Chapter 3: A family day out
Sarah had arranged to meet up at the mall with her daughter, who was almost done with her shift at the bookstore, and go shopping together. She didn't always have time to spend a day like this with her daughter, so she had planned a full girls day out.
Walking into the bookstore, she saw her daughter helping a customer. Not wanting to be rude and interupting them, she looked at some of the books laballed "new". She saw one book from an author she really liked and picked it up and skimmed it through. However, it just didn't seem to grab her attention whatsoever. "Oh well. Like, even good writers have like a writing bad hair day." She giggled at her smart comparison.
She just couldn't seem to find something that she liked. That was until she came across one called "My Girly Dream". It looked like a trashy romance novel, but something about it caught her attention. I mean, how couldn' it? The gaudy white and pink cover, the photo of a girl in a pink dress, the glitters and the fluffy trim around the edge. It was completely different from what she normally read, but it seemed to captivate her. No unnecessarily long drawn out sentences, or overly complicated themes to keep her up at night. Sure it was maybe a bit below her level, but reading is meant to be fun. Right?
So wrapped up was she, that it actually startled her when her daughter came up behind her. "Mom! What are you doing?" Ariel exclaimed, laughing at her mother's sudden jump.
Caught off guard, Sarah quickly snapped the book shut, tucking it behind her back. "Nothing, sweetie. You know, just browsing," she lied, hoping her daughter wouldn't notice her embarrassment.
But it was too late. Ariel had already seen the title of the book. " 'My Girly Dream?' Seriously, mom? That book belongs in the teen section,' Ariel continued, rolling her eyes at her mother's choice of literature. Sarah winced internally, unable to deny her daughter's assessment. Why had she thought this would be a good idea? If anything, it would only draw more attention to her recent changes.
"But it's, like, kinda fun. I think I, like, kinda wanna buy it."
Sarah announced suddenly, holding up the book at arm's length. Ariel raised an eyebrow skeptically, taking in her mother's sudden interest in trashy romance novels.
"Okay, whatever floats your boat, I guess. But seriously, mom, if you want to read something good, try Jane Austen or Shakespeare instead of this."
Sarah laughed lightheartedly, feeling a bit self-conscious about her choice of reading material. "Oh, come on, Ari. There's like nothing wrong with a little guilty pleasure now and then."
"Fine, let's just get going." Ariel said impatiently, grabbing her purse and leading the way out of the bookstore.
"Look I'm,like, having a totally romantic dinner with your dad tonight and have to look my absolute bestest! So how about us girls get, like, a complete makeover?" Sarah suggested excitedly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. Ariel rolled her eyes playfully, amused by her mother's sudden desire for a makeover.
"Seriously, mom? We're going at the mall, not a beauty pageant."
Despite her protests, Ariel couldn't help but agree to her mother's request. They headed towards the Beauty studio, where Sarah confidently strutted towards the reception desk.
"Two beautifying makeovers please!" she said cheerily, smiling at the sales assistant. The woman smiled back warmly, nodding towards the waiting area where comfortable chairs were lined up, offering refreshments.
Ariel sighed softly, shaking her head at her mother's antics. She had become obsessed with all things beauty related. This type of stuff was never really her thing, but she saw how happy it made her mom doing it together.
As they waited for their turn, Sarah flipped through a magazine, pointing out various styles and products she wanted to try. Ariel humored her mother, pretending to listen intently as she scrolled through her phone. When their names were finally called, they were led to their seats by their respective stylists.
First they had their hair done. Sarah had gone for a bold curly blowout while Ariel opted for a reserved sleek straight locks. Next, they visited the makeup counter. "Hi there, we like totally need the hottest new look, could you help us?" Sarah asked the beauty specialist, putting a little more emphasis on the word hottest.
With her heart set on looking hotter than ever before, Ariel couldn't help but laugh at her mother's enthusiasm. As the stylist got to work, applying foundation and blush, highlighting and contouring, Sarah filled Ariel in on her plans for the evening.
"I like just want everything to be totally perfect for your father," she confided, her voice barely above a whisper. "I haven't felt this way in ages - like, really and truly desired him again." Ariel listened intently, surprised by her mother's candor.
As the stylist finished their looks, Sarah and Ariel walked to the mirror to admire their new appearances. Both women gazed into the mirror, taking in their own reflections with a sense of satisfaction.
Ariel had gone for quite a subtle and subdued look, but her mother on the other hand was absolutely stunning. Her makeup was very daring with bold red lips, winged liner and long lashes that gave her such a sensual look. Ariel was amazed that her mother had gone for such a sexy look. She couldn't help but think it bordered on slutty.
A manicure was the last thing left. They sat comfortably in the plush leather chairs, watching as the nail technicians worked their magic. While Ariel kept it simple with a classic French manicure, Sarah went all out with 2cm blood red acrylics.
"Honey are you sure you don't like want to do something a little more...sexy?" Sarah asked. Eyeing her mother's bold choice of nail color. But Ariel shook her head "No thanks, I just prefer to keep it slightly more practical." She explained.
Her mother nodded understandingly, appreciating her daughter's practicality. "Oh, okay. But like sometimes you just gotta live a little, you know?" She chirped, already regretting her decision to tone down her look.
After saying their goodbyes and buying a few new bottles of nailpolish and bronzer, The Sarah exited the salon, feeling more confident than she had in years.
With their new looks, it was time to go clothes shopping. The two had a blast trying on a bunch of outfits but none really seemed to resonate with Sarah.
Every piece seemed too old, too drab, or just plain unflattering. After several attempts, she decided to take matters into her own hands and tried some of the more daring options.
The cutest was a tight black velvet mini dress with a deep V neckline that accentuated her cleavage and showed off her newly enhanced curves. It fit perfectly, hugging her body in all the right places. With her hair still wet from the blow dry, she twisted it up into a messy bun, exposing her neck fully.
As she modeled the dress for her daughter, Ariel couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, she was couldn't deny that she looked quite striking, but she couldn't shake the idea that her mother was to old for this type of stuff. Wearing that dress, she looked as if she just got back after a night out clubbing. Not really the look to go for when going out for a fancy dinner with her husband.
But Sarah wasn't listening to reason anymore. She was lost in her own world of fantasy, dreaming of what her husband might say when he saw her in this dress.
Unbeknownst to her, Ariel couldn't stop herself from comparing her mother to a teenager trying on prom dresses. It was all so cheesy and cliché, almost comical.
But as Sarah twirled around in front of the full-length mirror, a smile spread across her face. She felt confident, sexy, and alive.
"C'mon honey, sometimes it's like nice to show what you got!" Sarah said as she ran her hands along the side of her body, lingering ever so slightly on her breasts.
Hearing this from her mother did hurt ever so slightly even if there wasn't any ill intent. Ariel never had quite gotten the curves that her mother had and secretly was always a bit jealous.
Seeing her mother strut around in that dress brought those feelings to the surface. In many ways, Sarah reminded her of those young Hollywood starlets who seemed to effortlessly ooze sex appeal.
In contrast, Ariel felt completely out of place. Standing beside her mother, she realized how dowdy and frumpy her own attire appeared. She was wearing a plain white blouse with jeans and flats – a far cry from her mother's glamorous ensemble.
Sarah noticed that there was something wrong with Ariel and decided to help, best way she can. She saw a deep red mini dress covered in glitter and with a slit running down the side. "O.M.G. Baby you totally should try this, it matches you like perfectly!"
Sarah exclaimed, gesturing to the dress in question. Ariel hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to give in to her mother's suggestion or not. Part of her wanted to resist - after all, she knew that she would look ridiculous attempting to pull off something so daring. Yet another part of her was curious - if not simply to appease her mother's wishes.
So, with a sigh and a nod, Ariel allowed her mother to help her change into the dress. She stepped into one of the changing rooms and came out a few minutes later, feeling incredibly self-conscious. The dress was form-fitting, leaving little to the imagination. It clung to her curves in all the right places, highlighting her femininity in a way that made her feel vulnerable.
"Wowzers!" Sarah exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly upon seeing her daughter emerge from the curtain. "You look gorgeous baby girl!"
Ariel couldn't disagree with her assessment. "But mom, don't you think this is a bit much?"
Ariel hesitated, feeling uncomfortable in the attention-grabbing garment. Sarah hugged her excitedly and turned to face her daughter, her expression caring yet also mischievous.
"Baby, I know it's like not really your style, but trust me - sometimes you just have to let loose and have fun and stuff. You only live once, right?" she replied with a wink.
Ariel sighed, knowing that arguing against her was a lost cause. She loved her mother dearly, but her lack of boundaries sometimes worried her. Still, she couldn't deny that seeing her mother so animated and carefree brought a smile to her face.
Feeling somewhat defeated, Ariel acquiesced to her mother's request. She watched as Sarah sauntered over to the register, paying for their purchases with a smile. For a brief moment, Ariel wondered if her mother was simply enjoying this experience or if she harbored deeper motivations.
"Ok, now time for like one last store." Sarah exclaimed in a fit of happiness as they walked towards the Victoria's Secret. Ariel's eyes grew wide like satellite dishes. She had already humored her mother quite a bit today, but was this taking it a bit to far?
As they entered the lingerie store, she took in a sharp breath. This store was definitely not her usual cup of tea. However, seeing her mother's excitement made her forget her discomfort.
Sarah carefully browsed through the racks, selecting different pieces for them to try on. There were lacy bras and panties, bodysuits and teddies - an array of items that Ariel wouldn't normally consider.
"Wow, babe. Like, what do you think your daddy would say if he saw me wearing this?" Sarah said as she held up a skimpy hot pink lace chemise.
Ariel couldn't believe her eyes, her mother was actually considering buying this risqué piece. If anything, it looked like something a stripper would wear. "Mom, you're kidding. Right?"
Sarah just giggled, unable to imagine her husband's reaction to her daring choices. Ariel rolled her eyes, surprised by her mother's antics. Despite being a bit of a prude, she couldn't help but appreciate her mother's efforts to spice things up.
Despite her initial reluctance, Ariel found herself slowly being drawn into the experience. As they tried on various pieces, her anxiety began to dissipate. That was until Sarah pulled out a seductive crimson Teddy. It was sleek and fitting, showing off her curvaceous figure in all the right places. Seeing her mother slip it on was enough to send a wave of nervousness coursing through Ariel's veins. As if reading her daughter's mind, Sarah turned to her with a smirk.
"What baby, you like scared that Daddy won't be able to handle all this?" she teased, playfully flicking the hem of the Teddy.
Ariel's cheeks flushed at her mother's words, embarrassed by the very thought. She didn't dare voice her concerns, instead opting to busy herself with examining other items. Her heart raced as she tried to calm her nerves.
They decided that they have everything they needed and proceeded to the checkout. Where Ariel was shocked about how expensive their day out had been. But more important was how her mother did not seem fazed one bit by how much everything costed. It was clear that this whole excursion had taken its toll on Ariel.
As Sarah came home she playfully told Craig to close his eyes whilst she went upstairs to get ready for their dinner.
She took her time, primping and preening in front of the mirror. With every passing second, her anticipation grew. The thought of surprising him filled her with excitement, and she eagerly awaited the moment she could see his reaction. Finally, after what felt like hours, she descended the stairs.
As soon as Craig saw her , his jaw dropped open. He couldn't believe his eyes - she looked absolutely stunning. Her long brown hair cascaded down her shoulders, accented by a subtle smoky eye and bold red lipstick. The crimson Teddy hugged her curves snugly, emphasizing her hourglass figure.
"Oh my god," he whispered, stumbling forward to meet her.
Sarah smiled coyly, her heart racing with anticipation. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body flush against his.