Chapter 305
Jeannie clocked out of the hospital at six on the dot and pulled her sleek BMW Mini up to the front doors. She was there to pick up Sandra and Gwendolyn.
Spotting the Mini, Sandra teased, “Did the Chadwicks hit hard times? Where’s the usual sports car, Jeannie?”
Jeannie let out a chuckle, “Gotta mix it up, darling. The flashy roadster’s not exactly built for a party of three. Gwendolyn, hop in.”
“Alrighty.”
Gwendolyn and Sandra squeezed into the back seat, arms linked, chatting away like two peas in a pod.
Jeannie, feeling a hint of jealousy, rolled her eyes and joked, “Hey Sandra, hands off. She’s my sister–in–law. Don’t hog her all to yourself.”
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Sandra shot back with a playful smirk, “As if I’d dare. Howard would have my head.”
Jeannie burst into laughter, “Gwendolyn, I’m taking you on a little adventure today. We’ll pick out a few numbers that’ll make Howard absolutely wild for you.”
Gwendolyn had thought their outing was just for some casual shopping and a bite to eat. When Jeannie mentioned a lingerie boutique, she quickly protested, “Oh, no
ed for that. You two pick out whatever you like.”
“No way, you’re the star of the show.”
“Gwendolyn, once you’re aboard this pirate ship, there’s no escape,” Sandra chimed in.
Gwendolyn frowned at their teasing but eventually gave in to the plan.
Sandra changed the subject, “Just make sure you’re both taking care of yourselves. This flu season’s a beast. Pediatrics is swamped, and the elderly are struggling. Anyone with weak immunity is flat on their
back.”
Jeannie waved off the concern, “We’re fine. There’s a flu every year, and we’re young and in tip–top shape.
Then, something occurred to her, “Gwendolyn, didn’t you catch a cold all of a sudden?”
Sandra barely suppressed a giggle as she ribbed Gwendolyn, “Yeah, took a day off yesterday, didn’t you?
Catch a cold?”
Jeannie’s face lit up with mischief, “Oh, and what could possibly catch a cold?”
Sandra played along, “Well, sometimes passion doesn’t consider it. Just the other day, Dr. Quigley was all smiles and now he looks like a spent eggplant.”
“Enough, you two,” Gwendolyn warned without any real threat.
Jeannie and Sandra laughed their way to Bayridge City’s largest mall, where they bee–lined straight for the lingerie boutique on the top floor, a place that held its own amid the high–end fashion stores.
The shop was an opulent den of mysteries, far from tacky, beckoning with an allure for exploration.
It was a woman’s secret hideaway, a man’s paradise..
“Whoa.” Sandra’s eyes were all twinkle and sparkle as she took in the spread of fancy schmancy
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Chapter 305
unmentionables, designs unseen in your run–of–the–mill stores, classy, gutsy, and one–of–a–kind.
“These are all premium pieces,” Sandra exclaimed, eyeing the price tags. Even the cheapest item was over
a grand.
The proprietor, a stylish middle–aged woman with a graceful air, doubled as the boutique’s designer. Her signature pieces were what gave the shop its reputation.
“Feel free to browse, ladies. But remember, no try–ons for the special items. If something catches your eye, it’s pay and take,” she said with a warm smile, devoid of any judgment.
“Gwendolyn, what do you think about this one?” Jeannie held up a silver fishnet dress for Gwendolyn, with holes so wide they barely covered anything.
Gwendolyn blushed furiously and shook her head.
Just setting foot in the store had expended her courage for the month.
“If Gwendolyn says no, it’s got to be good.” Jeannie was ready to splurge, “This one, that one, and those, all fabulous.”
“Jeannie, I won’t wear those.” Gwendolyn was at her wit’s end, and these items were even more revealing than the last slip she’d reluctantly accepted.
Jeannie looked slightly disappointed as she put down the dress, “Gwendolyn, you’d look stunning in these. Don’t worry, my treat today. You’re getting at least two. If you won’t choose, I will, and they’ll be delivered straight to your door.”
