The salesman helped Max with several jackets and pairs of trousers as Fran browsed through the shirts, pocket squares, and ties trying to find just the right look. The salesman had kindly brought a standing rack over for them to hang the dress bag and their coats on, as well as the new gown they hadn't purchased yet. Fran brought items over to the gown to compare the colors, then took back the ones that didn't match. Max went into the changing room to try on a pair of trousers, shirt, and jacket.
Fran lined up several things that matched the lavender on her gown, and anxiously waited for Max to come back out. Soon, he pulled the curtain aside and stepped out, buttoning the jacket. Fran smiled. He was gorgeous even without a complete tuxedo on.
"Ooh, baby!" She exclaimed. "I like that! Come here, Max!" She reached her hands out to him and he hurried over to her. She ran her hands over the shawl lapel, then down the buttons of the shirt. "Oh, it's gorgeous, Max! So this is what you were thinking of?"
"Yes, I think so. I still need to see it with the other things first, but yes, I think this is what I was going for."
"Well here, take that jacket off a minute, I found a waistcoat that looks like it matches." As Max unbuttoned and took off the jacket, Fran hurried over to her collection, and brought everything over to Max. She handed him the waistcoat as the salesman took the jacket from him, and once Max had the waistcoat buttoned, the salesman helped him on with the jacket, then he fastened the button in front. Fran smiled, then helped him with the crossover tie, and finally with the neatly folded silky lavender pocket square. She stepped back from him, and she and the salesman smiled approvingly at him, then at each other and nodded.
"How does it look?" Max asked Fran. He hadn't seen himself in the mirror yet.
Fran reached for his hand and pulled him over to the set of long mirrors. When he got a look at himself, he was impressed. "Wow!" He turned to the side then back to the front, ran his hand over the lapel and buttons, then touched the tie. He looked over at Fran, who was beaming at him. "Wow!"
"I know, right?" Fran squealed. The salesman looked over the hem of the trousers, then at the cuffs of the sleeves.
"Now, sir, the trousers look to be the right length, but I believe these jacket cuffs may need a little adjusting. You should be able to see the shirt cuffs just peeking out of them, but the jacket sleeves are a bit long. Are you open to having us alter them for you?"
Max stretched his arms out in front of him to get a look at the length. "Oh, yes, they do need to be a bit shorter. But do you not have another jacket like this, but shorter sleeves?"
"No, the next one down that we have in stock is too short, that's why I thought we should try this one, just in case it happened to fit. But how does the rest of it feel? It looks like it fits across the shoulders, and everything else is landing right. How does it feel when you move?" Max swung his arms around and twisted from side to side, then crossed his arms in front of him. He walked back and forth in front of the mirrors, checking the length and feel of the trousers.
"I like it. I'll still need a belt, just for formality, but the waistband isn't too loose. I'll get some new dress shoes, as well, but I think the rest is fine. And I do really like this shirt. I think I'll want to get a couple of these. Darling, why don't you bring that dress over here? Hold it in front of you and we'll stand side by side. See how they look together."
"Oh, good idea!" Fran ran to grab her gown from the rack. She unzipped the dress bag and carefully pulled it out, then brought it over to the mirrors and held it in front of her as she stood next to Max. They both grinned from ear to ear, and so did the salesman.
"That is really fantastic, you two! I'm so glad we had the right colors for you to coordinate with!" The man said.
"Oh, so am I!" Fran squealed. "So what do you think, Max?"
"I think this is the one. Oh, we need to get some other colors, too, darling! Not just the lavender. That way I'll have several options for the future. Can you pick out some other colors- for tie and waistcoat and handkerchief- or pocket square?"
"Sure! So that waistcoat is the right size?"
"Yes, it's perfect. One or two just like it, and later on we can see about maybe a regular vest. Oh, sir? If I have you all do the alterations, how long will that take? We need these outfits for a formal event next week."
"Oh, yes sir. Just for the sleeves, we should definitely have the jacket finished by Monday at the latest. Would that work for you?"
Max thought a moment. "Yes, alright. Let's do that. But it would have to be no later than that. Could you put a note on there so they know we have to have it by then?"
"Oh, yes sir! Absolutely! And would you be able to come back here to pick it up, so we can have you try it on and be absolutely certain it's correct?"
"Ah, yes, I believe so. Yes, I should be able to do that. I'll make time. Do I need to schedule a time?"
"Yes, sir, that would be very helpful. Let me run over to the computer and just check what slots we have open. I'll be right back!"
"Alright."
Fran hurried back over to Max with her hands full.
"Okay, baby! I want to see these colors on you. Can we take that tie off a second? Here, let's line up everything we're getting on this table here." Fran set down ties and pocket squares on the top of the table and hung the waistcoats on the side. "Baby, did you want another one of those shirts, too?"
"Oh, yes, please! Matter of fact, get two, if we're getting two more colors, we can get two more shirts. Thank you."
"Okay, now try those other waistcoats with the ties, so I can see how they look."
"Alright." Just as Max was about to take off the jacket, the salesman came back.
"Sir! Would you be able to come here at 11 Monday morning? We can check everything for you and make sure it's perfect."
"Yes, I sure can. Thank you. That makes me feel a lot better. This is an important evening, I really want everything right. Do you need to measure the sleeves before I take off the jacket?"
"Yes, sir, but first I wanted to get some cufflinks on that shirt so we can be certain." The salesman pulled open a nearby drawer and pulled out some basic cufflinks to attach to Max's shirt cuffs, then helped him put them on. Then he helped Max check everything before he took out his measuring tape and notepad to measure the exact amount the sleeves needed to be taken in. Fran came back with two wrapped tuxedo shirts, set them on the table, then watched how the salesman sorted out the alterations the jacket needed.
Once the man finished, he helped Max off with the jacket and set it on the table to tag it and fill out an alteration order. Fran came over to Max to take the lavender waistcoat and handed him another one to try on.
"I picked out a darker red, sweetie. The lighter one was too bright, kind of yucky. Let's see how it looks. And I got that dark green to try. I have a gown with that color in it that I haven't worn yet, so I thought maybe…"
"Maybe…?" Max wondered, as he buttoned the red waistcoat, then took off the lavender tie.
"Well, you know, if any more party invitations show up in the mail…"
"Oh, there will! But we don't have to wait for a party. I can always take you out to a nice restaurant some place."
"Okay!" Fran grinned. "Now, I got regular bow ties in all these colors, too, in case you want more options."
"Alright. Now what about this red- does a cross tie work? Can I see the bow tie too?" Fran picked up both of the ties and handed the cross tie to Max. He wrapped it around his collar and fastened it, then looked in the mirror. "Yes, I think I like this red, darling. And I may have a vest or two at home that may work with the ties, too. Alright, now let's try that green. Is that a pattern on the waistcoat?"
"Yes! I thought it was pretty, and it keeps the green from being too overwhelming. Tones it down a little. I thought it might bring out your eyes." She bumped his hip with hers and gave him a smile.
"My eyes, eh? You like that color?"
"I sure do!" Fran took the red waistcoat from him and handed him the green one. She hung the red back on its hanger and sorted out everything they had decided to get. After Max fastened the button, she handed him the green cross tie.
"Oh, Fran, I do like this. You know, why don't we skip the green bow tie for this? I think maybe a black one may look nice with it, too. But I do like this cross tie. Could you grab a nice bow tie in black? That same style? I want to see how it looks with this."
"Sure, baby! Let me put this green one back." Fran ran over to the tie section and swapped out the green tie for a black one and hurried back over to Max. He took off the green cross tie and handed it to her, then worked on tying the black bow tie around his collar.
"How does this look?" He turned to Fran so she could see him from the front.
"I like it! But you don't have a jacket on. Here, let me just grab this other one here, and hold it over those colors." Fran took a black tuxedo jacket from a rack and held it over towards Max, then looked him over. "Yeah…" she smiled.
Max took the jacket and held it next to him to see how it looked. "Do you think this black tie looks better than a green bow tie?"
"Yes, I do. You were right. I think the green looks really nice with a little bit of black mixed in, like on the waistcoat, but that full green on the tie might be just a little too much. The cross tie has that black stud on it, so that works nicely."
"Great! So that's this tuxedo sorted. Oh, I wanted to try one last thing, though. Darling, where these shirts were, are there any others with the same buttons, but a different collar? Maybe one with a standard shirt collar? I think I'd like to try one with some of my other things, and maybe even with this tuxedo, and see how it all looks. Maybe you can play dress up with me at home…!"
Fran laughed. "That could be fun! Let me go look, and you can get changed back into your clothes."
"Thank you, sweetheart!" Max took off the bow tie and waistcoat and set them with all of their other purchases, then headed back into the dressing room to change back into his clothes. When he finished, he carefully carried out his new trousers and shirt along with the hanger for the tuxedo jacket. Fran came back with a crisp, new white shirt in its package and handed it to him.
"Something like this?" She asked. Max looked it over, checking the buttons and collar and size.
"Exactly like that! Thank you! Well, I think that's everything as far as the tuxedo goes, isn't it, Fran? Are we forgetting anything?"
"I don't think so. Do you want to save looking for shoes for after lunch?"
"Yes, I do. I'm getting hungry! How about you?"
"Always! And yes, I think we both need a rest so we can process everything. Then we can find the last bits and then head home."
"That sounds wonderful."
They helped the salesman gather things together and get it all into shopping bags and a garment bag, then to the register so Max could pay for everything. They put their coats on so they could carry everything, and then happily headed out of the formal wear department so they could find some lunch.
"Phew!" Fran said, as she sat down in her chair at the cafe in Saks once she had set the shopping bags and her coat on another chair. Max carefully rested the dress and garment bags over the back of an extra chair and took off his coat, then hung it on the back of the chair. He flopped down next to Fran and they both looked at each other, then laughed.
"I can't believe we really found all of that!" Max said. "I was worried we might not find anything to wear and would just have to dig in our closets to put something together."
"Oh, I know! But look at what we did find! It's fantastic! Oh, Max, I can't wait for this party! We're gonna look so good!"
"We are! Especially you! Did you see everyone eyeballing you in the dressing room over that gown?"
"Aw, they were just looking at the dress…"
Max shook his head. "No they weren't!" He grinned at her and put his hand on her knee. Fran blushed and smiled as she remembered how everyone looked at her. She reached for Max's hand and gave it a squeeze.
"Thank you for my dresses, Max. I mean it, they're so beautiful!" She leaned over to him and kissed his lips.
"You're welcome, darling! I'm glad you found some things you like. You're going to look so beautiful in them. And thank you for helping me figure out the tuxedo thing. It'll be good to try out a different look, especially if it coordinates nicely with you."
"Aw, Max! You had a pretty good idea of the look you wanted, and it turned out to be perfect! You're gonna be so gorgeous in that tux!" Max squeezed her knee again, then they picked up their menus and looked through them, trying to decide what to order.
"Darling, should we pick up something to have for breakfast tomorrow? Do they have something here we could get? Then we won't need to stop anywhere else on the way home."
"Sure, I bet we could find something. But we should probably wait until we're done shopping to get it, right? So we don't have to carry it with all this other stuff."
"Oh, true! Alright. We'll save that for last, then. Do you see something you might like for lunch?"
"Hmmm, it all looks pretty yummy. I think I might have the Waldorf salad, that looks good. What about you?"
"Well, the description of this bowtie pasta salad sounds lovely. Did you see the salads come with crostini?"
"Ooh! Yummy! Okay, I know what I want, then!"
"Good! Just in time, I think that's the waitress coming." Their waitress approached their table, all smiles, and filled their water glasses with a pitcher she brought with her.
"Have you two decided what to order?" She asked. Max looked over at Fran, urging her to order first.
"Yes, I'd like the Waldorf salad, with iced tea, thank you."
"Great! And for you, sir?"
"I'd like the bowtie pasta salad, also with iced tea. Thank you." They handed their menus over to the waitress.
"Fantastic! I'll get that started for you right away!"
"Thank you," they both replied. Max looked back at Fran and reached for her hand again.
"So, darling, is there anything you'd like to do when we get home?" He asked.
Fran knocked his knee with hers and smiled. "Well, I don't think I'll have the energy to chase you around the house with a Nerf gun…" they both laughed. "I don't know. Well, how do you want to do our dinner date? Should we stay dressed like this?"
Max looked over their clothes. "I was thinking that after dinner it might be nice to curl up on the couch, maybe turn on the stereo, listen to some music." He smiled at her. "So, if you want, when we get home we can change into something more comfy, loungey. Have a quiet afternoon before I get the dinner going."
"You gonna heat up that casserole Niles made?"
"That's what I was thinking, unless you want something different?"
"No, that should be good. And there's lots of other leftovers from take out, too, if you need anything on the side. But yeah, let's do that. Get comfy when we get back. Hey- I know what we could do, if you want…"
"What's that?"
"You mentioned going through the things in the attic, showing me some things up there?"
"Oh! Yes, yes we could do that. There are some things I'd like you to see. That could be good, and part of us getting to know each other better. But I don't want it to be all about me. Do you have anything maybe you can share with me, too?"
"Sure, I bet I could find something. Photo album, maybe?"
"That would work. So, do you have any pictures of you when you were little?" Max raised his eyebrow.
"Maybe…" she grinned. Max scooted a little closer to her and wrapped his arm around hers, holding her hand.
"What were you like when you were little?"
Fran thought a moment. "Well, imagine if Brighton was a girl, that probably would have been a bit how I was."
"Really? So you got into everything, huh?"
"Probably. I guess I was kinda hyper. Impatient. And with my sister, I had to be tough if I wanted something. Especially if she tried to take my toys." Max chuckled.
"So not much has changed then? Still the girl who might climb into the laundry chute to avoid getting pummeled by toy darts?"
Fran laughed out loud. "I guess some things don't change much, do they?" They both laughed.
"Well what about you? You must have had some kind of wildness in you too, didn't you?" Fran asked.
"Wildness? Oh, I don't know about that. I didn't like getting in trouble, so I think I behaved pretty well for the most part."
"That's not what I heard." Fran grinned.
"What? What have you heard?" Max asked, a little concerned.
"Aw, don't worry sweetie! It's nothing bad. A little bird told me that when you were little you would run off without any clothes on- all naked and running through the garden! Oh, I wish your nanny had filmed that!" Max blushed and looked flustered.
"Who told you about that? I mean, how- !" Fran laughed.
"So it is true! Oh, I wish I could have seen that!" Max looked around, making sure no one heard.
"Brighton told you that, didn't he? I bet he thought you'd get a kick out of it. Thankfully I have no memory of that at all." Max shaded his eyes with his hand and shook his head. Fran wrapped her arm over his shoulder and rubbed it.
"Aw, baby! Don't be upset! I love that story! You were a free spirit! That was before you had to deal with all the upset and pain the adults caused in your life, before you had to face anything really hard. Imagine how happy you felt! How free. You couldn't have known there might be anything wrong with it, you just knew you got a reaction out of Nanny Mueller. But I bet she didn't get mad at you over it. It sounded like she thought you were adorable. And I bet you were!" She kissed him on the cheek and hugged him, and his embarrassment faded away.
"Did you ever do anything like that?" He asked her, hoping.
"Me? In Queens? Never! Can you imagine? No, I think my clothes were too important to me, even when I was little. Did you know I got my first purse before I could even say 'purse'?"
"Really? Well, I suppose I could see that." He put his hand on her knee and gave it a squeeze. "I'd like to see some photos of you when you were little. I mean, more than what I've seen at your mother's." He smiled.
"Well, she mostly has the older pictures of me out, like when I was a teenager. I think she did that for marketing reasons." Max chuckled, then Fran laughed, too. "I'm serious. Like if a boy came over, she wanted them to see all the versions they could have, I guess. So they knew what they were getting." Max looked over at her, looked over her face.
"I doubt a few pictures could ever sum you up completely." She smiled at him, then kissed him lightly.
"Thank you for saying that. Well, a few pictures of me when I was a teenager I hope wouldn't sum me up! Oh my god, what that would say about me! Ug!" They both laughed together.
They saw their waitress in the distance with another server coming towards them with their lunch, and they both sat up and moved their chairs over and grabbed their napkins to put them in their laps.
"Here you go!" The waitress said, exuberantly. "Here are your iced teas, and the Waldorf here-" she took Fran's salad from the server and placed it in front of her. "And bowties over here-" then she took Max's dish from the server and set it down in front of him. "Is there anything else I can get you two?"
"I'm good here! This looks wonderful!" Fran exclaimed, picking up her fork.
"I think we're good for the moment, thank you!"
"Alright, then. Enjoy!" The waitress and server left them to their meal, and Fran and Max dug in. After several minutes of full mouths, they both sat back to savor the food.
"How's yours, sweetie?" Fran asked. "Mine is really good!"
"Very good! You want to try a bite?" He slid his large bowl over towards her.
"Oh, yes, please!" She reached her fork over and poked a couple of bowties and some greens and popped it in her mouth. "Mmm!" Max moved his bowl back over and Fran slid hers towards him, gesturing for him to try hers as she finished her bite of pasta. Max scooped a large bite of apples, grapes, and walnuts from her plate and gave it a try. Fran reached her napkin over and wiped at the corner of his mouth.
"Mmm, that's very good, too!" He said, smiling at her. "And thank you. Did I get it all over my face?"
"Nope, just a little bit. So, sweetie, when we finish lunch, did you want to find some shoes? What kind were you wanting?"
"Oh, I'm not sure exactly. Just some black dress shoes that look nice with the tux. What about you?"
"Me? Oh, I don't know. I might have some back home I can wear. I'll have to see."
"No, no, darling. We'll find you some while we're out."
"Really? Baby, you've been spending an awful lot of money on me! Are you sure you want to spend more?"
"Sweetheart, don't worry about that. We're partners. And we're just getting some things we need for a big event. Speaking of which- we should stop in the jewelry department, too." He raised his eyebrows up and down, then she swatted at him.
"Jewelry? What do you need in the jewelry department?"
"Well, I was thinking your neck might be a little lonely in that gown. Maybe we can find you a necklace that works with it." He grinned and Fran's eyes went wide.
"Shut up! You're joking, aren't you?!" Max shook his head, then reached over for her hand, lifted it to his lips, and kissed the backs of her fingers.
"Let me get you something nice to wear at the party, darling. You deserve it."
"Aw, Max! What am I gonna do with you?"
"Well, you can let me indulge you every now and then. Besides, we're on vacation, remember? I'm having a lot of fun with you. We should live a little, right?" He squeezed her hand. She looked into his eyes and saw all the sincerity there, and the happy smile on his face.
"I'm having the best time with you, Max. And I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything, sweetie. I mean it. But if you get me a necklace or anything, then I want you to get something for yourself, too. It can be something for the party, or just something nice for yourself. Because if you got me any jewelry, I'm gonna want to wear it all the time!"
"Well, good! And I'm sure you'll be beautiful in it, whatever it may be! So, do you want to look at the jewelry first, or shoes?" Max went back to eating his meal as Fran thought a moment.
"We better do shoes first, I can pick those out faster than jewelry. I might get lost in the jewelry!" She patted his knee, happy at the thought of what their post-lunch shopping would entail.
With their added exuberance, they finished their meal as quickly as they could. Max paid their bill, and they put their coats back on and loaded up their arms with their finds of the day. They headed for a huge area filled with designer shoes, separated into smaller sections based on designers and styles. Max followed Fran through a number of displays until she saw the style of heels she was interested in.
"Hey, Max? Do you think it would be alright if we monopolized one of these chairs to set things on?"
"Um, sure, that should be fine. I can sit with it all so you can look around. Here, let's make sure your gown is on top in case you need to match colors, alright?"
"Good idea!" They draped the garment bags over a chair and set the other bags on the floor in front of it. Fran left her purse with Max as he sat in the chair next to everything and watched Fran buzz around all of the designer heels on display. A saleswoman hurried over to talk to her, and then left to let Fran continue browsing. Each time she found another shoe she liked, she turned to look at Max and made a beaming face of excitement as she waved the shoe at him. He laughed and rested back in the chair, then crossed his legs and continued watching her. Soon, she waved at the saleswoman and showed her the pairs she wanted to try on, then came over to Max to sit with him while she waited on the saleswoman to bring them to her.
"Oh, sweetie! I think I found some good ones!"
"Good, good! What colors did you find?"
"I found two that are a sort of lavender color, and two that are silver. I want to try some closed-toed heels, too. I wasn't sure how much they may show up with the dress, if anyone would even notice."
"Oh, well, I noticed when you came out of the dressing room. At least where the slit is. It's a very nice feature…"
"Really? You think so? What kind of shoes do you think might look nice?"
"Oh, well that's more your department, darling. I think any kind of heel would be nice on you. You always look so good when you dress up." Fran leaned over to kiss him.
"Aw, sweetie! Well, you'll have to give me your honest opinion when I try them on. Especially if I can't make up my mind." She took his hand and clenched it, eagerly anticipating the saleswoman's return.
"Just pick what you like, darling. You aren't restricted to one pair, either. We'll see how these look on you. And we can look in the other areas, too, if you'd like."
"Oh, I don't know if we'll need to. I think we have a contender in this batch!" She patted his hand and sat on the edge of her seat, then turned around to see if she could see the saleswoman. The second she saw the woman come back out from the back room with a stack of four boxes in her arms, Fran nearly squealed. She waved at the woman and then hurriedly took of her shoes and got ready to try on the new pairs.
"Hello, I've got all the lovelies here for you to try on! Let me just set them right here. Did you want to start with any particular one?"
"Oh, I don't know that it matters. Let's just start with the first box."
The woman lined up the boxes across a bench in front of them, then opened each one so Fran could see each pair of shoes. The saleswoman handed Fran the first pair, and Max leaned over to watch her put them on. For something so seemingly dull and mundane as shoe shopping, Max found himself genuinely interested in watching Fran try them on, trying to decide which would go with her beautiful new gown.
Once she had the first pair on, she got up and walked around in them, then posed for Max. "What do you think?" She asked. They were a silvery, closed-toed high heel, with thin straps wrapping around her ankle.
"I think they're very pretty on you. How do they feel?"
"Not too bad. Lemme see them in the mirror real quick." She tiptoed over to the low mirrors and looked at herself as she turned from one side to the other. "Hmm… they aren't bad as far as shoes go, but I don't think these are right for that gown. Let me try the next pair and see how they look." She hurried back to the chair and took off the shoes, then traded them for the next pair with the saleswoman. Max stood up and looked over the boxes of heels to see what the others looked like, then went back to the chair with the garment bags on it.
"Darling, let me open this up so you can compare the shoes to the colors on your gown."
"Oh! Yes! Thank you sweetie!" Fran said. She stood up with the new pair of heels on and walked back and forth a little. Max looked fondly at her legs- she always looked lovely in heels.
"Those look lovely on you, Fran!"
"You like? They are nice, aren't they? Here, stay still a minute so I can hold onto you. Let me see how it looks by the gown…" She grabbed hold of Max's shoulder and lifted a foot up, holding it next to the bag with the dress. "Hmm, that silver's not quite right. But these shoes really are pretty."
"They are," Max smiled at her. She poked him in the side and then walked over to the mirrors and turned from side to side. She looked back over at Max and raised her eyebrows.
"Well, let me put these on the back burner for a minute and try the other ones. I really need to make sure I have shoes for the party first." She hurried back to the chair and swapped out another pair of heels with the saleswoman, then fastened on the new pair. "Now look at these, baby. This color. Is it close?" Max held onto her as she stood up and lifted her foot up to the gown. "Oh! Look! It's the same! The lavender!" She got excited and let go of Max, then hurried over to the mirrors. Max sat back down and watched her ogle the shoes and smiled.
"Those are lovely, too, darling. What do you think?"
"I think I like these, too! And the color is perfect. The last pair is a little more purple, a little darker, and they're similar to this style. Oh, I think I really like these! Let me see them with the gown again." She walked back over to the chairs and pulled out the lower part of the gown, then shifted it in front of her legs. She smiled and looked up at Max, who was leaning over to have a look.
"Are these the ones?" He raised his eyebrows.
"I think they are. But let me be sure and try on the last pair, too." Once again, Fran sat down and swapped shoes with the saleswoman, then slid on the final pair. She got up and held on to Max to put it against the gown. "Yeah, I think these are a bit too dark. And I don't have anything that I think would go with them, unless it was a plain white dress. Hmm. Okay, I think we have a winner, sweetie! What do you think? The lavender ones I just had on?"
"I think those were lovely, they go well with the gown, too. If you want to go with those, I'm all for it. And if you like that other pair, the silver ones, we can get those as well. They were very flattering on you."
"Really? They are very pretty. Okay, then! Let's do it!" She turned to the saleswoman, "Okay, Miss, the two pairs in the middle. I'll get back into my shoes and then we need to go find this man some shoes, too!"
"Would you like me to take these to the register so you can finish looking around?"
"Oh, yes, thank you very much!" Fran removed the heels and handed them to the woman, who boxed them back up and separated the shoes she wanted from the ones she didn't, and then took the two pairs she picked out over to the main register while Fran slipped her own shoes back on.
They picked up all of their things and headed across to the men's dress shoes where they found another set of chairs, and set their bags down on one of them.
"Now Fran, I may need your help on this. I'm afraid if I picked something out, they would look just like some of the shoes I already have."
"Alright, baby. But don't overthink it. You've got a tux that's fairly modern looking, so keep that in mind when you look at the shoes. Make it a point to only look at the shoes that are styles you don't have already. See- like these boots here. Half boots. Do you want the pant leg to blend smoothly into the shoe, or do you want the shoe to stand out in some way?"
"Oh, well, now that you say it, I don't think I want them to stand out, really. A smooth, clean look, I expect. Oh, maybe without any laces. So yes, maybe these half boots, something like that. Comfortable, too."
"You know, with a higher boot like this style here- you might be able to get away with wearing a thicker sock if you wanted. That might help with comfort. And if you sat down, I doubt anyone would be able to see what kind of socks you had on. Now, if that's something you want to try, see what kind of toe and heel you want. Make sure the heel isn't too high."
She let Max wander through the long section of half-boots as she went to have a look around and see what other nice shoes they might have for him. She had never shopped for men's shoes before, and it was making her feel very domestic again, and even closer to Max. She really loved how they were helping each other out, preparing for a big outing together. She remembered how they would be going out to dinner on Thursday- dinner and dancing. She wondered what he might wear, and thought maybe he might like a new pair of shoes for that night, too. After all, he had gotten her an extra pair of heels. Maybe she could wear hers for that date, too. She tried to remember what his other shoes at home looked like, and then looked for a style he didn't already have that might be good to dance in. She found two pairs, and then heard Max speaking with the saleswoman, who was just about to head back to retrieve the shoes Max wanted to try on, so she hurried over to ask her to get the ones she also found.
"What did you find?" He asked, and then took her hand and led her back to the chairs where their things were.
"Well, if I'm getting an extra pair of heels, I thought maybe you might like an extra pair of shoes, too. Maybe we can both wear them out on our date Thursday night." She gave him a smile and bumped him with her hip.
"Mmm, our date… Actually that's not a bad idea. Can you dance in those silver heels? Do you have something to wear with them?"
"I think I might. I can check when we get home. I picked out a couple pairs for you that don't look like something you already have. I thought they might be good for dancing. But it's okay if you don't like them, they might be a stretch. I know you like your wing-tips." They sat down in the chairs and held hands.
"Sure, the wing-tips are nice. Standard. Predictable. But you're helping me look at a lot of things in new ways. You always have."
"Aw! Well, you can give them a try, see what you think." Fran leaned towards him and they kissed, then smiled at each other.
"We're going to have our arms full by the time we leave here, you know. Someone may have to help us get to the car!" He grinned, and squeezed her knee.
"I think we'll be alright. Maybe we can consolidate the bags if we have to. These should be the last big items we get. Unless we find some giant bearclaws or cinnamon buns we want to have for breakfast!" They both laughed and Max kissed her again.
"You know, Fran, I really like this shopping with you. Helping each other pick things out. It's nice. It makes me feel like we're really becoming partners."
"It does. We're taking care of each other. I like shopping with you, too, sweetie. Doesn't matter what for, just being with you and picking things out together, it feels really nice."
"It sure does." He rubbed her hands. "It'll be nice to get home to that couch, too. I think I'd like to curl up with you for a long time after dinner. Just some music, the fire going, and my girlfriend in my arms…" he said softly.
"Mmmm! Yeah, that's gonna be nice! Really nice!"
The saleswoman came out with a tall stack of shoeboxes and set them down on a table, then opened the first box for Max. A phone started ringing at the main desk and she glanced over to it. "Oh, if you'll excuse me a moment, I've got to run and grab that phone real quick. I'll be right back!" She hurried off, leaving Fran and Max to handle the shoes themselves.
"Okay, baby, get your shoes off! Let me get those out of the box for you." Fran got up and removed the shoes from the box as Max pulled off his own shoes and set them to the side. She handed him the dress boots and he got them on his feet, then stood up. Fran watched as he walked back and forth in them.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"Not bad, but I'm not sure. They almost look like they might look better with jeans, you know? Maybe it's the shape of the toe? Check them in those mirrors and see what you think." Max walked over to the bank of mirrors and turned the shoes from side to side.
"Yes, I think I see what you're saying. Maybe something a little more rounded off would be better. Alright, next pair!" He came back to the chair and took off the boots, then Fran put them back in their box and got out the next pair.
"These might be better, sweetie. Let's see how they fit you." Max pulled on the boots and got up, then moved back and forth to check the feel.
"These aren't bad. They seem to fit well. Let me have a look." He walked back to the mirrors as Fran watched him.
"Imagine your pants are black, maybe stand to the side and see if that looks about right." He did what Fran said, then turned to the opposite side, then looked at them from the front. He looked over at Fran, and she gave him a smile. "Those could work! So they feel okay? Not tight?" Max walked back over to her and looked down at the shoes.
"They're comfortable. I think the toe looks better on these, at least for wearing with a tuxedo. So I guess these are a contender?" He looked back at her.
"Sure, okay. We'll put that box over here. Let's try on the next ones!" Max sat down, pulled off the boots and handed them to Fran, then she set them back neatly in their box and set them aside, then opened the next box and handed Max a pair of taller, black leather boots.
"Oh, these are ones you picked out?" He asked.
"Yeah. They're kinda sexy! Maybe with jeans, or regular slacks. You know, you could wear them with that nice pair of jeans I got you and one of your black turtlenecks, or crisp, white, button-down shirt…" she wandered off as she thought about it, imagining how gorgeous he would look.
"Are you fantasizing?" He asked, pulling her back to reality.
"Oh! Well, shoot! I can't help it! You're so cute! But see if they fit first, before I get too carried away." Max pulled up his socks and then pulled on each boot one at a time. They were more rugged boots, almost biker-style, but a little more minimal in their decoration. He wiggled his toes around inside them, then stood up. He wasn't used to wearing that type of shoe, but had to admit to himself that they made him feel a little bit cool.
"They remind me of my old Beatle boots. But a little - I don't know- heftier? Stockier." He marched a little in place, getting used to the feel.
"Walk over to the mirrors, I want to see if they make you walk weird. They shouldn't though, they're taller boots than the other ones so they should give you good ankle support." Fran watched him walk slowly over to the mirrors. She couldn't decide if he was walking slower because the boots were uncomfortable, or because they made him feel cool and he was trying for a swagger. She grinned as she thought about it. Max walked back and forth in front of the mirrors, tapped the toes on the floor, then walked back and forth across the floor.
"They seem kind of- 'cool' - don't you think? Do they make me look silly?"
"They make you look hot. I mean, for real, they do! Wow. Now imagine you're wearing jeans and a comfy shirt. And we're going out for burgers or something. Do you think you might wear them for something like that?"
"Well, sure. I suppose I would. You sure they look good? They seem to feel fine. Not loose or tight or anything. I don't think the heel is too high, because the front is up a bit, too." Fran walked over to him and they both looked in the mirror at them.
"Well, it's up to you if you want to give them a try. I think they make you look pretty sexy, though. And you don't have to wear them all that often. Maybe just on more casual days, if we go out somewhere. Or whenever. Around the house. As long as I'm home to see it!" She patted his back and grinned at him in the reflection. Max got a rush of indulgence and wanted to let Fran win this one. He liked it when she liked how he looked. Really liked it.
"Well, that settles it! We'll put these on the stack of consideration! Okay, next pair!" They walked back to the chairs holding hands, and Max sat back down to pull off the boots. Fran moved the empty box over to the stack they were making, then set the boots in it when Max handed them to her. She opened the fourth box and took out the shoes and handed them to Max. He pulled them onto his feet and stood up. He walked around in them and then went to the mirrors. "Well, they aren't shiny like the other pair. Should shoes be shiny for a tux?"
"They don't have to be, but usually, probably yes. I think most of the time guys wear shoes with a nice shine on them. Do you like the shine on the other pair better?"
"I think I might." He looked back down at the shoes.
"Okay, well, last pair, then?" She asked.
"Alright."
The final pair of shoes was the other pair Fran had picked out, a low-rise pair of slip-on designer shoes- a shade of brown rather than black. Max held them up in front of him, looked at Fran questioningly, then put them on. She smiled as he stood up and had a look at them.
"These aren't for the tux, I just thought they might be nice for a suit or something. A little different, but not too extreme. What do you think?"
"They're nice. I guess I was a little thrown off, but yes, they would work nicely for a suit." He walked over to the mirrors for a better look. "You know, these would be nice for Spring and Summer, wouldn't they? Maybe with some lighter colors?" Fran nodded and smiled. She felt like her fashion sense was wearing off on him. "Well, what the hell? Let's do it! Let's get these, too! I haven't had any new shoes in ages. If the house is getting redecorated, there's no reason I can't, too, right?" He smiled at Fran.
"Really? You really like them? Oh, I'm so happy! And we found shoes for the tux, too, right? Do you want to get the other pair for the tux?"
"Yes, yes I do. So you are getting two pairs, and I'm getting three? You sure you don't want to go back and find another pair?"
"Hey, I've got way more shoes at home than you do, so it's time you started getting caught up!" He laughed, then walked a bit more in the shoes, then came back to sit down and change back into his own shoes. The saleswoman hurried back over to them from the main desk.
"I am dreadfully sorry! That took longer than I expected! How are you doing over here? Were you able to find some things you like?" She asked.
"Yes, there are several pairs here we'll be getting. And I think that will do it for today."
"Wonderful! Let me get those for you, and I'll get them over to the register with the others." Fran sorted out the boxes and handed them to the woman, then she and Max gathered all of their things again and headed over to pay for the shoes. When everything was paid for and bagged up, they thanked the saleswoman and headed out, and made their way towards the jewelry department.