Page 22 of A Wanderer's Redemption
“You do have yourself in quite the pickle, sweetie, but the real question is, do you like him?”
“Well, I don’t really know him, but he seems to be a respectable man.”
“That is not what I am asking, and you know it.”
“Yes, he is beautiful in a wild animal sort of way, but I am also smart enough to understand that if I reach out to pet him, he might devour me.”
“On the other hand, he may decide you are his to protect and love you for life.”
“I can’t allow myself to even imagine that version. Things like that are for fairytales and dreamers. We are from two different worlds, and men like him don’t settle for girls like me.”
“The world you are heading to has no such rules, Jessica. And yes, marrying the maid may have caused rumors and a few issues where you all lived before, but that’s not an issue out West. Anyway, who knows you were a maid besides a rare few now?”
“Ummm, well, now that I think about it, just the three who came with us.”
“So, since the moment you set foot on this train, you’ve become another person?”
“Yes … I mean … I suppose.”
“What if I could make you the lady you always wanted to be? Would you pursue him … or chase another life if he proves not to be worthy of your affections?”
“I would love to tell you yes, but I fear I would always feel inadequate around others, especially Reggie, as he knows the truth.”
“The man I saw earlier was either an extremely good actor or he simply doesn’t care about your previous position. If he hadn’t found you attractive, he would have found another way to get you on this train, Jessica. I can promise you that.Butlet’s say heis that superficial and narrow-minded. There are plenty of fish in the sea, and the moment the real you emerges from the cocoon you’ve been hiding in all your life, you are not the only one who will see it.”
She stands up, looking straight at me, tilting her head like she is deep in thought. She sighs, then taps her finger on her chin.
“Where are you disembarking?”
“Promontory Branch, Utah. I think that’s what he said.”
“So, we have several days to make him see you as more than you were, and to give you some confidence to boot. Let’s get to work, then. First, you’ll need to try a few of these on. I do believe greens and darker colors will bring out your olive coloring the best, but I have a blue I think will make him lose his mind that should fit perfectly.”
Completely confused by her kindness, the words come out before I can stop them.
“Please don’t take this wrong, but why are you helping me?”
She pauses, and I swear she is so still I wonder if she is still breathing. “There was a time when I prayed for someone to see me, and if I can keep you from experiencing that, I will. Now shimmy out of that dress so I can grasp what I’m working with here. Can you sew?”
“Yes, I have always had to make my own clothes.”
“Can you use a sewing machine?”
“I can but prefer to do most things by hand.”
“Well, it appears we’re going to keep your fingers busy then. Thankfully, we are close in height, so most of the dresses shouldbe the right length, but you are slightly smaller in the bust area than I am. We may need to take a few in, or the next option is to feed you more and leave them alone. Either way, that is a problem for tomorrow; we need to focus on tonight.”
“Victoria, I don’t know what to say. I’ve spent half my life hiding behind these plain dresses. I’m not sure I’ll even know how to walk in something half as nice as what you are wearing.”
“You are simply creating problems in your head where there are none. Now, let me examine this hair. Ahhh, it’s glorious! Look at all these beautiful locks; the weight alone must give you headaches.”
“On occasion, if it’s really hot out, but I can’t tell you how many have tried to get me to cut it, only for me to adamantly refuse as it’s my one vanity.”
“Oh, you have more going for you than this lovely mane you keep hidden from the world, sweet girl.” Somehow, she manages to move my chair around, then she takes her hand, placing it under my chin, moving my head back and forth so that she can look closer at my face. “Your skin is an attractive olive color and it seems like your cheeks are naturally flushed, as are those rosy lips. I am almost jealous of your coloring, but it’s those eyes of yours that really catch everyone’s attention as they show the world your soul.”
She spins my chair back around, and I barely stop myself from leaning away from her to see how this chair is moving on its own. Once I am facing the mirror again, I watch as Victoria twirls my hair one way then another. Glancing away from what her hands are doing, I look in the mirror at myself, wondering how she sees something I don’t.
“All I see are dark circles under my eyes and sunken cheeks.”
