Rowena stopped her with a hand in the air. “Don’t say any more. I’ll put on number two.”

Paula sat back again, wondering what could top that outfit. She glanced across at the sideboard where there was a large framed photo of Paula and Dan on their wedding day. The photo Rowena had chosen for her frame wasn’t a formal one. Paula was laughing up at Dan as they walked towards the camera across a vivid green lawn. It had been a wonderful day. It seemed so long ago but it was only back in May. So much had happened in the months since then.

“Ready for number two?”

Paula swallowed as Rowena walked into the room. This time she had on a fitted dress with a mandarin collar and plunging neckline. The skirt reached her knees and ended in a couple of flounces. The style wasn’t as bad as the fabric, which was satin and covered in a large pastel floral print. Positively ghastly on Rowena.

“That’s quite different from the first one,” Paula said.

“I chose three very different outfits because I couldn’t make up my mind. The woman in the shop was rather officious. The more she told me I looked fabulous in something, the less I liked it but we both agreed on this one.” Rowena spun around and left to try on the next dress.

Thank goodness the first outfit was so beautiful. Helping Rowena decide was fraught with danger. Paula felt sorry for the sales assistant, although it may have been interesting to be a fly on the wall. Rowena was a woman who usually knew what she wanted and went for it. The two outfits she’d chosen were quite different, which showed her uncertainty.

“Last one,” Rowena called.

She stepped demurely through the door this time and Paula sucked in a breath. Rowena was wearing a two-piece suit with three-quarter sleeves.

“What colour do you call that?”

“Latte, I think the woman said. Funny name for a colour, isn’t it?”

Paula stood up and walked around Rowena. The jacket was a longer line, tapered at the waist and finishing well past her hips. The skirt was slim and narrowed elegantly to a stop at the knees. The fabric was a soft crepe and the jacket was edged with the same colour satin binding. “It’s perfect,” Paula said.

“Do you think?”

“Oh yes. The first one was lovely but perhaps too formal for our little church and a brunch at home. The second one wasn’t…” Paula struggled to find the words. “Perhaps it would be fine to wear to a wedding but not your own. This one is just perfect. Elegant, subtle – it was made for you.”

Rowena smiled. “It’s the one I favoured as well. I don’t plan to carry flowers but I think a corsage here on the lapel would look nice.”