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What they both saw in the mirror was a beautiful woman, sad and pale and neglected. And suddenly Jan decided to try Paul's tactic. She told her mother about Jack's party that night at Julie's.
    Go there? To the store?' As Jan had predicted she would, Amanda looked horrified at the suggestion. That's crazy.
    So is what you've done to yourself in the past year. Come on, Mommy, do it for me. You won't know anyone. Just put on a dress and some makeup and we'll go together. It would make Paul really happy.
    I'll go out to dinner with you both one night. He'd like that. I'll take you to Spago's.
    I want you to come out with me now. You don't have to stay long. Five minutes. Just make the effort. For me ' for Lou ' for Daddy ' he wouldn't want to see you like this, Mom. I really believe that. She nearly held her breath as she looked at her mother. She was absolutely certain that there was no way her mother would go with her, but Amanda stood very still, watching her for a long moment, uncertain.
    Do you really think your father would want me to do it? she asked, as Jan nodded slowly. It was amazing how much that still meant to her.
    I do, Mom. It was a lie, but she wanted her mother to believe it, and then, nodding slowly, Amanda turned on her heel and walked into her bedroom, as Jan followed, in amazement. She didn't dare ask her mother what she was doing. But Amanda had marched into her closet, and Jan could hear rustling and the shifting of dresses. It was a full five minutes before she emerged again, carrying a somber black one.
    What do you think of this? she asked, as Jan looked at her wide-eyed, unable to believe she'd done it. She had finally gotten through to her, and had somehow managed to dynamite her out of her house and her husband's grave. It was beyond amazing.
    I think it's a little severe, don't you? She followed her mother back inside, afraid to discourage her completely, but the dress was really depressing. How about this one? She pointed to a purple one she knew her mother loved, but her father had loved it too, and Amanda shook her head the moment Jan showed it to her. Instead she chose a pretty navy blue wool dress that had always been too tight and now molded her figure beautifully, and was much younger-looking than the first one. It was, in its own way, as distinguished as she was, and she looked like the star she had once been as she tried it on in front of the mirror. She put on a pair of navy blue high-heel pumps, and a pair of sapphire earrings, and combed her hair back in the smooth knot that had been her signature in many of her pictures, and she put so little makeup on Jan couldn't even see it. Maybe a little more, Mom? What do you think? Amanda looked at herself appraisingly, into it now, and conceded.
    Maybe just a little. I don't want to look like a hooker.
    I think that would take some real work actually, more than we have time for. Jan smiled in pleasure as she looked at her mother. She looked spectacular, and like the woman she had known and loved all her life, not the scarecrow she had become in the past year, as she mourned her husband.
    What do you think? Amanda asked nervously. Do I look like me, or the sad sack I've been? There were tears glistening in her eyes as she said it.
    You look like you, Mom, Jan said with tears in her own eyes, grateful to whatever Fates had finally convinced her mother. Oh God, I love you, she said, as she held her. Amanda blew her nose daintily in a handkerchief, touched up her lipstick again with a practiced hand, and then put the few things she needed into a navy handbag, and looked admiringly at her daughter. Jan was wearing a red wool dress she loved and wore every Christmas, and standing side by side in red and blue, they looked almost like sisters.
    You're a good girl, Jan, and I love you, she whispered, as they headed toward the front door. Amanda still couldn't believe she'd let Jan talk her into this, but she was determined now to do it. We won't stay