Page 44 of Second Chance in Charlevoix
Thanking Heidi, they burst out into the fresh air. “Sorry, I thought Sophia’s would be…”
“Nope, not happening.” But Mia was grinning, almost as if they shared a secret. As they headed down Bridge Street to a shop called Blue Lagoon, they passed Secondhand Rose, a consignment shop. The window was filled with bright tops, shorts andcapri pants. A denim mini-skirt caught Sam’s eye. She’d been looking for one.
“Want to go inside?” Mia asked.
“Do you?” Sam turned.
“Sure. Why not?” Marching to the door, Mia pulled it open. While Sam was grabbing the denim skirt, which luckily was her size, Mia began sorting through T-shirts. With a bunch in hand she disappeared into another fitting room. Sam quickly took a room across from her. The mini-skirt fit her but exposed way more of her legs than Sam was used to showing.
Marlowe always told her that she had great legs. Kurt, however, insisted that her calves were too skinny. He’d printed out a bunch of exercises meant to develop Sam’s calves. That never happened. Remembering those exercises, Sam wondered. Maybe this skirt was a mistake.
“Mia?” Sam called out, wanting another opinion.
Mia’s head appeared at the edge of the pink drape. “Nice,” she said, flicking her eyes over Sam. “You going to buy it?”
“Are you sure it doesn’t make my legs look too skinny?”
“What?” Mia stepped back, her arms full of shirts. “Of course not. You look nice.”
Nice? Hardly a compliment but today she’d takenice. Sam ended up at the register, denim skirt in hand. “So you had luck with the shirts?”
“Yep. All good.” A bag swung from her arm.
“Your dad gave me his credit card. You know, for your dress. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you using it for other clothes.”
‘No problem. Dad gave me some cash.”
“Oh, okay.” They walked back out into the sunshine and Sam felt like she’d accomplished something. And she wasn’t thinking of the mini-skirt.
Blue Lagoon carried adult dresses plus plenty of beachwear. The girl who approached them was named Zed and she had a beautiful floral tattoo up her left arm. “Yep, we got dresses.” Her eyes swept over Mia, who handed Sam her bag.
“Not too adult but not childish,” Sam told Zed.
“Got it.” The girl got busy and Mia seemed to trust the clerk’s judgment.
The first dress was too short. Josh would have a heart attack and Mia seemed to agree. The second dress had a Caribbean beach vibe and the ruffled sleeves were a little much. The third dress, a halter dress in hot pink, had a neckline rimmed with pink and purple jewels. The dress made a statement. Although it was short, it wasn’t the shortest one in the group. Mia glowed as she turned around in front of the mirror.
“What do you think?” Sam asked.
“I love it. Do you think it’s well, too much?” Her fingers trailed over the V-neck, as if she was afraid Sam would nix it. Sam had seen a lot worse in the windows at the Oak Brook mall.
“If I were your age, I think I’d choose this one too.”
For a second it looked as if Mia might hug her. After this nerve wracking day, Sam would have enjoyed that. But it wasn’t to be. Stopping as if she’d come to her senses, Mia wheeled around and skipped back to the fitting room
But Josh was the one who would decide, and Sam was nervous about that. When he picked her up for dinner that night, Sam was almost afraid to face him. “What did you think of the dress?” she asked once they were on the road.
“Short. Shorter than any father would want. But…”
“But what?” Clearly something else was coming
He sent her a curious look. “She tells me you bought a skirt just as short.”
Feeling her face redden, Sam said, “Yes, so what?”
“Nothing. I can’t wait to see it.” Reaching over, he squeezed her hand. “I’m fine with the dress. Thanks for taking her. Mia seemed to have a good time. But one of the shirts is going right into the trash.”
Her heart clutched. “The shirts? But I never saw them.”
