Daria in the Ring

by dmsfanman

This is a series of short stories about a more mature Daria. We see Daria first in an environment which has been safe and familiar, but her life is about to change. You will see her relationships with familiar characters you first met back in Lawndale, but they too have had their lives change. Join Daria on her new journey. It is a journey which is both familiar and not.

4. Gallery of Eden

Gallery of Eden

Saturday Mid-Day

Tom Sloane looked around the small apartment and felt a sense of accomplishment. He went through his checklist. Bathroom – check. Bedroom vacuumed, dusted, and bed changed – check. Kitchen cleaned – check. Living room vacuumed and dusted – check. Dishes done – check. Laundry done – check. He had even opened the windows for a few minutes and put out some air fresheners. The whole place was now clean and fit for company. Now to go run through the shower and get dressed.

Tom went back the bathroom. He shaved, brushed his teeth and ran through the shower. He stopped a moment to contemplate himself. Not too bad. At five foot ten inches he was average height and things still looked pretty good. He managed to keep his weight under control. His chiseled face and square chin looked good in the mirror. As far as he was concerned he was still too young to worry about gray hair. He ran his hand through his slightly damp sandy hair and reached for the blow dryer. Just then he heard a knock at the door.

Tom raced back to the bedroom and quickly threw on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. The person at the door knocked again and he shouted, "Coming." He opened the door and there stood Jane Lane. Tom just stared for a moment at his ex-girlfriend, who also happened to be his wife's best friend. Jane's jet black hair was in her favorite chop cut, which melded nicely with her heart shaped face. At five foot five she was not short, but not tall either. However, she had a fabulous figure and great legs. She wore three ear rings in each ear and her red lipstick was perfect. Jane had her backpack over her shoulders and was pulling a carry on suitcase.

Jane took a moment and stared back at Tom. He still looked pretty good more than a dozen years after they first met.

"Hi Tom," Said Jane. "Going to invite me in or should I just stand in the hallway?"

"Hi Jane. Come on in."

Jane walked in and gave Tom a kiss on the cheek as she went by. "Where's Daria? I kind of expected her to be the one to answer the door.

"She is out shopping with Quinn. She needs a new suit for her interview next week."

"Maybe I need to sit down. Am I to believe that Daria is actually out shopping with her sister Quinn? Is she under duress?"

"Truth is sometimes stranger than fiction Jane. Daria actually asked Quinn for help."

"I may need a drink. Got any gin?"

"Sorry. I have whisky, vodka, wine, and beer if you need a drink."

"I'm just kidding and you know that Tom. I'm getting to the point in life where a mid-day drink will more likely put me to sleep than put me in a partying mood. So tell me about this interview."

"Sorry Jane. I know Daria is going to want to do that herself. I'm not going to take that away from her. However, if you would like some lunch I was just about to make some sandwiches."

"That would be good. I got the early train from Boston and didn't get anything more than coffee for breakfast. I'm starving and I don't want to wait until the gallery show's hors d'oerves to put something in my stomach. Whatcha got?"

Just as he was about to answer the first bars of Beethoven's Ode to Joy sounded on his phone. He walked over and saw that it was an incoming text message from Daria. "Heading home" was the message. "Well, this says Daria is on her way. She and Quinn must have finished. It will take her about 35 minutes to get here. Why don't you put your things in the corner of the living room and get comfortable. I am going to run into the back for a minute and finish dressing. It is still a little cool to stand around here in just a T-shirt."

"I thought the view was just fine. But, I could tell you were a little cold there. Besides, I don't want Daria to think I was using you as my toy."

"Very funny Jane. We are still probably the strangest trio around."

"What is so strange about husband, wife, and husband's ex-girlfriend who is also wife's best friend? Try being an artist. We are downright normal compared to some of what I've seen. Now go put your clothes on before I have to tell your wife you were parading around in your underwear!"

"I am wearing jeans you know," Tom said as he headed back to the bedroom and closed the door. Tom got undressed and then redressed in jeans, a rugby shirt, and athletic shoes. He came out and walked to the kitchen and started making three sandwiches.

"So, would you like ham, turkey, or roast beef? We also have lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, and mustard. We have potato chips, diet cola, diet lemon-lime, and European mineral water."

"I'll take turkey with lettuce, tomato, chips, and a diet cola."

"Coming right up." Tom went ahead and made Jane's turkey sandwich. He knew Daria would want ham, and he preferred roast beef. By the time the three sandwiches were on the table he heard Daria's key sliding into the lock on the door. The door opened and she entered the apartment. Daria was carrying a suit bag and several shopping bags.

"Hey you two. Shopping was successful. Let me put these things in the bedroom and then we can have some lunch. I see Tom is serving."

The three of them sat down and started eating their food. Daria told them about her morning with Quinn. When she was about halfway through her sandwich her phone started playing circus music.

"Uh oh. I need to answer that. It's my Dad calling. If I don't call him by noon on Saturday he starts to think I have been mugged and must be lying in an alley somewhere." Daria got up, answered her phone and went back into the bedroom to talk.

"So, what's new with you Jane?" Tom said.

"Well not much. Since kicking Owen out six months ago I have pretty well devoted myself to my art. He was a nice guy, but seemed to have an acute allergy to work. Am I glad I didn't marry him! I'm producing some pretty decent pieces and they have sold OK. However, I have no social life outside of trying to sell my work. I'm starting to think about getting back into dating. Any suggestions?"

"Are you serious about wanting a new relationship and not just looking for a rebound fling?"

"I think after six months it is no longer rebound. Yes, I am interested in meeting someone. I kind of envy you and Daria. You two have what you and I never would have. You two are soul mates. It gives me real joy that I brought you two together, even if it involved some pain for me back when we were teens. But, yes I would like to meet someone."

"OK. But you need to be nice to him."

"I will be. I promise, as long as that isn't a euphemism for something else."

"It isn't."

"OK. So who is this person?"

"His name is Jim Greeley. He was my freshman roommate at Bromwell."

"Didn't I meet him once back in Lawndale?"

"Yes. It was the beginning of the summer of our sophomore years and we were all in Lawndale at the time. You were back from Boston Fine Arts College, Daria was back from Raft, and Jim and I were there from Bromwell. The only thing was Jim and I were just passing through."

"That's right. You two were headed someplace because, as I remember, he was transferring schools and you were helping him drive."

"That's right. He had decided to transfer to Michigan to study Electrical Engineering. Bromwell doesn't have an engineering school."

"As I recall he was kind of cute. About six feet tall and decently built."

"You have a good memory. He is still six feet tall, but very well built after several years in the gym. He is also interested in dating again."

"Please don't tell me this is a guy who has been divorced twice before he was thirty and needs his next score. Because, I am not going to be someone's 'score.' I don't want someone like my brother Wind!"

"Nothing like that Jane. Do you want me to tell you his story?"

"Sure."

"OK. As I said, Jim transferred to Michigan to study Electrical Engineering. While there he met Mary Kelly, who he married just after graduation. He got a great offer from a firm based in downtown Detroit. This was just as a few islands down there were starting to redevelop. A few firms were moving in and buying up major commercial real estate. Mary got a job with a major mortgage lender and the two became some of the early young professionals to recolonize the downtown. They really did well for the first couple of years. Then one afternoon Mary went to the ATM to get some money. A car rolled up with some gang bangers in it. They robbed her of a hundred dollars and shot her dead in cold blood. Right there on the sidewalk near her workplace. Jim was shattered."

"Fortunately, the ATM camera and several other security cameras recorded the crime. The police caught the murderers. But, it took over two years from the time they were caught until they were taken away to life in prison without parole. Jim actually spent a year's worth of his salary to make certain the judge gave them the harshest possible sentence. By order of the court, every year on the anniversary of the crime each one is placed in strict solitary confinement for a week. In strict solitary there are no privileges. No music, TV, or reading material. The cells are soundproof and making noise lengthens their time there. They get one hour per day exercise consisting of walking in a circle in a fenced outdoor cage. It is pretty much like being in a tomb with a toilet. Being sent to strict solitary negates all of the institutional progress and privileges they amass during the year. Essentially they must start over as maximum security inmates every year.

"Then Jim got the federal prosecutor involved, because they were all felons connected with a gun crime. The feds even got one of them on a federal charge of possession of crack with intent to deliver. If by some strange turn of events these guys ever see the light of day again in Michigan they have 20-30 year federal sentences they will have to begin serving."

"Jim mourned for two years. He sought legal revenge for two years. As soon as the legal proceedings were over he moved to New York. He has spent two plus years in therapy and the gym. A couple months ago he said to me that he felt he was ready for a relationship again."

"Wow. That is one of the saddest stories I have ever heard. Do you think he is emotionally ready?"

"Yes. I think so. My suggestion is that I call him and see if he would like to join us at the gallery show this evening and then we can all go to dinner. Sort of like a group date."

"Give him a call. What can it hurt to meet this guy – again. At the very least he might inspire a painting!"

Tom grabbed his phone and placed a call to Jim. Jim answered and seemed delighted to have an opportunity to meet Jane and go to the gallery show of Jane's friend. Dinner didn't sound bad either. It beat the heck out of sitting in his apartment and watching a game with a bowl of nachos!

"We are all set. Jim will meet us there. I think you will like him. Wow is Daria still on the phone with her Dad?"

Daria opened the door of the bedroom and came out into the dining area. Her thick auburn hair was a bit mussed. She was wearing her usual neutral expression on her oval face framed by her hair. Her big glasses seemed a bit askew. Even so, five foot three, petite Daria Morgendorffer Sloane was a very attractive woman.

"How is your Dad doing?" asked Tom.

Daria replied in her characteristic deadpan monotone, "Other than what I diagnose as a moderate case of total insanity, I think he is doing fine. I talked to both he and Mom. We are all set to arrive a week from Wednesday. They are thrilled by the idea of my being on the faculty of Lawndale State University. Rah. Go squirrels or whatever form of vermin they use as a mascot."

"Your interview is at Lawndale State?" Jane exclaimed with her big blue eyes nearly bulging out of her head.

"As strange as it seems. Yes. It gets even better! The chairman of the department is someone who lives down the street from my parents. He even remembers the two of us walking to school together every day when we were in high school. I'm not sure if that is good or bad."

"I don't know either. But what do you think about leaving New York? And what about your job Tom?" Jane said.

Tom replied, "I'm an accountant. I can find a good job anywhere. I have already told Daria that I will follow wherever she goes. She is the one who has the hard to find position."

The three chatted on for the next half hour about jobs, interviews, and possible futures. Then they decided to get a little rest before getting dressed for the gallery show.

…..

About an hour before they had to leave Daria, Tom, and Jane were standing in the kitchen. Daria said, "OK Jane. What should I wear to this thing? I can go anywhere from jeans and a T-shirt with a dinosaur saying 'I8NY' to an evening gown. Tom needs to know what to wear too, though I am not going to let him wear my evening gown."

"This bunch is usually pretty fashion forward and not in the formal attire sense." Jane said.

"How about this for you Daria," Tom said. "Black skirt, your black top with the black lace collar, black leggings, short laced boots, and then the black cropped leather jacket I bought for you last year. I'll wear my black leather sport coat as well with a black T-shirt and black trousers. I think I have a pair of shoes that will work well, too."

"That sounds like the kind of things the fans of this artist would wear," Jane said. "I brought black leather pants, a black top and black blazer."

"It doesn't sound like I will be humiliated, so I'm ok with the suggestions. Let's get changed," Daria said.

Tom texted Jim and filled him in on dress for the evening.

Each took their turns in the bedroom and bathroom to put on their clothes for the show. Tom was ready first and waited in the living room.

Jane came out in her black outfit and was wearing the same red lipstick as when she arrived. Tom said, "Now don't go getting that on me. The missus would start becoming suspicious."

"Don't worry. I don't want to smudge anything. I need to not only attend this show, but get the gallery owner to hold a show of my works. I still have not had a gallery showing in New York."

Daria was the last to come out of the bedroom all dressed. She had the clothes on that they had discussed. However, she had chosen a lipstick that was an exact match of her auburn hair. In a word, she was stunning. Tom just stood there with his mouth open looking at her.

"Close your mouth Tom. We don't want anything coming in for a landing or someone thinking you're stupid." Daria said with a little smirk.

Tom said, "You are lovely my dear. Now can I take my two most favorite girls in the world to the show? You may each have an arm. I do have two."

"Why I would love to," Jane said taking Tom's left arm.

"I will too. Just be careful of what happens on that other arm. You wouldn't want to lose it." Daria deadpanned while taking her husband's right arm.

The three friends headed off toward the subway.

The Showing

Tom held the door open as Jane and then Daria walked into the gallery. While not packed, the turnout of art aficionados, or at least hors d'oeuvres and champagne aficionados, was very good. They had clearly hit the target on dress! Each of the three friends checked in and went and picked up a glass of champagne and some food. Then they started looking at the paintings one by one. Jane walked over to the artist, Jean-Paul Tourneau, and brought him over to meet her friends.

"Good evening Jane. It is so good to see you. Thank you for coming to New York for my show," Jean-Paul said. To Daria and Tom he said, "I am very pleased to meet you," as he shook their hands. He appeared to have a slight French accent. "Welcome to my showing. I hope that my work will evoke strong feelings in you and especially that you might like to take a piece or two home with you. Please enjoy our soiree."

As he walked off Daria leaned over to Jane and whispered, "Nice fake French accent. What's his real name Homer Grubnik?"

"I honestly don't know what his real name is. Obviously he felt the need to change it to be part of the art scene." Jane said as she started to look around for the gallery owner. That is when she spied a very well built and good looking man about six feet tall walk in the door. He checked in at the counter, grabbed a glass of champagne and started looking around the crowd.

Jane grabbed Tom's arm and said, "Is that Jim over there near the counter?"

Tom looked at where she indicated and sure enough it was Jim. Tom walked over. Neither Daria nor Jane could tell what they were saying to each other, but Jim slapped Tom on the back and the two of them walked over.

"Hi Jane. I'm Jim Greeley. Didn't we meet when I was passing through Lawndale with Tom a whole bunch of years ago?"

"Hi Jim. Nice to meet you," Jane said. "Yes we did. We met and had pizza at the Pizza King where Daria and I sort of used to hang out. So much has happened since then. Now I am an artist in Boston. I know Jean-Paul Tourneau from his shows up there. That is really what brings me down here." Oh my goodness I am kind of gushing to this guy, Jane thought. Then she said, "Don't get me wrong, I really want to talk to you, but I need to find the gallery owner and try to persuade him to do a show of my work here. Business you know."

"Let me help," Jim said. "I have bought a couple of pieces here before and I know him. His name is Mel Greenberg." Jim started looking around for Mel. This was tough in a crowd, since Mel was only five foot seven inches tall. He spotted him in the corner chatting up a couple of young women who were probably art students. Mel had a reputation for liking the artistic form of young women, especially when it was expressed on a bed. He offered his arm to Jane, which she took, and they walked over to Mel.

"Mel! How are you? How's business? How's the wife and kids?" Jim said just a bit loudly. Mel turned and the art students made their escape.

"Jim! How nice to see you again. Are you still enjoying your pieces? You know if you get tired of them I can sell them for you. You would probably make a good profit! And who is your lady friend? I have never seen you in here with a woman before." Touché he thought.

"I love everything you have sold me so much that I couldn't bear to part with it. You sell such excellent pieces. Should I want to sell something you will be the first one I contact. But let me not be rude. Please meet Jane Lane. She is an old friend from my college days. She is an up and coming artist in the Boston scene. She has works in seven galleries there and has been having brisk sales. I would really appreciate it if you would sit down with her after the guests leave this evening and go over her portfolio. I think you could have a profitable show of her works here." And nice try, but my friend is well aware I am not gay.

"I expect this event will be over by 7:00. Let's sit down together and discuss this at that time. Is that OK Ms. Lane?"

"Of course, and please call me Jane."

"Very well Jane. We shall talk at seven." Mel turned and went to speak to some of the other people attending the event.

"Thank you Jim. That seemed rather easy. I'm even a little embarrassed," Jane said.

"Don't be. I've done enough business with this guy, both personal and corporate, that he won't ignore me. Sometimes it just takes a little push with him. If you don't mind I'll attend the meeting with you. It will ensure that things go smoothly. I'm glad I can help. Any friend of Tom and Daria's is a friend of mine. Now shall we look at some of this art he is trying to push this evening?"

Jane was beginning to warm up to this guy. He was polite and maybe even chivalrous. He certainly had a bit of a sarcastic edge which was something she liked in another friend. Jane held on to his arm and together they began going through the paintings on display.

"These are interesting," Jane remarked. "Look at the regularity of lines and the mixing of lines in foreground and background. Yet they don't seem to cross. His color palette seems to have a certain regularity as well." Jane saw that as they moved from painting to painting Jim was looking very closely at how the lines fell on the canvas. "This seems to be an entire style made up of regular lines. But I am unsure of how he chooses to lay his lines or choose the colors."

Jim said nothing, but continued to look closely at each painting and then step back to get a sense of the whole. After about the twelfth painting Jim began to chuckle. As they continued he could barely suppress laughter.

"What's so funny?" Jane said.

"Sorry I haven't been very talkative, but I was figuring out what was going on in his paintings. It is so humorous that I am probably going to have to buy one!"

Jane turned and looked Jim in the eyes. His big, deep gray eyes! "OK. What is it that you find humorous? I see statements of regularity and studies of color. I am not sure about his message, but it invokes a certain feeling of certitude in me."

"That is exactly the point Jane. Why is there a feeling of certitude from the lines and the colors?"

"This is embarrassing. I'm an artist and I can't tell you why."

Jim looked deeply into Jane's baby blue eyes and said, "That's because you are viewing this as art and not math."

"Come again?" Jane said turning around to look at the painting behind her.

"This guy clearly churns out a lot of work. His prices are very commercially viable. His works give this certitude of their place in the world. This emotion transfers to the person viewing the work. The reason for this certitude is mathematical. Essentially what he is doing – guaranteed – is taking a piece of software capable of graphing not only a broad variety of mathematical functions, but showing the intersection of functions and the projection of functions onto various lines, planes, and even spaces."

"I barely made it through Algebra and wound up in 'life skills math' so you have kind of lost me." Jane said with a bit of frustration in her voice.

"He uses a computer to make graphs of mathematical equations, which he then paints on canvas. He uses mathematical progressions to select colors from the color wheel and then translates that to the canvas. The colors are probably coded from zero to 1024. So, what you are looking at is essentially the plot of several mathematical relationships. His artistry is in selecting which relationships to plot together. The actual forms and colors come from a computer. I find these works humorous, because his choices clearly show that he doesn't have the slightest clue about the underlying mathematics. He is almost randomly arranging these things with the possible exception of eliminating bad color choices made by the computer, since computers do not have much of an aesthetic sense."

"So, what you are saying is that he is either brilliant or incredibly lazy." Jane said.

Jim went on, "That's right Jane. The reason I was looking so closely at each canvas was to determine if there was actually any evidence that he had painted these works. From a distance you could easily assume that the paintings could be produced on a large bed printer or even a three dimensional printer loaded with the right colored materials, though that would be a technical feat in and of itself. I did determine that there appear to be real brush strokes. So, he really painted these things. But, he doesn't seem to proof his work very carefully. I determined that by finding a brush hair in one of the paintings. "

"Wow. I feel like I'm here with Sherlock Holmes! That is incredible Jim. I'm impressed. The artist in me is impressed." She stopped before adding that the woman in her was impressed too.

"Elementary my dear Jane. Now let's select a piece for me to buy. I definitely need one of these on my wall. They make me laugh!"

Together they decided on a painting and then went and found Mel. Jim told him which piece he was interested in purchasing. Mel said, "That particular one is $2,500. A bargain just for this show."

"Really Mel," Jim said. "This guy turns out these works in less than a day. Even if I let him double a $50 per hour wage and you double it again that is only $1,600. I'll give you $1,500 for it and that is generous. Oh, and I noticed that so far this is the only sale this evening. It is 6:30 pm by the way."

Mel frowned. "I'll need to speak to Mr. Tourneau about this. Please wait here." Mel walked off to go find the artist. He returned shortly and said, "Mr. Tourneau doesn't feel he could part with his work for less than $2,000."

"I'll split the difference with you Mel. $1,750. It's a win win deal. Otherwise all this lovely champagne, cheese, and the other goodies are a complete waste! At least at that price you recover the cost of the food and drink for this show." And since you probably have an uncle in the food business and another who is a wine handler I'll bet you got this stuff wholesale anyway!

"You drive a hard bargain Jim. Very well. I will make sure that Mr. Tourneau gets his cut just as if I sold this for $2,000. I will eat the loss for such a good customer. It's a deal."

You are such a liar, Jim thought. "Good. Now you can put a sold sign on it and maybe it will stimulate another sale for you. Just because we are friends I won't tell anyone other than my three friends here what I paid for it. How about that?"

"Much appreciated Jim. Now let me get that sign up." Mel quickly grabbed one of his sold signs and put it underneath Jim's painting.

Jane was standing there taking all of this in and said, "You drive a hard bargain mister! That was probably the most skilled art transaction I have ever seen. You obviously know how to buy art. How else can you possibly amaze me tonight?"

"I'm sure we will find some way to make your evening even more amazing Jane. We still need to talk to Mel about your upcoming show."

Wow, thought Jane. I blurted out that little statement and he didn't even make some steamy bedroom reference. This guy has class!

Jim and Jane walked around the gallery watching the people more than the art. It was amazing to see the effect of putting the sold sign on Jim's piece. Mel sold two more almost immediately. With a little creative eavesdropping Jim and Jane determined that the two pieces sold for full price. By the time the event ended at 7:00 pm Mel had sold not only Jim's painting, but six more as well. Now it was time to touch base with Tom and Daria before the next negotiation.

Jim and Jane found Tom and Daria standing by the last of the food. Jim said, "Why don't you two go on to the restaurant and have a couple of drinks. We need to stay a few minutes and talk to Mel. He needs to package up my purchase and we need to discuss a show for Jane. I am guessing we will be there in about an hour. Sound good?"

"Sure," Tom said. "We will go and get a table and wait for you. Please text if you are going to be more than an hour, though. We will probably get some appetizers if you are going to be a long time."

"No problem. See you soon."

Tom and Daria headed out the door along with the rest of the guests.

Mel packaged up Jim's purchase. The others would go out tomorrow via courier. Then they sat down to look over Jane's portfolio and determine when Mel could have a show of her work. Jim was not going to leave until they had a deal.

...…

Tom and Daria sat together in one side of a booth in the restaurant. They had ordered drinks and were making them last. Tom said, "While the show was kind of interesting I really didn't get what that guy was trying to do with his art."

"I'm kind of at a loss too," Daria said. "It was better than some of that pricey stuff that looks like a preschooler did it with finger paints. But I just have a problem with stuff so abstract that there is no identifiable form. The colors didn't even seem to make sense to me. I guess I am just much better at comparative literature than I am with art. Maybe Jane can explain it to me."

As they were talking Jim and Jane came up and sat down in the booth. "Well, we need to order some decent champagne and celebrate Jane's first gallery show in New York! It is just two short months away," Jim said. "Champagne is on me."

"I'm really happy for you Jane," Daria said. "I really want to see you succeed with your art. But, could you possibly explain the art we looked at tonight? I am still a little baffled."

Jane said, "I think you should let Jim do that. He explained it to me. Me! An artist with a degree from BFAC!"

"Maybe we should order food first so we are not just a group of skeletons found in a booth in this restaurant," said Daria.

Everyone agreed. They put in their orders and then Jim spent most of the next hour explaining the art they saw in Mel's gallery.

After dinner and dessert they got up to leave and Jane announced, "I'll be back later tonight. I'm going over to Jim's to help him hang his new painting. I understand he needs to choose just the right place on the wall."

"OK Jane," said Daria. "But you know I don't sleep well until you are back home safe and sound. Don't make me go out looking for you. Remember you have a train to catch tomorrow to get back to Boston." Daria handed Jane her key to the apartment.

"Yes Mom. I promise to be home before dawn. After all that is when I have to return to my lair."

Jim said, "I'll send her home in a cab. She won't be out all night."

They all laughed and the couples parted ways.

As they walked toward the subway Tom said, "This really turned into a nice evening. I think Jim and Jane have gotten along quite well. After a busy day and fun evening it will be good to get back home and rest."

"Well, before you rest I still have plans for you mister. Your day isn't over yet," quipped Daria.

"Uh oh. More work for the wife?" Tom said.

"You bet," Daria remarked as she put her hand in Tom's and they entered the subway station.

…..

It was about half past midnight when Daria heard the key in the front door of their apartment. She got out of bed, which didn't appear to disturb Tom in the least. He was completely spent after all the activity. Daria pulled on her silk robe and walked out into the living room.

"Hey Jane."

"Hey Daria."

"So, did you get the picture hung?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact. We did. We had tea. We hung the new painting, which entailed rearranging three others. I hope the hammering didn't get the neighbors mad at him. When we were done we admired the work and he got me a cab. Now here I am."

"That's it?"

"That's it. Jim is a perfect gentleman. But if you really want to know, he will be in Boston next week on business. We are planning to have dinner together Thursday evening. He said that he could easily make it into an overnight trip and not just a day trip like he usually does. Most of the engineers in his company make trips to Boston overnight trips. He just hasn't let up his pace in the past couple of years. He said that he now sees a reason to stop and smell the roses again."

"Or your perfume."

"Or, my perfume. Thank Tom for introducing us. This might actually go somewhere."

"I hope it does Jane. I want you to be happy just like I am," Daria said in her deadpan voice.

"Thanks Daria. I don't know what I would do without you in this world. You are my best friend. Now we need to get some sleep. I have a train to catch tomorrow."

"Goodnight Jane. See you in the morning." And with that Daria went back into the bedroom, shut the door, got into bed, and fell fast asleep to the sound of Tom's breathing.