree. I would never have thought so, but I like how you combined these three different colors to emphasize my eyes.”
They continued to admire Julia’s new hair and makeup as they put everything back in the RV. It had been a long day, and the women were going to bed early so that they could get an early start. Tomorrow was a big day. They would reach their final destination by early evening.
Lydia tried to push all the troubling thoughts out of her mind as she enjoyed the spectacular scenery and felt pleasantly warmed by the sun smiling on her through the big, front window of the camper.
“And now, I’m going to model my new outfits for you all,” Julia said.
Liz didn’t completely trust Julia to get the ensembles properly assembled, so she and Grace went to help her.
“You’ve been pretty quiet this morning,” Sonya said to Lydia after Liz and Jules went to prepare for their little fashion show.
“I’m scared. I made this trip to solve this mystery, but now that I’m—hopefully—about to get my answers, I’m not sure I want them.”
“I know what you’re saying, but you’re not here because you want to know, but because you need to know. Julia is a perfect example of why you have to do this. You don’t want to be haunted by ghosts of relatives past,” Sonya said.
“But can I live with what I find out?” Lydia asked.
“As Julia just pointed out, knowing the truth is always better than not knowing. Our imagination works overtime if we don’t quash it. You’ll get through this. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“I don’t feel very strong.”
“It’s okay to be scared or sad. It’s even okay to accept help,” Sonya said, placing a hand on Lydia’s shoulder.
Before she could respond, Liz and Julia returned.
“ Ta-da! ” Liz said, introducing Julia in her first ensemble. It was a pair of camel slacks with a matching sweater that had animal-print sleeve caps and collar. An animal-print handbag, large gold earrings, an exquisite, gold link loose belt, and suede boots completed the outfit.
“I wish I had bought that. You look gorgeous,” Lydia said.
“You really do,” Sonya agreed.
“It’s funny. This is something I would never have picked out for myself, but I love it. I feel good. I feel confident,” Julia said. She spun around for them to get a good look before disappearing for the next wardrobe change.
“I have to warn you that this is a risqué thing for Julia, and I had to practically have a fit before she agreed to buy it. I’m not sure she’ll ever wear it in public, but just the fact that she sees it hanging in her closet may empower her. And she could wear it for John. I know he’d love it. So please be sure to tell her how fabulous she looks,” Liz whispered as she disappeared into the back of the RV when she heard Julia emerge from the bathroom.
The others were not prepared, despite the warning Liz had given them. When Jules appeared, wearing a bright red evening dress that clung so tightly that a piece of tissue paper couldn’t have been inserted between skin and fabric, Lydia nearly wrecked the camper and Sonya almost fell out of her seat. The dress was strapless on one side and was cut very low in
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