The Perfect Doll, Becca Marien [book club suggestions txt] 📗

had bills to pay and here I was being a teenager and buy clothes. Grow up, Shiloh. I took a shower and pulled on a night gown.

Dad walked through the door with the pizza and a bottle of coke. I ambushed him and took the pizza. We sat on the couch and ate slices, and drank from the bottle.

“Did the flower plan go over well?”

“Better than expected actually.”
“What’s your next quest?” I asked.
“Bathrooms.”
“You should put those butt washers in every stall.”
“You mean Bidet?”

“Butt washers sounds less formal.”

“I’ll mention it to my boss.”

“I’m heading to bed.”
“Make sure you get enough rest. I’ll take a break at ten so I can sign your contract.”
“Okay.”

“Nice night gown.”
“Thanks.” I looked down at it. “Piper gave it to me.”

“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
    I watched a few episodes of supernatural. Might as well have some me time before the contract was signed. I’d let the lawyer tell dad about the new house. I hope he wouldn’t be too mad.

FOUR

 

the next morning I woke up to someone knocking on the door. Who? I hurried over and opened it to a woman in a suit, holding a brief case.

“I didn’t wake you did I? Amara said you’d be up. You are Shiloh right?”
“Right.” I nodded, and opened the door wider, “Come on in. My Dad’s on his way.”

   She came in and drew herself in.
“You can sit on the couch. “Would you like some peach tea?”

“That would be lovely.” She headed over to the couch. “Could you be a doll and put in a few ice cubes? It’s so hot outside today.”

    Perfect tanning weather, I thought grabbing three cups. I poured the tea and set the glasses on the table.
“Thank you.” She took a long sip of her drink. “I’m Olivia.”
“Shiloh,” I shook her hand.
“Alright I’m here.” Dad hurried over, “Is that for me?”
      He didn’t wait for an answer, he sucked down the tea. Olivia was just as taken by Dad as Amara was. They shook hands and got down to business. He questioned the house, but didn’t make too big of a scene.
“Will I be able to tag along?” He asked Olivia.
“You’ll be able to tag along with anything we do for Shiloh.” She nodded firmly, “Without a second thought.”

“I trust Shiloh to get her things done the way she wants them, I’d just like a little say in the living arrangement’s.”
“I was actually hoping that you’d come.” I spoke up. “It’ll be just me and Amara.”

“Can I scan that?” Dad pointed at the inch thick contract.

“Please.” Olivia scooted the contract towards Dad. “Once everyone signs it and I can get it legally binded, all parties will get a copy of it. The agency will hold on to the original.”
“That’s fine.” Dad muttered as he read every page.

 After a few minuets, he clicked his pen and signed. I sighed, He pushed the stack of papers to me and handed me the pen. Amara and the  agency had already sighed. I signed the paper, and then pushed it back to Olivia giving Dad his pen back. Oliva took out a pen and signed her name on the lawyer line.

We all stood up as she clicked her brief case closed, the contract safely tucked inside.

“Nice meeting you,” She shook Dad’s hand and then mine, “Looking forward to working with you.”

    Dad followed her out, as he needed to get back to work. I walked into our tiny little bathroom and ducked my head under the shower curtain. I fixed the knobs and then turned on the shower knob. I took a shower, and stood there under the stream. It felt like I had just signed my life away.

    Only until the end of summer, I perked up. I headed to my room and got dressed. I pulled on a red dress with no neck line. It hit mid-thigh, and had a plunging back line. I pulled the towel off my head, and a knock sounded.

That had to be Piper. I was going to give her an ear full for not texting me about the party. I walked over to the door and jumped out of the way and Amara flew into my apartment.

“Get your shoes.” She instructed, “We have a lot of work to do by dinner.”

     I pulled on a pair of ankle boots that pushed me over six foot. I had spent my school days ashamed of my height. Now that I was a real Model, I was proud of it. Freaya and Frankee sat in the back seat, and I waved at them as we approached. Olivia had been right.

It was hot. We headed over to the salon where Frankee worked when he wasn’t taking care of girls for the agency. He trimmed my hair, and deep conditioned my hair five times before it looked alive again. He took some blond strips of fake hair and dyed them to match my hair. Then he glued them into my hair for thickness.

He swore that he liked the glued on ones better than the clip on ones. I didn’t mind, because he was the one that was going to be doing my hair. I could wash them and apply heat he promised. I had my first ever facial, got my toes and nails done, and someone waxed my eyebrows. I could feel myself looking different, even though I hadn’t actually looked at myself.

Then we headed over to New York’s most expensive clothes, and Freaya dressed me. Amara sat nearby flipping through a magazine. She trusted these people, so I did too. The agency would take care of my clothes until people just started handing them over. As we headed back to the car, everyone’s arms were filled with bags containing the clothes shoes, and more that Freaya had picked out.

My old phone was switched out for the newest Iphone that I was having trouble using. We pilled into the car and headed over to a car lot.  I picked out a sleek silver car, with a computer built it. I could search the internet, put in addresses all with my voice. Amara looked proud that I had picked out such a car.

They helped me put my bags into my car and gave me one hour to put away my things, coax Dad into my car and find SageBush a gated area for houses. I dropped my bags and headed into the building Dad worked. The lobby was just how Dad had showed me. Tons of marble, and a tinkling fountain in the middle. A large chandelier hung over the water fall.

 Men in construction hats walked around. Someone handed me one as they passed.
“Can I help you!” He called over a jack hammer.
“I’m looking for my Dad!” I called back. “Kevin Eperson?”
“He’s in the bathroom!” The man pointed.

As I headed towards the bathroom the jack hammer got louder. I had to actually yell, voice squeaking to get Dad’s attention. He walked over chunks of cement and plaster to get to me.

“I’m glad to see you took my advice on the butt washers!”
“Huh!”

 “House time.” I pointed at my wrist.
“I can’t leave now!”
“Call a lunch break! They all looked starved!”
“Lunch!” Dad hollered, and all machines shut off at once.
          The workers muttered their about time’s as they passed us.

“Alex,” I said pulling on my belt, “GPS the fastest route to SageBush.”

“Who?” Dad questioned.
“Here is the fastest route to your destination Shiloh.” The computer offered.
“Wow.” Dad’s eyes widened. “I think I need a car raise.’
     I grinned and we headed over to SageBush. The front gate’s security box was empty, and the gate was open. I pulled through and went along the winding road lined with trees. Soon the trees gave away to large houses. I pulled up beside Amara’s car and she waved at me.

She started her car and pulled onto the street. I followed after her. We drove over to a line of the hugest houses I had ever seen in my life. When we got out, different smells hit us. The only one I noticed was paint.

But Dad noticed others.
“Rock.” He sniffed, “Carpet, marble, linoleum.”

“What do you think!” Amara waved her arms over her head, “It’s a brand new community. The houses will be ready to move into this weekend.”
“We’re the only ones here?” Dad asked.

      He was in heaven.

“No grass?” I asked.
“Last touches.” Amara waved us forward. “They’re all open, come on.”

      We took tours of all the houses on the block. Dad picked out a house he loved.

“I wanted a house with a pool though.” I muttered.
“There is a house four streets from here. The same set up as this one.” Amara looked at dad, “With a really big pool.” She looked at me with a glance. “Shall we look at that one next?”

    With everyone in agreement, we piled into Amara’s car and drove over to the house. The outsides a different color of rock, but the inside was about the same. Just a tad bit bigger. The pool was waterless as I looked down at the grey bottom.

“What do you think Honey?” Amara asked.
“Can we do a salt water pool?”
“Of course!” She smiled, “What a good idea. The chemicals in other pools will be bad for your skin and nails. Salt water is natural ad will do wonders for you.”

“Where’s Dad?” I asked.
“In the kitchen.”
“Are you sure?” I questioned.
      Back when Mom was okay, Dad loved the kitchen more than anything. When Mom died we ate out too much. Dad was what you would call a healthy cook. I stopped in the door way of the French doors and looked at dad. He was running his hand over the oven with two stove tops.

He looked down, opened the door to the oven and looked inside. He did the same to the shiny silver dishwasher. I hadn’t seen him that happy in a while. But Amara shattered the moment and Dad shut the dishwasher.

“This house is one of the few that has a three car garage. You guys want to see the upstairs?”

We followed her up the marbled steps. We went from room to room. The house was a four bedroom seven bath. A bathroom in every room, one down and upstairs hall, and one in the furnished basement. The two largest rooms had balcony’s that over looked the back yard.

There was the pool area, that had an attached hot tub. Off to the side was a large lush pond with a water fall. There was a patio area that I knew Dad would go Ham on getting a grill for. In the kitchen there was a single French door styled door leading to the Landry room. I had never been jealous of a Landry room before.

It was big enough for a large folding table, and two sets of washers and dryers. Dad’s lunch hour was almost up. Amara offered to drive him back to work and he accepted the offer kindly. I headed home to pick up Piper. I knocked on her door, but Her Mom