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Jacqueline wasn’t sure what prompted the idea, but once it took hold in her mind, it refused to leave

"I owe you a favor," she announced with some fanfare

"For what?"

Jacqueline was astonished that Alix had forgotten "Dear girl, you ht very well have saved my life"

A hint of a sed as if her stepping into the alley that day and standing up to those hoodlums was just a routine incident An ordinary, everyday event

"It’s time I repaid your kindness," she said decisively

Alix was plainly curious "How?"

"I think," Jacqueline said with flair, "that we’ll go for a complete makeover My treat, naturally"

"A what?"

"A beauty treat to do?"

"Ituise her interest, but she didn’t fool Jacqueline

"We’d start with your hair" Jacqueline examined the purple-tinted ends with a critical eye and resisted the urge to cringe That dreadful color had to go Motioning with her hand, she offered a few suggestions "Get it cut and styled Perhaps dye it a different color"

"Only if I like it," the girl said warily

"Of course!"

"Any color I want?"

"Within reason"

Alix made a careless ht" She acted as if she was doing Jacqueline a favor Two o Jacqueline would have taken offense at that but now she kneas si

"I’d like to take you toher head even before Jacqueline had finished the sentence "I don’t need any advice on how to dress"

"Whatever you say, but I do think we should get you a couple of new outfits"

Still Alix hesitated, but then she gave a halfhearted nod "Your treat?"

"Of course"

"I guess it’s okay When do you want to do this?" She asked as if her social calendar was full

"Soon" Jacqueline set aside her knitting and retrieved her cell phone "I’ll call Desiree right now She’s the best hairdresser in town It soet an appointerness now She sat up straight, nibbling on her lower lip

"I need an appoint the receptionist caught the hint of urgency in her voice Desiree was a top beautician and the prices she charged were enough to perm Jacqueline’s hair without chemicals Still, she orth every penny because of the miracles she performed All the women at the country club went to her, and if they didn’t, they wanted to

Jacqueline waited impatiently while the receptionist put her on hold It seemed forever before she returned "Desiree says she’ll stay late this evening if you can be here by four-thirty"

"Four-thirty?" She glanced at Alix, who nodded "We’ll be there," Jacqueline crowed triumphantly She turned off the cell and placed it inside her purse She felt certain that Alix didn’t realize her good fortune Jacqueline had to book her haircuts a h she hadn’t heard a lot of the conversation, she see and nodded in approval Jacqueline was on a e in wardrobe and a decent haircut she could turn Alix into an attractive young wo to be fun

As soon as the knitting session was over, Jacqueline took Alix to Nordstroner clothes at the Seattle-based departe of Jacqueline’s wardrobe for years

Victoria took one look at Alix and iirl into the dressing room and was shocked at her lack of proper intimate apparel She insisted on new bras and panties first, and none of those ridiculous and indecent thongs, either

AlixStill, while Jacqueline ht have won that battle, Alix was the undisputed victor when it came to the war She refused to even try on the St John knitted suit or anything else Victoria delivered

Considering the limited ti Alix good-quality underwear Before she was through, she swore she’d get her into so tasteful

Unfortunately, the trip to the hairdresser didn’t go ed hair and started swearing in French Even after years of high school and college French classes, Jacqueline couldn’t understand what the wo by the tone of her remarks, it was preferable not to attempt a translation