Page 52 of Until the Sea Runs Dry

“Honey, you are having a moment, that’s all. We all get them, even without the horrific thing you just told me. Let yourself feel whatever you’re feeling and just breathe through it all. I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. I just want you to feel better again.”

She exuded such kindness it made Jane want to cry… which was ridiculous.

She couldn’t have a meltdown in this store, of all places.

“Would you like some water?”

Jane shook her head, reaching out to grab the woman’s hands.

“No… thank you. Give me a second… I’ll be fine in a moment.”

Clare squeezed her hands. “You take all the time you need. I’ll be here, playing with your pretty dog.”

Loki sat a few feet away, his expression concerned, sensing her distress. He chuffed and shuffled closer, laid his paws over her feet. She reached down to pet him. As soon as her fingers felt his warm fur, some of the panic she felt began to fade.

True to her word, Clare played tug with Loki, dangling the chew toy in front of him, giving Jane the space she needed to compose herself. When she felt able to continue, she stood up.

“All better?” Clare asked.

Jane nodded. “I’m sorry—”she began only for Clare to stop her.

“You need to stop apologizing. I’ve said I’m fine with it, so let’s move on. Now, do you want to talk about what’s happened to you, because that’s fine with me? Or would you prefer that I help you with clothes first? I’m honestly happy with either, but I don’t want you to feel stressed or upset if you don’t want to talk about it. You tell me what you’d like to do.”

Jane picked the easiest option. “Clothes first, I think.”

“Excellent. So, what do we need to get you?”

“Everything.”

Clare blinked at her again. “Everything, everything?”

Jane nodded. She didn’t bother explaining about the clothes that waited for her back at the pool house, not sure she would understand.

Clare cast a professional eye over her. “What you’re wearing, it’s not a bad fit, but we can do a little better.”

She walked a ring around her. “I’d say you were a size six with maybe a 38inch chest. What kind of dresser do you think you are?”

“I don’t understand the question,” Jane replied.

“Are you conservative or hippy? Do you prefer casual and comfort, or is style the priority?” Even as the words left her mouth, Clare knew she’d made a mistake. She winced, seeing the expression on Jane’s face.

“You probably don’t know any of that, do you? Well, then this is a first. You’ll try on everything until we figure out what you like.

She rubbed her hands gleefully. “Oh, this is going to be so much fun. I swear I’ve waited for this moment my entire life.”

Sending her a beaming smile, Clare bustled away, humming to herself as she perused the racks and shelves, rifling through the items on display until she returned with a lovely v neck burned orange floral dress that she held up to Jane. “Do we like?”

Jane nodded immediately. “It’s beautiful.”

“And, it should suit you perfectly. Go try this on before I pull any more outfits for you. I’ll wait here with… Loki, was it?”

Jane nodded, taking the dress into the nearby changing room. Moments later, she emerged with the dress draped over her like a second skin. It clung to her curves, showing them off, yet managed to not be overtly sexual.

In a word, it was perfect and Jane’s expression said as much.

Clare grinned, a smug smile on her lips. “If everything looks as good as that on you, this will be even easier than I thought.”

Jane couldn’t resist a twirl in front of the mirror.

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