Kerry turned all the way around, and braced her weight against one hand as she looked at her partner. In the half darkness, Dar’s face was mostly in shadows, but she could see the furrow in her lover’s brow even so. “That must have been really strange for you,” she finally said.
“It was,” Dar replied. “Still is, sometimes. I felt like a fraud then and sometimes I do now, too, but not the same way.” She paused, then a wry grin appeared. “It didn’t hurt that I figured out the silk suits didn’t look bad on me.”
She remembered being in the dressing room, surrounded by the smell of silk and expensive perfume. To her right was a hanger full of sophisticated clothing, and directly ahead was a full length mirror that reflected back the scruffy beach rat she knew herself to be.
“Madame, do you require any assistance?”
Dar glared at the closed door. “No thanks. I can dress myself. Can you?”
Bad enough she’d had to suffer the skeptical looks of the salespeople on the floor and the careful counting of the hangers by the attendant. She sure didn’t need some jerkass snoot face wanting to dress her.
With an aggrieved sigh, she stripped off her T-shirt and let it drop on top of the padded bench, then unbuckled her jeans, kicking off her sneakers, and adding the worn denim to the pile as well.
What was she doing in here? Dar debated simply walking out, then she recalled David waiting outside, and turned to remove the first suit he’d picked out from the hanger.
It was silk, and a rich burgundy color. She dubiously slipped on the shirt, making a face as the fabric bound her around the arms and shoulders. “That’s not gonna work.” she muttered, but buttoned it up anyway, adding the skirt after that and tucking the shirt into it. “I don’t get what this is supposed to accomplish.”
“What was that, Dar?” David’s voice came from outside. “Need something?”
“No.” Dar ground her teeth, as she donned the jacket and turned to look at the mirror with a scowl. “I don’t…”
She blinked at the reflection, one eyebrow lifting. The jacket outlined her athletic body relatively well, and she found herself unexpectedly liking what she saw.
Totally different than her usual chinos and polo, or the vests she tended to wear.
The cream of the shirt offset her tan, and the sophisticated cut of the suit made her almost unrecognizable in her own eyes—and she suspected, her coworkers as well.
“Dar? You all right?”
92 Melissa Good Dar pulled the jacket lapels straight and turned to regard a surprisingly sleek profile. “Well, damn it.”
“Dar?”
“Would you please shut up, David? Go find a damn espresso cart or something,” Dar growled back. “Leave me the hell alone!”
Footsteps retreated, and she was left in peace. Dar turned and put her hands on her hips, making a face at the fit of the jacket. She sighed and went to the door to the changing room, opening it and sticking her head out. “Hey,”
she called out to the attendant. “Buddy.”
The man turned and managed not to frown too much. “Yes, madame.” He stopped in mid word, his sandy eyebrows lifting in surprise at the unlikely vision before him. “That color does suit you, Madame.”
“Do you have someone who can make these things from scratch?” Dar asked, ignoring the compliment.
“Madame?” The man came closer. “What things, the clothing?”
Dar opened the door all the way, and came out, extending her arms. The sleeves of the jacket were halfway to her elbows, and it was visibly tight across her shoulders. “I’m betting you don’t have anything that’s gonna fit me off the rack with these wings.”
The attendant, encouraged a bit, studied the problem. “We could offer you a larger jacket, I suppose, but it will probably blouse here, and…” He plucked at the lapel. “We do have a tailor, of course, but getting this pattern custom will be very expensive.”
“How expensive?”
The man tapped his fingers against his lips. “Probably a thousand dollars over the cost of the suits.” He watched Dar’s face like a hawk. “At minimum.”
Dar ducked back inside the changing room and grabbed the suits off the rack. She popped back out and handed them to him. “Can he do all of these?”
The salesman blinked hard. “Ah…well, certainly.”
“Can I get them delivered to my house?”
“Well, yes, I’m sure we can arrange that.”
“He here now? Get his ass in here,” Dar said. “I don’t have all day.”
“Bh…uh…yes, madame, of course, ah, let me...I’ll put these over here and just give him a call, do you, ah…”
Dar handed him her brand new platinum card. “Here.”
He took it, his attitude morphing so fast he almost resembled a piece of silly putty being pulled. “Of course, Madame. May I call one of our shoppers for you, since you are in a rush?”
“Shoppers?” Dar’s ears perked.
“Yes,” the salesman said. “We have a service, you see, someone will be glad to go and pick out accessories for you, shoes, a belt, a purse perhaps…” He caught Dar’s expression. “Perhaps not, but other things?”
“This person will do my shopping?” Dar said. “Pick stuff to go with that stuff?”
“Yes.”
‘Bring ’em on.”
Red Sky At Morning 93
The salesman positively beamed at her. “Would madame like some coffee while the tailor comes up?”
“Got any ice cream?” Dar countered, beginning to enjoy herself just a little.
“I am positive we can get some.” The salesman picked up the phone. “And if you would like to come with me, we have a private fitting room for our special customers.”
Ah. So this is what that ‘how the other half lives’ thing is all about.
“Lead on.”
Kerry laughed, bringing her back to the present. She glanced down at her partner, who was smiling back at her. “What’s so funny?”
“You are.” Kerry gave her a pat on the leg. “Of course you look good in silk suits, Dar, you look good in everything.”
“Glad you think so.” Dar gave her a hug. “I have to admit I was laughing to myself when you asked me to help you pick clothing, though.”
“You did a great job.”
Dar snorted. “Like anything I picked wouldn’t have looked good on you?”
Kerry pondered that. “Well, I’m sure you could have found something in mustard yellow that wouldn’t have been flattering,” she allowed. “But I was too busy being freaked out that you knew exactly what size I wore.”
Dar chuckled.
“How did you do that?” Kerry turned and looked up at her curiously. “Don’t tell me you looked it up in some obscure database we manage for megalithic department stores—most of my stuff was privately tailored at home.” She nudged Dar. “What was the trick?’