The feeling stayed with me asIcleared the breakfast dishes and listened toKorhumming under his breath while he loaded the dishwasher.Everythingfelt brighter somehow.Thesunlight streaming through the windows seemed warmer.EvenWolvertonManorfelt different—as though it had finally awakened from a long sleep.
MaybeIhad awakened too.
I went upstairs to get dressed for our trip into town to getKor’snew clothes and opened my closet doors.Immediatelymy good mood faltered.
Black.Everythingwas black or dark gray or brown or beige.Boring, ugly colors that were hardly colors at all.
For twenty yearsIhad dressed the wayCarterexpected me to dress.Ialways looked respectable…conservative…proper.EveryoutfitIowned had been chosen to please him or avoid his criticism.
Looking at the dark row of garments now,Ifelt tired.Notphysically tired, though—soultired.Ididn't want to wear any of the ugly, elderly librarian clothes in my closet.Iwas tired of dressing like a nun.
I was still standing there staring at the closet whenKorappeared in the doorway.
"Everything okay?"he asked, sounding concerned.
I glanced over my shoulder.
"I don't have anything to wear."
His eyebrows rose.
"Your closet looks full to me.”
“Full of clothes that look like they belong to a retired nun or an elderly librarian,”Igrumbled.“Thoseare the only kinds of clothesCarterever let me wear,”Iadded.
Kor came into the room and looked into the closet.Thenhe made a face.
"Damn."
I laughed.
"What?"
"Baby, these clothes lookdepressed."
"They do not,”Iprotested, even thoughIhad basically been complaining about the same thing just a moment ago.
"They absolutelydo,” he said.
"They're practical,”Ipointed out.
"They'refunereal."
I rolled my eyes.
"Well, what do you expect me to wear?"
One corner of his mouth lifted.
"What about one of your new dresses?Thoseall look gorgeous on you."
I hesitated, nibbling my lower lip.ThedressesI’dbought were hanging in a separate section of the closet.Ihad to admit, just looking at them made me smile.Theywere colorful and feminine and nothing like the clothingI'dworn for most of my adult life.ButdidIdare to wear any of them to town?
"I don't know,"Isaid slowly.
"Why not?"
"You know why.”Isighed.“Whatwill people say?”
