(The continuing story of Anne and Jen)
Jen was impressed as the car rolled through the gaited community. As Anne pulled up to her in-laws house, Jen was even more impressed. The house was huge with a circular driveway and a large door. The inside of the house was even more elaborate than Jen could ever remember seeing. It looked like something out of a TV show or a movie.
Anne's in-laws were nice and pleasant and very happy to see the kids. Anne introduced Jen to them explaining her predicament because of the weather. The girls didn't stay long and ran out to the car trying not to get too wet. The mall was only about 15 minutes away. It was an upscale mall and one that Jen and her friends didn't go too much because it was just too pricey. Anne drove her BMW SUV to a covered driveway and a couple men in red vests ran out and opened the door for the girls. One of them handed Anne a valet ticket while the other parked the car.
The ladies walked into the mall which had a few people milling around but was not very crowded. "So where do you want to go first?" asked Anne.
"I don't know. I haven't come here much. We usually go to the Riverside Mall. This is one was always a little over-priced for me," said Jen.
Anne laughed, "I know what you mean. I don't shop here much either but I'm sure that the Riverview Mall is probably inaccessible right now."
"Why don't we go and find you some new jeans," asked Anne.
"Are you sure? For the price we will pay for one pair here I could probably get three where I shop. I would have to babysit for a month to afford them," replied Jen.
Anne smiled, "Probably true, but then there are some shops here that you probably don't have in Chestnut. We don't have to buy anything but if you find something you like I will buy it for you my treat."
Jen looked a little apprehensive, "You really don't have to do that, Anne."
"I know," replied Anne, "But I want to if it is ok with you."
They walked into a large department store which was definitely set up for upscale shoppers. Jen couldn't get over how many different styles of clothes the store carried. Every once in a while she would peak at a price tag and would gasp. A simple dress was $350.00. She had to admit though that the quality and styles were much nicer than where she and her friends normally shopped. As the girls went through the racks they would pick out dresses and hold them up to each other to see which ones looked good. Anne couldn't remember the last time she had had so much fun shopping. Most of her friends kind of pulled away after Jim died. It was nice to have someone to do the "girl" stuff with. They laughed and giggled at some of the outfits and before long they had a handful of stuff to go try on.
They went to the dressing room area which had couches and chairs along the outside wall opposite some large mirrored stalls. The stalls were actual rooms not like the stalls in the stores where Jen usually shopped. The individual dressing rooms where large with wing chairs on one end and a large mirrored wall on both ends. As Anne and Jen walked into the dressing area, the attendant gave Anne a key to one of the rooms and told Jen she would have to wait on the next available room.
Anne looked at the attendant and asked, "Can we share one?"
The attendant didn't even blink like it was a common thing for two women to share a dressing room, "Go right head."
The girls walked into the room which was at the far end of the dressing room area. The room had hooks to hang clothes on the wall directly opposite the doors. Jen and Anne hung the assortment of clothes that they were going to try on hooks on the wall.
Anne unzipped her boots and took them off looking at Jen, "Do you want to go first?"
Jen smiled, "Sure, what do you want to see me in first?"
Anne reached up and picked a dress they had picked out that was black and it hung over the shoulder and was open all the way down the back to almost the top of her butt. In front it swooped low so that the gap between the breasts was exposed. Jen removed her sweatshirt and stood there topless with her jeans and boots. Anne smiled admiring how sexy Jen looked standing there in front of her. Jen unzipped her boots removing them followed by her jeans. Anne helped the younger girl put on the dress. Jen couldn't believe how nice it looked on her.
"The only thing missing is some nice heels to go with it," said Anne. They admired the look in the mirror. Anne thought the dress really looked nice on the younger girl.
"So what do you think?" asked Anne.
"It's awesome! I just don't know when I would wear it," answered Jen.
"The occasion will happen and it's nice to know that you have it if you need it," answered Anne.
Jen looked at the price tag and gasped. "Anne, even on sale this dress cost $600.00. That's too much to spend on a dress that I might wear only once," exclaimed Jen.
"Honey, do you like it?" asked Anne.
"Well, yeah, but I like a Jaguar too that doesn't mean I can have one."
Anne laughed, "Jen, don't worry about the price ok. If you like it then we'll get it. Money is not a big deal for me right now so don't you sweat ok. Splurging on you makes me happy," Anne explained as she placed her hands on Jen's hips and put her chip on her shoulder.