'Don't 'but me' child. I'm under strict instructions to get a complete wardrobe and David Jones sells everything.'
'Does it sell memories?'
'Alas no but maybe doing the girlie thing will tweak it a bit and if not it will certainly lift your spirits. It will certainly lift Ethan's.'
Leaving Cathie puzzling over that last comment Darlene went to ring David the driver to establish his return time. Cathie then helped herself to the delectable food on offer while gazing out at the glorious view and said to herself. 'I could get used to this.'
The two intrepid shoppers made their way out to front garden commenting on the clear August day. David was waiting holding the door open making Cathie feel like royalty. Once more finding herself enveloped by the cars luxury she was convinced this was the first time she had ever gone shopping in such style though funnily enough the car felt reassuring familiar. Cathie wryly surmised that that's because it's the only car she can recall being in.
Pulling up outside D J's Cathie felt a bubbling excitement at odds with her earlier despondency. Entering the building they were greeted by an immaculately turned out woman incredibly called Blanche with an even more incredibly lacquered and coiffed hairstyle whose hips seemed to get to where she was going first. She was their personal shopper.
A sparkle in her eye and a subtle rubbing together of her hands showed that Blanche was looking forward to taking them in hand. First stop was the lingerie department. 'All good outfits require a sound base.' She crowed.
Easily outvoted 2 to 1 the serviceable and sensible cottontails and plain bra were passed over for lacy, satin 'almost not there' bra and panty sets. Cathie put her foot down though when a scrap of fabric that turned out to be g-string panties was waved under her nose.
'Pulses will race over this one.' Informed Darlene though whose pulse was to be affected she didn't clarify.
No amount of cajoling could get her to neither add them to the rapidly growing pile of underwear nor select any item in black. Even without definite memories she was certain that she didn't wear either. Since there is only 7 days in a week Cathie thought it was extravagance personified when 10 matching sets some to make her blush were placed on the counter ready to be totaled up. There were boy leg hipsters and high cut lace fronts or was that backs? Colours ranged from scarlet to aquamarine to a sneakily hidden black teddy. No need for those pushup bras she thought grimly looking down at her disproportionately large bust. Though they took a bit of convincing with even a threatened step towards the escalators the two lingerie junkies let Cathie choose 4 sets and 2 slips and definitely no Teddy. As the trio made their way to the swim and leisure wear department one of them would have been furious if she have seen the 'wink, wink, nudge, nudge' that went on between the other two and the shop assistant back at the lingerie counter.