I looked around the immense parking lot--only a sea of cars, no people in sight--and said, "I can't believe I'm really doing this.I looked around the immense parking lot--only a sea of cars, no people in sight--and said, "I can't believe I'm really doing this." Then we really did it. We went into the mall. I felt all eyes were upon me, that every- one knew. He put my arm through his and led me into a dress shop. We wandered around looking at dresses (he looked, I pretended to look while I worried about people unmasking me--as though, even if someone did somehow know, they would whip off my coat and have me arrested). A shop assistant came up and asked me if she could help. Somehow I was expecting him to answer for me, but he didn't. He just looked at something on one of the racks. I stammered "Just looking, thanks," and as she walked away I realized with an idiotic thrill that she didn't suspect anything. Of course she didn't. Idiot. J had found a dress in my size. It was a long-sleeved mohair-like knit turtleneck in white, not really a mini, but well above the knee. He knew my size. He handed it to me and told me to try it on. The assistant came up to us again and showed me to a changing room. "May I take your coat?" Oh God. |