Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon Read Free Book Online Page B

so what can you do?”
    â€œNot a thing,” said Candace, exhaling a stream of smoke, and Yvonne called toward the atelier for a seamstress.
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    When the dress arrived at the house, in a huge box as full of cushioning tissue paper as if the dress were made of glass, Candace and Annabee retired at once to Candace’s dressing room for a viewing. Annabee had on her girdle, her first, and satin slippers dyed to match the blue taffeta. With the dress on, she turned this way and that before the full-length mirror as her mother stood in the doorway.
    â€œYou know,” Candace said, “it’s too bad you can’t put your hair up.”
    Annabee took her hair in her hand and twisted it up onto her head. Suddenly she looked years older, and terribly sophisticated.
    â€œCan I not?”
    â€œNot until you’re out, but it’s too bad. What jewelry do you think of wearing?”
    Annabee hadn’t thought of any jewelry; she was thinking that if Tyrone Power happened to be at the party, even he would fall in love with her.
    She mostly had costume jewelry, except for a ring with her birth- stone her father had given her, and the locket that said “Annabelle.”
    â€œWe might try my coral beads, but the color is risky …you know what I’d like to see? I’d like to see you try your grandmother’s pearls.”
    The pearls! Annabee turned from the mirror to look at her mother, eyes shining. “Could I?” She had thought she’d have to be ancient as Granabelle before she could wear those pearls.
    â€œOf course you can. Just call Mr. Christie and he’ll get them out of the vault for you.”
    Oh! Imagine this dress, and those pearls! She’d be stunning, she’d be like her grandmother, she’d walk into the room and all heads would turn!
    â€œThey may not suit, you can’t tell till you try,” said Candace. “Would you like me to call him for you?”
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    The afternoon of the party it snowed without ceasing, but the snow stopped toward evening. Annabee put on her dress at last and went to join her mother. Candace was wearing a long strapless gown of bottle green velvet. Annabee helped with her last hooks and eyes. Together they chose evening bags and perfume; together they sprayed the air before them and then stepped into the cloud of fragrance. When Mr. Christie finally arrived, on the dot of eight, they were ready and waiting.
    â€œAsk him to come up, Maudie,” Candace called down the stairs, when she heard the male voice in the hall. Mr. Christie duly appeared, his cheeks pinker than ever. “Good evening, ladies. Oh, my, I’ll be the envy of the town.”
    Annabee had stood, to honor her elder, but also to show her dress to full advantage. “You are a vision,” he said to her, bowing. “Your pearls, madam.” He took a long narrow case of green kid from an inside pocket of his coat and handed it to her.
    Annabee opened the case. The pearls were larger than she remembered, and the color even warmer.
    â€œWell,” said Candace. “Let’s have the full effect…”
    Watching herself in the mirror, Annabee lifted the pearls and fastened them around her neck.
    She looked at herself. She stood, she turned. Mr. Christie took a step back and cocked his head. No one spoke. Annabee walked into the dressing room and looked in the full-length mirror. She came back out.
    â€œThe length is just wrong, isn’t it.”
    It was. All three knew it; the bottom of the rope hit the neckline in a way that hid rather than enhanced the effect. She took off the pearls, before anyone told her to, feeling very mature. There would be other evenings, and other dresses.
    Candace went to her jewel box, took out the string of coral beads, and tried them around Annabee’s neck. They hung perfectly, framed by the V of the neckline.
    â€œThe color is wonderful…” said Mr. Christie,