Irish Hearts by Nora Roberts

blouses, occasionally removing an item and hanging it over her arm. Finding herself in a changing room, Adelia could only stare at the garments Trish had placed on a hook. Then, taking a deep breath, she stripped off her shirt and jeans and slipped on a soft jersey dress in muted shades of green.
    The silky material felt strange and wonderful to her skin, clinging to gentle curves and falling gracefully below her knees. She gaped at the stranger in the mirror, her hand seeking the cross at her throat to assure herself that she was still the same person.
    "Dee," Trish called from outside the curtain, "have you got one on yet?"
    "Aye," she answered slowly, and Trish pulled the curtain aside, smiling in triumph at the reflection in the full-length mirror.
    "I knew that dress was you the minute I saw it."
    "It doesn't feel like me," Adelia mumbled, then turned to face Trish directly. "It's beautiful, but what would I do with so grand a dress? I exercise horses. I work in a stable-"
    "Dee," Trish interrupted firmly. "Whatever your occupation, you're still a human being; you're still a woman, an exceptionally beautiful woman." Adelia's eyes widened, and her mouth opened to protest, but before the words could be uttered Trish took her by the shoulders and turned her to face her reflection. "Look at yourself, really look," she ordered in no-nonsense terms, then shifted to gentler tones. "There'll be times when you'll want only to be a woman; this dress is for those times. Now," she said with practical authority as she released her, "try something else on."
    For the rest of the afternoon Adelia allowed Trish to take command. For the first time in more than a decade, she permitted someone else to make all the decisions, and somehow she found she was having fun. They halted in front of a cosmetics counter, and Trish began spraying scents until Adelia grumbled in protest.
    "This." Trish selected one of the bottles she had sampled. "Light and delicate, with just a touch of spirit." Paying for the cologne, she handed the package to Adelia. "A present."
    "Oh, but I can't!"
    "Yes, you can. Friends get pleasure from giving presents. Now, that marvelous skin of yours doesn't need any help, but I think we'll accent your eyes-and some lipstick, nothing too dramatic." She stopped and laughed. "I'm bullying you, aren't I?"
    "Aye," Adelia agreed, feeling caught up in a genial whirlwind and finding she liked it.
    "Well, you needed it," Trish said firmly. "Is there anything else you want?"
    She hesitated, then blurted out quickly. "Something for my hands. Your brother said I've hands like a ditchdigger's."
    "That man!" she exclaimed in disgust. "He's the epitome of tact and diplomacy."
    "Trish, hello!"
    Adelia turned to see a flash of amazing silver-blond hair before Trish was enveloped in an exuberant embrace. Adelia's first startled impression was of lavish curls and musky scent.
    "I'm so glad to see you, darling." A high, bubbly voice drifted with the scent. "It's been weeks."
    "Hello, Laura." With an affectionate smile, Trish disentangled herself. "It's good to see you too. Laura Bowers-Adelia Cunnane."
    "How do you do, Mistress Bowers." The greeting was returned with a flash of beautiful white teeth before Laura's attention returned to Trish.
    "Darling, how is that fabulous brother of yours?"
    "Fabulous," Trish returned, giving Adelia a quick grin of mischief.
    "Don't tell me he's not pining after Margot?" Laura sighed and gave a flutter of extensive lashes.
    "I was so hoping to offer him my comfort. Not even a tear or two to be dried?"
    "He seems to be bearing up under the strain," Trish returned. Hearing the unexpected sarcasm, Adelia glanced at her in surprise.
    "Oh, well, if he doesn't need comfort," Laura continued, obviously not affected by Trish's tone, "he's still at loose ends, so to speak. If dear Margot overplayed her hand by whisking off to Europe, I for one am not above volunteering to fill the gap. Heard from her lately?"
    "Not a