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‘Is she?’
‘Definitely. And I’m sure she’ll have something here that will be lovely for a spring ball.’
‘I hope so. I haven’t done much shopping in what feels like years and I’d prefer to do it here if I can.’
‘You will. Just try to relax and enjoy the experience.’
‘I’ll try.’ Brooke smiled, but her eyes were sad.
‘What is it?’
‘Just the whole … getting ready to go out somewhere scenario. It’s hard.’
‘Oh my darling, I know.’
‘The last time I got dressed up to go out was with Aidan and my life was so different then. I had no idea what was coming.’
‘We never do and I think it’s a good job we don’t because how would we be able to enjoy the present if we knew when our time, or that of our loved ones, would be up? I think it’s better not to know.’
‘It does make you aware of how important today is though, doesn’t it?’
‘Absolutely.’ Clover agreed.
‘And that has to be enough,’ Brooke said.
‘It is enough.’ Clover got up and opened her arms, and Brooke stepped into her embrace. ‘It has to be because what else is there?’
Brooke nodded against her shoulder, and they stayed that way, hugging each other like their lives depended upon it, until Darcie returned with their tea.
Chapter 24
Brooke
Darcie had walked around the shop with Brooke picking up different dresses, holding them against Brooke, then putting some of them back on the rails. Brooke had ended up with five possibilities, and now she was in the changing cubicle alone with the dresses while Darcie and Clover waited outside the curtain.
She hung the dresses on the hooks provided, then paused and gazed at her reflection in the full-length mirror. This was not what she was used to. There had been times like this when she’d gone shopping for clothes in her past, of course there had, and many times when Aidan had accompanied her. There had been times when she’d gone to buy something nice to wear because he was due back from tour, and she wanted to look nice for him. They’d had a good marriage, and she had enjoyed being married to him, had loved him deeply. The idea of ever having that again with someone else seemed impossible, ridiculous even, and she had no idea how it could ever happen. Perhaps for her there would only ever be one man and that man was gone, so she would spend the rest of her life single.
‘Come on, slow coach!’ Clover called from behind the curtain. ‘Your audience is eagerly awaiting your first outfit.’
Brooke gave herself an inward shake, then stripped off her jeans and jumper and stepped into the first dress. It was a purple satin cocktail dress with cropped sleeves and buttons up the back. It clung to her, accentuating her hips and the slight swell of her stomach and breasts. She tried to do up the buttons but couldn’t reach around, so she’d have to ask for help. Pushing the curtain aside, she stepped out of the cubicle.
‘Wow!’ Clover clapped her hands together. ‘That’s a beautiful dress and just look at you.’
Brooke’s cheeks grew hot as she looked down, holding the dress against her chest. ‘Could you help me with the buttons, please?’ she asked.
Darcie came to her aid and soon buttoned the dress, then she turned Brooke to face the large gilt-framed mirror in the corner.
‘It looks wonderful on you,’ Darcie said, and Brooke gazed at herself. She lifted her hair to see how it would look if she pinned it up and turned from side to side.
‘It’s a lovely dress,’ she said.
‘But you need some shoes,’ Darcie said. ‘Hold on a moment.’
She returned with a pair of purple court shoes with small silk flowers on the toes. They were quite high, so Brooke walked around in them for a bit to get used to the height of the heel before returning to the mirror.
‘What do you think?’ she asked Clover. ‘Too much?’
‘I think you look amazing but why don’t you try on the others just in case there’s one you prefer?’ Clover suggested.
