Read HH02 - A Reclusive Heart for Free Online Page A

boring, quiet one. She was just background, wallpaper and nothing more. She didn't draw attention
    unless it was to point and laugh at. Caitlyn was the natural beauty. She was the daughter her parents adored. The one her mother
    babied and pampered even though Caitlyn was the oldest. She was the one her mother brought to the beauty parlor when they
    were little, because she was a natural beauty, not Jamie.
    Jamie paused midstride as she caught a glimpse of the surprising beauty in the mirror. She was beautiful. Her hair was
    shorter, ending just below the shoulder blades with a hint of soft curls. It flowed like silk with every movement. Jamie pushed
    back a strand of her hair behind her ear and was somewhat startled as the beauty before her did the same.
    It was so wrong. The woman before her was too beautiful. It couldn't be. It definitely couldn't be that simple. A day at a
    spa and a shopping trip and she looked like this? Impossible. If it was really that simple why hadn't her mother done it for her
    years ago? Her mother loved to go to the spa, so wouldn't she have brought Jamie along with Caitlyn if something like this was
    even possible?
    Caitlyn was the favorite, everyone knew that, but wouldn't her mother have been happy with two beautiful daughters?
    Shouldn't she have tried for Jamie's sake? A small sob escaped her before she could bite it back.
    Why had her mother been so sure, so adamant that there was nothing to her? Exactly when had Jamie been designated ugly,
    useless and nothing more than Caitlyn's plain little sister? Why?
    With a shaky hand she pushed her hair back and smiled nervously as the golden silky hair slid perfectly back into place.
    She traced her newly thinned arched brows down her face. With her glasses now permanently gone she could see her features
    better. They were softer than she thought they would be. Her skin was definitely softer and healthier looking thanks to the
    torture she endured yesterday.
    She'd never done much for herself in the way of beauty. What was the point? she thought. All those years and all those put
    downs from her family kept her in her place. She never ventured past the basics of self-care, never even considered that there
    might be more for her. Why would she?
    All those years......
    She'd been such a fool.
    Was this the real her? she wondered as her eyes moved down the little pink tank top Dana picked out for her yesterday.
    She'd never worn anything that fit her so well before. Normally she picked clothes that were plain and way too big. Anything
    that helped her blend in and not attract attention made her happy.
    Now she couldn't help but smile. As a child she'd always been stick thin. It wasn't until college that she finally began to
    fill in. Not that anyone would notice thanks to her wardrobe. She never thought her body was anything special. Plenty of
    women had breasts, hips and a nice figure, but the difference was that those women had a pretty face to go along with the
    package and now so did she.
    She smiled as she looked down at the cute pink flannel pajama pants that hung low around her hips. They were a little bit
    baggy but in a complementary way. They looked really good. It really surprised her how good she felt and how feminine these
    clothes made her feel.
    For the first time in her life she'd enjoyed shopping. When they entered the store, out of habit she wondered over to the
    discount area, not because she was broke, but because that's where the plain clothes were. Dana and Amy shared an amused
    look as they dragged her away.
    Under their guidance and direction she bought everything from shoes to simple lingerie. Her bedroom and half her small
    living room were now filled with shopping bags. An excited smile tugged at her lips at the thought of going through everything
    and playing dress up.
    She felt like such a girl today! It was exciting and scary and she couldn't wait to get started!
    "Miss. Harris, please hold while I transfer your call to