Page 45 of Catch Me
“It makes me appear huge. It’s horrible!” the woman says, gesturing to the dress.
“That yellow looks beautiful on you.”
Both women turn to me. The older woman doesn’t smile but a light enters her brown eyes.
“You think so?”
“Yes, have a look for yourself.” Something takes over me, and I go to the woman, gesturing toward the mirror next to her. “It truly accentuates the golden undertones of your skin.”
“But it’s baggy.” She holds out her arms for emphasis. “Is it too oversized? Doesn’t it make me look bigger than I actually am?”
“It’s supposed to be like that, Mom. It’ll allow you to move more comfortably, and you don’t look big at all,” her daughter says and then peers at me.
“It’s been years since my mom bought anything new for herself. I told her when she came out to visit me, we were going shopping.”
My smile widens. “You chose the right place. This store has something for everyone.”
“That’s what I told her. I love it here,” her daughter agrees.
“If you want the fit of the dress to be a smidge better, you could …” I trail off as I look back to the belt rack. “This.” I grab a couple of belts and two silk scarves that I think would look great on her.
“These will help give the dress more of a waistline.”
“Wow,” her daughter and I say at the same time once she cinches the black belt around her waist.
“A pair of gold earrings and this outfit is fantastic for going out in the evening, or day depending on the event. And here.” I hand her the scarves I’ve chosen.
After fiddling with the first scarf for a bit, she tosses her hand up in frustration.
“May I?” I ask.
She nods, and I place the scarf loosely around her neck so that it falls around her shoulders, and then make a side knot to keep it in place.
“It’s so pretty, Mom. You could wear this to that conference you’re going to in a couple of weeks. Maybe even find a date while there.” Her daughter wags her eyebrows, and her mom laughs as if the idea is preposterous.
“I can totally see it,” I agree.
“See?” her daughter adds, and then holds up her hand.
I high-five it, making the three of us laugh.
“You know, I would say you’re being nice just for your commission, but I do like it,” the older woman says, eyeing herself in the mirror. She’s coming out of her shell little by little.
“I don’t work here.”
Both women look at me with wide eyes.
“Do you want a job?”
I turn to see the clerk who greeted me earlier staring at me with a grin.
“From what I’ve seen, you’d be a great fit here.” She turns to the woman I’ve been helping. “And she’s right, that is your color. The belt is to die for as well.”
“Alright, alright,” she holds up her hands in surrender, “I’ll buy it all.”
“Yes!” Her daughter cheers, clapping, then clasps a hand around my shoulder. “Seriously, you don’t know how difficult it is to get this woman to treat herself. Thank you for helping out. Do you work in fashion or something?”
“I do, actually. I’m the assistant to the assistant in the design department of a major studio here in L.A.”
