“What are you going to wear?” Fawn went to the closet.
“You’ve already nixed the idea of clean jeans and T-shirt. How about khakis? But this isn’t a real date, you know. He’s just going to let me know what he found out today about Tab.”
“Uh-huh, whatever you say.” Fawn slid open the rice-paper closet doors, which were decorated with a delicate floral pattern. She riffled through the hangers. “Hey, I’ve never seen you wear this. It would be a great color on you.” She pulled out a royal blue silk blouse and carried it past the bathroom. “I’ll be right back.”
Annie blotted her face with a towel and returned to her room. She heard Fawn rooting through Leilani’s closet. She reappeared a few minutes later. “This skirt is perfect with the blouse.” It was a black silky skirt with a handkerchief hem.
“That’s way too—too something. And the blouse is too loud. I tried to tell Leilani that when she insisted on buying it for my birthday last year.”
“You’re wearing them.”
“Mano will think I’m after him.” The thought made her go hot, then cold.
“You are.” Fawn propelled her to the seat in front of the dresser and picked up the blow-dryer. “We’re going to make Mano gasp with appreciation. Sit still.”
Annie watched in the mirror as Fawn put goop on her hair, then scrunched it as she manipulated the dryer. The result was a tousled, carefree look that made her look like a teenager. Maybe she could get into this style stuff. She turned her head this way and that to check out the do. “I like it. I bet I could never duplicate it though.”
“It’s way easy. I’ll show you.” Fawn grabbed the bag she’d brought in with her. “I brought my makeup.”
“I’ve got some makeup here. Leilani’s rejects.”
“I think that stuff was rejected for a reason.” Fawn unzipped a hot pink makeup bag and dumped the contents onto the dresser. “Don’t worry, it’s all natural and won’t make you break out.”
“I didn’t doubt it.” Annie giggled and gave Fawn free rein. Her friend began to smooth makeup onto her face. She kept her eyes closed, afraid to see the comic results. Fawn soon moved from her face to her eyes. “I’m going to look like a clown,” Annie muttered.
“You’re beautiful. Look.” Fawn put down the mascara wand.
Fawn’s hushed voice scared her. Annie cautiously opened her eyes. She stared at the stranger in the mirror. “What did you do?” Her eyes appeared bigger, brighter somehow. There was just a touch of color on her lips. Nothing was glaring. She didn’t even look like she had on makeup. She looked actually—pretty. “You’re a genius.” She began to reassemble the piles of small makeup pots and stick them back in the bag.
“Quit being such a neatnik.” Fawn took the bag away. “I want to show you how to do it. You can keep all this.”
“I could never replicate this look.” Annie poked a finger in her hair. “How’d you get it to stay back so neatly?” Fawn had drawn one side back in a glittery comb. Every time Annie had tried a similar look, the comb fell out. She shook her head, testing it, but it stayed put.
“Here, watch.” Fawn removed the comb and then put it back in, showing Annie how to drag it with the hair, and then push against it.
“Now for the clothes.” Fawn tossed her the skirt and blouse. “Put these on.”
Annie wasn’t going to argue with expertise. She slipped them on and stepped in front of the full-length mirror. The color brightened her skin tone, and the skirt made her legs look longer. “Wow,” she said in an awed voice. “I wouldn’t say I’m beautiful, but I don’t look half-bad.”
“You’re beautiful. You just didn’t know it. You try to fade into the woodwork. I think you were just afraid of the attention.” Fawn handed her some silver hoop earrings and a matching necklace. “Your birthday is next month. This is an early birthday present.”
“Father hates makeup. Mother never showed me how to wear it, and Leilani delights in upsetting him over it.”
“And you always want to be the dutiful daughter.” Fawn shook her head. “That’s admirable, Annie, but you’re an adult. You can make your own decisions.”
Annie put on the jewelry, then hugged her friend. “Even if Mano takes one look and runs, I still love you for this. At least I feel more confident.”
“You look killer, and he’s going to be wowed. It’s about time you stepped out from behind your family’s shadow and lived your life, Annie. You’re thirty. In fact, I’d say it’s time you had a place of your own.”
“You’re going too far now.” Annie smiled, but she was serious. “I’ll never leave my father alone.” If Gina had her way, her father wouldn’t need Annie any more. She wanted to feel happy about that. Gina had always treated her like a daughter. She examined her thoughts and found herself strangely calm about the idea. “Father invited Gina to dinner.”