“Of course I knew. John’s my best friend. I’ve known about it from the day he got notified by the Navy Department. Why? Is that a problem for you? I doubt it has any effect on him in the manhood department, if you get my meaning.”
“Good grapes! The man works for me. What could be more inappropriate? Anyway, he’s the last man in this town I’d ever be interested in.” Liar, liar, liar.
Skipper’s ears perked up. He jumped off Marla’s lap and ran to the entry hall barking his little head off.
Bradley stood. “Ah, the two dragon ladies are home. I wonder how much of my money they spent this time.”
“Skippy!” Charlene’s squeal echoed down the hall. “Marla’s here.” She struggled in with several shopping bags and dumped them on the floor.
Silvia followed, also burdened with boxes and bags. “We hit a fabulous sale at Nordstrom. Wait till you see the cute shoes I bought.” She crossed the room and kissed Bradley on the cheek. “I see you had company while we were gone.” Hugging Marla, she said, “I’m sorry you didn’t get back earlier, sweetheart. You could have gone with us. Where were you all day?”
“Well, I closed the sale on…”
Silvia opened a shoe box and showed her a pair of glittery red pumps that could give Dorothy some competition in Oz.
“…the house for the Wylands. You drove all the way to Northridge?”
Bradley rolled his eyes at the shoes. “They’re great, hon.” He looked at Marla. “Rosalie Wyland? Dwayne’s cousin from Wyoming?”
“Am I the only person in this town who didn’t know that?”
“Oh, Lordy lord, Marla. Will you look at this blouse? Isn’t it to die for? Mom bought it for me. It’s the perfect color for my eyes. I can’t wait to wear it.”
Brad cocked his head. “I thought you took them to see that house because Dwayne built it. You mean you didn’t know they were related?”
“Not until I got to their motel today. He was there. He never said anything to me.”
“Sis, wait till you see this.” Charlene proceeded to peel off her blouse, revealing perfect rosy breasts barely covered with pale peach lace.
“Char! You’re undressing in front of Dad!”
“Lord, Marla. He’s our father.”
“He’s a man.” She huffed and rolled her eyes at her twin’s cluelessness.
Dadley squeezed his eyes shut. “I’ll close my eyes.”
“Turn your head, darling.” Silvia put her hands on Bradley’s shoulders and turned him away.
Marla glared at Charlene. “See? You can’t just take your clothes off whenever the urge strikes. What are you doing?”
Instead of answering, Char slipped the blouse from the hangar and dropped it over her head. The heavy peach silk drifted down and settled on her breasts.
Marla sucked in a breath and pressed her hand against her chest. “Char, it was made for you.”
“Isn’t it perfect? Sil spotted it from clear across the sales floor.”
Bradley twisted his head. “Can I look now?”
Silvia tugged his elbow and grinned. “Isn’t she stunning, darling?”
Clutching his heart with thespian passion, he said, “You’re the vision of a fairy princess, Charlene. I can barely breathe.” He put a finger on her shoulder. “Turn. I want the full effect.” She made a slow, complete circle. He spotted the price tag. “You paid a hundred-forty dollars for this?” His voice had risen a full octave.
Echoing Dadley’s words, Marla said, “You paid a hundred-forty dollars for that?”
“Yes. It’s a Vera Wang. We got it for half price.” Hands to her cheeks, Char’s feet thumped up and down running-in-place. “I’m so excited. I’ve never owned a Vera Wang.”
Marla crossed her arms. “I can understand why, sis. I can’t imagine paying that kind of money for a blouse.”
Silvia lifted a Nordstrom bag from the floor and ruffled through a mountain of tissue. “Ta da! We got one for you too.” The paper fluttered to the floor, and Mom held aloft the same style blouse in a deep shimmery aquamarine. “This will look beyond fabulous on you, Marla.”
“Don’t take off your sweatshirt in front of me, please. I’ll have to close my eyes again.” Dadley winked.
“Bradley, leave the room this minute!” Silvia smacked his shoulder and shoved him in the direction of the hall.
He grumbled. “I paid for it. Shouldn’t I be allowed to get my money’s worth?”
“You got more than your money’s worth the day these girls were born. Now leave the room. I’ll call you back in when she puts on the full outfit.”
Marla touched the blouse, the silk cool and slick on her hand. “There’s more?”
“Lordy, I can’t wait. Get those ugly jeans and sweatshirt off. Mom bought the skirt they had on display with it. Both were in size twelve. It was like they knew we were coming.”
They knew you were coming all right. I’m willing to bet the head of the women’s department knows both of you by your first names. “Char. Mom. I can’t wear this kind of expensive stuff. I never go anywhere. Anyway, I can’t afford it.”
“Don’t worry, dear. Your father paid for it. We’ll call it an early birthday present.” She held up a beautiful ivory colored jacquard skirt, flat pleats all around with a back zipper. Marla nearly swooned. She’d never owned anything so beautiful.
“Our birthday isn’t for five months! And it probably won’t fit. I’ll pass.”
“Oh, no you don’t.” Charlene grabbed the bottom of her sweatshirt and pulled up. “Lift your arms.”
“You’re ganging up on me!” They paid no attention. While Charlene tugged the sweatshirt over her head, Silvia unbuttoned her jeans and pushed them down to her ankles.
“Kick off your shoes, dear, and step out of these.”
I might as well accept defeat. Soon, Marla stood in the middle of her parent’s living room barefooted, in her underwear. Her plain white, practical underwear.
“Lordy, we’ve got to get you some better lingerie.”
“Char, I like my lingerie just fine.”
“Maybe you do, but those things do not qualify as lingerie. You’ve got the
