Page 79 of The Affair
Our life had fallen apart, and the dress had remained in my closet, untouched.
Maybe it was just waiting for tonight.
I hung it up back by the closet, and things began to flow after that. My makeup went on with little fuss, and I spent extra time curling my hair, making sure it had that subtle, relaxed wave I loved. By the time I slid the dress and heels on, I was feeling pretty good about myself. Now, it was just time for the final touch—lipstick. I still had the samples I’d gotten from Aunt Sally, but when I pulled them out, the application process she’d given me was a little rusty.
Had she said darker color all over or just on the outside?
Or was it lighter color everywhere?
Looking at the two tubes, I began to bargain.
Maybe I should just pick one and go with it.
Oh hell, I thought, grabbing my phone of the bed.Why the heck not?
“Hello?” the familiar voice answered on the second ring.
“Aunt Sally, it’s Elle. I have a question about lipstick.”
If I could imagine her expression, I would guess it resembled something similar to the face a toddler would make when a puppy came along. That, and maybe a little surprise. Hell, I was surprised I’d called too.
“Lipstick? Well, okay! I can definitely help with that!”
I went over what I was struggling with, and within two minutes, I had a perfect, understated nude pout.
“Wow,” I said, giving myself a once-over in the mirror. “That looks amazing. Thank you so much. You really saved me tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? Got fancy plans?” she said in that nosy neighbor sort of way. You know the type—the one who asked why you weren’t drinking at the cookout because her own kids lived too far away and she was just dying to pinch some little kids’ cheeks.
“Yes, a date,” I answered, deciding to go with the truth and give her the details she was so obviously fishing for. The woman had just helped me with a lipstick emergency.
“Is it with that handsome man I spoke with the other night?”
“Yes—wait, how did you know he was handsome?” I asked.
“His voice. He had a very handsome voice.”
Well, that was definitely true, but I wasn’t sure one equated with the other. “Okay, anyway,” I moved on, “he’s taking me out, and I want to look nice.”
“You always look nice, dear.”
It was a very motherly thing to say. And speaking of…
“Have you spoken to your mother lately?”
I knew I shouldn’t have called.
Swallowing down my guilt, I tried to distract myself by nitpicking my appearance in the mirror. I triple-checked my mascara, turned to the side to make sure I was panty-line-free, and did that horrible grin people did to inspect their teeth. “Um, no. Have you?”
“Yes,” she answered. “Jack got her a new phone, and it took her a while to get used to it. She says all the gadgets—that’s what she calls the apps—are confusing, but she’s getting the hang of it.”
“That’s good.”
“She misses you,” she said simply.
Stopping what I was doing, I stared in the mirror, blinking several times to hold back the emotions. “Okay, well, I’ve got to go, Aunt Sally. He’ll be here any minute. Thanks for the help.”
And then I hung up without even waiting for a response.
