Damn, why could he not have been the wrong side of seventy instead of the right side of everything?
‘And what would that be?’ she enquired while dragging her gaze back to the computer screen. She couldn’t allow herself to be drawn into his eyes.
‘I’m going out to the AMA dinner tonight.’
‘Yes, I know...’ Molly blurted out, then blinked nervously at her admission to overhearing a private conversation. ‘I was hanging up my coat this morning and briefly heard something about it.’
He paused for a moment in silence. Molly noticed that the leg not supporting him began casually swinging.
‘My date for tonight is struggling to find anything to wear and I was wondering if you might meet her in the city and help her to find something.’
Molly’s face turned back to his and she stared at him in gobsmacked silence for a moment. She couldn’t mask her surprise and only barely her displeasure with the idea.
‘Really? Me?’
‘It’s the Australian Medical Association annual dinner so I want something classic, timeless yet fun and age-appropriate.’
Age-appropriate? Was he dating a college student? A hideous suggestion suddenly became monumentally worse. Molly had to find a way to diplomatically decline the request to assist. It wasn’t part of the job description so he could find someone else to do it. Perhaps the campus counsellor could accompany her, she decided with heavy dose of sarcasm colouring her thoughts.
‘It’s fairly obvious to say that I’m not a fashion plate. I think you could find someone much more suitable for the task.’
‘But she asked for you.’
‘Me? Why on earth would she ask for me? I don’t know your girlfriend.’
Molly watched as Ryan’s lips formed a smirk and he began shaking his head and almost chuckling. She did not like that he found it amusing, when she found it more and more disconcerting.
‘For your information, Molly, my date tonight is not a girlfriend. I’m taking Lizzy to the AMA dinner. I thought she would have told you that when you were chatting about her shoes...and yours,’ he said, referring to her first day’s odd choice. ‘Anyway, you made quite the impression on her that day and I feel, after our chat about Tommy, that Lizzy would be very safe in your hands. She’s taken a real liking to you, which she never does that quickly. You know the challenges she may face and you can help her through them if they arise—perhaps she senses that. You definitely have a rapport.’
Molly was momentarily speechless, almost wanting to kick herself for thinking and saying what she had. She had not considered Lizzy could be his date. Her version of the story was based on nothing much but her own wild, and slightly jaded, imagination.
‘You would make such a difference and I would really owe you if you’d agree,’ he continued. ‘I left my credit card beside her bed this morning while she was still sleeping but she had no one to go with her to the stores. She’s worried she won’t find anything and she’s getting very upset. She took a cab to the local shopping mall about forty minutes ago and she’s struggling. Her grandmother couldn’t go with her today and Lizzy doesn’t cope well with making decisions on her own and I don’t want her to get overwhelmed and decide not to go tonight. It’s happened before.’
Molly felt so silly. Once again, her assumptions about her boss were so far from accurate.
‘I completely understand, Molly, if you don’t feel comfortable with the idea. You have a lot on your plate and I don’t want to add to it. Honestly it’s not in your job description so I’ll call the store and ask them to send a few things to our home and she can make a choice there.’
‘No,’ Molly cut in.
‘It’s fine, honestly, Molly. It was wrong of me to ask...’
‘No, I didn’t mean to hesitate. I’d love to help Lizzy to find something very pretty and age-appropriate for tonight.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes. I assume you’ve checked with the boss, and he’s okay with me taking time off from here,’ Molly added with a smile. Was she smiling because Ryan hadn’t been speaking to a love interest earlier? She wasn’t sure, but something was making her happy.
Ryan returned the smile. ‘Perfectly happy and very grateful. I’ve already checked with Stacy and she’s happy to stay on for the afternoon. She’s finished her influenza immunisations for today and is not needed at the other practice so it’s all set...with your approval.’
‘It seems like you covered everything so I’ll head off, then,’ Molly said as she stood up.
‘Not quite,’ he said, reaching into his pocket. ‘Take these.’
Molly watched as he handed her his car keys. The fact he would entrust her with his car was pleasantly surprising but her heart began to race when the warmth of his fingers touched her hand ever so briefly.
‘I’ll cab it home after I finish here and then Lizzy and I can drop you off at your place on the way to dinner.’
‘There’s no need, really,’ she replied, very aware of her pulse quickening.
‘I’m being a little presumptuous here—I’m hoping after you find Lizzy her outfit you might drive her to the hairdresser at three-thirty as she might get distracted and not make it there on time without company. She’s pretty good generally but it’s a lot to fit into one day.’
‘Of course,’ Molly told him. ‘I’m happy to take Lizzy to have her hair done and then get her back to your place. Where exactly is your place?’
‘Thirty-four Lincoln Avenue, Unley Park. I’ll send it in a text to you.’
Molly sighed. Of course it was in Unley Park. One of the nicest suburbs in Adelaide, filled with palatial homes, manicured gardens and tennis courts.
‘That sounds great. I’ll need to get home by five o’clock, which is well before you’ll be leaving for the dinner. That’s when Tommy gets home.’
‘Of course,’ he said. ‘I don’t want you to be late home. I’m incredibly grateful that you’re helping out and I don’t want to cause any anxiety or problems for your brother.’
Molly noticed Ryan staring at her but she didn’t feel judged. She actually felt appreciated and it had been a long time since she had felt that. She could see that, along with everything else, Ryan was a good and kind man by the consideration he was showing towards Tommy. Her fiancé had never been understanding of Tommy’s needs, or hers for that matter. She acknowledged Ryan’s response with a smile that was coming from her heart but once again worrying her head immensely.
Their eyes locked for the longest time in silence and Molly was not sure where the conversation would lead. Finally, Ryan broke the spell she felt herself falling under.
‘I guess it’s time you took off if you’re to help Lizzy.’
‘Yes, of course,’ she answered as she reached down to the drawer to collect her handbag. ‘I will try to bring the car back in one piece...’
‘I would hope so. I only picked it up from the dealership two weeks ago.’
‘Then I will try extra hard,’ she said, with her lips forming a soft smile as she headed to the closet and collected her coat.
Ryan followed close behind.
‘Where is Lizzy exactly?’ she asked as she opened the back door to the staff car park.
‘She’s at the Eastern Hills Mall and she’ll be at one of these boutiques,’ he said as he handed Molly a piece of paper and then headed back in the direction of his office. ‘I wrote down the names and the phone numbers for you. They know Lizzy well and usually make it easy...apparently just not today, for some reason. But I’m sure, once you arrive, she will relax and find some lovely things. And, Molly, if you need to leave before I arrive home, please book a cab from my place to yours and charge my card. It’s the least I can do for you,’ Ryan called down the hallway to her.
‘Sounds perfect.’ Molly was relieved that Ryan and Lizzy wouldn’t see where she liv
ed. It was on the very wrong side of the tracks and she didn’t want their pity as they dropped her off before heading to their black-tie dinner.
Looking down at the keys in her hand, Molly smiled. She closed the door and made her way to the shiny new BMW in the car park feeling happy. Not with the car, although it was very nice; it was the trust and confidence that Ryan showed in her to help his daughter. They would have fun, she felt certain. And Lizzy would look gorgeous.
* * *
‘Molly. I can’t find a dress. Dad will be sad if I don’t find a dress.’ Lizzy was clearly distraught when Molly arrived. Ryan knew his daughter only too well.
‘Hello, Lizzy,’ Molly said as she drew closer to a very desolate young woman sitting by the change rooms of an exclusive boutique. ‘That’s why I’m here. I’ll help you find a dress. And a very pretty one.’
Lizzy scratched her head nervously. ‘There’s no red dresses.’
Molly bent down and, dropping her voice, she said, ‘There’s other stores here—perhaps one of them will have a red dress. We don’t have to buy a dress from here.’
Molly noticed Lizzy’s frown soften and the hint of a smile forming. ‘Will we find one?’
‘I think we will,’ she told her. ‘And it will be the prettiest dress in Adelaide. Shall we get shoes to match?’
‘Uh-huh,’ Lizzy said as she climbed to her feet. Molly thanked the sales assistants for their help, explained the need for a red dress and, together with Lizzy, left the small store.
It didn’t take too long before they found another boutique with a wider selection of after-five wear. Floor-length gowns, some that skimmed the calf and a few sparkly mini-dresses were all in the store window. ‘This looks perfect,’ Molly said as she led Lizzy inside.
‘May I help you?’ the sales assistant asked as she approached.
‘Yes, Lizzy’s looking for a gown for a black-tie dinner tonight. And she would love one in red.’
‘Mmm... I think I may have something for you. Are you about a size fourteen?’
‘Yes,’ Lizzy replied, coyly. ‘I like sparkles too?’
‘It’s a little sparkly, but not too much,’ the older woman replied with a warm smile. ‘I’ll go and fetch it from the back and you can let me know if it’s sparkly enough. It was on hold for two days but that time was up at nine o’clock this morning. You’re welcome to take a seat or look through the other gowns. I’ll be right back.’
The woman disappeared, leaving Molly and Lizzy in a sea of gowns decorated with sequins, lace and faux fur.
‘You should buy a dress,’ Lizzy said to Molly as she sat down on a high-backed gold velvet chair. ‘But not red.’
‘I’ll look to fill in time, but I won’t buy anything.’
Molly admired the stunning gowns. And she tried not to gasp when she saw the swing tags. Each one seemed to be more expensive than the last. Her eyes fell upon an emerald-green halter gown with the most delicate beading. She pulled it out and swung it around as if she were dancing with it. Lizzy laughed as Molly swayed and dipped in time to non-existent music.
‘I have that in your size,’ the second sales assistant said.
Feeling a little silly that she had been seen by someone other than Lizzy, Molly came back to her senses. ‘Goodness, no,’ she said, shaking her head as she hurriedly put the dress back on the rack and sat down beside Lizzy. Molly Murphy knew that she could not afford to buy a dress costing anything close to nine hundred dollars. She hadn’t spent even a tenth of that on anything for herself in a very long time. ‘I’m here to help Lizzy find a dress. I’m not looking for anything for myself.’
At that moment, the older woman returned carrying a pretty red dress with a scooped neckline, cap sleeves and red and silver beading on the shoulders. ‘I knew we had something in red,’ she announced, not hiding her pride in recalling the dress that matched Lizzy’s description. ‘Please come with me and I can help you to try it on.’
Lizzy jumped up with glee. Molly was so very happy to see the expression on her face. They made their way to the elegantly decorated change rooms and the woman hung the dress up and unzipped the back. Molly smiled at the sight of the reproduction antique chair with black satin upholstery adjacent to the floor-to-ceiling mirror. Next, she noticed a gold-framed Kandinsky print hanging near the clothing rail. She knew the piece, it was from 1920, and one of her favourite pieces by the artist. Her gaze then dropped to two pairs of black patent leather heels on a small shoe rack. It was the perfect change room indeed. The type the Molly of late saw in her dreams.
‘And you try on the green one, Molly.’
‘No, Lizzy. I’m not trying on a dress. Today is about you, not about me,’ Molly replied as she backed out of the room and headed to the blue velvet sofa. She was going to put her feet up for a moment while Lizzy changed. She hoped the dress fit as Lizzy really did have her heart set on red and sparkly.
‘Pleeeeeeease try on the pretty green one,’ Lizzy pleaded. ‘Then we will both be princesses. Please.’
Molly smiled. Lizzy’s honesty was so sweet, just like Tommy’s. No hidden agendas, no game-playing, just saying exactly how they felt.
‘But you are pretty so you should have a new dress,’ Lizzy told her. ‘Then you can find a boyfriend.’
The older woman arched her eyebrow and looked at Molly with a smirk. ‘I think you may not have much of a choice. Can you let me know which one...?’
‘Here it is,’ the second assistant said as she swept past them with the stunning gown draped over her arms and placed it in the adjacent change room. ‘I saw you dancing with it earlier.’
Molly cringed at the thought of how ridiculous she would have appeared dancing with the gown but she was impressed with the woman’s customer service. No doubt she had great sales figures, the way she moved so quickly to place the dress in Molly’s possession. Pity the poor woman, Molly thought, because, despite her nimbleness, there would be no sale. Molly had neither the intention nor the money to make the dress hers.
And on top of that Molly Murphy would have absolutely nowhere to wear a dress like that.
‘Fine... I’ll try it on...’ Molly faltered. ‘But after this we are going to find shoes and a bag for you, Lizzy.’ Molly tried to make her voice a little stern and serious. Ryan had entrusted Molly with the task of finding his daughter a dress, shoes and bag and that was exactly what she would do after she tried on the gown waiting for her in the equally elegantly decorated change room.
Her chair was upholstered in beige satin and two pairs of nude patent leather heels were beside the mirrored wall. And the artwork, Mountains and Sea by Helen Frankenthaler, complemented the colour palette of the tiny space perfectly. Molly loved abstract art and apparently so did the store interior decorator. Everything about the store was perfect and for the first time in a long time Molly thought her life was heading that way too.
‘We need to find you a dress—that’s an order given to me by your father. We need to remember he’s my boss, so I can’t let him down.’ She smiled as she closed the door, then took a deep breath as she looked at the softly draped fabric that would be against her skin for only a few minutes.
A few glorious minutes.
* * *
‘My goodness.’ The sales assistant gasped. ‘That dress was made for you.’
Molly shook her head in response as she stepped out of the change room. She was unaccustomed to compliments. Lifting the hem of her dress so she didn’t catch her heels, she made her way to Lizzy’s door. One of the two pairs of the shoes were in her size so she had slipped them on and it made the hem skim the floor perfectly, but she was still a little nervous of catching the expensive fabric.
The dress felt wonderful against her body but she knew the feeling would be fleeting. ‘Hardly made for me. I’m more your jeans and T-shirt type.’
‘Well, you should seriously co
nsider broadening your wardrobe choices,’ replied the older assistant. ‘You look simply divine and the gown fits you like a glove.’
Molly ignored their flattery. The dress momentarily made her feel special but she could not afford to be swept away by it.
‘Do you need some help with the zipper, Lizzy?’ Molly asked as she knocked on the door to Lizzy’s room.
‘Uh-huh,’ came the reply and the door opened enough for Molly to slip inside.
A moment later Lizzy stepped out in her red dress with the sparkles and did a little hesitant twirl, holding the sides out as if to curtsey, and the three women gasped with delight. The dress skimmed her ankles so it was still formal but wouldn’t need any adjustment to the hem. Molly had worried that, with Lizzy being just over five feet tall, there might be some very hurried alterations to anything she chose.
‘You look just like a princess,’ Molly said in delight.
‘Beautiful, just beautiful,’ the other women cried in unison.
Then the younger assistant added, ‘And I have a silver beaded bag that would be just perfect.’
‘Do you like it?’ Lizzy asked Molly, then continued without taking a breath. ‘I like it a lot. My boyfriend will like it too.’
‘I think you will be the prettiest girl in the prettiest dress tonight.’ Molly walked back to her dressing room and quickly emerged with the credit card Ryan had given her. ‘Please charge Lizzy’s dress while I change so we have time to find shoes.’
‘You look so pretty, Molly. Will you buy that dress?’ Lizzy asked excitedly.
‘Not today.’ Molly smiled and thought with a price tag like that she wouldn’t buy the dress that day nor any day in the future.
* * *
With Lizzy’s dress carefully wrapped and slipped inside an oversized carry bag, along with the beaded clutch that Lizzy also liked, the two shoppers left the store and went in search of shoes, but not before Lizzy made a call to her father and told him all about the red dress. Molly stepped away so they could have a private conversation. She heard Lizzy giggling and it made her heart sing to know how happy the young woman was with her purchases. She watched her nod a few times and then hang up the phone and walk over to her with a skip in her step.
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