Page 51 of Sean

Julia reluctantly followed Emmy to the other woman’s bedroom with Tara right behind them.

“I’m wearing this.” Emmy pointed to a full-length pink cotton gown with tiny flowers embroidered on it. “It’s a little much, but I am the birthday girl.”

“That’s lovely. Was it for a special occasion?” Julia said as she took a photo of the gown spread out on the bed.

“It was her bridesmaid dress for my wedding. We had the reception here on the ranch,” Tara answered.

“What are you wearing?” Julia asked Tara. The ranch manager was always in jeans and boots, so Julia couldn’t quite imagine her dressed up.

“This.” She closed the bedroom door to reveal a silver, slinky dress hanging on the back. “Jude was home for New Year’s Eve a few years back, and I bought this for when we went out to celebrate. I tried it on this morning to make sure it still fits. My farmer’s tan is going to show since it’s sleeveless, but that can’t be helped.”

“Now you, Julia.” Emmy opened her closet. “You’re petite, so something that won’t overpower you. Short and sexy, I think.” She held up a slim-fitting black dress with spaghetti straps and fringe along the hem.

“Nice, but no,” Tara said. “Something other than black. That’s what she’s always in.”

“Good point,” Emmy agreed. “You need to be wearing something that draws attention. Oh, I’ve got it.” She pulled out a strapless white dress with see through lace insets at the waist and that ended just above the knee.

“There’s not a lot to it,” Julia said. At the same time she couldn’t deny that it was lovely—a little sexy, a little sweet.

“Even better,” Tara said. “You’ll need some killer heels. You must have something, Emmy.”

“A color or a neutral?” The sisters seemed to consider this. At the same time, they both declared, “Silver.”

“And strappy. Here we go.” Emmy grabbed a shoebox from the top shelf and opened it. “Perfect.” The shoes were high-heeled sandals in silver that had a tiny ankle strap.

“Those’ll do. Now hair and makeup.”

“Oh, I’ll just—” Julia stopped when they both gave her the look. She’d seen the same expression on their mother’s face and knew it was pointless to argue. “Thanks for dressing me up.”

“You’re welcome,” they chorused. Working together, they helped each other dress, do hair, and apply makeup. They slicked Julia’s hair back, making her usual pixie cut look more sophisticated. She added eyeshadow, blush, and even lipstick, and it felt good. She hadn’t dressed up in ages.

She suddenly remembered the last time she’d had the opportunity to be so girly. It had been for her sister’s bachelorette party. Julia had flown home from an assignment in California that morning and rushed to Mira’s apartment. They spent two hours getting ready, trying on dresses and playing with their hairstyles before joining up with a group of Mira’s friends and going clubbing.

Tears sprang to Julia’s eyes. She quickly blotted them away, but not before Tara noticed.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

“I miss my sister,” she confessed. “Doing all this reminds me of her. She’d have loved it.”

Emmy pulled Julia into a hug. “What was her favorite part of dressing up?”

“Hair. Definitely hair. She was amazing with it. I keep mine short because it’s practical for all the travel I used to do. Mira had beautiful long hair, and she could do anything with it,” Julia said, remembering those days when they were teenagers getting ready in the bathrooms of tiny apartments wherever their mother happened to be working. They’d fought sometimes, but always made up.

“Would she approve of your look?” Emmy turned Julia toward the mirror. Julia almost didn’t recognize herself. She wasn’t much for gazing at herself to start with. The sexy dress and time spent on her hair and makeup had transformed her from a tired, anxious aunt into someone different. Mira would definitely approve.

“She’d love it,” Julia said and tried to focus on the happy memories that she had of her sister, not her heartbreaking death.

“I want that,” a little voice cried.

“No, me,” another said.

Alice and Ally Mae dashed into the room with Eden on their tail. The younger two girls each held onto a strap of a pale green lace bra that had a scattering of sequins on it.

“Mommy,” Alice said with a stamp of her foot, “I want to wear it.”

“It matches my dress better.” Ally Mae tried to pull the bra from her sister.

Emmy started to laugh and point at her sister. “Now, where did that pretty item come from? Never took you for the sparkly bra type.”

---