The Sweetheart Deal by Polly Dugan Read Free Book Online Page A

saying to me, ‘Whatever you need, Audrey, whatever you need.’ What I need he can’t give me, no one can. They’ve lost their son.”
    “I know,” I said. I had traveled this terrain when my mother died, but hers had been a very different death. “People don’t think they know what to do, but they’re always capable of more than they imagined. If you can, just give them some direction. Or I will if you want me to. My father will be here on Friday.”
    She turned away from the window and looked at me and nodded. “That’s so nice of him.” She got a tissue and blotted her face. “So I need your help,” she said. “Maybe you want to shower first, but I need you to help me buy a suit this afternoon. A suit for Leo.”
    “Okay.” I wasn’t sure what she meant.
    She wiped the counter and loaded the dishwasher. She was back to moving again, confused but committed. “I have to take his clothes to Matt MacKay, to the funeral home, and I need a suit,” she said. “I’m sure everyone expects me to bury him in his dress blues, but I won’t. I’m not putting anything in the ground with him that he’s ever touched or worn. So I’m buying a suit for him to wear for one thing only. And with a closed casket, it doesn’t matter anyway. Let everyone think they know what he’s wearing inside.”
    “Okay,” I said. Now I knew what she meant.
    “You have to try it on,” she said. “I know if it fits you, it will fit him.” I felt like I was scheming with the wife of someone who was still alive, a wife who wanted to surprise her husband with a gift.
    “Okay,” I said for the third time in a row. Maybe that’s all I was going to do while I was here. Agree with everything Audrey said.
    We drove out of Portland, to a vast mall, and when we walked into Jos. A. Bank, four salesmen descended upon us, and one woman. She was the one Audrey spoke to.
    “We could use a little help,” she said. “Can you give us some time to ourselves after we find what we’re looking for?”
    “Absolutely,” said the woman. “I’m Deirdre. I’m here to help as much or as little as you want. Please let me know what you need.”
    “Thank you,” Audrey said. “Can we look at some of your nicest suits? We’re looking for navy.” She put her hand on my shoulder. “For him.”
    We followed Deirdre and we weren’t there fifteen minutes before I was wearing the suit—Leo’s suit—Signature Platinum Wool, Navy Thin Stripe. It was five dollars shy of $2,200.
    “If you don’t mind my saying,” said Deirdre, “this is beautiful on you, and the right size, but taking it in a bit”—she pulled at the back of the jacket and looked at Audrey—“don’t you think, will make it exquisite.”
    “Thank you,” said Audrey again. “It’s actually a surprise for my husband and I think it will be a perfect fit.” I felt lightheaded. I realized I’d been holding my breath. I exhaled. “If he tries it on and we need to adjust it, we’ll be back.” I needed to sit down. I wanted to take the suit off.
    “Oh, I’m very sorry,” said Deirdre. “I thought you were together.”
    Audrey smiled. “Thanks again for your help. I think we have what we need, but we’ll let you know if we want to see something else.” I knew she was doing what she needed to, to get through this purchase she insisted on making, but I was about to come undone.
    Thank God Deirdre got the hint, since those people don’t always, and she left us alone.
    “Thank you, Garrett,” Audrey said. Her eyes filled. She put her arm through mine and we looked at our reflections in the mirror staring back. “This is what I wanted. It’s close enough to his uniform. Leo always looked so good in blue. So do you.”
    “It’s a good suit,” I said to the mirror. “It’s a beautiful suit.” I couldn’t wait to rip the fucking thing off.
    Audrey wiped her face. She seemed at once the most fragile of creatures and a peerless force to be dealt with. “I’m going