Well Behaved Wives(37)
Chapter 15
RUTH
Ruth snapped to attention as Lillian and Maryanne stepped into the common area of the dressing room. They each smiled, and Lillian held out the selection of scarves. Spoiled for choice. A few moments later, Ruth walked into Carrie’s dressing room carrying Lillian’s top recommendations, grateful to offer their mentor’s good taste. Ruth was independent, not foolhardy.
“I like this one,” Carrie said, lifting the solid silk square, a few shades lighter than her dress, more of a cantaloupe color than pumpkin, but still part of the food group. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Oh. Okay.”
Ruth shuffled backward, pushed through the louvered doors, and, as they fluttered closed behind her, stopped to gaze at the cream-colored rectangle covered in hand-painted, deep red-orange poppies that was still draped over her arm.
The scarf, a soft, luxurious piece of art, reminded Ruth of The Wizard of Oz. Inspired beauty. Carrie should try it on as well. Life was all about having options. Without knocking, Ruth stepped back into the dressing room, and stared.
A purple and black circle the size of a quarter, maybe larger, marked the left side of Carrie’s neck.
Ruth gasped before she could catch herself. “That’s not a scar, Carrie. That’s a bruise.”
A scar represented the past. A bruise was current.
Carrie slapped her hand over her bruise and growled. “I know what it is.”
Things like this didn’t happen to girls like Carrie.
“What’s going on in there?” Irene asked from another room.
“Just pinched myself with the zipper,” Carrie yelled so the other girls could hear.
“Ouch! Be careful,” Irene said.
“See you all in a minute,” Harriet said. “Carrie, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine, thank you.”
“Here, let me do it,” Ruth said.
Carrie lowered her hand and looked away as Ruth stepped closer. As if handling butterfly wings, Ruth wrapped the cream and floral scarf around Carrie’s neck.
“I’m such a klutz.” Carrie turned her head to the left. “Bumped right into an open kitchen cabinet door. I swallowed a few aspirin and held an ice pack on it earlier. It’s more embarrassing than painful. You won’t say anything, will you? I didn’t tell anyone about your law school, or the bar exam, or your wanting a job—not even Eli.”
“Of course I won’t say anything.” Ruth arranged the scarf and tied it into a loose bow draped over Carrie’s right clavicle. “But you have to promise to be more careful.” A protective instinct tugged on Ruth’s heart; invisible yet experienced as strongly as if it were made of reinforced steel.
They walked out to the common area, meeting the other girls at the three-way mirror so they could admire each other’s choices.
There was nothing she could do in this moment, so Ruth allowed herself to have fun, twirling and giggling like a teenager with the others in their new outfits.
Surrounded by the other girls, she found the day overwhelmingly festive.
The rest of the morning at Saks was filled with fittings for those who were buying. Hats. Gloves. Shoes. Girdles.
After the girls settled on their purchases—Ruth chose the gray dress, Irene went with an asparagus-colored twin set, and Harriet decided on a coffee-with-cream pillbox hat—they gathered back in their chairs wearing their original outfits. Shopping bags and garment carriers lined the wall behind them.
“What did you learn today, girls?” Lillian asked.
“Buy your girdle one size too small,” Harriet said, making everyone laugh whether she intended to or not.
“I was thinking more what you learned about yourselves,” Lillian said.
From Saks? This wasn’t an esteemed university, or even a second-rate college. Ruth hadn’t considered she’d learn anything about herself at a department store.
And yet, she had. She’d learned that the compliments she’d received while wearing the gray dress had instilled confidence for her upcoming job search—and she was dying to say so. She wondered if she could transfer the confidence the girls were giving her about her looks to everything else she was trying to accomplish—especially passing the bar exam.
“I tried outfits I never would have chosen myself, and I liked them,” Irene said. “I learned to take chances. With wardrobe, that is.”
“That’s a great lesson,” Lillian said. “Ruth?”
Chapter 16
RUTH
The minute Ruth walked in the front door, proudly carrying her new clothes in their festively wrapped bags, she was greeted by a toddler. Asher’s niece Judy ran to her and wrapped her pudgy little arms around her calf. Ruth was surprised not only by the unexpected guests, but by the delightful rush that ran through her at Judy’s welcome.
Even Shirley chuckled at her granddaughter’s enthusiasm, though Abigail quickly removed the little mischief-maker so Ruth’s packages didn’t get soiled.
“Looks like someone had a successful day,” Abigail said, eyeing the bags. “Can we see?”
Abigail had been friendly to Ruth all along, welcoming her into the family, not holding the elopement against her. Welcoming this sisterly gesture, Ruth unwrapped the gray dress, holding it up for Shirley and Abigail.