Page 146 of The Defiant Curse

Okay, she had to admit it. It was amazing what a little retail therapy could do for a girl when she was in the dumps. Along with Gabby, Michael, and Graham, she’d not only found fun things for her kids, but she’d also gotten herself some new clothes.

And shockingly, none of them were jeans, boots, and a blazer.

Apparently, you could teach an old dog new tricks, because while here in Scotland, she wasn’t feeling badass.

What she wanted was to find that other piece of her, so she could be whole again.

Maybe it was being girly.

Maybe it was feeling feminine.

Maybe it was being the opposite of who she was.

All Elizabeth knew was that she wanted to see where this journey would take her. For now, it took her into countless boutiques where gorgeous things lived.

Now she got why Callen liked to shop because she had a good time spending money.

Oh, and why Ethan liked nice things.

It was probably also why Chris always looked good outside of his scrubs.

Money could buy some happiness because she wasn’t feeling nearly as bad as she had been—and that was also thanks to the company she was keeping.

Along with shopping, friends made the difference.

Give her a small Scottish village full of shops any day of the week. Now, Elizabeth was able to find her own style, and it was definitely new to her.

Oh, and about her hair…

She didn’t get it dyed red, but instead, she shook it out, letting her curls do what curls did. If it gave her away while shopping, no one said a word.

And that was nice too.

Finn had been right about one thing. This place was magical. She was able to walk down the street and not have to feel like a prisoner.

The people here in Scotland didn’t give a shit who she was, and that was three days beyond refreshing.

So, she did some damage.

Oh, and from the looks of it, Graham and Michael did too. They took turns watching her, while the other man went off to buy things too.

They didn’t show her what, but the bags were FULL.

Well, good for them.

Retail therapy for the win.

Before now, she never liked shopping and let the men buy her shit.

Now, she was going to make this a regular thing. From the soft wool sweaters to the flowy skirts that made her feel like she was a hippy in the seventies, Elizabeth was in her feminine era, for sure.

As they drove back to the castle, Gabby and Finn meeting up with them later for dinner there, she was in a much better state of mind.

“You look…dare I say it, Mom, happy.”

She laughed.

“I mean, I’m better. I see the cliff and don’t want to jump from it.”