carpets now, and I could hardly speak, they were so perfect. Skirts and dresses, several pairs of high-heeled pumps, a green cocktail dress, a beautiful camel coat with pearl buttons. “So they go into her room, and they see that she didn’t wear one single thing they’d bought for her. You should have seen the parents — they came into my office, practically crying. Begged me to take the clothes — find someone who could use them. If I didn’t take them, they were going to throw them away. I was coming down to New York — so I thought of you.”
He held out the camel coat. “Try it. I don’t know anything about sizes, but it looked like it would fit. I hope it’s not out of date.”
“They could take the clothes back to the stores.”
“They’re a year old! They can’t take them back. That’s the point. Come on — I saw how cold you were in that jacket you have.”
The shapeless navy jacket I’d worn for two years already, a schoolgirl’s jacket. I gingerly slipped my arms into the thick sleeves of the coat, lined in satin. I’d never felt something so luxurious.
“Nothing but the best for a Smith girl. There you go.” He wasn’t even looking at me, he was checking his watch, like he’d done his good deed for the day and he was congratulating himself on how he’d managed to fit it in.
The green silk cocktail dress was just my color. I checked the size on the black suede pumps. Perfect. And the tailored sleeveless black wool dress — it was just like the ones I saw on the other girls, a sophisticated dress, a New York dress. There was even a pair of fawn-colored slacks and a matching cardigan. New York style, all spread out on my couch. As I stared at a white tailored blouse I realized I didn’t just want these clothes, I hungered for them. It was like eating honey from a spoon.
“Have you heard from Billy?”
“He called. He might get leave around Thanksgiving.”
His gaze became sharp, focused. “When did he call?”
“The other morning. I didn’t tell you because he didn’t know when he could get here.” I wanted to bite my tongue. I hated the way I sounded, rushing to explain things. Was I supposed to report everything right away?
He nodded and pulled on his gloves. He pointed to another box. “In there are… some other things.”
I peeked inside the box. I saw bras and panties and girdles and slips, lace-edged, satin, white and black and cream. I blushed and quickly looked away.
Nate was heading toward the foyer. I didn’t think he’d seen me looking.
“I have an appointment. You let me know when you hear when Billy’s coming. Right?”
“I told you I would.”
“One other thing.” I noticed now that there was a small suitcase by the door. “I want to leave this here for today. Someone will pick it up at six o’clock, before you leave for the club.”
“But —” I stopped and looked at the suitcase. I wanted to refuse, but I wasn’t sure why. And how could I, standing here in my new coat? “All right.”
“Enjoy the clothes.”
I couldn’t wait until he was out the door. Having him here spoiled the pretty apartment, the beautiful clothes.
He paused and looked back at me, his hand on the knob. There was something in his eyes. I was suddenly embarrassed, caught doing something wrong, like a cat lapping milk out of the creamer instead of its own bowl.
“It looks like it’s made for you,” he said.
I opened my mouth to say something, but he put on his hat and went out.
I hurried to the suitcase and hefted it. I flicked the latch. It was locked.
Was it the clothes? In the next week, New York became everything I wanted, as I lost my fear and learned how to navigate the city streets outside my own neighborhood. I figured out the subway. I heard about the best dance classes and signed up, and I learned the twisting narrow streets of the Village and that if I sat in a café and asked for coffee it would be the most delicious I’d ever tasted and no one would bother me.
In the dance classes I was up against girls who were just as pretty, just as talented, some taller, some curvier, some more supple, and all of them more stylish. There was a look I didn’t have, but the clothes were helping. The girls helped,