Chapter 48

Adele immediately blushes as she quickly turns away, then back to Nadine. "I do?" Nadine emphatically declares, "Yeah." She gradually brushes away the disheveled hair drooping down in front of Adele's face. "But no one would know it because you're always hiding them behind those glasses and hair." While gazing upon her now unobstructed countenance, with those glasses removed and ‘free-spirited' hair out of the way, Nadine suddenly realizes how beautiful Adele looks. She's always known that Adele possessed an undeniably radiant inner beauty; which makes her such an endearingly charming individual. But there's also an outer, aesthetically attractive appearance present; though its been constantly hindered from revealing itself due to Adele's lack of interest in carrying the so-called ‘glamorous look'…maintaining a more ‘childish look' in her appearance; which she feels totally comfortable with…and obscured by the preconceived notions people have about her because of her perceived non-conformant behavior and oddities. Even though she appreciates Adele just the way she is, Nadine can't help but to feel that if Adele were to present herself in a more ‘attractive manner' perhaps more kids at school would start accepting her more readily. And she's convinced that with both Corrine's help and Missy's expertise in the field, they can transform Adele into the socially acceptable beauty that she already is; though at this time not apparently noticeable to her peers. "Hey, Cor; do you and Missy have to leave right away?" "No; not really. Why?" "I was thinking…" She turns to Missy. "Missy…do you have any of your beauty supplies with you?" Missy states, in a matter of fact tone, "What kind of beautician would I be if I didn't have a cache of products on hand." "Great. Ladies…I think it's time for a makeover." Corrine and Missy look at each other and smile as they nod their heads in agreement. Nadine looks back to Adele. "What do you say, Adele…ready to be made over?" Unsure what she means, and a bit leery, Adele inquires, "Made over to what?" Missy interjects, assuring Adele, "Trust us…you'll love it." Adele replies with a little apprehension evident in her voice, "Okay…I guess." "Super. I'll just run out to the car and get my arsenal." As Missy leaves, Adele, who's totally confounded at this point and succumbing to some growing trepidation, looks nervously to Nadine. "Arsenal?" Nadine laughs, takes her by the arm, and begins to soothingly stroke the top of Adele's hand and forearm in an attempt to put her at ease. "Relax…it's okay. Now, come on; let's go up to your bedroom." As Nadine starts to lead her upstairs, Adele anxiously looks back to Estelle. "Grandma?" Estelle shakes her head while smiling. "You go on, Suga'bear…you'll be fine." Later that evening, Estelle's on the couch knitting when Nadine enters the living room wearing the ‘cat that ate the canary' grin. "Mrs. Wilson…are you ready to see your granddaughter's transformation?" Estelle places her knitting down beside her. "Okay; I'm ready. Let's see this new look yall gave her." Nadine asks a little more enticingly, "No…I mean…are you really ready to see her?" Estelle sounds somewhat more intrigued this time. "Yes…I'm really ready." "Alright, come on then; let's go see." Nadine leads Estelle to the dining room and calls up the stairway, "Okay guys; send her down." She turns to Estelle. "I give you… the new and improved Adele Wilson." As they look upstairs, Estelle's face immediately contorts into an expression of utter astonishment as she draws her hands over an agape mouth. She can't believe her eyes. This wasn't her Suga'bear standing at the top of the staircase…it was Charmaine. The resemblance is overwhelmingly striking; Adele looks just like her mother did when she was a teenager. Because of the way Adele maintained her appearance, she never noticed it before; but now, with the makeover complete, Estelle can once again see her daughter's image standing before her in her granddaughter. Adele had never seen her grandmother look the way she does at this moment. She's beginning to worry. "What's wrong, Grandma?"