Chapter 5
I spent the rest of the day dwelling on the memory of that touch—and that look. It was ridiculous. I was like a lovesick puppy. And it didn’t make any sense! Trent wasn’t my type, that was for sure. And I was sure that I wasn’t his type either. So why in the world couldn’t I stop feeling this way?
Luckily, the next day I had a meeting with a client. I was glad to have the distraction.
We met at one of my favorite stores. We’d already had several meetings to discuss her feelings about her body—areas she liked, areas she didn’t like, and colors and styles that she was fond of or intimidated by. I didn’t find out these things to keep her in her comfort zone. I discovered them so that I could break her free of those walls.
“Hi, Melanie!” I smiled and spread my arms to her.
Usually, after the first two sessions, my clients and I were on hugging terms. The process we went through together often involved some tears, some confessions of past mistreatment, and the facing of fears. It created an almost instantaneous bond that lasted far longer than our consultations.
“Hi.” She hugged me, then pulled back with a nervous shrug. “I guess today is the day, huh?”
“Yes, it is.” I smiled and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Are you ready for this?”
“Oh, Zoe, I know I told you I would try, but I’m just not sure I can do it. It’s been so long since I walked into a fitting room, and I know it’s a silly phobia to have, but…”
She gripped her purse so tight that I wondered if her nails would dig right through it.
“…I’m not sure if I’m ready.”
“You’re not supposed to be sure. All you have to do is try. We’ll go in there. I’ll pick out a few things for you, and then we’ll decide if you want to try them on, okay?” I smiled as I met her eyes. “And trust me, that phobia isn’t silly or unusual. I meet a lot of women that will just take things home to try on because they don’t feel comfortable going into the fitting room. But creating a new you isn’t just about clothes, jewelry, or manicures. It’s about healing those old wounds and embracing new experiences. So just keep that in mind, alright?”
“Yes, I will.” She blinked back tears.
As I held the door open for her, my heart broke just a little. It wasn’t strange for me to see one of my clients in tears. A woman’s body image, her beliefs about the way she looked, and her self-esteem were so intertwined that at times I felt more like a psychologist than a fashion consultant. But it wasn’t just about clothes for me either. It was about a total mind and body makeover.
“Hi, Zoe!” The manager of the shop called out to me as I stepped inside.
“Hi, Jase. How are you today?”
“Not as good as you’re going to be.” He stepped around the counter with a wide grin. “We got a new shipment of Rainbow’s Ropes.”
He tilted his head toward a rack in the center of the store. It was full of colors, sparkle, and bling.
“Oh yes!” I clapped my hands. “Perfect! I love her collection. Loraine always has something new and fantastic. Let’s take a look, Melanie.” I guided her toward the rack.
“I don’t know. Remember, flashy and bright are a problem for me.”
“No, they’re a problem for the you that likes to hide and go unnoticed. But with your skin tone and eyes, bright and sparkly are your best friends. Trust me!”
“Zoe, I don’t know.” She looked at the clothing hesitantly.
“If you look through this whole rack and can’t find one piece that calls out to you, then I’ll think about letting you slide on this one. Alright?” I winked at her.
She looked a little annoyed, but began thumbing through the rack.
It took me only a few seconds to find a shirt I adored. It was a blend of colors that resembled watercolor flowers. The sleeves were flowy, while the top itself was fitted enough to show off my curves.
As I selected it, I glanced over at Melanie. I could see the subtle smile on her lips that indicated she really did enjoy the clothing, but wasn’t brave enough to wear it.
I carried the shirt to the fitting room. I knew her eyes were on me. I changed into it, took a glance in the mirror, smiled and stepped out to show it off to her.
“This is why I love this style!” I spun around and the billowing sleeves resembled a colorful fan that fluttered all around me. “Isn’t it spectacular?”
“Yes!” She grinned as she pulled a shirt off the rack. It was similar to the one I’d chosen, only with slightly richer colors.
“Great choice.” I glanced over the tag to be sure it would be a good fit for her body, then eyed her. “So, what’s the verdict? Are we going to knock down one of those walls today and let these beautiful colors in?”
“I think so.” She gritted her teeth as I handed her back the shirt.
As she marched into the dressing room I smiled to myself. This was only a moment to most people. It was nothing to step into a dressing room and try something on. But to Melanie, it was a milestone, one she would probably remember for a long time to come.
When she stepped back out of the dressing room, one hesitant foot at a time, I had to blink back my own tears. Before me was the beautiful woman I’d seen from the moment of our first consultation. It all radiated out through her confident smile.
“It’s great, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Melanie, it is!” I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug.
We spent the rest of our time picking out a few more pieces, which she actually enjoyed trying on.
By the time our session was over, she had a few bags on her arm and a huge smile on her lips. I felt a rush of pride. Melanie was still a work-in-progress—as are we all—but she’d taken a big leap today and that was something that always filled me with joy.