The Trade Off by Louise Maniscalco
Author:Louise Maniscalco
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781626815216
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2014-11-14T00:00:00+00:00
âOh, my God!â screamed Gloria Rodkin from the Salon couch, phone to her ear, plate on her lap. Bonnie and Joanne were just returning with five gowns.
âGloria! You look fantastic!â said Joanne. The two women hugged and air-kissed.
Into the phone, Gloria said, âShelley, you will not believe it! Joanne Klineâ¦yes, from Chicagoâ¦yes, on the committee⦠She just walked into the Salon with the same haircut I have!â To Joanne, she said, âYou must have seen Sally Hershberger.â
Joanne nodded. âSheâs incredible.â
Gloria said, âI never thought Iâd spend close to a thousand dollars on a cut and color until Sally. Itâs worth every penny, though.â
âIt looks much better on you,â said Joanne, of Gloriaâs red version.
âIt looks so much better on you! Hold still. Weâll let Shelley decide.â Gloria used her iPhone to snap Joanneâs photo, then emailed it to her daughter. âDid you get it? Who looks better? Tell the truth, Shelley. I know when youâre lying. Youâre lying!â
Bonnie pictured the entire planning committee for the Peace on Earth spring charity gala sitting in a well-appointed living room, sipping lattes, wearing Chanel suits, and sporting identical haircuts in different shades. It reminded Bonnie of high school, when every girl in her class showed up with âthe Rachel.â Bonnieâs opinion on the matchy-matchy hairdos? On Gloria, the chop looked like a red Marianne Faithful wig. Joanneâs ash blond suited her.
âIâll put your gowns in fitting room A, Mrs. Kline,â said Bonnie. âCan I get you a cappuccino? Glass of Dom? Something to eat?â She gestured to the two trays of snacks, which Gloria was plowing her way through.
âIâll follow you.â To Gloria, still arguing about trust and honesty with Shelley, Joanne mouthed, âSee you later.â
Client and stylist entered Fitting Room A, the second largest. The PS was occupied by Meganâs client. As soon as the door closed behind them, Joanne removed her clothes. Off with the cardigan jacket and cashmere shell. Off with the tweedy skirt. Within a minute, the woman was down to her ivory slip.
Bonnie peeked at Joanneâs figure. She was impressively fit for her ageâa gym rat. Although Joanne didnât have the wiry Gollum arms of Madonna, her limbs were well-defined. Mike used to say too much sinew was unsexy. Bonnie tended to agree. A womanâs body should be soft. That notion gave her some comfort when she got dressed each morning.
âLetâs try the Herrera first,â said Joanne.
Bonnie slipped the gold, sequined, strapless gown over Joanneâs head and zipped it up. The fit was close. A roomy size six. The gown was old-fashioned glamour for the red carpet or a black-tie gala.
âI feel like a mermaid,â said Joanne. âThe sequins look like fish scales.â
That was a ânoâ if Bonnie ever heard one. âLetâs get it off you,â said Bonnie, moving in to unzip.
But Joanne stopped her. âI think a man would like this dress, donât you?â
âOf course,â said Bonnie. Did she mean Steve? She would have said, âI think Steve would like this.â Bonnie knew him, after all, and would have an informed opinion.
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