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‘Look, Erin, this would suit you.’ Zara held up a gold velvet dress with long sleeves and an A-line skirt.
‘Really?’ Erin frowned. ‘I don’t know. I mean… gold?’
‘Yes, gold. Try it on and you’ll see,’ Zara said.
They walked around the shop for a while longer and selected a few more garments then went to the changing rooms. ‘Is it all right if we try these on?’ Zara asked Darcie.
‘Of course! Shout if you need help,’ Darcie replied.
‘Go on then, try that dress on. It would be lovely for Christmas Day,’ Zara pushed Erin towards the changing room and Erin sighed. Her younger sister could be so bossy.
While she was getting changed, Erin heard the shop door opening and closing and the sound of voices. It seemed like someone Darcie knew had come in and they were giggling away at something.
Erin stared at her reflection in the changing room mirror and she had to admit that she was pleasantly surprised. The gold dress did suit her. If she paired it with long boots, it would look nice for Christmas Day. It had enough stretch in the material to cover a full belly and it was flawless, as if it had never been worn. She turned from side to side admiring how it draped over her curves and for the first time in a long time, she felt that she looked quite nice. Billy’s infidelity had cut her deep and severely dented her confidence and she was trying to get it back, but it wasn’t easy. She spoke to herself the way she’d read that you should do, like a caring friend would, but even then it was hard to believe that she was all the good things she said to herself. That was the problem with trusting someone with your heart. If they hurt you, it could cause damage that was hard to reverse.
‘Let’s see then!’ Zara’s voice dragged Erin from the changing room and she stepped out into the shop and found her sister waiting. ‘I knew it would suit you!’ Zara clapped her hands and whistled. ‘It’s gorgeous on you, sweetie.’
Erin blushed under her sister’s praise and her blush deepened when she realised that Darcie and another woman were also gazing at her.
‘That is lovely on you,’ Darcie said. ‘Don’t you agree, Ellie?’
‘Oh I do!’ The woman named Ellie nodded. ‘It’s gorgeous.’
‘Thanks.’ Erin swayed a bit then turned to her sister. ‘I love that skirt on you.’
‘Cheers!’ Zara smoothed her hands over the skirt. ‘I think it’ll go well with a boob tube on Christmas Day, don’t you?’
Erin grimaced and Zara giggled. ‘Joking! I have a plain black jumper that will look nice with it. I’ll leave the boob tubes to Angelina.’
‘Good plan,’ Erin said although she really hoped no one would be wearing boob tubes as they ate turkey dinner. It would be rather off putting, she thought.
‘Right let’s get changed then we can go and get a warm drink.’ Zara gestured at the changing rooms and Erin went back inside.
When she was dressed in her own clothes again, she wound her scarf around her neck and put her coat on then pushed the curtain aside. At the counter, Darcie and Ellie were busy pricing up clothing so she walked over and placed the dress on the counter.
‘Can I tempt you into buying anything to go with this?’ Ellie asked. ‘I work here part time,’ she said by way of explanation.
‘Oh, right.’ Erin nodded. ‘Ummm… Did you have something in mind?’
Ellie went over to a shelf and picked up a few things then returned to Erin’s side. ‘I thought that these beads would go with the dress.’ She placed a necklace on the skirt and stood back. The multi strand necklace was made of gold and black beads and looked really good with the dress. ‘They’re vintage 70s.’
‘I love them. I’ll take them too,’ Erin said. ‘Thank you.’
‘You’re getting good at this, Ellie,’ Darcie said with a smile.
When Zara eventually emerged from the changing room, she had several garments draped over her arm and Erin realised that she was clearly getting them all. ‘Mum and Dad can get them for me for Christmas,’ Zara said with a grin.
They left the shop with their new purchases in paper bags with a dragonfly print on the side and Erin closed the door carefully behind her.
‘Look!’ Zara pointed at the sky and Erin looked up. It had darkened during their time in Dragonfly Dreams and now flakes of snow were swirling down. They melted as soon as they touched the pavement, but she suspected that if it kept going like this then it would soon stick.
‘Hot chocolate?’ Zara said.
‘Great idea.’ Erin hooked her arm through Zara’s and they headed for the café. ‘This is lovely,’ she said, giving her sister’s arm a squeeze.
‘I’m enjoying myself too. It’s so nice to spend some time with you,’ Zara said.
‘It really is.’ Erin smiled, realising that though she might have lost the life she’d had, there was a whole new one ahead of her and right now it looked very promising indeed.
