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“Thanks,” I said before lifting the receiver I took a quick breath and prepared myself for yet another conversation I’d prefer not to have “Hello, Mother”
“Fiona Leslie Carlisle,” the very high-and-hty voice “I just got off the phone with Andre He said you have yet to ”
Oh, this again “I told you I’d have my hair done by Manuel, remember? My stylist”
“Darling, Andre always does the Carlisle woht whine laced her otherwise authoritative tone, having a siernails on a chalkboard “Why must you be so different from the rest of us?”
I bit back a groan There was no point in telling her I hated how her stylist attes it simply wasn’t et ravity with an entire can of hairspray that took a triple shaet out Nor did I care to sit in his chair for hours listening to how much easier it was to coif my mother’s, sister’s and all six of my aunts’ hair Or to tell him for the hundredth time that no, I didn’t want to color my dark auburn hair to match Mother and Lizzie’s delicate strawberry blond Nor did I want hi strands into a chic bob like they both wore
Standing round, I said, “It’s nice that you want us all to look similar, but I’ve already had my hair trimmed and deep-conditioned once this week I think it’ll be just fine for to
morrow’s party”
Shenoise on the other end of the line, as she was frequently prone to do when speaking with me
“Is there anything else you needed?”
She hated when I dismissed her Likely the reason she latched onto another topic of conversation Our talks weren’t over until she decided they were over “Do arrive on time tomorrow Promptly at three o’clock”
“Of course”
“And wear so a little more…festive”
I s Oh, Mother You have no idea how festive I have the potential to be!
“I ordered a dress from Barneys,” I told her “I’m sure it’ll be quite lively for the occasion”
“Hmm”
I knew she didn’t believe me She, like the rest of my family, would expect to see me in a simple black sheath with pearls or a navy pinstripe suit, also with pearls Festive tosparkly in a soft, subtle hue, with a designer label attached to it I didn’t do sparkles, but still…what a shock to the systeot a load of me in my racy red dress