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"Black. "
"We can make that work," Angie said as she turned the shower on. "I could knit a sweater in the amount of time it takes to heat the water around here. " She started grabbing bottles and jars from the cabinet. "This is an exfoliant. You know what that is, dont you?"
At Laurens nod, Angie reached for something else.
"This is a hydrating mask. It helps my skin. Makes me look ten years younger. "
"That would make me a kindergartner. "
Angie laughed and shoved the products in Laurens arms. "Take a shower, then well do your hair and makeup. "
Lauren took the longest, most luxurious shower of her life. There were no pinging pipes, no water that came and went and suddenly turned cold. She used all the expensive products, and when she came out she felt brand-new. She dried her hair, then wrapped herself in a thick, oversized white towel and returned to the bedroom.
Angie was sitting on the edge of the bed. There was a pile of accessories around her--hairbrushes and makeup, curling irons and handbags and wraps. "I found a beaded black shawl and a black evening bag, and this!" She held up a beautiful pink and black butterfly hair clip. "Come on, sit down. My sisters and I used to do each others hair for hours. " She tossed a pillow onto the floor in front of her.
Lauren dutifully sat down, her back to the bed.
Angie immediately started brushing her hair. It felt so good Lauren actually sighed. She couldnt remember ever having her hair brushed. Even when her mother took the time to cut Laurens hair, there was no brushing involved.
"Okay," Angie said after a while, "now sit on the bed. "
Lauren changed positions. Angie knelt in front of her. "Close your eyes. "
The whisper-soft touch of eye shadow . . . a flicking of blush.
"Im going to put some sparkle on your throat. I bought it for my niece, but Mira said it was inappropriate . . . There," she said a moment later. "All done. "
Lauren stood up and slipped into the dress. Angie zipped her up.
"Perfect," Angie said, sighing. "Go look. "
Slowly, Lauren walked toward the full-length mirror that hung on the back of the closed door.
She gasped. The gown fit her beautifully, made her look like a princess from one of the storybooks shed never read. For the first time in her life, she looked like all the other girls at school.
ELEVEN
ANGIE STOOD IN FRONT OF HER DRESSER. THE TOP drawer was open. There, buried among the bras and panties and socks, was her camera.
To take photos of my grandbabies, Mama had said when shed given Angie the camera.
Babies, that smile of Mamas said, grow as naturally as green buds in springtime. Angie sighed.
For years, she had used this camera all the time, documenting every moment of her life. She was there, year after year, snapping pictures at family gatherings-- birthday parties, baby showers, preschool graduations. Somewhere along the way, it had begun to cause her pain, this looking through the viewfinder at a life she wanted desperately but couldnt have. One by one, shed stopped photographing her nieces and nephews. It simply hurt too much to see her loss in color. She knew it was selfish of her, and childish, too, but some lines couldnt be crossed. By the time little Dani had been born--only five years ago now; it felt like a lifetime-- Angie had put the camera away for good.
She grabbed the camera, refilled the film, and went downstairs.
Lauren stood at the fireplace with her back to the flames. The golden glow wreathed her, gave her pal
e, freckled skin a bronze sheen. The shell pink gown was a little too big on her, and a little too long, but neither flaw was noticeable. With her hair coiled into a French twist and held back by the butterfly clip, she looked like a princess.
"You look beautiful," Angie said, coming into the room. She was embarrassed by how much emotion she suddenly felt. It was a little thing--helping a teenage girl get ready for a school dance; nothing, really--so why did she feel so much?
"I know," Lauren said. There was wonder in her voice. Surprise.
Angie needed the distance of a viewfinder suddenly. She started snapping photographs. She kept taking them, one after another, until Lauren laughed and said: "Wait! Save some film for David. "
Angie felt like an idiot. "Youre right. Have a seat. Ill get us tea while we wait. " She went into the kitchen.
