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“It sounded at dinner like thereallyniceassistant manager was helping with that.”

“She is. Consulting is a good word for it.”

“Perfect. Maybe things will boil over during an overly creativeconsultation.” An idea seemed to take shape and Kendra’s whole face transformedinto a grin. “Hey, maybe we can call her ass manager for short, and she canhandle your ass anytime.”

Spencer stared at Kendra. “Sometimes I think you’re still in highschool. No, I’m confident that’s the case.”

“Don’t hate me for my youthful disposition and body of aneighteen-year-old.”

Spencer smiled. As crazy as Kendra was, she was pretty much theother half of Spencer and she loved her, ridiculous as she could sometimes be.They balanced each other out, which went a long way in life.

“To-go plates for my girls,” her mother said, emerging from thehouse. She handed a tinfoil-wrapped plate to each of them and placed a kiss oneach woman’s head. “Gotta keep you both visiting me somehow.”

“Thanks, Mama,” Spencer said. “I’ll stop by in a couple days.”

“Good. I want to hit up that shoe sale. You in?”

“All about it,” Spencer said.

“Thanks, Mama A!” Kendra echoed. Plate in hand, she stood. “Ibetter get some sleep. Two inductions tomorrow morning and a nursery full oftiny babies in need of love and care.”

Spencer stood and hugged Kendra goodbye, something they’d doneevery parting since the second grade. “See you soon, Kenny. You be good andstay away from that Tucker.”

Kendra’s face softened. “Good advice. Mine to you? Get to knowthat ass manager.” With a final laugh, Kendra was off the porch and heading toher home next door.

Spencer chuckled quietly in spite of herself. She remained on theporch for a few extra minutes, taking in the sounds of summer crickets, theneighborhood as it grew still in preparation for evening, and the smoky aromaof one of the neighbors cooking out just a few houses down. Coming home once ortwice a week helped center her and keep her on track for the days ahead. Thiswas her comfort zone. These were her people. She nodded at the neighbor kid onthe hoverboard, heading back home. He tossed her a wave. Everything was calm.Everything was as it should be. Just how Spencer preferred it.

Chapter Five

“What do you think about the turquoise skirt? I feel it might be atad long. No, it probably is. Just look at that. No, I can’t do it. I’m notready for matronly.”

Mrs. Rossdale turned to the side and surveyed herself in theseries of full-length mirrors on the second level of Silhouette. She held ahand against her stomach, a habit she had developed when trying on mostanything. For Hadley, working with a client like Mrs. Rossdale (older, firm inwhat she wanted, and beyond rich) required a fine balance between honesty, soshe’d likely return to the store for guidance, and flattery, which would makeher shopping experience at Silhouette one she’d like to repeat. In thisinstance, the skirt was not at all long. In fact, it was too short for Mrs.Rossdale’s age and stature, but Hadley was not in the business of saying suchthings. She refused to.

However, she moved easily into redirection. “The turquoise isnice, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the way you looked in the red de laRenta. Stunning isn’t the word. Not to mention red catches the eye, turnsheads, which I hear you’re known to do.”

Mrs. Rossdale lit up and took a sip of her white wine. “This isexactly why I come to you, Hadley. I need direction! Done. Let’s wrap up the dela Renta.”

“Wonderful choice. What about the Gucci sunglasses from earlier?They’ll likely be out of stock by next week. Still on your radar?”

“Should they be? Honestly, Hadley, you know better than I do.”Mrs. Rossdale sighed with indecision. “What do you think about those?”

“When you put them on, it made me wonder about a pair for myself.”It wasn’t a lie. She had her eye on those glasses. They just weren’t in herbudget just yet.

“Then I guess we’ll toss those in, too. Why not, right?”

“I think you’ll be pleased you did.” As she rang up the purchasewith a bright smile, and did a quick calculation on her commission, Hadleyslyly checked the clock. Mrs. Rossdale was the last appointment of the day, andthe store would close to foot traffic in the next twenty minutes. She’d made itto the end of her workday at long last. She grinned, knowing she was scheduledto meet with Spencer an hour later, an appointment she’d been secretly waitingfor all day. She scrunched her toes as she handed Mrs. Rossdale her receipt.

“You’re a godsend, Hadley. You just know my tastes so well.”

“Well, it helps when the taste is good.” She patted herself on theback for that one. It wasn’t that she was lying to Mrs. Rossdale, or suckingup, but she enjoyed steering her clients in the right direction while at thesame time making them feel good about themselves. Nothing wrong with spreadinga little joy while on the job. She carried the intricately packagedskirt-and-sunglasses combo to the door and waved fondly as Mrs. Rossdale’sdriver pulled to the curb to pick her up.

“Another satisfied customer,” Hadley said to herself.

“Wait!” a voice yelled from the sidewalk behind her.

Hadley paused. “Iz?” she asked, peering around the door. Sureenough, there was Isabel, hustling up the walk to the store. Moving her armslike one of those intense speed walkers in the mall. “Wait!” she called again.“Don’t lock me out. I know it’s closing time! But I made it!”

Hadley beamed at her unexpected visitor. “You here for a fitting?A new wardrobe?”