Will of Steel Read Online Free PDF Page B

“I’ve never seen so many clothes outside a department store,” she stammered.
    Sassy chuckled. “Neither did I before I married John. He spoils me rotten. Every birthday and holiday I get presents from him. Pick something out.”
    â€œYou must have favorites that you don’t want to loan,” Jillian began.
    â€œI do. That’s why they’re still in the closet,” she said with a grin.
    â€œOh.”
    Sassy was eyeing her and then the clothes on the bed. “How about this?” She picked up a patterned blue skirt, very long and silky, with a pale blue silk blouse that had puffy sleeves and a rounded neckline. It looked demure, but it was a witchy ensemble. “Try that on. Let’s see how it looks.”
    Jillian’s hands fumbled. She’d never put on something so expensive. It fit her like a glove, and it felt good to move in, as so many clothes didn’t. She remarked on that.
    â€œMost clothes on the rack aren’t constructed to fit exactly, and the less expensive they are, the worse the fit,” Sassy said. “I know, because I bought clothes off the sales rack all my life before I married. I was shocked to find that expensive clothes actually fit. And when theydo, they make you look better. You can see for yourself.”
    Jillian did. Glancing in the mirror, she was shocked to find that the skirt put less emphasis on her full hips and more on her narrow waist. The blouse, on the other hand, made her small breasts look just a little bigger.
    â€œNow, with your hair actually down and curled, instead of screwed up into that bun,” Sassy continued, pulling out hairpins as she went and reaching for a brush, “you’ll look so different that Ted may not even recognize you. What a difference!”
    It was. With her long blond hair curling around her shoulders, she looked really pretty.
    â€œIs that me?” she asked, shocked.
    Sassy grinned. “Sure is.”
    She turned to her friend, fighting tears. “It’s so nice of you,” she began.
    Sassy hugged her. “Friends look out for each other.”
    They hadn’t been close friends, because Sassy’s home problems had made that impossible before her marriage. But they were growing closer now. It was nice to have someone she could talk to.
    She drew away and wiped at her eyes. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to do that.”
    â€œYou’re a nice person, Jilly,” Sassy told her gently. “You’d do the same for me in a heartbeat, if our situations were reversed, and you know it.”
    â€œI certainly would.”
    â€œI’ve got some curlers. Let’s put up your hair in them and then we can snap beans.”
    â€œYou’ve got beans in the middle of winter?” Jillian exclaimed.
    â€œFrom the organic food market,” she laughed. “I have them shipped in. You can take some home and plant up. Ted might like beans and ham hocks.”
    â€œEven if he didn’t, I sure would. I’ll bet it’s your own pork.”
    â€œIt is. We like organic all the way. Put your jeans back on and we’ll wash your hair and set it. It’s thin enough that it can dry while we work.”
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    And it did. They took the curlers out a couple of hours later. Jillian was surprised at the difference a few curls made in her appearance.
    â€œMakeup next,” Sassy told her, grinning. “This is fun!”
    â€œFun and educational,” Jillian said, still reeling. “How did you learn all this?”
    â€œFrom my mother-in-law. She goes to spas and beauty parlors all the time. She’s still gorgeous, even though she’s gaining in years. Sit down.”
    Sassy put her in front of a fluorescent-lit mirror and proceeded to experiment with different shades of lipstick and eye shadow. Jillian felt as spoiled as if she’d been to an exclusive department store, and she said so.
    â€œI’m still learning,” Sassy