What surprises Eddy about his mother's appearance after she and his father split up in the novel, A Woman’s Battles and Transformations?

When Eddy first sees his mother in Paris after his parents' break-up, she is weaing make-up. Eddy is shocked by how different, and specifically, by how feminine she looks. Claiming her womanhood and her femininity as her own are Monique's first steps towards changing her life.