Chapter 295: Channeling Miriam

I stood staring into my mother's closet, the scent of her lilac perfume filling me with the need to hug her and never let her go.

Since that wasn't possible, and knowing I needed to put on a good show, short notice or not, I'd made a plan of my own, one involving doing something I swore I never would.

I needed to be my mother.

My selections were carefully chosen, from the floor-length black velvet skirt with the fine silver embroidery around the hem to the paper thin and butter soft navy blue silk blouse with the flowing sleeves and sparkling diamond buttons.

I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised her shoes did fit after all and wasn't even a little above recognizing the irony. At least physically I could take her place. As for the rest... we'd have to wait and see.

I let the heavy, swirling skirt sway from my hips, for the first time understanding why Mom loved dressing the way she did. There was a weight to the velvet, the way it moved as if part of me. Even the silk of the