Julia had actually offered to ask her aunt – who was the head buyer at some fancy New York department store – to send a dress and shoes for Tessa, but Tessa had gently but firmly refused.

“I just think it would look a little odd for me to show up in a really expensive dress,” she’d explained. “Gina and Alicia in particular would be sure to recognize a designer gown, and then ask all sorts of questions about where I got it. And – well, you know I hate discussing anything personal with them.”

“You mean Anastasia and Drizella?” At Tessa’s puzzled look, Julia had laughed and clarified her question. “Those were the names of Cinderella’s evil stepsisters.”

“Oh.” Tessa couldn’t help giggling along with her friend. “Actually, I’ve always thought of them as the nasty Siamese cats from Lady and the Tramp.”

Julia had thought that hilarious, and they’d shared a good laugh. Then she had assured Tessa she understood her concerns about the dress, and instead offered to go shopping together.

“Not everything I wear is expensive or something my aunt sends me, you know,” she’d confided as they scoured the racks at several different discount stores. “In fact, Aunt Madelyn is the one who taught me how to look for the best dress in places like this one, and how to mix high and low end pieces. Oh, my God, Tessa. Look at this one – it’s absolutely perfect.”

Tessa had fallen in love with the chiffon dress with its strapless bandeau bodice and the way the fabric fell from the gathered bust to a few inches above the knee. Julia had declared that silver shoes and accessories would go best with the deep blue color, and they’d found a pair of strappy silver heels on the clearance rack at DSW. The rest of Tessa’s ensemble this evening consisted of items loaned to her by Julia – a sparkling round brooch pinned to the gather at the bust; a wide cuff bracelet; a pair of dangly earrings. Julia had assured her that all the pieces were costume jewelry and not very expensive at all, so that Tessa wouldn’t have to freak out about wearing actual diamonds or worry about losing them.

One piece of jewelry that she would not be wearing this evening, though, was her plain gold wedding band. She’d wrestled with the decision to remove the ring for weeks now, as though taking it off was an admittance that her marriage was well and truly over. Tessa had slid the thin band off her finger less than a week ago, hiding it away in one of her bureau drawers, resolving not to get teary eyed about the matter. But she was still getting used to not wearing it, and found herself – just like she was now – rubbing a thumb over her newly bare finger multiple times each day.

Julia was also loaning her a sparkly silver clutch, into which she was placing the tube of shiny rose lip gloss that she’d just painted onto Tessa’s mouth. She had spent over an hour doing Tessa’s makeup and hair, and now it was time for the “big reveal” as Julia teasingly called it.

“Come on, you can see for yourself how awesome you look,” cajoled Julia as she propelled Tessa into her bedroom and inside the walk-in closet.

Tessa had been dumbfounded the first time she’d seen Julia’s closet, never having imagined that one person could own so many dresses or shoes or bags. She only owned about three pair of shoes that were suitable for the office, and one oversized purse that she used for everything. Julia had been horrified at the thought of Tessa taking the rather beat-up bag to tonight’s formal affair, and had set her foot down that she use the clutch instead.

“Okay, tell me what you think,” prodded Julia as they stopped in front of the full length mirror hanging on the back of the closet door.

Tessa gasped and could only stare back at her reflection in disbelief. She had never, ever, looked like this before – or felt so beautiful – almost like Cinderella herself.

The dress fit her perfectly, the strapless top baring her shoulders and upper chest but stopping just short of revealing too much cleavage. Tessa offered up a silent thanks that she’d devoted extra time these last few weeks to toning her upper body, for her bare arms and shoulders looked lean and shapely. The sapphire blue shade was very close to her eye color, and flattered her ivory skin and golden blonde hair. The strappy silver shoes had a higher heel than she normally wore, and made her legs look even longer. She was glad Julia had suggested breaking the high heels in by walking around her apartment in them a few times so that she felt steady with the added height.

Julia had done a fabulous job on her makeup – making her eyes look twice as big with the silvery gray shadow, subtle application of liner, and three coats of mascara. Her complexion glowed rosily with the light touch of foundation and blush, while her mouth appeared fuller and plumper with the shiny rose gloss.

Her thick golden hair had been curled into soft, loose waves, held back on one side with a rhinestone clip. It smelled like peaches or apricots, courtesy of the decadently rich shampoo and conditioner Julia had used on her, so much nicer than the cheap brands she bought at the drugstore.

Julia brushed a stray hair off of Tessa’s cheek. “You look perfect. Gorgeous, sexy, sophisticated.” Then she groaned. “I just wish I’d been able to arrange a better coat for you. No offense, but that raincoat of yours just doesn’t do it for me.”

The beige belted raincoat – the same one she’d bought at a thrift store soon after moving to San Francisco - was the only actual coat she owned, and was just going to have to do. It was cold outside tonight, the gusty winds making it feel even chillier, and any of her other jackets or sweaters wouldn’t do a thing to keep her warm. Julia would have gladly loaned her a coat, but the five inch difference in their heights took that option off the table.

“It’s fine,” assured Tessa. “No one will even see me in the coat – I’ll be checking it as soon as I walk into the hotel.”

Julia shook her head. “If you’d given me even a week’s notice, I could have had Aunt Maddy ship out something for you. Or I would have been happy to loan you the money.”

“No. Thank you, but no. I’ve stretched my budget way too thin as it is buying the dress and shoes. But I just needed – you know – to feel - “

“To feel pretty,” finished Julia. “I get it, honey. From what I can tell you hardly ever treat yourself to anything. You should make Ian give you a nice Christmas bonus. Or a raise.”