“Mom,” I screeched, burrowing under the covers. “What did I do to deserve this?”
“We are going to have a girls’ day out,” she announced.
“Today?” I asked. Every few months, my mother and I went shopping together, got haircuts, and had lunch. We left Dad with the boys. We hadn’t been in months, and I had been hoping she wouldn’t notice. I didn’t know if I could pull off “normal” all day under that kind of scrutiny.
“Someone needs a dress, and I happen to be an excellent shopper.”
A dress? A dress for the dance. “Oh, seriously, Mom? I don’t think I have the energy for this today.”
“Enough with the drama, Natalie. We are going, and we are going to have fun. The right dress is just what you need to boost your confidence.”
“What time is it anyway?” I shoved back the covers.
“It’s nine. The malls open in an hour.”
“We don’t need to be there when they open, Mom. It’s not like there is going to be a run on dresses or something.”
Mom put her hands on her hips but she was smiling. “We aren’t looking for just any dress. We are going to find the perfect dress. This may take all day.”
Please tell me she’s kidding. “All day?”
“Plus we are getting shoes to match the dress.”
Matching shoes? How many hours would that take? “It isn’t the prom for goodness sakes.”
“And we are going to let Victor style your hair. I think something special for the dance.”
“Not the prom.” Black dress. Black shoes would be easy and we’d be in and out in an hour.
“Now quit your whining and get dressed. We are going to have a blast!”
Chapter Four
We hit our fourth shopping mall after lunch. I was wearing down quickly. I was tired, hungry, and overwhelmed by the crowds. Everywhere we went, I heard the pulsing of dozens of hearts and I was weary of fighting the craving.
“I’ve heard great things about the selection of dresses at this location.”
Blah. Blah. Blah.
“Mom, that last dress was fine. I think we should just go back and get it.”
Mom stopped walking. Put her hands on my shoulders, stared me in the eyes, and said, “We will not admit defeat.”
“It’s not a war. It’s a dance.”
“You have the cutest figure, Natalie. I wish you would realize it. You are always hiding under those baggy clothes.”
Great. This speech again. I hated this one.
Mom was still lecturing when we walked through the jewelry section of the department store, dodging the aggressive perfume peddlers, and heading for the junior department.
“Bluh,” she said. “She sprayed that in my mouth. It’s rancid.”
“Shouldn’t have had your mouth open,” I said.
“Not funny.”
We reached the dresses, and I braced myself for another round of arguing and trying on.
“Mom, can we just give up?”
“No, we cannot. If you want to save time, you should just let me pick and then try them on without wasting time arguing.”
“Oh, please.”
“At least lift your restrictions. I can’t work with dark colors, high neck, and long sleeves.”
“Fine. I’ll try on ten dresses. Pick them yourself.”
Mom clapped her hands with glee. The woman was insane. How could this be fun for anyone?
I went toward the black dresses on a rack in the corner. Unfortunately, they were all way too flashy. I wasn’t comfortable in skin tight, and I hated having my boobs practically hanging out. The gauzy black sleeves on some of the dresses may have been intended to make the dresses more modest. Instead, the gauze made them uglier. Maybe I should look in the women’s section. They had to have something there that wouldn’t leave me hanging out there for all to see.
“Ten dresses,” Mom said, startling me by sneaking up behind me.
Her arms were full when I turned around. I glanced down to see something with white sequins. “Aww, Mom.”
“You promised.” She strode toward the dressing room with her armful of dresses. “I get to see each one on you. No exceptions.”
Mom hung her selections in the dressing room and backed out. “I’ll be right here.”
Dear Lord. Let me survive this, I thought to myself.
I closed the door, sliding the flimsy bolt lock. Then I finally paid attention to the dresses. I was famished, and a piece of blood red fabric immediately attracted my attention. I flipped through the dresses to find the red one. I pulled it out and held it against my cheek. The color moved something in me. Something besides my appetite. I wanted it.
I held the dress up to the light. The style of the dress was not too bad. It wasn’t conservative, and I knew it wouldn’t be baggy. I hoped my mother couldn’t read my mind because I wanted to try this on. I didn’t want her to know. I would never admit to liking this dress.
I pulled off my hoodie and slipped off my jeans. The silky fabric of the dress slid easily over my head and down my body. I blinked as I saw myself in the mirror.
I was stunning. The color complimented my skin tone perfectly, and the fit emphasized the swell of my breasts. The result wasn’t sleazy. It was flattering. The dress hugged my stomach and somehow made it look flat and emphasized the curve of my hips. I was actually hot.
I turned from side to side, excited to see the swishing of the skirt. The hemline hit about four inches above my knees. I had smokin’ legs in this dress. The thing was a miracle.
“Natalie, remember your promise,” Mom chided from outside. “I get to see every one of them.”
I opened the dressing room door and stepped out.
Mom stared, and her jaw dropped. She raised her hands to her face, and tears actually formed in her eyes.
I stood there and grinned.
“I just…I can’t…You look…”
Holy crap! My mother was actually speechless.
“My beautiful girl,” she said, and rushed forward to hug me.
“Mom,” I said, tearing up myself, “you’re crushing the dress.”
She jumped back. Then she whipped out her cell phone and started snapping pictures of me in the dress. And for once, I didn’t mind getting my picture taken.
“Now take it off and hang it up. We are going to find the perfect shoes.”
“I can’t walk in heels,” I said.
“You can do anything you put your mind to,” she snapped.
“You are supposed to use that one on medical school, or at least honors calculus. Not shoes.”
“Whatever,” she said. “The theory holds true.”
We found the shoes quickly. A classic pair of black pumps with a cute little strappy detail. I would definitely need practice.
When Mom had paid for the shoes, I smiled. “We’re finished!”
“Not exactly,” she said. “You forgot the hair.”
I didn’t know if I could make it through a cut and style. Someone leaning so close to me with that tantalizing blood running through their veins.
I tried desperately to talk my mother out of it as we drove through Atlanta traffic. She would not listen to reason.
“Why would you want to stop after all the success we’ve had today?”
My stomach growled.
“Oh, Natalie. You’re just hungry. We’ll grab a snack. A snack will get you through.”
A snack. Right. I needed two quarts of the red stuff, and I needed it fast. I could have slapped myself upside the head for my stupidity. The Johnsons’ could bring me a snack. Matt would do it, and if he couldn’t, his parents would.
While my mother was loading the shopping bag into the car, I texted “911” to Matt.
My phone rang a millisecond later. “Where are you? Are they still alive? How bad is it?”
“What?” I wasn’t following.
“You bit someone?”
“Oh, God, no! I’m just ravenous, and my m
other will not stop our shopping day. I’m afraid I’m going to lose it.”
“Natalie, you scared me to death! I thought it was a real emergency.”
Mom was motioning for me to get in the car.
“I can’t talk. I need food. Bring me something at the V salon if you can. I’m on the edge here!” I clicked end and climbed into the car.
“I can’t wait to see what Victor does with your hair.” My mother loved this stuff.
“Yay,” I said weakly.
***
My hair had been washed and cut, and I was bracing myself for the next hour of drying and styling.
“Maybe we should try with an updo and with it down. You could style it twice,” Mom said to Victor.
I’m pretty sure I whimpered.
Victor nodded. “I could do that, if you wait for me to do Mrs. Mashburn before we start the second.”
Somebody had to save me. I was never going to survive this day.
“Excuse me, Victor,” the shampoo girl said. “Somebody dropped this off for your clients.”
She held a cardboard drink carrier with two large fast food cups.