Page 24 of A Wanderer's Redemption
What feels like hours later, she finally has me in a dark blue dress trimmed with black lace that I know costs more than I’ve ever made in my life. “Victoria, do you not have something … you know? A little less exquisite than this?”
“I used to wear this dress all the time, and it was a favorite, but it’s been hanging in that closet untouched for over a year now. It seems like it was just waiting for you. And no, you are not wearing less … this is all about more. Now stop pulling and fidgeting and stand up straight so I can look at you. It’s missing something.”
She walks around me, once again bouncing her finger off her chin like she’s deep in thought.
“Silly me, of course it is, you have no jewelry on. Come here.”
She grabs my arm, gently pulling me along behind her. Before I realize what she is doing, she is holding up different pieces of jewelry against the dress, trying to match the color.
“Here we go, these will look beautiful.”
She motions for me to turn around so that she can put the necklace on me.
“Victoria, I can’t … what if I lose it?”
“Sweetness, you need to relax. I have enough jewelry in this car alone to fill an entire store. That’s the main reason we are on this train headed West. Long story short, Ty asked a local jeweler to make a piece he wanted designed for me for a special occasion. When the man told him that it could not be done, well, nothing to do but for Ty to learn to make it himself. He’s made most of these pieces for me in the last few years.”
“Oh, then I really can’t wear this.”
“Of course, you can because I am sure I have another just like it somewhere. He always makes two of everything. Now stop fidgeting.” She grabs my shoulders, making me look straight at her. “Even when you feel like you are ready to crawl out of your skin, one of your biggest girl powers is to show the exact opposite. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“I believe so, yes.”
“That’s my girl.”
After finding a pair of matching earrings, Victoria quickly twists them so they fit comfortably on my earlobes, then steps back. Grinning, she grabs my hand, twirling me around.
“Come, I think you need to see something.”
I gather the long skirts in my hand with a huge smile on my face as the expensive material swirls around my legs. Walking up to a full-length mirror, I stop dead in my tracks. The girl … no woman in the mirror looking back at me is a complete stranger. I reach up, gently touching the mirror, amazed at what I’m seeing.
“Victoria, I don’t know what to say. Is this version of me real?”
“Ahhh, YES … that’s all you sweetness!”
“I’ve never even seen anything this nice on anyone. I can’t believe I’m wearing this.”
“Good, because this dress was guaranteed to be one of a kind. Are you ready to step out into the world?”
“What? NO … not at all! If anything, I am more terrified than I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
“The clothes don’t make the girl Jessica, that’s all on you. If you go out there with your head down, they will eat you alive. Right at this moment, you get to bethatgirl you always dreamed of, so enjoy it to the fullest. Head up, no slouching, drop those skirts or you will wrinkle them, hold your hands like this when standing still or walking, and follow me. I am so excited I’m practically bouncing.”
Instantly, some of my excitement is gone. “Are you going to tell your husband about me being the maid? Please don’t as I don’t want to embarrass Reggie.”
“I don’t keep any secrets from Ty, but if he does ask, I will tell him to keep it to himself.”
She is a couple of steps in front of me when I reach out, gently grabbing her arm. Instantly, I hear a deep growl from the back of the room when she goes still under my hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to touch you without permission. I was just going to … hug you.”
She turns slowly, but this is the first time I notice a forced smile on her face. “Oh dear, old ghosts pop up at the most random times. You did nothing wrong.” She holds her arms open, and I practically run into them, grasping her tight.
“Thanks for being my fairy godmother. I will never be able to repay you for your kindness.”
She leans back away from me, and I see tears in her eyes. “You just did, baby girl … you just did. Now go out there and make me proud.”
CHAPTER 10
REGGIE
