Free Step Into My Parlor by Jan Hudson

help, Molly."
    "No problem. I ’ ll use you as a class project. An entire wardrobe for seven hundred dollars."
    Anne doubted that it could be done, but she did need only a few things, enough until Vicki returned. After all, she had closets full of clothes in Virginia.
    Molly made a quick exit off the freeway, then twisted through a maze of streets before she pulled" up to a large warehouse building. "Let's try this place first. They usually stock on Monday mornings, and they have the best selection in town."
    Racks and racks of clothes filled the gigantic room. Anne's mouth must have dropped open, for Molly giggled as she headed down an aisle with Anne in tow. They stopped at a long row of suits.
    "I figured we ought to start with something basic. What size are you?" Molly looked her up and down. "About an eight?"
    Anne nodded and Molly began flipping through suits like someone possessed, pulling out one, then another, holding them up to Anne, shaking her head, then putting them back.
    "Bingo!" She jerked a camel-colored suit from the rack and held it against Anne. "Perfect!"
    Anne fingered the well-cut fabric. "It feels like cashmere."
    "It is. And only seventy-five bucks."
    "Seventy-five dollars?" Her eyes widened in surprise. She'd noted the distinctive label. "It can't be. Is something wrong with it?"
    Molly grinned and stuck her nose in the air. "Last year's collection, dahling. Think you can live with it?"
    Anne giggled and lifted her nose in the same pose. "I suppose I can make the sacrifice."
    Catching the bargain fever, Anne raced around with Molly, gathering up things to try on. When they stopped, arms laden with possibilities, they sought out a dressing room. Only a frazzled, olive-green curtain separated the large community dressing room from the showroom.
    Lined with mirrored walls and racks for hanging, the area was teeming with women in various states of undress. Shy about disrobing in such a public place, Anne whispered, "Isn't there someplace else I can use?"
    Molly shook her head. "Sorry. It's the price we pay to keep overhead low. If she can," she whispered, inclining her head toward a woman trying to squeeze her size eighteen hips into a size twelve dress, "you can."
    For an hour Anne tried clothes on and took them off, with Molly passing judgment, keeping tabs on her calculator, and occasionally running out to ru m mage through a bin of five-dollar scarves and belts.
    At last they settled on several outfits. 'These are wonderful," Anne said as she tied her shoelaces. "And I can't believe the prices. But are you sure we haven't spent more than seven hundred dollars?"
    When Molly had punched in the last number from the price tags on her calculator, a broad grin spread over her gamine face. "Nope. Would you believe that all this is only three hundred and seventeen dollars?"
    Anne's mouth dropped open. "You're kidding!"
    Scooping up a load of clothes, Molly wiggled an eyebrow and said, "Stick with me, babe. You ain't seen nothing yet."
    Laughing, Anne said, "I can't imagine anything more."
    When their purchases were stowed in the car, Molly said, "Next stop, Bankruptcy Shoe Warehouse. Charge!"
    Molly's excitement was contagious, and Anne couldn't remember when she had enjoyed shopping more. She'd been to countless showings and sipped wine in the finest houses in Paris, Rome, and New York, but she'd never had more fun than she was having looking for bargains in Houston.
    They bought shoes and boots for unbelievable prices, and at a resale shop they found the fancy dress Spider had instructed her to buy. While they were there, Molly rummaged through the used items and got excited when she pulled out a red Jumpsuit in soft challis.
    "Oh, I don't think so," Anne said. "I ’v e never worn red well." But Molly insisted she try it on. The supple fabric felt wonderful, but she frowned at the seductive image in the mirror. All she could think of were red satin sheets, and her face flushed and her palms went damp.