*As Remi expected, Greta called her later that evening, and the next morning they met to pick up their groceries.
As they drove to the grocers, Remi asked, “Were your parents on board with this plan, Greta? Did you want me to talk with them?”
“Actually, they were wonderfully supportive. My dad gave me a fistful of money in case I wanted to get some new clothes, or for whatever I might need. And my mum says she’d be happy for me to make some of our recipes to share with them also. I guess they’re as sick of shop-bought food as I am.”
“That’s lovely! It’s going to make a difference to have their help. In fact, if they don’t mind, it might be a good idea for you to dump all the junk food from your cupboards. Not what they like, as much as your own treats. We’ll replace them with healthy tidbits so you won’t go hungry. And I’ve got a book for you to read that helped me when I was your age.”
“Sweet! Can I ask you a question? Yesterday, you said that our dieting together would help you too. How?”
“First of all, my dear, please don’t ever refer to what we’re doing as dieting. It isn’t. In ninety percent of cases, diets don’t last. What we’ve chosen is a healthy eating plan, one we can, and should, follow for the rest of our lives. If I hadn’t become lazy over the last few years, working too many hours and not making the proper time to cook healthily, I wouldn’t be in the pickle I’m in now with these extra pounds. Please understand, eating smart means we’ll fill our menus with healthy foods we need in our diet, small portions and basic stuff that will give us lots of energy. And… because nobody’s perfect, we’ll still be able to eat some of the junk foods, just in very small quantities.”
“Agreed. And your second reason?”
“Right, the second reason. A new man moved into the building, into flat number 906, who is dreamy. I haven’t been able to forget his face, and if I can make myself more attractive so he’ll take notice, then it’s certainly worth a try.”
“Blimey, I would have thought a miss like you would have all kinds of boyfriends.” Shock rang in Greta’s voice that soothed the ruffles in Remi’s self-confidence.
“Truth is—I’ve not had many blokes pay attention to me. When I first lost all my weight in my teens, I was too clumsy and shy to take advantage of the offers. In Uni, studying for my CGA, I had to be totally invested in those courses. Accounting was never my forte, but was my mother’s suggestion to a daughter who had nothing better planned. So the fellows there, who were interested, soon gave up. I have had a couple of relationships since I moved here, but either I met the wrong ones or men nowadays are just needier than I have time for.”
“And you think this man will be different? The bloke in 906?”
Remi began to giggle. “In his case—the needier the better.”
*
Once the girls had shopped and tackled their first cooking lesson, they piled the containers of salads, chopped, marinated veggies and other specialties into the refrigerator; then Remi showed Greta some of the drawings she’d made for a room design she’d visualized that beat anything else she’d accomplished so far.
“This is much more demanding than anything I’ve ever tackled. It would have to be done for someone with enough money to afford the furnishings, but I think it’s super.”
“Oh, Remi. It’s awesome the way you’ve integrated all those colors without creating confusion.”
“I’ve always pictured this as a place I could easily live in myself. It’s the way I work. Always keeping in mind the personalities of the inhabitants, I could still never produce something that goes against my own taste.”
Greta sat silently and Remi had an inkling of what was coming. And… she wasn’t disappointed. In fact, it might have been her underhanded reason for bringing up the subject of colors and mixing them stylishly in the first place.
“Remi, I don’t have any style at all. Every morning, I sift through my wardrobe and try to choose what to wear that day. It’s painful. Eventually, I grab my old jeans and whatever top seems less ugly. Could you help me, tell me what I could do differently?”
Remi surveyed her as if she’d never done so before and pretended to carefully consider how Greta could embellish her attributes. Meanwhile, if the girl only knew, she’d been doing this since the scheme to help Greta first came about.
“Are you seriously asking for my opinion?”
“Yes.” Greta’s eyes were huge with appeal.
“Don’t get mad if you don’t like my recommendations.”
“Never!” Emphatic, Greta sat at the edge of the sofa and hero-worshipped Remi.
Pretending her words were just there and had not been practised, Remi said. “Your dark hair shouldn’t be long. It’s lank and needs to be styled around your face, which is quite small. If it’s cut properly, puffed up just right and you add some spray-on coloring highlights, it would bring focus to your gorgeous brown eyes. Also, with that long fringe hanging over your forehead, the way you have now, no one sees them clearly and that’s a shame. If you want, we can go to my hairdresser next weekend and she’ll do the makeover for you. Trust me, she’s cool and young, knows today’s fashions and is a magician with her scissors. You’d look more like the other girls I see nowadays.”
When Greta’s eyes grew round with trepidation, Remi added. “The picture of what I’m envisioning is on her wall so you can actually see what it looks like before you come to a decision.”
Greta lifted a long thin strand and held it in front of her. “I’d love to, she gushed. “Really, Remi, I want to go with you. I only left it to grow because I didn’t know how to get it cut. What about the colors I should wear? What do you think will most suit me?” Greta’s eyes were shinning with glee. Having someone’s attention based exclusively on her enhanced the youthful glow in her cheeks.
“Certainly not the ones you’ve been wearing; those plums and greys are too old for you, and black washes you out completely. Instinctively, you must know they don’t look good on you or you wouldn’t have such a hard time choosing every morning. Also, Greta, it’s not so much the colors, but the styles you pick. They’re for grandmothers, not teenagers. You need to shop where they sell clothes for younger people.”
Nodding, Greta agreed. “My mom buys all my clothes. I’ve been too nervous to go on my own and get the things I need. When the time comes, will you go with me?”
“What do you mean when the time comes?”
“When I’ve lost my weight”
“Why wait until then. We can get you a few new things for now that you may be able to utilize with a belt later on.”
“Uh, huh! No way! I’ll wait. I want to watch the weight disappear under these old rags.”
Not sure why Greta felt this way, Remi had to ask. “Don’t you want your friends to know that there’s a new you happening?”
Darkness swept over the bright smile and it faded to dismay. “You want me to get new stuff now?”
“Not at all. I just wondered why you’d want to wait.”
“Because it’ll just give Cassie Edwards something else to bully me about. As it is, she’ll tease me about the new hairdo. If I wait to change my clothes until after I lose some weight first, she might not spoil it for me.”
“Do you truly believe that? And do you really want to give that little bitch so much power in your life?”
Greta stopped fidgeting and lowered her face into her hands. Remi left her to think about her words while she went into the other room and answered her phone.
“Hi, Dickie. How nice of you to call. Bless you, love. Of course I can visit you and Frank for a drink tonight. Around 5:30pm. You’re sure I can’t bring something? Fine then, see you later. Cheerio!”
By the time Remi had returned to Greta, she’d made a decision. Slumped back against the cushions, tears streaming, she erupted at the first sight of Remi. “You’re right, of course. I’ve given her all my power, haven’t I? She’s the first thing I think of in the morning, and the last thing on my mind before sleeping.”
“Mind if I ask whether you suffer from nightmares?” Giggling, Remi had to ask.
First shock at Remi’s joke then glee appeared, and Greta laughed along with her. Finally she sobered and Remi waited to hear her verdict.
“No more! It has to stop, doesn’t it?”
“Does it? Only you can answer.”
“You’re right! I want to move forward, and she can go to hell with her pack of suck-ups. As of now, there will be a new me.” She stood and came to sit down next to Remi. Hesitantly, she reached out and, when Remi didn’t move, she took her hand. “Bless you, Remi. I couldn’t do this without you.”
Tightening her grip, Remi answered soothingly, “We never have to find out, do we? We’re in this together. I’m your backbone and you’re my mine. Now, will you be available in the morning at 6:30? If the weather outside is too bad, we’ll use the equipment in the building’s gym.”
Head bobbing, Greta crooned. “You’re on.”
“Another thing, if you want to save your money until you’re ready to buy new gear, that’s fine. Until then, I have some tops that you might like to have. They’re ones I wore a while ago and were chosen because they hid my weight. And… because they cost a mint, I never got rid of them. Now I’m glad. I’ll pass them on and you can decide if you like them or not.”
Eyes glowing, Greta gushed. “I love everything you wear. Thank you, Remi. How can I ever repay you?”
“You can’t, because it’s not a question of compensation. Though, maybe one day you’ll be in a position to pay it forward.”