In the massive dresser, there were loads of shorts, sun tops, tees, cropped pants, and slacks. In her wildest dreams she never, ever, imagined she would have a wardrobe like the one she had now. And this was just the summer stuff. The fall and winter clothing had to be made and would be sent in the next couple of months. She almost swooned with happiness.

“I don’t know what to wear, Atlas. Each outfit is nicer than the one hanging next to it.” The shepherd sniffed his way around the walk-in closet before he sat down patiently to watch his mistress as she picked through the hangers. She finally chose a powder blue dress that had a matching jacket. According to Danielle, it did wonderful things for her blue eyes. It fit her like a glove, showing off her bosom, her narrow waist, and knees. Mandy said she had good knees. Lola had agreed. The outfit came with a matching clutch bag a shade darker. The shoes were sinful strappy heels the same shade as the bag. Danielle called them slut shoes. “It’s what Hollywood is wearing, dear. They show off your beautiful legs.”

She knew she smelled good because she’d taken a bubble bath, used the same scented lotion and powder, then sprayed her entire body with eau de something or other that Danielle said would drive men to the brink of madness. So far it hadn’t affected Atlas at all.

One piece of jewelry is all you wear, Lola had said as she handed over a pair of three-carat diamond earrings. Diamonds, Lola said, didn’t belong in a velvet box, they belonged on a woman. That’s why they wrote that song, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” she’d added as an afterthought.

She smelled wonderful, she sparkled, and she looked damn good, she thought as she stood in front of the pier glass. The vision staring back at her stunned her. It’s me. I’m her. She laughed, a joyous sound. Cady shook her head, side to side, then up and down. Sure enough, her new hairdo, a layered cut, bounced right back into place, making it look like her hair had volume. Wash and wear, hit and run, get out of bed, run your hands through it and you were good to go. And, it looked good. Even she, dumb as she was when it came to fashion, knew she had a marvelous hairdo, and it complemented her facial features perfectly.

“Good God Almighty, would you look at our girl,” Lola said from the doorway. “Cady, my dear, you are ravishing. What do you think, Mandy?”

“Honey, you look beautiful. You smell as good as you look, too. That’s important. You want to leave a trail behind you when you walk past someone.”

Cady laughed again. “I think I’m ready to meet my old friends. What are you two going to do?”

“I think I’m going to watch the flowers on my terrace grow,” Lola said.

“I’m going to bake some bread,” Mandy said.