A Fresh Start (14 page)

She was working all the time.

Whatever free time she had, she spent it on volunteering at the soup kitchen, reading, or learning something new.

She did went out with friends for meals. She did visit her mom at home when she had to clear her annual leave and spend time at the hospital with Andrew when he got sent home from an injury.

But she couldn’t recall spending an entire day doing nothing but having fun and laughing.

It was good for her to be here.

Paige pulled up in front of Jane’s house and smiled when Jane got into the car.

“Hi,” Jane said with a small smile. “Thanks for letting me come along.”

Last Sunday at church, Paige had mentioned that she wanted to go over to Cheyenne to buy some towels and sheets for her new bed. Since Jane was right there, Paige casually asked if she would like to join her.

Jane appeared genuinely surprised, but was quick to agree.

“Don’t be silly, it’s great to have company.” She headed toward the mall in Cheyenne without the help from her GPS.

“How’s the house coming along?”

“Good. Everything inside is almost done. Left with the front deck.”

Jane nodded, her hand moving to fiddle with her fringe.

“Is everything all right?”

Giving her a dry laugh, she put her hand down and asked, “Are you seeing Justin?”

Paige laughed softly. “I didn’t know you gossip.”

“You don’t have to tell me anything. It’s just everyone has been talking about it.”

“Really?” She frowned and turned to her. “Tell you what. You tell me what they say, and I’ll answer your question. I’ll even tell you which is true and which isn’t.”

Jane beamed. “Aren’t you afraid that I’ll tell others what you told me?”

She turned to Jane and pretended to study her expression. “Hmm, I don’t know. I think you can be trusted. You won’t let me down, will you?”

“No. I promise I won’t say anything, not even to Mrs. Seymour or my mom.”

Paige nodded with a wide grin. “Okay, so tell me.”

“Justin has been at your house 24/7.”

“24/7? As in staying over?” She turned to Jane and saw her head bobbing up and down. “Nope.”

“You guys went out to dinner, then took a romantic walk home?”

“We were actually forced to walk back. Mr. Seymour drove, and after dinner, Mrs. Seymour said she’d to go to the grocer and sent the two of us walking back.”

“Oh…”

“But,” She paused, taking a quick glance over at Jane. “It was kind of romantic.”

“They said you guys kissed.”

“Almost.” She knew Jane would probably be expecting some explanation, but she wasn’t really comfortable about sharing the details.
 

“Are you guys officially a couple?”

“No,” she answered.
 

“Oh…” Jane mumbled. “You two would make a cute couple. You’re both so good-looking.”

“That’s nice, thanks. For the part about me being good-looking, not the couple thing,” she quickly clarified, then laughed.

“And you?” Paige asked. “Am I allowed to ask if you’re seeing anyone in town?”

Again, Jane reached for her hair.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me.”

“It’s complicated.”

“Complicated?”

Jane nodded, her eyes moved to gaze out of the window while her hands formed a strong clasp on her lap.

“Jane.” Paige stopped at the red light and continued. “You are okay, right? If you need anything, if there’s anything I can do…”

“Thanks,” Jane mumbled.
 

The traffic light turned green and Paige was about to step on the gas when she saw Jane tearing up. “Did I say something wrong? I’m so sorry.”

“No, no.” Jane sniffed and used her finger to brush away the drop of tear hanging precariously on the edge of her eyes. “Just ignore me.”

Paige hesitated for a moment, then stepped on the gas and continued toward the mall.

Once they got to the parking lot, she switched on the park-assist and allowed technology to do its job.

“Wow,” Jane exclaimed as the steering wheel began moving by itself. “I’ve seen this in the commercials, but being in the car is really cool.”

“Yeah, I know. What my lousy skills lack for, technology makes it up.”

“But what if it spoils? I mean these things tend to break down after a while.”

“That was what Justin said. Don’t worry, I’m practicing.”

They headed into the mall and started shopping around, with Paige buying towels and all the other things her fully renovated house needed. Even with Jane’s help, they could only carry that much. So she bought only enough cutleries for two people, just enough for the dinner she was supposed to prepare.

As they were moving past a boutique, she noticed Jane staring at a dress in the window display.

“See something you like?”
 

“No, I can’t wear a dress like that.”

“Why not?” Paige asked, staring at the sleeveless sundress.

“I just feel better with loose fitting clothes.”

Paige gave Jane a head to toe scan. Each time she saw Jane, she was wearing some form of long sleeve shirt that appeared a size or two larger that what she should be wearing. Her top would be matched with a box skirt that would reach her shin.

Jane’s outfit that day was slightly different.

Instead of the stiff, old-fashioned skirt, Jane was wearing a pair of light blue denim with a red and white checkered shirt.

Paige pinched her lips and said, “You can definitely pull that off.” She put down the handful of bags she was holding and reached over, gathering all the loose material of Jane’s shirt on her back.
 

Jane was caught off guard, and with the bags in her hands, she couldn’t react.

“Paige.” Jane took a step away, pulling her shirt from Paige’s hand. “I’m not like you all, I can’t pull off a dress like that.”

“You all?” Paige arched a brow and waited.

Jane opened her mouth to speak, but bit down on her lips at the last moment.

Paige wondered how long Jane had been hiding behind her glasses and her oversized clothes. She picked up all the bags on the floor. “Let’s put all these bags in the car and go get our hair done. I’m really tired. I can definitely use some pampering.”

It had been some time since Paige got a hair cut. She could use a trim.

“Oh, I don’t…I’ll wait for you at the coffee shop.”

“Come with me, please?” Paige looked over and saw Jane drawing in a deep breath. “Please?” she pleaded before Jane could turn her down.

“Okay. I’ll wait in the shop.”

“No, you’ll get your hair washed and cut. My treat.” She widened her steps, hurrying to the car and back to the mall before Jane could come up with an excuse to get out of it.
 

With her hands free of bags, Paige looped her arm around Jane and dragged her into the hair salon.
 

Jane was quite uncertain about getting a new haircut, but after much persuasion, she gave in.
 

“I love the color of your hair. It’s so vibrant,” Paige commented, trying to get Jane’s wide, concerned eyes off the mirror. She leaned forward and took Jane’s spectacles off the laminated dark wood shelf. “Have you tried wearing contact lens before? It’s
so
much more convenient.”

The hairstylist must’ve caught on to what Paige was trying to do. He agreed with everything Paige said and encouraged Jane to try them. With the hairstylist as her accomplice, Paige managed to convince Jane.

Over at the optical store, Paige watched as Jane finally got her contacts in.

Jane rubbed her hands down her jeans before twisting them together. “Are you sure about this?”

Though Jane wasn’t wearing her spectacles, her hand moved over to where her spectacles rim used to rest on her cheeks.
 

Paige pulled Jane’s hand down. “You look great.” She bent down and looked into the mirror. “You definitely should get them. Your specs will destroy your new hairstyle. Look how nice your hair frames your face now.”

After another fifteen minutes of persuasion, Jane made payment and it was on to the next stop. In the next two hours, Paige got Jane a whole new makeup set and the dress in the display window. Then, they went on to buy a few more dresses, another bag of clothes, and four pairs of shoes.

Worried that Jane would simply keep the new clothes and shoes in the bags, Paige coaxed, begged, then guilt Jane into wearing one of the dresses they had bought.

With her makeup, new haircut, and contacts, Jane looked like another person.

Paige grinned and stuck both her thumbs up. “You look great!”

Jane rubbed her hands down her new black dress with an adjustable zip down to the belt on her waist.
 

“Just one thing.” Paige stepped forward with her palms raised by her chest. Then moved over to the zip and pulled it down slightly. “There’s no need to zip it all the way up. It’s nicer like this.”

Jane turned to the mirror and tugged at the end of her dress. “It seems a little short.”

It was barely above her knees. “The dress is fine, and you look good. Let’s go.”

They were about to return to her car when they bumped into Gloria and her gang of friends. Paige had seen them hung out after church, but she hadn’t spoken to any of them besides Gloria.

She did recognize the guy who caught up with Justin and her the other night. Keith, she remembered. And the woman who had shown up at her house along with Gloria.

“What the hell did you do, Jane?”

Jane smoothed down her hair and her hand reached over to her cheek before dropping down to her side.
 

“You think some makeup and a haircut will make a difference?”

Paige’s eyes widened, and she blinked at how rude Gloria was. No wonder Jane had no confidence. Even if Jane had any, it would’ve eroded after years of hanging out with such poisonous tongue. “I think she looks beautiful.”

“Looks like someone found herself a new best friend,” the woman beside Gloria said.

“Keith,” Gloria said, almost in a purr. “What do you think?”

Keith blinked, then gave a nonchalant shrugged when Gloria gave him a nudge.
 

Paige couldn’t be bothered to speak to Gloria or her friends. She grabbed Jane’s arm and gave her a nudge. “Let’s go.”

Jane followed along, but Paige noticed her glancing over at Keith several times even as they headed toward the parking lot.

She didn’t say anything until they were in the car. “The complicated relationship,” she said, putting the key into the ignition, “does that have something to do with Keith?” She started the car and pulled out of the lot like Justin had taught her. When she was finally out of the parking lot with her car safe in one piece, she continued. “You can do better.”

She hadn’t spoken to Keith before, but his reaction to Gloria’s provocation disgusted her. Even if Jane and him weren’t in a complicated relationship, he should’ve stood up for Jane.

“He isn’t like that when we’re alone. I don’t know why, but he just becomes a jerk when he’s with them.”

“So you’re secretly dating?”

“No, I don’t know.” Jane stared out of the window. “We’ve never gone out in public. I think he’s embarrassed of me,” she said softly.

Paige could feel the hurt in Jane’s words. “Then why?”

“I don’t know. When he’s with me, he’s different. He seems to care.”

But not enough to bring you out.
She pursed her lips, stopping herself from speaking out her thoughts.

“I know, you must think I’m an idiot.”

“No. I just feel that you’re mistreating yourself,” she clarified. “Do you think that things with him will ever change?”

Jane’s hands twisted together.

“I didn’t tell you that you look great because you’re my friend, or because it was my idea for you to make these changes. You do look amazing.”

“Still, it isn’t good enough for him,” Jane whispered.

Paige sighed softly and pressed her lips into a thin line.

She didn’t want to be a wet blanket, neither did she want to give Jane any false hope. But when the silence drew on and Paige saw Jane’s vacant stare, she caved. “Things could change. If you really like him, you have my support.”

Jane smiled wryly. “Please don’t tell anyone.”

“You have my word.”
 

“You’re like Justin.”

“Justin?”

Jane turned over to Paige. “Once, in school, I accidentally spilled a few drops of water on Gloria’s dress. She screamed at me and purposely splashed a cup of coke onto my white T-shirt in front of the whole canteen.”

“Gosh.”

“Everyone pointed and laughed; everyone except Justin. He came over, handed me a spare T-shirt from his bag, and shot a glare at everyone around.”

Paige broke into a smile. “That’s nice.”

Jane nodded along. “But he never brought it up again, never even speak to me. When I returned his shirt and thanked him, he merely took it back with a nod. Is he that quiet with you?”

“People change, he isn’t like that now.” When Paige pulled up outside Jane’s house, she turned to her. “Promise that you’ll wear something we bought to church.”

“What?” Again, Jane’s hand reached over to her cheek.

“I’ll pick you up and we’ll go together.”

“But—”

“But nothing,” Paige said and got out of the car, helping Jane with some of her bags. “I’ll see you on Sunday. Remember how to put on the makeup?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Call me if you forget.”

Putting down the bags in the living room, Paige turned and went back to the car. “See you on Sunday.” She returned to her car and drove back to her house.

After a whole day of shopping, she was starving and her legs were aching. Maybe she’d just leave everything in the car until tomorrow.

She drove passed Justin’s car and up the slope to her house, grinning as she pulled up the handbrake. “Without a scratch,” she mumbled and got out.

“Well done.”

“Thank you,” she answered, recognizing Justin’s voice. “I’m so tired.”

He laughed as he got to his feet. “I thought women love shopping.”

She covered her mouth and yawned softly. “Oh! I forgot to buy the groceries.” She closed her door and plodded over to Justin.