Page 27 of Pax

“What a cute little shop!” smiled Annie. “I love all the beach and nautical attire. So adorable!”

“I love this lightweight sweater,” said Alice.

Deanna held up a beautiful sundress, the bright colors making her complexion seemingly glow in the midday sunlight. The off-the-shoulder number would show off her beautiful shoulders.

“Oh, you should try that on,” smiled Annie.

“No, I don’t think so,” she said, shaking her head. “It’s awfully short, and I’d have to wear a strapless bra, and I’m not sure how I’d look in that.”

“You’d look beautiful,” said Alice. “Try it on.”

“I don’t know,” she said hesitantly. The two women looked at one another then back at Deanna.

“What’s holding you back? It can’t be the price. It’s very reasonable. The colors are perfect for you, and you could wear this in Louisiana as well.”

“I guess, I mean, when I was younger, my parents didn’t spend a lot of money on clothes. I wore a lot of second-hand things, which I didn’t mind at all. Mom always made sure they looked good as new. They were very, um, frugal, shall we say. We had money for new things, but they just couldn’t seem to make themselves buy new for anything.”

“And you’ve inherited some of those traits,” smiled Annie. “It will be something that my son will appreciate, Deanna. But he’d also tell you to treat yourself. You’re both hardworking adults who know the value of a dollar and how to save money. It’s alright to buy things for yourself now and then as long as you’re not suffering any financial insecurity.”

“That’s something you won’t have to worry about with our family,” smiled Alice. “We all work and share in the profits of the businesses. You’ll always be okay.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive,” said the women in unison. Deanna took the dress into the dressing room, and Annie handed her a pair of high-heeled sandals over the door.

“Try these on with it,” she smiled, winking at Alice. The two women smiled at one another remembering how it felt, the nerves when you first fall in love. Although, according to Deanna and Pax, they’d been in love a long time.

“Have you heard anything?” whispered Annie to her friend.

“Nothing. Just tourists and locals out and about on a beautiful day. Maybe we’ll have better luck when we stop for lunch,” said Alice. They heard the dressing room door open, and Deanna stepped out. Their jaws dropped, staring at the beautiful young woman.

“Okay. That is going home with you today!” said Annie. “Holy shit! Woman, you’ve got legs for days. Why don’t you show them?”

“I don’t know,” she said, squirming in front of the mirror. “It’s that whole conservative upbringing thing, I guess.”

“Honey, you look amazing. My son is going to crap his pants,” she laughed. Alice giggled with her, and the shop owner stared at her.

“They’re right. It’s really beautiful on you. It’s as if those colors were mixed just for you,” she smiled. “And your skin color is beautiful. You must tan regularly.”

“No,” frowned Deanna. “I don’t lay in the sun or go tanning at all. I’m from the South, so I have naturally tan skin.”

“I see,” nodded the woman. “You’re Hispanic?”

“No,” said Annie, looking at the woman with a frown. “She’s from Louisiana. Look at her coloring, her hair and eyes. She just has a naturally tanner complexion.”

“Of course,” nodded the woman. “Well, it’s lovely on you.”

“I think you should get them,” smiled Alice. “We could arrange for you and Pax to have a nice dinner somewhere tonight.” Deanna nodded, returning to the dressing room. Annie pulled Alice aside.

“Did you think that was odd?”

“Very,” whispered Alice. “I got the feeling that she might not have sold it to her if she had identified as Hispanic.”

“Same,” muttered Annie.

The women paid for the dress and shoes and left the boutique, visiting several others before stopping for a late lunch. The weather was picture-perfect, the temperatures in the upper seventies, no clouds and the beach was crowded with surfers and swimmers alike.

“Ladies, here are your salads. I’ll bring out some warm bread and refill your iced teas,” smiled the waiter. Annie looked at his name tag and nodded.

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