Chapter Six

Once they got past Kristy's story, she realized that she was dying to know what was going on in Stoneybrook since she had left. Stacey was only too happy to fill in the missing details.

"I see Mary Anne pretty often," Stacey commented. Mary Anne Spier had been Kristy's very best friend. "She's in a few classes with me at NYU. In fact I just went to coffee with her the day before yesterday."

Kristy smiled wistfully. "She always did love New York," she remembered. Mary Anne had a passion for big cities, celebrities, and glitz. Surprisingly, she was also extremely shy, so she would probably never become a celebrity herself. She just liked them.

"She loves it even more that she lives here," Stacey agreed. "Oh! I can't believe I almost forgot to tell you!" Stacey took a deep breath and paused for dramatic suspense before she spoke again. "Claudia's getting married!"

"What?" Kristy's mouth dropped open. Claudia Kishi, Stacey's best friend, had also been a friend of Kristy's since birth. Claudia, who was a talented and serious artist, had always seemed like such a free spirit. She always had boyfriends, but . . .married? "To who?"

"A guy she met during college. You know how she was planning to go to that art school?"

Kristy nodded. Claudia had always been a terrible student and it was a miracle that she'd even graduated high school. For the last half of senior year, Claudia had gushed about the college she was planning on attending. It was an exclusive art school in Chicago with several great programs. It wasn't like an academic college. It had options to major exclusively in one section of art and earn a degree in only two years instead of four, called an Associate's Degree.

"Well, she graduated," Stacey went on, "and right away she landed a job at this art gallery. She'd been interning there since she went to school, and as soon as she got her degree, they hired her on as an art consultant. And they even let her put her stuff in the gallery. She's sold quite a few paintings and is really making a name for herself."

"Wow," Kristy murmured, impressed.

"Yeah. Anyway, she met this guy last year, Brent Patterson, and just last week Claudia told me they're going to get married. Probably sometime next year."

"That's incredible," Kristy said. She was happy for Claudia, but a small part of her was also the slightest bit jealous for Claudia's success. "What about you?" she asked Stacey. "What have you been up to?"

"Well, I'm at NYU, like I mentioned," Stacey replied. "Majoring in fashion design."

Kristy nodded. Stacey had always been interested in fashion and whatever was stylish in clothes. It wasn't surprising.

"I want to open my own business," Stacey went on, "and be the main designer."

"Well, that's great," Kristy said. The small twinge of jealousy was getting bigger. Her friends were moving on to bigger, better things. . . and Kristy Thomas was a receptionist. Suddenly, she began to feel overwhelmed. By Stacey, Stacey's perfect looks, the stories of her friends' perfect lives. She glanced at the clock on the wall and pretended to be surprised by the time. "Oh, dear, I've got to pick up Sarah from daycare," she said. "Listen, Stacey, it was great to see you again . . ."

Stacey took the hint, and they both got to their feet. "Sure," Stacey replied as she shrugged into her jacket. "It was great to see you again too, Kristy." She paused and looked Kristy straight in the eye. "Keep in touch with me, okay? I don't want to lose you again."

An unexpected lump formed in Kristy's throat. "Sure," she agreed. "See you around."

After Stacey had gone, Kristy let out a sigh. She didn't have to pick up Sarah for another couple of hours. But she needed time to think. She needed time to herself.

Amazingly, after that day, things seemed to get a little better. Kristy had forgotten what it felt like to have a friend. But Stacey was determined to have Kristy in her life. By the end of the following week, they had gone to lunch together twice and seen a movie together, plus talked on the phone. It felt good to laugh again, to spend time with someone so familiar, someone from home.

At the office, even Clive noticed a change in her. "You seem to be doing better," he commented one day as he was heading out for lunch. "Cheerier."

Kristy was taken aback. "Thanks," she replied, not knowing what else to say.

He leaned against the wall, his piercing blue eyes studying her intently. "It's good to see you happy," he said finally.

His gaze was so intense that Kristy felt a blush spread up her cheeks. She wasn't sure what to say to that. Was it really so obvious that she was happy? Even worse. . .was she so pitiful that all along, the only thing she'd needed was a friend? Kristy tried to push the thought out of her mind.

She looked away from his eyes, concentrating on some papers on her desk. "Thanks," she said again, clearing her throat. She was hoping that he would leave. But he didn't. Instead he said, "Kristy, would you like to go out to dinner sometime this week?"

Kristy was so surprised that his words didn't register. And, she had to admit, she was a little defensive. Dinner, sure. With sex for dessert. Was that all he wanted? He saw her smile and wanted a piece of ass? She looked up at him, prepared to turn him down. But there was something in his eyes that seemed . . . genuine. Sincere. He was looking at her with that same intensity swirling in his blue eyes. He was waiting patiently for her answer. And suddenly, he was looking very attractive to her, in his professional suit that probably cost more than her entire rent for a month. Kristy experienced a moment of weakness, and when she opened her mouth, the word that came out was, "Sure."

Clive grinned at her. "How about tomorrow night?" he suggested.

Kristy nodded. "Sounds good," she managed.

Clive grinned again and started to walk away, calling over his shoulder, "I'll pick you up at seven."

Kristy let out a sigh as she watched him leave. Oh well, she thought to herself, going back to her filing. I'll buy new shoes. Some of those incredibly painful looking heels that everyone wears. And if he tries anything, I'll hit him in the face with one.

She smiled.

"I don't shop at Bloomingdale's anymore," Stacey informed her that evening as they walked down a crowded sidewalk. Kristy was wearing sunglasses even though it was getting dark, and she was pushing Sarah in her toddler stroller. Sarah rarely used a stroller, but she was bound to get tired during the evening and besides, Kristy didn't want her to be running off into the busy city. Next to her, Stacey looked fresh from a day of classes, wearing designer jeans and a fashionable pink leather jacket. Kristy had called Stacey that afternoon to tell her about her date with Clive, and immediately Stacey offered to take her shopping. "I'll even treat you to dinner," Stacey had offered. "I'm dying to meet Sarah." So Kristy agreed. They had just come from a quick dinner at a pizza parlor, and now they were headed to some shops.

"There's this great little shop called Missy's that I discovered last year," Stacey chattered. "They have great clothes and they aren't too outrageously priced, either."

"Sounds perfect," Kristy said. She glanced down at Sarah, who was busy reading a children's book in her stroller. She looked perfectly content. Kristy once again thought of how blessed she was to have such a well-behaved daughter. She reached down and ruffled Sarah's blonde hair, and Sarah looked up and grinned at her.

As they entered the store, Stacey spoke up. "So tell me about this guy," she said. "He's your boss, right?"

"Yeah." Kristy described how she had just been transferred to Clive's department about a month before.

"Is he attractive?" she asked.

Kristy let out her breath, surprised by a small flutter that came to her stomach as she pictured Clive's appearance. She pushed it away. "Yes," she answered Stacey. "All the women have a crush on him. I don't know if it's more because of his actual looks, or because he's British. Lindsay, this woman I work with, say that accents are everything." She shrugged.

"I believe it," Stacey replied with a grin. "He sounds sexy."

Kristy sighed. "Unfortunately."

"Oh, come on Kristy," Stacey persuaded. "You can't swear off men forever. It's just not natural."

"It is if you're me," Kristy grumbled. "I don't even know why I agreed to this."

Stacey grinned. "Because he's sexy."

Kristy rolled her eyes and didn't reply, she just began looking through a rack of clothes. She supposed she needed something that looked nice, but not too dressy. Maybe pants? Dress pants, of course. She picked a pair off the rack--black with pink pinstripes.

"Too office-y," Stacey interrupted, taking the pants from Kristy and putting them back on the rack. She held up another pair. "You need something like this."

The pants that Stacey were holding up were white with tiny pink flowers all over them.

Kristy wrinkled her nose. "They're too girly."

"So? It's not like you're a boy," Stacey countered.

"No, but I am a grown woman. I don't think a guy like Clive would be impressed by little girl flowers," Kristy shot back.

Stacey looked at the pants again and then she nodded. "I guess you're right," she agreed, putting the pants back.

They must have looked through a million outfits, and she must have tried on a million more, but finally, a couple of hours later, Kristy had found an outfit that was decent. It consisted of a loose, shimmery black skirt that flared at the bottom and came to just below her knees; a violet silk shirt with three-quarter length sleeves; and a pair of black high heels that were edged in violet stitching. Kristy noted with satisfaction that the shoes had a pretty spiky heel. Stacey even talked her into buying a women's black leather jacket, which would definitely look better than the worn coat Kristy had been wearing for the past year. Kristy bought the outfit, jacket and shoes and then Stacey bought a few blouses. By the time they left Missy's, Kristy felt satisfied.

"Hey, let's go in here," Stacey suggested a few minutes later as they passed a Victoria's Secret store.

"Why?" Kristy wrinkled her nose. She hadn't been inside a lingerie shop since her senior year of high school, when she was shopping for prom. These days, the sexiest pair of underwear she owned were her white ones that said "Monday" on the back in red block lettering.

"Why?" Stacey winked. "Why do you think?"

"Oh, please, Stace."

"It can't hurt," Stacey replied. "Anyway, I wanted to find a few new bras myself, so we might as well stop."

Kristy glanced down at Sarah, who had fallen asleep sometime during the mini fashion parade at Missy's. The girl was out cold. Kristy supposed a few extra minutes wouldn't matter anyway. "Fine," she agreed. "But only for a couple of minutes. It's getting late and Sarah needs to get to bed."

"Sure." Stacey practically dragged Kristy into the store and then hurried off towards the bra section. Kristy browsed around for a few minutes, and then she held up a pair of violet underwear that were kind of nice. Oh, what the hell, Kristy thought to herself. She needed new underwear anyway. Just because she might buy--and wear--nice underwear didn't necessarily mean she was going to let Clive see it.

Awhile later, she had bought three pairs of underwear and matching bras. Stacey herself bought a whole bagful of bras, along with some nightgowns. When they finally left, Kristy even felt a little bit excited about her date.

What could it hurt, anyway?

The next day, Kristy skipped lunch and left work an hour early. Stacey had offered to pick up Sarah from daycare and watch her that night while Kristy was on her date. "I'll call Emily," Kristy had protested, but Stacey shook her head mischievously.

"You'll need someone who can stay late, if you know what I mean."

Kristy had rolled her eyes, but she agreed to let Stacey baby-sit. Now, she wanted to take a long bath and relax before her date. After she left herself into her apartment, she straightened up a little bit and helped herself to a tall glass of iced tea. She sorted through that day's mail and then headed for the bathroom. In a somewhat dizzy state, she filled the bathtub with water and rose-scented bubble bath, shaved her legs, and then soaked in the water and thought about Clive. She didn't know what she was getting herself into. Sure, it was just dinner. But "just dinner" could lead to other things. Maybe not that night, but he might want a second, a third, a tenth date. A relationship. Hell, her hand in marriage. Maybe she was crazy to agree to have dinner with him.

But then she thought, what could it hurt? At the very worse, he might turn out to be nothing more than a good-looking bore and her biggest concern would be trying to stay awake through dull, publishing business talk. Or she could politely but firmly tell him that she enjoyed his company but she'd rather not date within the workplace. Or at all.

Then she thought of his blue eyes and some of her resolve weakened. Damn, why did he have to be so good-looking? It would be easier if he were an average looking guy. Kristy tried to remind herself that she was above appearances. He could look like Joe Millionaire, or just Joe Schmoe and it shouldn't affect her judgment or her decisions. She was better than that.

By the time she climbed out of her bath and into her terry cloth robe, she felt a little better. She took her time brushing out her hair, and by the time she was done with that, it was five o'clock and Stacey was knocking on the door.

"Mommy!" Sarah cried as she hurried in the door. Kristy swooped her up and dropped a kiss on her soft forehead. "How was your day?" she asked.

"Great," Sarah replied with a smile.

Stacey was close behind, smiling softly as she watched Kristy with her daughter. Kristy glanced at her and then turned back to Sarah. "I'm going out tonight but Stacey is going to stay with you," she explained.

"Okay," Sarah agreed easily.

"Good." Kristy set Sarah back down and watched her head off to her bedroom. Then she turned towards Stacey and forced a smile. "I've left directions," she explained. "What she can have for dinner, bedtime, stuff like that." She hesitated. "I'm not sure where we're going to eat, so I don't have a phone number. Maybe Clive has a cell phone. I can have him give you the number when he gets here, so that you can reach us."

Stacey was still smiling.

"What?" Kristy asked.

"You don't have to worry about anything," Stacey assured her. "I'm one of the founding members of the Baby-sitters Club, remember?"

Kristy smiled faintly. "Yeah."

Stacey's eyes took on a faraway glance. "You sound like one of the parents we used to sit for," she commented. "Giving directions, getting ready to head out for the night. . ." She shook her head. "Do you miss it?"

"Terribly," Kristy replied. For a moment, the two women stood in silence, each of their minds on another world, a world long gone.

Kristy was the first to break the spell. "Come help me get ready," she said, and headed for her own bedroom. Stacey watched as she put on her stockings, the skirt and blouse. "You need jewelry," Stacey decided.

Kristy nodded. "I don't have much jewelry," she told Stacey. "I never was much for it."

"No, you weren't," Stacey agreed. "But what do you have?"

Kristy opened a drawer and pulled out a small jewelry box, and opened it, showing Stacey the contents. There was a silver Tiffany necklace that her mother had given her for her seventeenth birthday, a birthstone pinky ring, a couple of pairs of earrings, and a gold locket necklace, which had been a gift from Steve.

Kristy lifted the locket from the box, shaking her head. "I don't know why I've kept this."

"Sentimental value," Stacey said with a shrug. "No big deal, but it's all wrong for tonight. You don't want to be wearing another man's jewelry on a date."

They decided that she would wear simply the Tiffany necklace. Then Stacey styled Kristy's hair. Her bangs had grown out a little so that she had to sweep them to the side of her forehead. Stacey brushed them to the side and held them there with a small, violet flower clip. She left the rest of Kristy's hair loose around her shoulders. A little bit of make-up was the final touch.

"You look beautiful," Stacey said as Kristy slipped on her shoes.

"Thanks," Kristy said, eyeing herself in the mirror. A grown-up looking young woman stared back at her. Her gaze fell to the clock and she saw that she had been primping for quite awhile. Clive would be here any minute.

Sighing, Kristy turned around once more in front of the mirror and then grabbed her small black purse. The nervous butterflies were in her stomach and they were beginning to multiply. She couldn't believe she was about to go on a date with Clive Brighton. . . the man she was supposed to despise. What had happened to her?

She didn't have time to dwell on it. Just then, her buzzer rang.

Clive had arrived.