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Chapter Six: A Wardrobe Problem
I barely heard the phone of the loud whine of the hairdryer. I rushed to it and Ralph was on the other end of the line. Ms Adair?
Yes Ralph? I found the urge to cover myself while on the phone very strong again.
Your car seems to be low on fuel.
Just call me a cab, Ralph?
Right away, Ms Adair/
No, not right away. I would have been ready already before my mother s lovely little game. Call it in about an hour and I should be ready by the time it arrives, okay?
Very good, Ms Adiar. We hung up simultaneously. I sighed and went back to trying to dry this unruly mane I had now. It took me nearly an hour to get it good and dried and set in some sort of style that was not horrid. I would have loved to have had something to tie it back with, but I didn t. I moved to my closet and walked into it. I was struck with just how freaking drab it was. There here shades of gray and dark blues and blacks. I sighed and found a powder blue oxford that I loved. The tails of the shirt hung down to my knees. I pulled the shirt around me and before I buttoned it, I marveled at how it felt on me. I buttoned it and rummaged around through my slacks. I passed them and looked to the business casual of my Khaki pants. The legs of the pants hung past my toes by a good six inches and the waist was a little big, but I got them on and rolled up the bottom hem of the trousers and used a belt to keep them on. I checked myself in the mirror. It was okay, except for the fabric of the shirt was doing little to hide the shape of my nipples. I pawed through for a jacket I might have held onto for too long and found one that was not like a creature trying to devour me. I looked again after pulling my hair out of the collar of the sports jacket. It was sad, but, It was all I had right now. I started for the door, snagging my purse along the way and almost closed the door before I remembered that I had not put my wallet back inside the leather bag. The phone rag as I was looking for the leather wallet. It was Ralph again. You cab has been waiting, Ms Adair.
Ralph, please tell him I am on my way down and I need him for the day, I have to get some shopping done.
Very good, Ms Adair. Good, I was free to return to my search. I found it in less than a minute and recalled that I had no shoes on. I frantically searched for a pair. The phone started ringing as I was pulling on and tossing off shoes. I knew it was Ralph, but he was going to have to wait. I found a pair of tennis shoes that did not look like some version of clown shoes and stayed on with two pairs of socks. I rushed for the door, my purse swinging out behind me as the phone started calling for me again. When I got down to the front lobby to rush out to my cab, stumbling in my too big shoes, Ralph hung up the phone. Ms Adair! I have been trying to call you
I am sorry Ralph, I got stopped but I am here for the cab.
Sorry, Miss. Ralph took off his hat. The cabbie said he could not hire out for the day. Great. Now I had on shoes that did not fit, I had these glands on my chest that were threatening to pull me over or beat me to death if I ran too hard and no cab. I felt a rush of tears building.
What am I going to do?
I have a nephew that is starting his own Limo service. Ralph offered. A limo sounded nice. Not too gaudy yet, but he just got his first brand new one and maybe I could have him take you on your shopping? That sounded pricy to me.
Am I going to have to tell him all the good stores? I acted as if I knew what they were.
Oh no! Ralph beamed at me. I can get him to knock down the fee for you and he used to drive one of the big CEO s wives before he quit to start his own service. He says he knows some shops that are better than the big name stores because of her.
I pursed my lips as if deep in thought. Mmmmmm kay. I smiled brightly at seeing the happy look on Ralph s face He rushed through the revolving door and was all but jumping up and down. A big white car rolled up out side and Ralph opened a door to the back and looked back to me inside. It looked to me like Ralph had already made the arrangements. I chuckled a bit and made my way into the limo.
It was a nice car. Not too big, which was good, but there was a privacy glass and I was going to need that. The glass was half-way down now. Where to, Miss Adair?
James. I gave my name out of habbit.
Where to, Miss James?
No, no. I shook my head. My name is James Adair.
Maurice. He smiled as three cars passed us blaring their horns.
I need a place to buy shoes Maurice. I flipped my hair back over my right shoulder. Lots of nice, good shoes.
I know a fabulous boutique, Miss Adair.
How about a discrete place to buy some underwear?
Several. We pulled away from my building. It all depends on if you are looking for something .: he stopped to search my face in the rearview as he drove, I mean how.. uhm
I need regular underwear Maurice, but I prefer not to wave them around in front of the entire City.
Excellent. Maurice beamed. The shoe place I am taking you is on the same block of a very nice shop for lingerie.
After that, we need to get a lot of clothes. I leaned back in my seat and watched the City pass by as if it were a movie world so far away from me.
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