“You could wear a disguise,” Ruby said. “I can fix you up so that your own mother wouldn’t recognize you. That way you won’t have to worry about any of the town gossips recognizing you. When do you plan to go for the interview?”
“Tonight. I want to get a jump-start on the other applicants.”
“I’ll run home and grab my supplies after I eat.”
“Are you not going to eat your pizza?” Winnie asked Marilee.
“And you plan to work at the funeral home too?” Clara asked.
Marilee nodded. “I plan to do whatever’s necessary to get Josh back.”
“If you’re not going to eat your pizza, I will,” Winnie said, reaching for the untouched slice.
Clara sighed and reached into her purse, pulling out a small metal cylinder. “I know how you are when you make up your mind, so I’m not going to try and talk you out of it. But I’d feel better if you’d keep this pepper spray on you in case something unforeseen occurs.”
“I don’t have the job yet,” Marilee said, “and I wish you’d stop worrying. The Pickford is not a sleazy beer joint.”
“Oh, you’ll get the job,” Ruby assured her. “I don’t know a single soul who can sing and play the piano as well as you.”
“Take the pepper spray, Marilee.”
“Thank you, Clara,” she said, touched by her concern. “I know this is hard for you to accept. None of us ever suspected my life would take such a turn. I mean, Grady was a good minister. He genuinely cared about his congregation. And I just assumed all marriages had problems now and then, but I wasn’t prepared for this. I have to do what I have to do. It’s just…well, I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment.”
“Oh, Lord, she’s going to start crying again,” Winnie said.
Marilee shook her head. “I’m finished crying. I have too much to do to sit around and feel sorry for myself.”
Ruby patted her hand. “Good for you, honey. You’re stronger than you think.”
Winnie shook her head sadly. “It’s not going to be that easy. You’re going to need someone to look after you, make sure you eat regular meals and have clean clothes to wear. I guess I’m going to have to hang around awhile longer. At least until you get used to working all those hours.”
“That’s very kind of you, Winnie,” Clara said. “Ruby and I will help too.”
Ruby nodded emphatically. “Darn right we will.”
“Thank you,” Marilee said. “I don’t know what I would do without the three of you.”
“You’d probably do okay,” Winnie said. “You’re not as weak as I thought in the beginning.”
Marilee decided that was the closest Winnie would come to giving her a compliment. She pushed her chair from the table. “I need to practice a few songs on the piano,” she said. “I’m sure it’s dreadfully out of tune, but at least it’ll help limber up my fingers.”
Ruby stood. “And I need to run home and pick up a few supplies. For your disguise,” she added, winking conspiratorially.
“Who’s going to clean up this mess?” Winnie demanded.
“I’ll do it,” Clara volunteered.
Winnie shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll do it. You don’t know where anything goes, and I can’t have you putting stuff in the wrong place, especially after I’ve cleaned the refrigerator and organized the cabinets.”
MARILEE WAS PRACTICING ON the old piano when Ruby returned carrying a short, platinum-colored wig, a small suitcase and a flaming-red dress. “Belonged to my ex-roommate,” she said, holding the slinky outfit up for inspection. “The poor girl was a perfect size eight till her boyfriend dumped her, and she decided to eat her way through her depression. I think she was a size fourteen when she climbed on the Greyhound bus for home. Said I could do what I wanted with her clothes.”
“I wear a size ten,” Marilee said.
“That was before Grady ran off, honey. You’ve probably dropped ten pounds and don’t know it. Besides, if the dress is a little snug that’ll work in your favor. Now, sit down. I’m about to make a new woman out of you.”
Clara and Winnie sat down as well and watched while Ruby worked her magic. When she was finished Marilee, who had never been heavy-handed with her makeup, couldn’t believe the difference.
“Wow,” Winnie said. “You look like a movie star. If I’d looked that good when I told my old man I was pregnant, maybe he wouldn’t have walked out on me.”
Clara didn’t look pleased. “I think it’s a bit much. Remember, less is more.”
“She’s going to be working under dim lighting,” Ruby said. “So what do you think, honey?”
“You did a fine job, Ruby. But I’ll never be able to learn how to do all this.”
“I’ll teach you. In the meantime, I’ll plan to drop by after work each day so I can fix you up.” She began pinning up Marilee’s hair, and then put the wig in place. “What d’you think?” she said.
Winnie gave Ruby the thumbs-up. “Lookin’ good.”
“Marilee is a beautiful woman. All I did was enhance her features. Now, let’s get you into that dress.” She grabbed the garment and ushered Marilee into her bedroom. When they returned, Marilee’s cheeks were stained the color of the dress.
Winnie’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “That thing clings to you like a second skin. I didn’t realize you had such a nice figure. You have to stop dressing like a librarian.” Clara cleared her throat. Winnie looked at her. “Guess I shouldn’t have said that, huh?”
Marilee tried not to take offense. “I think my clothes are fashionable.”
“A little on the prim side,” Winnie said, “but hey, I’m not exactly on the cutting edge of fashion.”
Ruby preened over her handiwork. “I’ll bring over a few more dresses tomorrow night.”
“Just keep that pepper spray handy,” Clara said, “in case some man loses control of his desires the minute he sees you.”
Marilee walked them to the front door. Once they were on their way, she closed the door and leaned against it. Her stomach was tied in knots at the thought of what she was about to do. Perhaps it was time she took a few chances in life.
The doorbell rang, startling her. Marilee figured Ruby must’ve forgotten some of her supplies. She opened the door and found Sam Brewer standing there.
“Marilee, is that you?” he asked, blinking several times.
She’d forgotten for a moment how she was dressed. She blushed. “Hello, Sam.”
“You look…different.”
“Yes, I suppose I do,” she said, patting the wig self-consciously. “I’m sort of in a hurry. Is there something I can do for you?”
He handed her the iron. “I wanted to return this. I found mine.” He remained standing there. He knew he was staring—gawking, actually—but he couldn’t help himself.
“Thank you.” He continued to stand there. “Anything else?”
“Huh?” With some difficulty, Sam managed to pry his eyes from the red dress that clung to her figure so well. Damn, but she looked good. “Oh, yeah. I stopped by Blessing Home today. I have to tell you, Marilee, it needs a lot of work. The place looks like it’s ready to collapse.”
“But it can be repaired, right?”