TWENTY-EIGHT AND A HALF WISHES (A ROSE GARDNER MYSTERY, BOOK 1)

CHAPTER NINE

“Time to go through your clothes and get ready for your date.” She sat on my bed, clutching a pillow to her chest as I pulled my new clothing out of my closet and drawers to show her. “Bravo!” she said and clapped when I finished. “I love them.”

“Really?” Her reaction at the funeral made me wary of her acceptance, but I had to admit I had caught her off-guard then.

“Yes, very tasteful and much more age-appropriate. You always looked like a Mini-Me of Momma before.” She shuddered as she said the words.

I considered protesting, but she was right. “So, what do you think?” I asked. “What should I wear?”

Violet picked out a skirt and blouse and told me to take a shower and wash my hair. She would wait for me.

When I got out and dressed, Violet brought in my Walmart receipt. “What’s this?”

“It’s my Wish List,” I said, brushing my damp hair.

“What kind of Wish List?”

“I don't know, things I want to accomplish before I die. Or more specifically, before I get arrested.”

“Rose! Don’t say such a thing! You’re not gonna get arrested.”

I didn't want to think about it, especially since I was preparing for my first date ever. “I certainly hope not, but it’s something I have to consider. There’s circumstantial evidence. Deanna Crawfield says it's a possibility.”

Violet frowned. “I refuse to consider it. You didn’t do it and they’ll catch whoever did.” She turned her attention to the receipt. “This is an odd list.”

“Maybe for you, but it’s mine.”

“I noticed you checked off kiss a man.”

“I already told you I had. That should come as no surprise.”

“I hoped it was some kind of rebellious exaggeration. But now that you mention it, why are you so eager to go on a date after your wonderful kiss? Does it have anything to do with the woman in Joe’s backyard?” She looked a little too smug.

“I told you I don’t wanna talk about it.”

Violet tried to hide her smile but not soon enough. “Go blow dry your hair and I’ll show you how to put on makeup. That is if Aunt Bessie didn’t show you already.”

Aunt Bessie had, but it was all so foreign to me. I figured I’d need to be shown multiple times before I felt comfortable putting it on. Violet had brought some of her makeup, thinking I might not have any of my own, which I didn’t. Yet.

I already felt like I was moving at light speed. Every time I saw myself in the mirror I paused, startled by the stranger looking back at me. This new person still took some getting used to. I’d told Violet that it was just hair, but it was more. It signaled the shedding of my old life. When Momma died, the padlock to my jail cell fell off, making me free. While I burst out running with my freedom, every once in a while I had to stop and figure out where I’d run to.

When Violet finished applying my makeup, which was thankfully very little, she gave me a good look-over and declared me ready. I still had twenty minutes until Steve showed up.

“So what’s Steve look like?” I asked, putting away the clothes I had pulled out earlier.

“He’s got blond hair and blue eyes and is cute as a button.”

Granted, I was new to the whole dating world but cute as a button didn’t sound like the way a woman wanted her date described.

Violet planted herself in a chair and turned on the television.