Chapter 20: Fashion Show

Pam staggered in Julie’s living room behind Sylvie, each barely in control of several shopping bags. Julie just looked at them and laughed.

“Are all those Garnier clothes?”

“Well, no, uh, I saw a few things I liked, too. Now that my belly is smaller than the average car, I couldn’t resist. Is that OK, Nate?”

“Have I ever, even once, complained about you buying anything?”

“No, never. Thank you, Nate, you’re a jewel. Speaking of cars, who belongs to the new rig in your driveway?”

Theo groaned.

“Shut up, Theo. It’s mine, Pam,” answered Julie. “I wanted something a little larger.”

Sylvie interjected, “But your old Honda is parked outside, too. You didn’t trade ... Oh!”

“Yeah,” grumbled Theo.

Sylvie burst into tears.

Cosette came from the hallway, whispering urgently.

“Quiet, you guys! Don’t wake the baby. And why is my mom crying?”

“It’s all right, Sette,” answered Sylvie, sniffling. “Julie did something crazy and it set me off.”

Sette folded her arms and put on a scowling “parental” expression.

“Julie, you’ve got some explaining to do.”

Pam said, “Wait, I want to hear this, but let me look in on Tilda first.”

Julie tried to look embarrassed, but her guilty smile gave her away. While Pam was out of the room, Sylvie started unpacking the shopping bags, making piles by person.

After Julie’s explanation, Sette was unsatisfied.

“Mom, you’re crying because she’s lending us her old car? What does she have to do before you’ll be happy? Buy us a new house?”

“Absolutely NOT!” groused Theo.

After further explanation, Cosette went through the purchases, holding them up against her body to review.

“Julie, you know how I feel about this. But I will be polite and just say thank you. And, Mom, thanks for staying away from the pink and lavender colors. Now all I need is a slinky dress for when I hit the clubs.”

Theo started choking, and Nate thumped him on the back.

“I’m kidding! Dad!”

Julie cupped her hand in front of her face, conspiratorially.

“Come find me when you’re in high school, Cosette, and I’ll hook you up.”

“Juliet, if we were still married,” growled Nate, “I’d be spanking you for that remark.”

“Hey, I don’t mind, give her one for me, too. She’ll enjoy it,” added Pam.

“Adults are weird,” offered Cosette.

“Daughter, you don’t know the half of it,” said Theo. “Before we go further off the rails, can we heat up the leftovers? I’m hungry!”

After an early supper, Cosette left the living room with her bag of new clothes.

“I want to us to model for you what we bought,” said Pam, “but first, Theo, I’m going to show you what Syl gave me for your measurements. It says for your underwear, ‘eight inches.’”

Theo studied the slip of paper.