The Makeover (32 page)

“So that’s your
evening-casual look, okay?  If you’re going someplace like a movie and
dinner or a casual dinner party, you could rock that.”  She pulled aside
several outfits for Phoenix.  “Last night, I was so excited about this
makeover that I started pulling clothes, shoes, bags, et cetera.  I have
looks here to start you off and different body shapers for different
needs.  I got looks for daytime formal and business-casual for work or
church; daytime-casual for going out to the mall or chilling on the weekend;
evening-casual like you’re wearing now; and evening-formal.”  She began to
unzip the garment bags.  “Let’s try these on and see if we need any
adjustments or tailoring, and we’ll teach you daytime makeup and evening makeup
so you’ll always know how to do this for yourself.  I also want you to
practice walking on the heels of some of these shoes I’m about to give
you.  Now go wash your face off cause I am going to teach you how to put
it on.”

Phoenix
nodded.  All she could do was follow instructions as her heart swelled for
this woman God had placed in her life.

Two hours
later, after Phoenix had tried a total of sixteen looks—four for each category—
and put on her make up three different times, she got dressed again in the
first outfit.  She felt guilty that she had not thought about Paulo as he
was dealing with her mess from the past.  She wondered where he was and if
he was okay.  She decided that if she didn’t hear from him in a half hour,
she would go find him.

She and Cara
continued discussing her new outfits and ways to mix and match them,
essentially turning the new wardrobe of sixteen outfits into sixty-four. 
Cara had even put together a mini booklet—much like Paulo had done regarding
her dieting—to assist her in accessorizing and knowing when to wear which
outfit.

Cara had
convinced Phoenix to let her take pictures of Phoenix wearing various
looks.  As Cara uploaded the pictures onto her computer, to create an
article entitled, “Funky Looks for Apples,” Phoenix tried to thank Cara
again.  Cara just waved her hand and said, “No thank you for being my
inspiration for this week’s issue.  Besides, it’s the least I could do
after you gave us your bed.”

Phoenix
blinked.  “Huh?”

“Yeah. 
Couple of weeks ago, Paulo called and said his friend in our building was
getting rid of a queen bed set and had it brought up to us.  It was
your
bed, wasn’t it?  Paulo said you got a new bed and wanted to get rid of
the old.  Since me and James’s big behinds have been trying to make it on
a full, we jumped at the chance.  Didn’t you see it when I showed you
around?”

Phoenix was
already shaking her head as she walked down to Cara’s bedroom.  Without
waiting for Cara, she opened the door and stared.  It was her bed. 
“Wow, I didn’t even notice.  I know Paulo had gotten it out for me, but I
didn’t know where it went.  He said nothing about it.  He just said
he’d take care of it.  Truthfully, I am so glad it went somewhere good
because I didn’t want it to waste.  I just couldn’t sleep on it
anymore.  But it’s practically brand new.  I only got it, like three
months ago.”

“So why did you
give it up?” Cara asked.

She didn’t want
her friend to be unable to enjoy her new bed.  So Phoenix simply said, “I
don’t know.  It just wasn’t as comfortable as I’d thought.  I
couldn’t get any sleep on it.”

Cara
cackled.  “Oh, I thought you was
gonna
say it
reminded you of your ex, or something.  Anyway, me and James sleep like
babies on this bed.  I like to cuddle too, but man, I want room
sometimes.  Thank you!”

“No thank you,
Cara, for everything.”

They shared
their hug for a moment before Cara pulled away with a grin and a mischievous
look in her eyes.  “I hear the bell.  Can you get it for me?  I
have to run to the lady’s room.”

“Sure,” Phoenix
said, checking on her appearance one last time in the bedroom mirror.

Satisfied, she
raced to the door and flung it open, confident to face whoever was on the other
side.

Paulo was
staggered.  “Phoenix?” he said as his mouth hung wide open.  “Lord,
Jesus! Look at you!”

“Don’t mind me
having a makeover now, do you?” Phoenix quipped as Paulo threw his arms around
her and swung her around in a circle.  He hugged her close when he put her
back down. 

“You look
great, Sweetheart.  That color suits you.”  Paulo ran a thumb down
her cheek.  “Is that makeup?  I know it’s there but I can barely
tell.  She did a great job and you look more beautiful than you already
are.”

Phoenix looked
away.

Paulo’s finger
brought her eyes back to his.  “You look very pretty.  Own it.”

With that,
Phoenix broke into a wide smile and Paulo’s heart swelled. 
She has
such a gorgeous smile.  And look at her lips.  Her eyes.  She
doesn’t even know what she has.

And as Phoenix
walked ahead of him down the hall, he noticed something else he had not seen
before.

Paulo let out a
low whistle.  “
Bondade
,
olhe
para
essas
pernas
!”

It was the Portuguese spoken in that deep voice that nearly
caused her to stumble over Cara’s throw rug.  “What you say now?”

Paulo hooked his arm around the small of her back and gave her
a kiss on the cheek.  “I said ‘my goodness, look at those legs.’”

He grinned as she lifted out her legs to look at them.

“Alright, y’all, break it up!” Cara came out of the bathroom
with a huge smile on her face.  Phoenix loved the outfit Cara was wearing
as well—a pair of tight jeans tucked into leather camel boots, a large over-sized
graphic tee shirt and an open cardigan with flower petals on the front. 
She looked youthful and fresh. 

“Hey, Sis,” Paulo said, grabbing her into a bear hug.  “If
I ever doubted your expertise...”

Cara sucked her teeth.  “Doubt
my
expertise?”

“You did a fantastic job.  God bless you for following
God’s call on your life.  You know not many plus-sized people are as
comfortable and confident as you and James.  I think it’s fantastic the
way you’re helping people feel good about themselves.”

“Well the Proverbs Thirty-one woman did clothe herself in fine
linens and scarlet!  How we carry ourselves is just as important as
everything else.”

“Proverbs Thirty-one woman?” Phoenix asked, confused.

“Maybe we’ll read about her in our Bible study,” Cara said with
a wink to Paulo.  “Or maybe you can open your Bible tonight and look her
up for yourself.  God is describing a type of woman who is just like God
intended women to be.  It’s like an instruction manual for how women are
to conduct themselves as individuals and in marriages.  Check her out.”

Phoenix nodded solemnly.  “Wow, between the
Song of
Solomon
and this Proverbs woman, the Bible has a lot to say about women.”

“Sure does,” Paulo agreed.  Turning to Cara with a smile,
he asked, “Where are my two homeboys.”

“James bought Junior to work with him today.  You should
have seen how they were dressed up in identical suits!  I couldn’t believe
he found one for a six month old, but leave it to James.  And I thought I
was the one into fashion,” she quipped with a smug smile on her face.

“Please, we both know your husband has more clothes than you
do,” Paulo smirked.

“You know it.  They’ll be here soon.  Y’all want to
wait?”

“Um—” Phoenix began, glancing at Paulo.

But Paulo had already grabbed Phoenix’s hand.  “No. 
We’re leaving.  Beauty like this needs to be celebrated!”  Throwing
Phoenix an endearing smile, he asked, “Sweetheart, have dinner with me,
please?” 
Maybe she will finally have the confidence to go on an
official date with me without questioning my intentions.

Paulo held his breath as he watched Phoenix turn his question
over and over in her mind.

“Uh, yeah, uh, um sure,” she finally stammered, casting a
wide-eyed glance at Cara.

Cara shrugged and grinned.  “Don’t look at me,
Chica
. 
I wasn’t invited!”

Chapter 19

Many are
the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails
(Proverbs 19:21).

Paulo decided
to take Phoenix to one of his favorite restaurants. 

When they got to
Paulo’s white Mercedes SUV, Phoenix whistled.  “That’s your car? 
Wow, I’m in the wrong business.”  He had the nerve to look bashful as he
helped her into the passenger side. 

“You never
know, Phoenix.  I
could
use a psychologist on staff.  And to
have been a client that can share her testimony?  God may have sent me the
perfect partner after all,” he grinned.

Phoenix refused
to swoon, so before Paulo could close her door, she asked, “So what happened
with Cedric?”

Paulo
winked.  “Call me crazy, but I refuse to discuss another man when
I’m
the
one trying to romance you.  All eyes on me,
Tesuda
.”

A wild thump
pounded in her stomach. 
Romance me?
She wanted to clarify but
instead asked, “What does
tesuda
mean?”

“It means sexy
lady,” Paulo said with another wink before slamming her door shut.

 Phoenix
swallowed and composed herself as she watched him cross over to the driver
side.  She grinned stupidly when he slid in beside her, his minty cologne
caressing her nostrils.

“What kind of
cologne do you wear?  It smells so good.”  She breathed again,
savoring his scent.

“Actually, I
wear peppermint oil.  Keeps me cool in the summer.  Something I’ve
been doing since I was a child back home.”

Huh. 
And I have been to how many perfume stores trying to find that scent to buy him
a bottle?  Should have just asked.

When Paulo
started the car, she became giddy with anticipation.  As they drove down
the West Side Highway towards Midtown, she asked, “Where are you taking me?”

Paulo grabbed
Phoenix’s hand and raised it to his lips, planting kisses on her knuckles.

“Wait and
see.  Did I tell you how pretty you look?”

Phoenix stared
at Paulo’s profile, letting the words wash over her, as she struggled not to
push them away.  Finally she smiled.  “Thank you.  You have said
it, but it’s nice to hear.”

Thank you,
Jesus. 
Paulo glanced at her, before turning back to the
traffic.  “That’s right, Sweetheart.  And you should hear words like
that often.”

“So where are
you taking me?  And stop trying to change the subject,” Phoenix said,
keeping her tone light.  She loved Paulo’s words and his affection, but
she couldn’t take much more.  She feared her heart word burst in her
chest, leaving her dead in the passenger seat.

“Be
patient.  You will see when we get there.”

They got off
the highway at the West Fifty-Sixth Street exit and drove to West Forty-Ninth
Street.  “Yes!” Paulo exclaimed.  “Thank you, Jesus, for street
parking.”  Gleefully, he parallel parked into a space and helped Phoenix
out.  “Who wants to pay twenty-three dollars for a couple of hours? 
Manhattan can be terrible!”

They stood in
front of a place named
Plata Forma
and Phoenix could see it was a
Brazilian restaurant.  “What’s up?  You miss home?” Phoenix quipped.

“I just wanted
you to enjoy some fatty, tasty dishes from my country.  You deserve to
celebrate all that you’ve overcome, by the grace of God, in the past few
weeks.  You started a fitness regimen, you’ve gotten a new look, and
you’ve already lost a few pounds.”  Paulo smiled as he held out his arm
and led her to the
churrascaria
, a Brazilian steakhouse.  “Most importantly,
you’re
working through issues from your ex.  I think that’s worth celebrating
most of all.”

As Phoenix thought about what she had just revealed to
Cara, her heart ached with shame.  She wanted to be honest with Paulo but
couldn’t bring herself to do so.  Instead she said, “So I lost eight
pounds and I’ll gain it back tonight.  I
love
Brazilian
barbeque!  It’s been such a long time, but—”

“You know Brazilian barbeque?” Paulo interrupted, his eyes
wide.

“I love it,” Phoenix said, nodding.  “I used to
go to another place downtown.  I look forward to this one. 
Everything smells great.”

“We’re also two blocks from my church, which is on
Fifty-first between Broadway and Eighth.  Maybe we can come back here for
lunch sometimes after service.”

Phoenix shrugged.  “Maybe.  Of course you’d
find a way to bribe me to go to church.”

“You know it,” Paulo quipped, as the hostess walked
over to them.  “Will you come with me Sunday morning?”

Phoenix was already prepared with an excuse, but
looked into his expectant eyes and said, “Yeah, I’ll come,” before she could
stop herself.

Paulo’s quiet, “thank you” removed all of her doubts.

Once they were seated at their reserved table, Paulo
ordered two glasses of red wine.

“You’re drinking?” Phoenix asked, arching a brow.

“It’s a special occasion.  I can have a glass of
wine.  Sometimes I do with dinner, every now and then, but never to get
drunk.  The Word warns us against getting drunk, you know?”