Salvaged (19 page)

"Of course, there isn't anyone I would rather have going with me."

She was sincerely touched by the invitation, and I was delighted
that such a small request was bringing her so much joy. Being so
focused on my own misery, I hadn't thought about how having me
around was affecting her. I was sure that having a girl in the house
made her long for Melody's company and miss her more than ever.

Marme pulled into the parking lot of the store and turning to
me said in a very serious tone, "Let the games begin."

We quickly jumped out of the car and made our way inside the
trendy boutique. Vibrant colors came to life all around me, and a
rush ran through my body. I had seventy-five dollars to spend, and I
didn't even know where to begin. As I walked through the racks of
clothes, I allowed my fingers to run across the fabrics. The clothes
and their different textures felt wonderful to my touch. Indeed, this
was a therapy all its own.

"Oh, Attie, look at these!" In less than ninety seconds she found
a pair of white linen pants and wanted me to take a look. "These would look adorable on you, with your small, cute little body. Oh
gosh, you'd be smashing!"

I laughed at her excitement and then looked at the price tag.
"Oh, Marme, they're great, but they're also eighty-seven dollars.
That's more than I have. There's a sale rack in the back; maybe we
should just start there?" I hung the pants back up and started toward
the rear of the store.

"Oh no you don't, Attie Reed." She grabbed my arm and shoved
the pants back into my hands. "True retail therapy cannot be done
by buying items on sale."

"But Marme, I only have seventy-five dollars."

"Well... " She reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet.
"I have a credit card that hasn't been used in over a year, and it's gotten very lonely in this deep, dark cavern of a purse. I'm certain that
it wants to come out and play for a while."

I chuckled. "I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask. I want to do it. Please let me." She was practically begging.

"Only if you promise not to get carried away."

"Define what you mean by `carried away."'

I hugged her. "You're too much."

"Now, let's keep looking; we've got a long way to go and a short
time to get there," she said before hunting down a sales associate to
have them get a dressing room ready.

Splitting up, we grabbed anything we thought might look
good.

"Attie, don't just think about the pool party. You need other
clothes too."

I started to fuss, but she gave me a stern look, so I closed my mouth.

"What about a bathing suit, Attie? Do you have one?"

I shook my head frantically. "No way!"

"What do you mean no way?"

I yanked down the collar of my t-shirt and pointed to my scar so
she would get my point.

"So?"

"So? They're ugly. I won't walk around in a bathing suit, especially the first time I meet people."

"You aren't gonna swim or lay out all summer? Spare me. We're
getting you a bathing suit. You never know when you might need
one.

After several more minutes, we finally made our way to the
dressing room. The saleslady was practically salivating as Marme
pulled up a chair and I got busy trying on clothes. After removing
an item and handing it over the door to Marme, she would put it
in either the "Keep" or "No" pile. I glanced at the piles each time I
showed her a new item and realized the "Keep" pile was becoming
much larger than the "No" pile.

"Don't you be looking at these stacks of clothes. This is my business,"
she teased. "Now put on that bathing suit with the flowers on it."

"It's a bikini," I complained.

"Let me see it."

I put on the suit and looked at myself in the mirror. All I could
focus on were the scars. I felt naked and uncomfortable.

"Come on out here. Let me see you."

"I don't know," I mumbled.

"Get your tiny butt out here right now," she ordered. I opened
the door and she smiled up at me. "You're gorgeous. Look at that
body!" I stood with my face cringing. "Yep." She nodded. "It's a
keeper."

Rolling my eyes, I walked back into the stall and shut the door.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me, young lady."

"Yes, ma'am."

"You do know you're supposed to keep your underwear on when
you try on bathing suits, don't you?"

"I did."

"I didn't see them."

"They're just a thong; there isn't much to see."

"Attie Reed! You wear thongs?"

"Well, yes."

"That's a little Britney Spears, don't you think?"

"Only if you make them hang out the top of your britches."

She laughed and then shivered. "If I tried to wear one of those
things, it would get lost forever." I was sure she was trying to picture
herself wearing one.

"I don't know. They're pretty great."

"No, thank you."

I put my clothes back on and headed out of the stall. "I'll tell you
what, I won't complain about you buying all of those clothes if you'll
buy one thong for yourself."

Her eyes got huge. "Do they even make them in my size?"

"What size are you?" the sales associate asked as she tried to
hide a snicker.

"Gigantic," Marme replied sadly.

"Hardly! You've got a great body. I hope I look as good as you
do when I'm your age."

"My age? You mean old as dirt? All right, just grab me a pair,"
she said to the sales associate. "The cheapest pair you've got; I don't
think I'll be wearing them more than a few seconds."

The saleslady carried the pile of clothes to the checkout counter
and grabbed Marine a thong on the way.

"Now, Attie, you go on and entertain yourself while I check out.
You don't need to be privy to how much I spend."

I walked away but peeked back and caught her throwing several
pairs of earrings and two pairs of sunglasses onto the "Keep" pile.

I wasn't certain, but I would guess that she was spending well
over seven hundred dollars. Pops was going to kill her.

"Attie," Marme said outside my bedroom door. "The girls are here."

"Great, send them up."

"What did you decide to wear?" she asked.

"Come on in. Give me your opinion."

Opening the door, she looked in, and upon seeing me she
clapped. "Oh, Attie, you're beautiful! I hoped you would wear that."

"You don't think it's too dressy for a pool party?"

"No, it's perfect."

I was wearing the white linen trousers and a lime green linen
top with pale gold stitching, a high collar, and three-quarter length
sleeves.

"Do you feel comfortable in it?"

"Yes."

"Does it cover everything you want covered?"

"Yes."

"What shoes are you gonna wear?" she asked.

I walked over to the closet and pulled out a pair of sandals.

"Will these do? They're all I've got."

"They'll be fine for today, but this weekend we'll go shoe shopping. What about your hair? What are you gonna do with it?"

"A ponytail I think, but where it kind of poufs a little on the top
like this." I fixed it as I spoke.

"Oh, I like it like that. It's sassy. And maybe a little mascara and
lip gloss," she suggested.

"Sure."

"Perfect, Attie, you're gonna look perfect. Boys are gonna be
falling all over themselves to get near you."

"Hey chick-a-dee," Tammy greeted as the girls made their way
into my room.

"I'll leave you girls to finish getting ready," Marine announced
as she left the room.

"Look at this room! It's amazing, Attie. It's changed so much."
Anne beamed.

"Don't you love it? I do. They did it on Monday while I was
at work."

"How sweet is that?" Anne said softly and made a face as if she
would cry.

"Look at these drawings!" Tess sounded far away in a dream
state. "Aren't they amazing?"

"Where did they come from?" Anne asked.

"Riley drew them for me," I answered before thinking about it
and regretted the words the moment they left my mouth.

I waited for Tammy to make a remark. "Get out!" There it was.
"Move outta the way and let me see. You're hoggin' the wall, Tess."

"No, I'm not, Tammy, there's plenty of room for both of us," Tess
said then sighed softly. "I'm in awe."

"Attie, that's the sweetest thing I've ever seen," Anne exclaimed.

"I couldn't thank him enough."

"You could have planted a big ole kiss on him. That would have
done it," Tammy informed me.

"You think?" I asked sarcastically.

"Are you sure you don't like him? He's the sweetest thing ever."
Tess was disappointed that we weren't an item.

I made a gloomy face in her direction. "Sorry, Tess, we're just
friends for now."

"For now?" She lit up. "You mean maybe one day?"

"We aren't even considering it until I move out."

"So you've talked about it?" Anne asked, sitting down on the bed.

I was surprised that Tammy hadn't told them about our
conversation.

"A little."

"Oh my gosh! Attie!" Anne squealed. "You two would be adorable together!"

"You would," Tess agreed.

"Well, we'll see. We've got a few more months till then, so let's not
jump to any conclusions. A lot can change between now and then."

"I doubt it. You're a keeper, Attie." Tammy smiled at me. For as
spunky and unconventional as she was, she had a heart of gold.

"I'll make sure I keep everyone updated, okay?"

"Oh good!" I'd made Tess's day.

"Get your suit and let's go," Anne ordered as she jumped off
the bed.

"Oh, I'm not bringing a suit."

"Why?" they all asked.

"My scars, I don't want to show them off today," I explained.

"Scars?" Tess asked.

"From the accident," Anne explained before giving me a reassuring smile.

"Oh," Tess sighed softly.

"How bad can they be?" Tammy asked.

"Pretty bad." I scowled.

"Let's see `em," she said.

I rolled my eyes and then unbuttoned my shirt and let it fall to
my waist. All the girls stepped closer to me so they could get a better look.

"They aren't bad at all, Attie," Anne said reassuringly.

"No, not bad at all," Tess agreed.

I looked at Tammy and waited to hear what she would say.
"You're beautiful even with the scars. And you kinda remind me of
the six-million dollar woman," she added.

I laughed. "Thanks, guys, but still, I wouldn't be comfortable." I
put my shirt back on and buttoned it up.

"All right, well, let's get going," Anne announced. "Cute boys
are waiting."

"And Chase," Tess added.

"Chase is a cute boy, Tess," Tammy said, throwing her arms over
Tess's shoulder.

"Well, I didn't mean it like that," Tess said sweetly.

They filed out of my room, and I followed them down the stairs.
Walking behind Tammy, I noticed she was wearing cutoff blue jeans
with holes all over them and a Grateful Dead concert t-shirt.

"I see you got dressed up, Tammy."

"Only the best for my friends."

By the time we arrived, the party was in full swing. Anne, being the
social butterfly, immediately walked away and began chatting with
friends. Tammy spotted the food table and made a beeline for it
without even looking back, and Tess and I were left standing alone.

"How does she stay so skinny?" Tess asked, watching Tammy
walk away. "If I ate like that, I'd be three hundred pounds."

"Life's not fair, Tess."

"No, it's not." She sighed in agreement.

"Do not leave me alone. I don't know anybody here."

I heard a familiar voice call my name.

"Oh no." I grabbed Tess's arm.

"What?" she asked, concerned.

"Please don't tell me that's Cooper Truman."

She shook her head and spoke softly, "I don't even know who
that is."

"Hello, Attie." His voice came from directly behind me.

I rolled my eyes and turned around to face him. "Hey, Cooper,
good to see you."