AllFreeNovel
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“If the mood strikes, I’ve got a rechargeable friend I brought with me.”
“You make me feel like a horn-dog.”
“You’ve always been a horn-dog,” Anna Beth laughed.
“True. Would you like to change the subject?”
“Yes, please.”
They started walking again and Olive piped up, “Have you thought about what you’re going to wear to dinner tonight?”
“Jeans and a sweater. It’s just the Jeffries. I’ve been to their house dozens of times.”
“That doesn’t mean you can’t dress up, especially since they haven’t seen you in years. I find that if I get pretty from my undies to my jacket, I am in a better frame of mind for whatever life throws at me. More confident. Better conversationalist.” Olive snapped her fingers. “I’m taking you into Tammy’s place. You’re going to love it. She has some little black dresses, but her specialty is bling and pops of color. I got this off the shoulder purple sequin dress at home that makes my chest look huge.”
“Your chest is huge.”
Olive smirked. “Yes, but the dress really makes them vavavoom.”
“Olive, I packed plenty of clothes. I don’t need to shop.”
“Yes, you do and do you know why? Because I bet every outfit is serviceable. That’s too much able in one suitcase. It won’t hurt you to look and who knows, the right outfit can do wonders for your libido.”
“Oh, good God, you leave my libido alone.”
“You’ll thank me later.” Olive led her down to a storefront window. Tammy’s Glitzy Boutique used to be a thrift store until they moved into a bigger space down the street. Glittery, fake snow covered the floor of the window and silver snowflakes hung around three stylish mannequins. One was draped in a slinky, red sequin dress with cute black boots. The second wore a white fuzzy sweater, a green wreath in the center, paired with distressed blue jeans, while the last mannequin stood decked out in an iridescent halter dress and gold heels.
“This is awfully fancy for a small-town store.”
“Please! We are freaking fabulous and we need Tammy’s. The big cities got nothin’ on us.”
Olive opened the door to the store and shooed Anna Beth inside. Several women browsed the racks of clothes throughout the store, cheery Christmas music playing overhead.
A woman sporting a blonde mohawk waved from behind the computer and walked over next to Olive, giving her a hug. Her eyes, cheeks, and even her hair were dotted with specks of glitter and she greeted them with a wide, infectious smile on her face.
“Olive, so good to see you. Did you come to check out our new Christmas collection?”
“Yes, but not for me. Do you remember my friend, Anna Beth? Sarah Driver's niece?”
Tammy’s blue eyes lit with recognition. “Yes! Oh my goodness! How are you? I haven’t seen you since I used to help out down at the community center. Your aunt said you were some hot shot writer in Hollywood! She is so proud of you!”
Anna Beth coughed to hide her surprise. “I’m fine, thanks. How are you? Your shop is lovely.”
“Thank you. I love it. Making ladies feel beautiful is what I was meant to do, so I am fabulous.”
Olive jumped in. “A.B. needs something to get her sexy back and I told her this was the place.”
“You flatter me," Tammy said with a wink. “I’ll let you look around while I pull some things. Size twelve?”
“How did you know?” Anna Beth asked.
“It’s my job, baby. Now, you just relax. You’re in good hands.”
“We’re actually just looking.” Anna Beth ignored Olive’s death stare and continued, “As beautiful as your clothing is, I don’t really have anywhere to wear them. I’m a homebody.”
“You make your own occasion! I never leave my house without looking amazing. But I understand.” Tammy winked. “Today we’re just testing the waters, but maybe in the near future, you’ll take the plunge. When that happens, I’m here for you, girl.”
Seven
