By the time I woke up, the sun was already streaming through the widows. I heard the front door open and my mothers voice welcoming Diane into the house. A few minutes later I heard the teakettle squealing and the clink of a spoon against a cup. Their laughter peeled up from the foyer and I glanced over at Johanna who was breathing deeply. I slid out of bed quietly trying not to disturb her.
I stretched tall, pulling my arms over my head, pointing my breasts out. The cool air in the room was pleasant, and I slid my old robe from the closet and slipped it on. I tied the waist and shook Jo.
“Hmm?” She said sleepily, turning in the direction I was tapping her.
“I’m going downstairs for breakfast.” I went to the door and opened it. “Come down in a few minutes. We get to go shopping!” I heard her mumble a response, and I padded down the stairs to the kitchen. My moms face lit up when I walked in and seated myself at the table. She smiled at me and passed me a cup of hot water.
“I’m so glad to have you back Angel.” She said passing me the box of herbal tea. “It’s been awhile since we sat and had tea.” I smiled and sipped the tea after dumping 2 scoops of sugar into it.
“Mmm. That’s good.” I said, setting the cup in the saucer. I wanted to avoid getting sentimental with my mother because it never seemed to end. Ever. Instead I turned to Diane and asked her what was on the agenda for the day. She was dressed for the outing in a pantsuit, which was reliable with the cool spring weather.
“Well, first I thought we would go to Overview Mall and hit Macy’s, Hecht’s and Lord and Taylor. After that, I thought it would be fun to visit the spa and get manicures and facials. What do you think?”
Diane smiled brightly, glad to have the opportunity to spoil girls once in awhile since her family consisted of 4 boys, Josh being the youngest. She never had the chance to play dress up with a daughter. Angel didn’t mind the attention her mother’s best friend paid her, and although her mother was quite capable of doing these things with her, she knew how much it meant to Diane. Moments later a disheveled looking Johanna made an entrance in the kitchen, wearing boxers, a tank top and an open long sleeved shirt.
“Good morning all.” She said cheerfully plopping into the chair opposite me. She poured a cup of tea for herself and mulled over the choices in the box. Exactly 2 minutes later Brian walked in, and looking just as tousled as Johanna, went directly to the cupboard and retrieved a bowl and then the box of cereal on the pantry shelf. I glanced between them and in a flash I knew where Johanna had gotten the boxers.
“Johanna dear,” My mother said, passing the milk to her. “I hope the towels I left for you in the bathroom were okay. They were fresh from the dryer.”
Johannes head whipped up in mid sip, and glanced at Brian. He sat obliviously scooping the cereal into his mouth. I wasn’t sure what the exchange was about, but I made a note to ask Johanna about it.
“The were fine, Mrs. Freeman. Just fine.” She said, smiling sweetly. “So, what’s the plan of action today?”
“Well, Mrs. Hart is - “
“Call me Diane, Angel. You too Johanna. We are all friends and you are adults now.”
“Diane is taking us to the mall for some shopping and then to the spa for facials.” I said, standing and taking my cup to the sink. The clock on the wall was nearing 12, and I knew it was going to be a long day.
Jo, following my lead and took her cup to the sink as well. We made our way from the kitchen and back upstairs into my room. We striped our breakfast clothes and rummaged through our suitcases for something suitable to wear. Once dressed, we thundered back down stairs to the foyer and like children we waited at the front door for Diane to get her car keys.
The early afternoon was comfortable and warm with an early spring breeze. The evening would call for a sweater, but for now the sun was shining and bright. Diane’s Lexus SUV was shiny and the black paint reflected the trees overhead. I took the front seat while Johanna hauled herself into the back. On the way to the mall Diane updated me on her boys and the new grandson she had. She talked excitedly of Josh and Emily’s baby, wishing it would be a girl, so that she can finally have a female to spoil.
“You know, there are only 2 girls on Jack’s side of the family,” Diane said about her husband. “His cousin Mary and his niece Ashley. It would be nice to have another girl in the family.” Diane was concentrating on driving and she hopefully didn’t notice the wince I made when she talked about Josh. I sighed.
“So, Johanna.” Diane said glancing in the review mirror. “Where were you born dear?”
“Actually, I was born in Montana and my mom and dad divorced when I was 8. I moved with my mom to Virginia and when I turned 18 I moved out. A year ago I moved to Baltimore where I met Angel, and we work together now.” Johanna smiled, tugging on a small piece of my hair. I smiled back, sharing our small secret.
Normally Johanna is really shy about her family, mostly because they were poor and she wasn’t treated well by her mother or her mother’s various boyfriends after the divorce. Jo only talked when she wanted to and once in awhile she would open up and talk about her past and her childhood.
“How nice dear,” Diane said absentmindedly pulling into the large parking complex at the mall. Her attention was now on finding a parking space rather than continuing the conversation with Johanna. I shrugged to her and smiled again.
For the next 4 hours Johanna and I were marched from store to store, trying on an assortment of clothes, accessories and jewelry. My feet were killing me by the time we made it to the car and the day still wasn’t over. I looked forward to the spa and I hoped there was a massage waiting for me.
Sure enough, the salon was wonderful and very relaxing and Johanna and I felt great getting pampered with facials, manicures, pedicures and neck and back massages. The car was loaded with bags from the mall and the ride home was of a contented silence. We were starved by the time we made it back to my parent’s house and it was lit up as bright as a Christmas tree.
“Ma, we’re home!” I called into the house, struggling with the bags I was carrying. Johanna came up the walk behind me, equally weighed down with bags. Bursting through the front door, we immediately took our new items upstairs to my room and sorted through the purchases.
“What are you going to wear to dinner?” Jo asked me, arranging the clothes on the bed.
“Not sure. If we stay here, there’s no reason to get dressed up, but if we can convince my mom to take us out, it would be totally worth getting dolled up.”
“Not to mention you-know-who will be there tonight.” Jo said, stripping down to her new pink thong and matching bra. She had decided to wear it out of Victoria Secrets rather than wait to get home to put it on.