Page 56 of Six Steps to Happiness
“I’m not following,” Ronnie said, failing to understand what the state of her house or wardrobe had to do with anything.
“Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Fendi…You don’t see any of their designers wandering around looking like the office cleaner, do you? And I bet none of them are secret hoarders either.” Willow picked up the egg slicer again, as if to prove her point.
Ronnie laughed. “I’m hardly in the same league.”
“And you never will be if you carry on like this.” Willow pointed first to the room and then to Ronnie’s attire.
“She’s right, dear,” Bea said. “You could be playing with the big boys now. And to get the part you have to look the part.”
Willow rolled up her sleeves ready for action. “So, the quicker we get this lot sorted, Mum.” Again, she gestured to the room. “The quicker we can get working on you.”
“Here you are,” Bea said, reaching into her bag. “We were going to wait a while longer, but now it’s a case of needs must.”
Ronnie smiled at the envelope being proffered.
“Step six,” Bea said.
For the first time since their plan started, Ronnie had a good idea as to what was inside.
42
Ronnie stared at her reflection in the changing room mirror. The outfits Willow and Bea had chosen for her were certainly vibrant. She twisted first to the left and then right, assessing the fit of the red crepe trouser suit they’d picked. Tailored in style, she could see it gave her a flattering silhouette. The trousers were an ankle-grazer length, which according to Ronnie’s daughter, were perfect for both the flat shoes and heels she’d already bought, and the single-breasted jacket had a notch lapel. It was lined with a bold floral silk fabric, giving the outfit a sense of fun. And best of all, both the trousers and jacket had pockets.
“Let’s have a look then,” Willow called out.
Ronnie smiled, picturing her daughter and mother-in-law sat on the other side of the curtain, eager to offer their opinion. Ronnie swished back the drape and ready to hear what they had to say, twirled around to show the suit off from every angle.
“Oh, that looks fabulous,” Bea said, a big smile on her face.
Willow gestured to the numerous carrier bags at their feet. “Another one to add to the collection, me thinks.”
Ronnie laughed. “And then that’s it,” she said, feeling shopped out. Not only had her credit card taken a hammering, her feet ached from all the pavement pounding they’d done as they went from store to store to store. “I don’t know about you two, but I could do with a drink.”
“Most definitely,” Bea replied.
Ronnie headed back into the booth. Closing the curtain behind her, she changed back into her own clothes. Looking at herself once more, she shook her head at what she saw, forced to admit how scruffy she’d become. Since Charlie’s arrival, she knew she’d lost weight thanks to the dog walking but hadn’t, until then, appreciated quite how much. Her jeans and top hung on the wrong side of loose and her pumps had seen better days. Not one for clothes shopping as a rule, it seemed step six of Willow and Bea’s plan hadn’t only been fun, it had come at just the right time.
Ronnie hung the trouser suit back on its hangers. “Why don’t I meet you two at the coffee shop over the road?” she called out to Willow and Bea. “There’s no point you both loitering by the till while I pay for this.” She pulled the curtain open again.
“Good idea,” Willow said, rising to her feet. “Come on, Grandmother, we’ll get the drinks in.”
While they headed off, Ronnie made her way to the cash desk and placed her purchase on the counter.
“For you?” the female shop assistant asked.
Ronnie nodded, taking in the young woman’s fabulous sense of style. “My daughter’s choice though,” she said, feeling the need to explain. She indicated to the clothes she wore. “As you can see, I’m not very up on fashion.”
“Great hair though.”
Ronnie put a hand up to her head. No longer bald, she ran her fingers across what had turned into an overgrown crew cut.
“For what it’s worth,” the young girl said, placing Ronnie’s suit into a paper carrier bag. “Your daughter made the right choice. You’re gonna look badass in this.”
Ronnie laughed as she handed over her payment. Surprised at how good the compliment felt,badasswas not how she’d have described herself no matter her clothing. “Thank you.”
As she made her way out of the store, Ronnie continued to smile, holding her head high as she walked. She knew her new positive frame of mind was thanks to Willow and Bea and their six steps. In the beginning, Ronnie might have considered their plan pure folly, but looking back, she had to admit it had saved her. She’d gone from feeling lost and abandoned, as if she was treading water most of the time, to embracing a new future and, as a result, owed her daughter and mother-in-law far more than she could ever repay.
Ronnie crossed the street and as she entered the coffee shop, spotted Willow and Bea at a table in the corner. She raced over to join them, pleased to see the cup of caffeine awaiting her. “Just what I need,” she said, taking a sip. She looked at her daughter and mother-in-law, wondering what she would have done without them during those last few months. There’d been some ups and downs since Nick left and the two of them had been Ronnie’s anchor throughout. “I want to say thank you. For everything.”
