“It’s not a mistake. It’s exactly what you need.” Nicole pulled out the black dress. “Is this the one you mean?”

“Yes. But is it too dressy?”

“It doesn’t matter what you wear as long as you wear it with confidence.”

“Says the woman who could wear a sack and still look good. I don’t have any confidence, which is why I stick to my linen trousers and shirt. Honestly, I’m fine in that. I feel comfortable.”

“Comfortable is for when you’re ninety.” Nicole studied the dress. “Does this make you feel good?”

“Not particularly. Clothes never make me feel good.”

Nicole added the dress to the growing pile of rejects. “You’re going on a date. It’s important that you feel good.”

“It’s not a date. It’s just dinner.” Milly was growing more uneasy by the minute. She chewed the edge of her fingernail. “Do you really think it’s a date? Do you think he thinks it’s a date? You’re worrying me.”

Nicole raised an eyebrow. “Well, what did you think it was?”

“I don’t know. Dinner with a friend.”

“Right. That’s what it is, then. And stop biting your nails. You’re not twelve. I’m going to give you a manicure in a minute, so I’m going to need something to paint.” Nicole went back to the wardrobe. She emerged moments later with a summer dress in shades of blue and green. “This is pretty.”

She’d worn it on a trip to Greece with Richard, early in their relationship. “It won’t fit.”

But looking at it reminded her that she hadn’t always chosen to wear safe black or navy. Who had she been back then? Who was the woman who had chosen that happy swirl of blue and green?

Nicole removed it from the hanger. “Try it.”

“I will look like a sack of potatoes in that.” And whoever she’d been back then, she wasn’t that person now.

Nicole thrust it toward her, and Milly took it with a sigh.

She knew Nicole well enough to know that there was only one way to deal with this situation.

“Fine, I’ll put it on. And I’ll look completely crappy, and then maybe you’ll shut up and let me wear my linen trousers.” Deciding that the sooner she proved her point, the sooner they could get this whole clothing issue out of the way, Milly stripped off and pulled on the dress. She was astonished to discover it slid easily over her hips.

“Wow.” Nicole grinned. “Yes, you’re right, you look awful. Let’s hope they have a power outage in the restaurant so no one can see you.”

Milly walked toward the mirror. She stared at herself and then turned sideways. “I can’t believe it fits.” She pressed a hand to her now-flat stomach. “I must have lost weight.”