Duty Free by Susanne O'Leary

Author:Susanne O'Leary
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romantic comedy, Romance Paris, French romance, Glamour, Fashion
Publisher: Susanne O'Leary
Published: 2010-01-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

‘Haven’t you finished packing yet?’ Conor closed his suitcase and looked at Anna with irritation. ‘We have to leave for the airport soon.’

Anna tried to cram a pair of white shorts into her already full suitcase. ‘Nearly. Just a few final items and I’m done.’

She had bought a lot of clothes for the cruise at the bargain basement sale Monique had brought her to and they had come out of the warehouse exhausted, scratched and bruised with armfuls of designer clothes they had purchased at rock bottom prices.

‘That was the worst sale I was ever at,’ Anna complained over a glass of fortifying cognac at a nearby café.

Monique inspected her scratched arms. ‘I know. But wasn’t it worth it? What did you get?’

Anna looked into her big shopping bag. ‘I’m not sure. I just grabbed anything I thought was in my size and colour. I hope there is something in here I can wear.’ She pulled out a pair of white linen trousers. ‘Yves St Laurent. That’s a good start.’ The trousers were followed by two Versace Tee-shirts. ‘But what am I going to do with these?’ She waved a pink bolero with matching bicycle pants at Monique.

‘But they’re Galliano originals. It doesn’t matter that they’re hideous, it’s the label that counts.’ Monique sighed. ‘I don’t think you’ll ever understand the true concept of fashion.’

The rest of the clothes in Anna’s bag were amazing bargains. She had been lucky enough to grab a navy Chanel sundress, two pairs of shorts and a light blue silk shirt from Dior, a red swimsuit from Guy Laroche and a number of scarves and belts from Hermès.

Monique had not been so lucky. ‘When am I going to wear these,’ she muttered as she examined a pair of gold lamé boot cut trousers.

‘Perfect for the Australian bush. Guaranteed to scare any wild animal.’

Monique threw the trousers at Anna. ‘Tais toi! You can’t always be sure to end up with clothes you can actually wear at these sales. It’s a kind of Russian Roulette.’

Anna laughed at the memory. She finally managed to close her suitcase. ‘There,’ she said to Conor. ‘All ready. Plenty of time before the plane leaves.’

‘I don’t know why you need so many outfits,’ Conor complained. ‘I’m only bringing a pair of shorts, a couple of T-shirts, one suit and swimming trunks.’

‘And a mobile phone, your laptop and five books on European politics through the ages,’ Anna added. ‘All of which you will cram into my hand luggage, while you skip onto the plane with your hands in your pockets.’

‘So? I’m not the one bringing enough clothes for six months in Florida.’

Anna sighed. ‘You just haven’t a clue about women’s clothing. You think that if I buy an outfit it has to last until it falls apart or I die, whatever comes first. The fact that fashion changes every year has never really registered with you, has it?’

Conor shrugged. ‘If you buy the classics, you’ll never be out of fashion. My mother...’

-’Lived in a suit she bought in a sale in Harrods in 1968, I know.

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