Kaz is crazy.
Why would the man spoil me this much?
“You don’t seem pleased.” Judith frowns.
I shake out of my stupor. “I thought I came here to buy a dress. I didn’t expect to leave the store with a full wardrobe. So, I’m a little taken aback.”
“Today is merely a kickstart so you have a few items for the first few days at your new job. It’s going to take more than one visit for us to build you a wardrobe.”
“Right.” I respond with a slow nod.
Judith leans into me. “Take it from a woman who’s been married for twenty-five years to a man who adores her and who she adores as much in return. When he wants to take care of you, let him.” With that personal share, Judith goes from ice queen to warm and fuzzy.
I don’t have the heart to tell her Kaz and I aren’t heading down the aisle anytime soon. “I guess I’m a lucky girl.”
Judith arches a brow. “That’s the spirit.” She grabs a dress from the rack. “Let’s start with this one.”
I take it from her. “Is there a reason why there aren’t any blue dresses?”
“It was impossible to find a blue dress that matches your shoes.”
“I haven’t bought shoes yet. I was waiting to get the dress.”
“Mr. Lindström did the honors.”
I’m going to wring Mr. Lindström’s neck.“What?”
Judith opens the door to the changing room and invites me to enter.
I poke my head inside.
I can’t believe my eyes.“He bought those for… me?”
“I believe they’re in your size. He said something about the Hamptons a year ago. I didn’t get it, but he said it was significant.”
Tears needle at the corner of my eyes.
I bite my lower lip so they don’t slip out.
On the day I attended the double birthday party at Kaz’s cottage, I was wearing the blue Hangisi Manolo Blahniks I had saved up an entire year to buy. Back in the day, I was debt-free, and determined to remain that way. My beloved shoes were the first item of value I sold to a secondhand store to help keep my head above water. I died inside when the clerk told me howmuch I would get if they sold––a fraction of what I paid for them.
I pick up one shoe and flip it over.
My stupor deepens.
Kaz remembered the designer and my shoe size?
The first three dresses I tried on either weren’t my style or they didn’t suit my petite body. As I wait for Judith to return with a few other selections, I pace around the changing room wearing the latest reject with my eyes glued to my beautiful new shoes.
I can’t believe I get to own these again.
How can I ever repay Kaz for his generosity?
I’m sure he wants me to look the part, but he didn’t have to drop that kind of money on shoes.
My phone rings.
I rush to the chair in the corner of the changing room and rummage through my handbag. I grimace when I see the name on the screen.
