My two hours at the haberdashery were well spent. I hadn't even bought a pair of socks since Amanda died. Everything I owned was getting threadbare. The trunk of my car was completely filled when I got back to Barbara's store. Luckily there was an empty parking spot in front of the door. I knew I would have a lot to lug out to the car, so I was grateful for that.
When I went in I saw Barbara talking to a young woman near the back of the store. She was dressed in a red business suit, so I guessed that she was a manufacturer's rep. Eliza was probably in a fitting room still trying on different outfits. I wandered around the store looking at nightgowns and such while waiting for them to finish their business. After about five minutes, the rep walked over to me. "Well, Mr. Higgins," she said, "how much longer are you going to ignore me?"
"Eliza?" I would never have recognized her. Instead of the floozy that I had brought into the store, a well-groomed businesswoman stood before me. Her shoes matched her suit. The white blouse had a ruffled front. She carried a black leather purse over her shoulder. Her makeup had been changed from pancake to a professional application. She held out her arms and turned slowly around. "You're beautiful!" I said in awe. "Didn't I tell you that you could trust Barbara?"
Barbara joined us. "Well, what do you think?" she asked me.
"Bravo," I replied. "How can we ever thank you?"
"You may not be so thankful when you see the total. Eliza, dear, I'll have the girls take your things out to Henry's car."
"It will all have to go in the back seat," I said. "The trunk is full."
"I'll give them a hand," Eliza said. "I'm pretty good at organizing stuff."
I followed Barbara to the register while Eliza and the store staff took her selections to the car.
"Henry," she said reproachfully, "I'm really surprised at you. Have you become a caveman?"
"What do you mean?"
"Did you think I wouldn't see her injuries? Has Amanda's death affected you that badly?"
"It wasn't me. It was someone else."
"Who? Her pimp?" I took a deep breath and blew it out. "I figured as much. Why did you have to stoop so low? You know I would have taken care of you. Steve would have insisted on it."
"I know, but in the morning you would go home with Steve, and I would be alone. You and Steve are wonderful friends. I love you both. It's just that if I had accepted all the invitations, I would have been a charity case. I would have been using you and the other wives as whores. That's not how I see you and that's not how I treat my friends."
"Still, I think you could have done better. It's obvious she didn't go to college; I doubt she even finished high school."
"I remember when you had some rough edges." She smiled. "She needs training, and I intend to do what I can for her. You have no idea how great I felt this morning to have someone to wake up next to. She said she'd stay until her ribs heal. The doctor figures about six weeks. After that I don't know, but I'm going to enjoy her company while I can."
"It will be pretty hard for her to run away. She doesn't even know where she is."
"I won't try to prevent her from leaving if she wants to go. It wouldn't be right for either of us. Maybe you and Steve could come over for dinner some evening."
"I'll talk to him about it. You guys can talk baseball; he likes that. Don't expect much female bonding."
Eliza came back in as I was signing the charge slip. The total was more than I had expected, but Barbara's fashion expertise didn't come cheap. "Barbara," Eliza said as she extended her hand, "thank you for all your help. I never understood accessories before, but you've shown me their importance. I hope we can be friends."
"If you ever have any questions," Barbara said, "don't be afraid to ask." Did I see a frown or a smile on her face as she shook Eliza's hand?
When we got home, Eliza insisted on modeling every outfit. After all, I should see what I had paid for. I couldn't argue with her reasoning. Everything reflected Barbara's impeccable taste. The cocktail dresses, the sportswear, even the jogging pants were the latest style.
The last item was a black string bikini, at least, I think that's what it was supposed to be. The bottom was a thong that left her ass cheeks fully exposed. The top didn't even have a string; the cups were simply glued to her breasts. Only the bandages on her ribs marred its look on her.
After completing a full turn so I could see the full effect of the garment, what little there was of it, she noticed its effect in my pants. She knelt on the chair with her knees on either side of my hips, and my bulge became bigger. There were tears in her eyes, but she was smiling. "Thank you," she said and broke down into uncontrolled sobbing. I put my arms lightly around her and held her gently. Her head was on my shoulder. Tears freely soaked my shirt. After ten minutes her crying subsided enough for her to speak. "I've never felt so good in my life. That red suit. I can't describe how...how elegant it makes me feel. When you didn't recognize me, I felt a little insulted at first; but then I realized how much it had changed me. It made me confident. I've made a decision, and you've made it possible for me to make it. I now have the courage to make decisions about my life."
"What is your decision?"