Falling for Forever Read Online Free Page B

She locked it quickly.
    "So no one will come in and interrupt us dear," she explained in response to the girl's puzzled expression.
    Bryn nodded and smiled. "Thank you."
    "So what are you looking for today?" Angie poured them both a cup of hot tea and led Bryn over to an oversized chair. Bryn curled up on the chair and brought her feet under her. The warm liquid was a welcome treat, and she gave in to the simple pleasure.
    "My friend told me to buy some clothes," she said as she blew ripples over the steaming tea to cool it.
    Angie began rifling through a row of dresses. "And who might your friend be, darlin'?"
    "Mariah Sawyer," Bryn replied as she stirred the tea with the tip of her longest feather.
    Angie laughed loudly. "Well, that's mighty sweet of Mariah. Oh deary, what should I call you? Or haven't you got a name?"
    Bryn smiled. "I do. It's Bryn. Do you have anything like the dress I have on right now?"
    Angie gave her a knowing smile. "Did Mariah give you that dress?"
    Bryn blushed and looked away modestly.
    "And now you want to impress her. Well, I can't say I blame you. That woman alone in that forest with only the creatures there to keep her company is just sad. Mariah needs a more feminine touch, she does. Most of the women in town have been trying to bag her for years, but she will have none of that."
    "Really?"
    "Yes. But perhaps Mariah was just waiting for the right sort of woman to come along," Angie added with a wink and a smile. "I'm afraid that you might have made a few enemies of the women here. Many will be absolutely astounded and outraged that Mariah finally chose to have some female company. Jealousy won't even begin to describe their reactions. But then again, who can compete with a Strytas as pretty as you?"
    Bryn blushed and chuckled. Angie's words flattered her, and she allowed herself to fantasize about a life with Mariah. It was ridiculous, of course, but the dream made her heart flutter.
    Angie held up a short white dress with small blue flowers on it. It wasn't as modest as the one Bryn had on, but it was still very nice. "Do you like this one, dear?"
    Bryn nodded happily. "Will Mariah like it?"
    "Anyone would love you in this, darling. Would you like more dresses like this?"
    Bryn nodded happily, and soon her arms were filled with white dresses of all different types.
    "Do you need any new undergarments?" Angie asked quietly.
    Bryn raised an eyebrow. "What?"
    Angie frowned. "You know, your under-things. You wear them under your dress." Bryn looked at her blankly. "Oh dear," Angie sighed and lifted up her skirt a bit so that Bryn could see her petticoats.
    Bryn chuckled. "Oh, I don't wear anything like that."
    "No undergarments?" Bryn shook her head and smiled at the woman. "You're joshing me," Angie said as her mouth hung open.
    Bryn pulled her own skirt up to expose her thigh. "See? No undergarments. I've actually never worn them."
    "Land sakes."
    The two women laughed, and Bryn put her skirt back down.
    "Do you need any shoes?" Angie asked.
    "One white pair, please."
    "Only one?"
    Bryn paused in thought. She had never had shoes before, and she really wasn't sure how long one pair would last. "Two pairs, please. Both white."
    Angie nodded, and soon Bryn had her first pair of shoes. The woman slipped one pair onto the girl's feet and Bryn laughed. They felt strange, but comfortable. In human clothes, in a human shop, she no longer felt so much like an outsider. She looked outside at the women walking by the store. She looked just like them except for one small thing.
    "Is there something wrong, dear?" Angie asked as she followed Bryn's gaze.
    Bryn shrugged and looked away. "The people whisper and stare at me. I feel like an animal on display," she softly said.
    "I have just the thing for that," Angie said with a wide smile. Bryn looked at her hopefully and watched as the woman went to an old black trunk behind the counter. She returned with a bundle tightly wrapped in brown paper with twine.