The Girl I Used to Be by Heidi Hostetter (booksvooks .txt) 📗

a shoebox and opened the lid. Inside was a pair of black T-straps with a gold buckle at the ankle, unworn and perfect for the dress. She laid the shoes at Ellie’s feet. “We’re the same size. Try them on.”

As Ellie slipped them on, Jill remembered that the outfit came with a bag as well—a navy satin Kelly bag with a delicate gold-button closure. She pulled it from the shelf and handed it to Ellie, whose face was bright with excitement.

“Oh, wait—one more thing…” Jill retrieved a box and presented it to Ellie. Inside was a pair of twenty-four-carat filigree earrings.

“Jilly… they’re stunning.” Ellie’s breath was a sigh. She held them to her ears and turned toward the mirror. “Just look at how they sparkle.” As she examined her reflection from a dozen different angles, a price tag worked itself loose and fluttered into view. Ellie’s expression faded as she lowered the dress. “What are we doing? We can’t take any of this. What about what the judge said? You can only take clothes that don’t have a price tag.

Jill reached for the tag and snapped it from the dress. “I don’t see a price tag.”

“Jillian,” Ellie gasped. “The judge—”

“Said not to take anything that had a price tag attached.” Jill’s voice muffled as she bent down to rip the tags from the rest of the outfit. As she straightened, she stuffed them into her jeans pocket. “I don’t see one, do you?”

“Jill—” Ellie began, but Jill stopped her.

“Wait.” She pulled a branded leather suitcase from the top shelf. “This very definitely doesn’t have a tag, do you agree?”

“Jilly, it’s—”

“If you like it, then you should have it. Cinderella magic should be shared.”

“I don’t know…”

“Well I do, and I’ll tell you why.” Jill leaned against the doorframe. “Marc has no idea what’s in this closet, so he’ll never miss anything we take. But more important is that clothes this beautiful should be worn and appreciated. It’s like wearing art, El. You feel different. You move different. It’s wonderful and probably the only thing I’ll miss from this life—the clothes.”

“Then why aren’t you keeping them?”

“Because I need to remember the girl I was before all this. That’s why.”

“Okay, then.” Ellie’s excitement returned. “Let’s box it up—but only one outfit.”

“Great. Just one more outfit—maybe two.”

Completely ignoring Ellie’s protests, Jill gestured to the rest of her closet with the sweep of her hand. “See anything else that looks good to you?”

“This is the last of it,” Jill said as she slid a box into the trunk of her car.

By mid-morning, they’d finished sorting through Jill’s closet. Ellie would drop the donation boxes off at the women’s shelter on her way out of town, and Jill would take the rest to a consignment shop on her way to Dewberry Beach. The extra cash would be a nice cushion after the salon visit.

Ellie followed with the suitcase Jill had given her. She laid it carefully on the back seat. “Are you sure you want to go to that Dewberry house all by yourself? I’ll be back soon. If you want to wait, we can drive down together.”

“I can’t afford to wait. I have to sell this house as fast as I can,” Jill reminded Ellie. “I’ll be fine—just a quick trip down to sign with the listing agent and I’ll be back.”

“Did those real-estate agents reply already? That was quick.”

“I have a meeting the day after tomorrow. I need a day to open the house and make it appear lived-in.”

Ellie sighed. “If Brittney really has been trying to sell the house for so long, that’s worrying. If she can’t sell it, I’m afraid you won’t be able to either.”

“First of all, Brittney’s a moron.”

“Noted.”

“And second, I don’t care who buys that house. I plan to sell it at a bargain price, clearing just enough to pay off the mortgage and closing costs—I don’t want anything else.”

Ellie slid the key into the ignition but didn’t start it. “You’re coming back right after?”

“That’s the plan. I don’t want to stay there any longer than I have to.” Jill paused to dust her hands on her jeans. “Besides, I still have to find a job.”

“Okay then.” The engine clattered to a start and Ellie winced. “You have the key to the apartment. I’ll be back after the wedding.”

Jill reached inside the car to squeeze her friend’s shoulder. “I’ll be fine, El. I’m strangely okay about leaving. I’m strangely okay about all of this.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m positive.” Jill waited while Ellie snapped her seat belt, then she laid her hand on the car door and smiled. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you—I saved the best for last: I changed my name back. At the hearing, after Marc flounced off, I asked the judge if I could and he signed the order right then. Had his clerk file it. I think he was pretty happy about it, to be honest. He didn’t seem to like Marc very much.”

“Well, well.” Ellie smiled. “Look at you, making things happen. I may have underestimated you, Jillian DiFiore.” She jammed the car into gear. “It’s nice to have you back.”

After watching Ellie drive off, Jill returned to the house for the last time. There was one thing she had to do before she left. Something she should have done a long time ago.

Inside, Jill paused briefly to gather an armful of supplies then continued to the master bedroom. It was strange to see the room now, as if she’d never been here. Her vanity table had been cleared of make-up, the bathroom empty of her things—all trace of her had been boxed up and taken away.

Almost everything.

Jill seated herself on the cushioned bench of her vanity table. Tucked away in the back corner of her jewelry box was something Marc had given her but she’d never had the courage to wear. Something that never should have been hers. She removed the case, careful of its contents, and placed it gently on the bedroom