A Taste of Love Read Online Free Page B

kindly, getting up and standing next to her. They looked in the mirror together. ‘You are Helen Walker, who we all know and love.’
    Helen could feel her throat thicken with pity. ‘But I don’t want to look like her any more and soon I’ll be changing my name back to Helen Robinson. Oh, Karen, just for once in my life I want to look in the mirror and like what I see,’ she said. ‘Will you help me?’
    Karen gently stroked her shoulder. ‘Oh love…’
    Helen knew Karen was going to dissolve into a sympathetic, emotional heap, so she put her hand up in front of the mirror. ‘No, Karen, stop! As much as I appreciate your love and kindness I don’t want your sympathy. I need you to help me make the changes.’
    Karen stepped back at the urgency of Helen’s abruptness. ‘OK…’
    Helen whipped her jumper over her head and threw it on the bed then pulled down the baggy trousers, stepped out of them and kicked them across the floor. She stood in front of the mirror in her well-worn cream bra and black knickers then put her hands on her hips. ‘Not a pretty sight, eh?’ she muttered.
    Karen slumped back down on the bed and smiled. ‘That’s just from your eyes. It’s not what I see.’
    Helen took a deep breath. ‘Right, let’s start at the top and work our way down. I’m five foot eight, which I can’t alter – fact. But I’ve always worn flat shoes because Rob was the same height and he didn’t want me towering over him in high heels. But I do love looking at some of your heeled shoes and that is something that I can change – right?’
    Karen enthused. ‘Of course you can, and you don’t need six- inch heels. There are some lovely kitten-heeled shoes in the shops at the moment.’
    ‘Great. I’m not sure exactly what kitten heels are but they sound good,’ she said, grinning. ‘I’ve lost around ten pounds since Christmas and I don’t think my legs look as thick and chunky as they used to, but they’re still pretty darn shapeless. My boobs are small, I’ve got shoulder-length boring, brown hair, my teeth have never been strong and white like yours, my hazel eyes are like narrow slats, but I do think the one good thing I have going for me is my big, full lips…’
    Karen threw herself back onto the bed and howled with laughter.
    ‘You’re supposed to be helping me,’ Helen giggled as she picked up her shower cap from the dressing table and threw it at her.
    Karen sat up and wiped her eyes. ‘Oh, Helen,’ – she joined her in front of the mirror again. – ‘As you say, here we go from the top. The reason you look shapeless is because you walk round shouldered and slumped as if you’re embarrassed about your height. If you pulled your shoulders back when you walked and felt proud that you are as tall as some of the models on the catwalk you’d look totally different.’ She put her hands gently on Helen’s shoulders and eased them back. ‘And I can’t remember the last time I saw your legs and ankles because they’re always covered in trousers, or in the summer, long flowing skirts and dresses. There is nothing wrong with your ankles that a pair of heeled shoes can’t put right and you have the longest legs on a woman I’ve ever seen. Haven’t you heard the expression that men die for legs that go right up to a woman’s bum?’
    Helen fidgeted now as Karen stared at her chest. She flicked the strap on the cream bra. ‘And how old is this?’ Karen asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. ‘I know your boobs are small but all you need is the support of a good plunge bra and you’ll have a great cleavage.
    ‘Will I?’ Helen croaked.
    ‘Of course. You can get your teeth whitened at the dentist, then a really good haircut. And the rest,’ – she waved her hand nonchalantly – ‘is nothing that a beautician can’t put right with eye make-up to accentuate your eyes. You’ll look fabulous.’
    ‘I hope so, because I’ve already made an appointment at the salon and