“Ooh, that’s stunning on you,” Tabitha said to me, eyeing a pale-blue, off-the-shoulder gown that Valerie insisted would be perfect with my skin color.
“Thank you,” I said, grabbing a glance at the price tag. For $2,400, it should be stunning. At Tabitha’s insistence, I tried on everything Valerie had for me: elegant wide-legged pants, a body-skimming silver dress, and blue suede stilettos. I couldn’t help but do the math in the dressing room while Valerie’s assistant returned with more champagne. I had just tried on $37,000’s worth of clothes.
As I modeled a beaded blue chiffon blouse with exquisite ruching in the dressing room, Tabitha noticed my bracelet. Before I knew it, she was holding my wrist up to the light, examining it.
“How unusual,” she said, twisting it on my wrist. “Understated but dazzling. Is it platinum?”
“Yes.” I had forgotten about Nan’s bracelet. I was already used to wearing it.
“It’s so mysterious … just like you, Lisbeth,” she said, smiling.
“Honestly, dear, I don’t try to be,” I replied.
“I know. You just are,” she said and gave me a hug. I was growing to like Tabitha, despite the strangeness of her mood swings and insecurity. Somehow, she unequivocally accepted me for whoever I was. Like a child, she seemed naive to ulterior motives. We had truly developed a friendship. The mysteries about her mom, her loneliness, made me want to take care of her.
Valerie was over-the-top with enthusiasm for a lilac dress that she had given Tabitha to try on, but I had my doubts. When Tabitha came out wearing it, I could see that it was totally wrong for her. It wasn’t that she couldn’t wear the color, it just wasn’t her shade. It’s interesting to me how often people don’t know their colors. I guess I had consumed enough champagne and was comfortable enough around Tabitha that my guard was down. For some reason, I started blurting out my opinion on everything.
“It’s a lovely dress, but perhaps you should reconsider whether it’s right for you,” I said, assuming I was out of earshot of Valerie. Tabitha looked at me with surprise. It seemed as though she was disturbed that anyone could doubt Valerie, which would explain some of the less-sophisticated choices Tabitha wore in the photos on the gossip blogs.
“What do you mean?” After another sip of champagne, I figured I might as well go for it. “Lilac isn’t really your color, and the dress cuts you right across the bust, a very unflattering silhouette,” I concluded. When an alarmed look crossed Tabitha’s face, I realized that Valerie was standing right behind me, and I regretted my words immediately.
I turned to Valerie to apologize. “I am terribly sorry. I’m sure you know better,” I said and braced myself for a dressing down. Valerie seemed to be trying to regroup. It dawned on me that if Tabitha had a personal shopper since she was ten, and her mother hadn’t been around, she may not have thought about her look independently for a long time. Valerie was her only support, her trusted advisor, and I certainly hadn’t intended to interfere. I watched as Valerie put on her cherished glasses and examined the dress again.
“She’s right, Tabitha,” Valerie said after a moment. “I’m not sure why I never saw that before.” Tabitha brightened. “Your friend Lisbeth is quite astute,” she continued. “Do you have any other suggestions?”
“Well, do you mind me adding?” I waited for the nod from Valerie. “You might try mixing and matching a bit more, like this Dolce and Gabbana blouse with this piece,” I said, grabbing a vintage skirt from a nearby table that was part of a window display they were putting together. I couldn’t believe I was acting like such an expert. It was so much fun to get my hands on these clothes and play with them.
“It’s nice to see you with such an intelligent and sensitive friend,” Valerie said to Tabitha. “And she has such a terrific sense of design.” Tabitha glowed instinctively, as if she had been singled out herself.
“You do have the most incredible taste,” Tabitha said, relieved that Valerie had given me the seal of approval. “You just see stuff and put it together. No wonder your fashion blog is so incredible.”
“Fashion blog?” Valerie asked.
“Yes, Valerie, Lisbeth is that Shades of Limelight blog,” Tabitha said. “Isak Guerrere loves it.”
“I’m sorry, I haven’t heard of that one, but I have to admit I’m a bit of a Luddite,” she said. “I will definitely look it up.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“And I’ll make a note to the marketing department to send you some samples to review,” she said and scribbled herself a note. “You never know, they may even ask you to consult for us.”
Consult? Me? Hmmm, I could only hope.
Moments later, Tabitha strutted in front of the mirror in a jade-green romper with knee-high boots. “So, which ones are you getting?” she asked, looking at her hips in the mirror. “You absolutely have to get the silver dress. I’m not letting you leave the store without it.”
“I’m not sure,” I said, trying to think of any excuse she might believe other than “I only have thirty-seven dollars in my purse, and my credit cards couldn’t pay for this even if they weren’t maxed out.” My skin flushed, embarrassed that window-shopping wasn’t going to cut it any longer.
“And you absolutely have to have those shoes.”
When Valerie returned for Tabitha’s clothes, Tabitha said simply, “I’ll take them all, except the lilac dress of course,” and gave me a nod.
Then Valerie turned to me, awaiting my choices. I was tongue-tied. They expected an answer.
“Lisbeth will take the silver dress and the leopard heels,” Tabitha jumped in.
Valerie quickly whisked the dress and shoes out of my dressing room and took them to the counter. Tabitha changed back into her clothes, and we walked over to the counter to pay.
How would I get out of this? I struggled for the barest hint of a plan. I put my bag on the counter and began digging through it and was struck with an idea.
“It was here a moment ago,” I said, just loud enough that Tabitha could hear. Then I gave Tabitha a desperate look. “Shoot,” I said, rifling through my bag. “It’s gone!” Valerie wasn’t sure what was happening. But she registered my alarm. “I can’t find my wallet!” I said.
“Did you misplace it somewhere here?” Valerie asked.
“I wouldn’t think so,” I said, feigning distress. “I’m sure I had it earlier.” I was getting so worked up, even I thought I might manage to burst out in tears.
“Are you okay?” Tabitha asked.
“Do you think it could have been stolen?” Valerie asked.
“I just don’t know,” I said. “It’s not about the money or the cards. It’s that the wallet was a gift.” Meanwhile, I had been digging in my bag so long, I couldn’t help actually coming across my actual wallet, but I kept that to myself.
“Well, let me call Security immediately,” Valerie said. She turned to pick up a phone nearby.
“I’m so embarrassed. I don’t want to inconvenience anyone,” I said. “I was certain I took it this morning, but maybe when I changed handbags? Or did I drop it at the studio? No need to bother Security.”
“I’ll call Mocha now to check with the studio,” Tabitha said.
“It’s not a problem, dear. Security will be here in a moment. Meanwhile, Erica…? Please check everywhere,” Valerie said, and Erica, her assistant, began assiduously checking every corner of the dressing area for a wallet she’d never find.
“Perhaps it would be best if you wouldn’t mind holding these, and I’ll just come back later.”
“Absolutely,” Valerie said. Ah, finally, my plan worked. No harm, no foul.
“No, no, don’t worry,” Tabitha insisted matter-of-factly. “Just add her things to my tab.” Ugh, that was considerably worse.
“Oh no, you shouldn’t,” I said, yanking the shoes and the silver dress away from the counter.