Easy by Kerry Cohen Hoffmann

Author:Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Published: 2009-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

The saleswoman flits around Anne and me. Dana stands in front of us, her hands clasped before her. It seems she’s forgotten about the comment I made to Dad.

“You look beautiful,” she says.

Anne keeps her arms folded over her chest. Her anger clashes badly with the periwinkle satin bridesmaid dress.

“We look like ugly oversize dolls,” she whispers to me.

I frown. “Speak for yourself,” I say. But then I turn to the mirror. Anne’s right. There’s nothing subtle about these dresses. Surprising choice for an artist. I twist my hair and hold it up, seeing if the image looks any more normal. Two days of unshaved underarm hair glares back at me. I quickly drop my arms.

“How’s it going back there?” Dad calls from his post near the front of the store. He’s been standing there since we arrived, awkwardly holding his newspaper. It’s hard to believe this is the same man who robotically moved grocery bags from Mom’s car to the kitchen, then quickly disappeared.

“Come see,” Dana says. “They look like princesses.”

Anne snorts. Dad appears around the side of the mirror.

“Oh, my,” Dad says. He stares at us, looking a little misty. “Are these really my girls?”

“Dad, please,” I say. “The ‘Sunrise, Sunset’ routine is getting old.”

“He loves you girls so much,” Dana says. They share a look. Is she kidding me?

“Can we just get out of these?” I say.

Anne doesn’t wait for a response. She goes back into the dressing room, and I can see under the curtain that she stomps on the dress as it drops.

Later, when we’re back in Dad’s apartment, Dana motions for me to follow her into Dad’s bedroom. I’m hesitant. I don’t want to see their soon-to-be-conjugal bed. But I’m curious what she’s up to. Leaning against the wall are two canvasses. They are both abstract landscapes, the colors rich and suggestive.

“These are yours?” I ask. I try not to sound too surprised. They are beautiful.

“What do you think?” She bites the side of her cheek and looks from me to the paintings. She seriously wants my opinion.

“I think they’re magnificent,” I say.

We are both silent a moment, examining the paintings.

“The color alone makes it look like those hills are in the background,” I tell her.

“Exactly,” she says. “So it works.”

“Definitely.”

“It’s a series I’m working on.” she says. “On color and perspective.”

I nod my head. “I really like it.”

She smiles at me. “Thanks,” she says. “I’d still like to see what you’re working on.”

“I’m trying to get something together for a contest,” I say.

Dana sits on the edge of the bed. Thank God it’s made.

“A contest,” Dana says, urging me to say more. I’m surprised to find myself talking to her like this, but it feels right. She’s genuinely interested.

“I have to come up with a self-portrait.”

“Wow,” she says, nodding. “That’s a challenge.”

“Especially when I don’t really know who I am.” This last part just flies out. Dana is silent, watching me. I look at the carpeted floor, wishing I hadn’t said it.

“Don’t feel bad,” she says.

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