Page 21 of Sweet Home

“You’reso cute,” Dulcie told her, happy to play along. “And maybe a little bit dangerous?”

“Alotdangerous,” Elizabeth crowed. “I have scales andfire.”

“Let’s keep going,” West suggested gently. “We’ve got some shopping to do. Are you going to help Dulcie choose her work clothes?”

“Yes,” Elizabeth said, her expression turning serious. “I’ll help.”

“Thank you,” Dulcie said.

They continued past a gift shop to a cute clothing store with the wordsSecond Hand Roseon the glass window in a flourishing script.

The mannequins in the window all wore beautiful but obviously pre-owned clothing. Dulcie felt herself relax for the first time since West had insisted on buying her new clothes.

She was determined not to be a charity case, but she understood that the family couldn’t have her working for them dressed in her threadbare clothing. It would hurt a lot less for him to take the price of a few pieces of used clothing out of her pay than if they were brand new.

“I hope this is okay,” West said quietly. “It’s used clothing, but it’s all in very good condition. My little sister loves this place.”

“It’s perfect,” Dulcie told him. “Thank you for this.”

West pulled the door open, sending the strap of jingle bells hanging from the knob dancing.

“Welcome, welcome,” an older lady in a pretty blue sweater and long, tie-dyed skirt said as she headed their way. “I’m Willa. What can I help you find today?”

Dulcie swallowed, uncertain where to begin.

“Dulcie here needs some good clothing for a Vermont winter,” West said after a moment. “We’d like to start with jeans and sweaters, and of course she’ll need boots and a good, warm coat, and anything else you think would suit her.”

“Is this your first winter in Vermont, Dulcie?” Willa asked with a warm smile.

Dulcie nodded.

“Oh, my goodness,” Willa said. “This is going to be so much fun. Come on.”

Dulcie followed as Willa narrated her way through the racks, holding a few items up to Dulcie and rejecting them or nodding her head up and down as she added them to the quickly growing pile draped over her arm.

“Just holler if you see something you like that I didn’t grab,” Willa said over her shoulder beforelaunching into a description of exactly how cold it got at nightin these drafty old houses, and letting Dulcie know that she wasn’t originally from these parts herself.

Dulcie glanced back to see that Elizabeth was following her like a duckling, nodding her little head up and down in agreement with all of Willa’s suggestions.

“Now, all of this is just what I think you’ll need,” Willa said, grabbing a wonderfully soft and warm-looking sweater off a shelf on her way past. “Once we’ve got you a nice set of everyday necessities, you’ll come back out and look for accessories.”

“I’m really just looking for work clothes,” Dulcie managed.

“Everyone needs accessories,” Willa said, looking back at her with a scandalized expression. “And I charge by the pound on Fridays, so you’ll get good bang for your buck.”

“Wow,” Dulcie said.

“I close up and make a run to Burlington every Monday for fresh inventory,” Willa explained. “So, if you’re looking for something special, you can come in early on a Tuesday and have first pick, but you’ll have to pay regular price. Prices are discounted twenty-five percent on Thursdays, and then I sell everything by the pound Friday and through the weekend.”

“How do you keep the doors open?” Dulcie wondered out loud.

“I do a pretty brisk business around here,” Willa said. “And I sell a good bit online too, without the discounts. Here you go. Let me know if the sizes are wrong, I canusually eyeball my customers, but I don’t always get it right.”

“Thank you,” Dulcie said, watching Willa place the mountain of jeans and sweaters on a bench in the room-sized dressing area.

“I’ll be right out here,” Elizabeth announced, stopping in the area with the mirrors just outside. “Come on, Daddy.”

Dulcie pulled the curtain shut and turned to look through the pile of clothing, pulling out a pair of dark jeans and a soft gray sweater.

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