CHAPTER 4: STACEY

Anastasia McGill Thomas glanced at her watch as the meeting seemed to drag on and on four hours. It was tradition, in the accounting firm where she worked, that they had a meeting almost every second day on menial issues, which could be solved easily. She was bored, and longed to be back at her desk or, even better yet, out shopping at Bloomingdale's with her husband.

"I think that's all we need to cover today ladies and gentlemen," Bryce James, the senior partner of the firm, said glancing around the room. Almost immediately the room sprung to life, with dark suited men and women rising from their seats and leaving the room, almost in unison. Stacey left with them, stifling another yawn as she went. She was seriously tempted to hand in her resignation and find another job- she had contacts with fashion- but she and Sam Thomas (Kristy's brother) needed the extra money desperately for their plans.

"Ms McGill? Can I see you for a moment- in my office in ten minutes?" Bryce asked her as he passed her in the hallway near her office. She sighed to herself and nodded at him- this didn't sound good. She had heard rumours of a merger, but she tried not to think about it- she had more important things to worry about. She strolled into her office, and sat down in her desk chair, glancing out the window, and around the room. She knew, deep down, that she wasn't happy at the firm (and hadn't been for at least a year)- she loved the work, but she was getting that feeling of dreading coming to work. At least she had an office she really liked, she thought to herself, glancing around the room. She had moved into a private office when she was made junior partner 3 years ago, and had it painted blue and white. The walls were decorated with her favourite pictures, while her desk had several framed photographs of her loved ones including- she didn't know why- a framed picture of the BSC when they were sixteen. She had a spectacular view of the city (which was sometimes detrimental to the work ethic at the firm) and, when she had a few minutes, she stared out the window, thinking of her life, Sam and, even though the club had broken up a long time ago, the BSC, and all the fun they had had. Secretly she still missed that easy existence in Stoneybrook, where the only responsibility they had was to look after their charges.

It had only seemed like yesterday that they were 13-years-old, and best friends- Stacey had thought that they would be friends forever. It had continued into junior high school and even into senior, although it began to fall apart when they were seventeen. Kristy had lost interest in the club- she was having trouble with Bart, and she wanted to leave Stoneybrook as soon as school ended. They had all pretended to be all right about it, yet it also annoyed them- particularly Abby, who made it clear she didn't want to be president permanently.

"I don't have the discipline for it, and Kristy should really be here. Why is she such a late developer- boys and sports were so yesterday." Unfortunately, it had got back to Kristy, and she had been furious

"I've been a constant presence here for five years, and all I ask is for some time to do things I wanted- despite the fact that you've all discovered boys 5 years ago. It would have disintegrated even further, except Stacey had found out about Bart pressuring her, and there had been an evening of exchanging confidences. Despite the fact that they were close again, they all knew that the days of the club were numbered- they were all planning to leave Stoneybrook, and Mallory and Jess showed no inclination to continue the club when the senior members left.

"It's like eating a chocolate chip cookie to discover that there are no choc chips," Mal had tried to explain their feelings, as the older girls began to laugh.

"So, we're choc chips are we?," Claudia joked as Mal blushed, but they all knew what she was trying to say. Graduation day was emotional- Stacey was leaving almost immediately, as was Kristy, Dawn had only flown in to see Mary Anne graduate, and Claudia was going to Washington to see Janine, who was now a senator's aide.

"I'm so glad Mom and Dad pinned their hopes on her," she said sarcastically, although she was going to study art under one of the most famous artists in Chicago. It was a bittersweet moment in a number of ways- the group were all heading their own ways and it was possible that they wouldn't see each other again. In addition, the club as they knew it had gone, but there was now a BSC: The New Generation. Vanessa Pike, Charlotte Johanssen, Becca Ramsey, Margo Pike, Haley Braddock, Karen Brewer and Mariah Perkins had approached the BSC and asked if they could take over the business.

"We'd still have all the same stations and ideas as you- except its going to be us," Charlotte explained. Kristy, distracted by her scholarship, was willing and just before graduation, the club was formally handed over to the 'new generation'.

"I feel like there's nothing left in Stoneybrook to keep us tied together," Mary Anne cried as they sat outside the school, in their caps and gowns, with the ceremony over.

"Your dad and my mother are still here," Dawn said sensibly, having graduated earlier that week. Mary Anne only cried harder.

"It's not the same- I'm going to come home for the holidays, and there's going to be no one here from the club." Stacey swallowed hard, the meaning having full impact- Mary Ann was right- nothing was ever going to be the same again.

New York was still the same old city she had left when she had gone back to Stoneybrook five years before, but she loved the city with a passion only surpassed by shopping at Bloomingdale's. She had stayed with her father and his new wife, Jan, for a couple of weeks while she settled into New York University, then quickly found an apartment near the university. She planned to study accountancy and economics, with minors in design, English Literature and, whimsically, History. She had always loved numbers and maths, and she was interested in economics in how the market was continually fluctuating.

The apartment was fabulous, and she spent heaps of money decorating it, much to the chagrin of her father. She tried to keep in touch with the other girls, but only Mary Anne and Claudia bothered and then even their letters petered out. She heard, via Charlotte that Mallory and Jessi had gone to Boston, and then had this falling out and hadn't seen each other since. It was a pity, because they had been great friends. Meanwhile, she was busy working her way through school and, although she had some problems with her diabetes (such as her sugar level being uncontrollable occasionally), she felt great most of the time, and had been declared the 'best dressed girl' on campus. She had seen Laine several times on campus, but there was very little friendship there any more- she didn't want to remember the time when their friendship completely broke down. Laine was still snobbish and catty, but she was very thin and Stacey had heard rumours of 'anorexia' brought on by her parents' messy divorce. In her second year, Stacey had applied for a modelling job at Bloomingdale's, to support her through college, and her career had suddenly taken off.

"Honey, you have the clean fresh blonde looks that any man would be stupid to ignore," the agent at the modelling agency said when they came scouting for 'talent' at the store, after a fashion parade. "You could really make a career out of this."

"Thanks, but I'm really only modelling to support myself through school, and get a job as an accountant." However, even she was surprised how much work she got in the first 6 months, and her portfolio quickly accumulated, not to mention her bank account. For the next two years, she was continually busy, juggling whirlwind trips to Europe for modelling while doing assignments for school. She had even been lucky enough to score an internship at one of the biggest firms in New York, and the chairman had hinted at a possible job once she graduated.

"Are you sure you aren't doing too much sweetie?," her father asked in concern on one of the rare evenings that she went over for dinner. "You're looking far too thin- are your diabetes going okay?"

"Dad, I'm fine. I had a check-up two months ago, and nothing's wrong. I'm fine, and I love everything I'm doing and experiencing." One of the highlights when she saw her billboard up, advertising underwear, and all her modelling friends had been wild with envy. They were also envious when she dated some of the most handsome bachelors in New York- and they even came from Hollywood to see her. It was a heady and exciting existence for a 21-year-old girl, but she was a little relieved when she graduated, and landed a job at the firm when she had had her internship. Although her bosses were tolerant of the fact that she modelled, they emphasized the importance of work.

"So, no coming into work at lunchtime just because you were awake till 3am," Bryce James said sternly, but with a twinkle in his eye. She realised, in a short time, that most of the other accountants were resentful of her looks and popularity outside the office, so she tried to keep a lower profile, although she still took the occasional assignment. For once, she had more money than she knew what to do with.

The next few years passed by quickly, and soon she was 25 and at the peak of her beauty- although she couldn't say the same about her career. She was still modelling, but she was happier working (becoming a workaholic like her father), or at home watching television or shopping. However, she was becoming lonely without a steady boyfriend. She had begun to tire of the playboys that she had found so charming when she was 21- they were so shallow, showering money over her, and wanting to make her their 'trophy wife' just because she was a well-liked model. She was also becoming increasingly unhappy at work- she had been promoted to a newer office, but she had never really made any friends, and most of the senior partners still considered her frivolous because of her modelling. She was beginning to think of resigning, and was walking down the sidewalk to find a newspaper when she collided solidly into someone.

"I'm so sorry..." she began, and then gasped when she looked at the person she had collided with. Right in front of her was Sam Thomas, her first crush. "Sam?"

"Stacey?," he looked at her hesitantly, then they both laughed and hugged. She pulled away

"It's so good to see you again- you've hardly changed at all," she said, looking him up and down. He still had the curly brown hair, well tone physique (she imagined, under his thick coat), brown eyes and mischievous smile that she had liked so much at 14.

"And you haven't changed at all Ms Supermodel," he teased, a sparkle in his eye, yet she was surprised to see something else- awe and serious interest.

"How's everyone in Stoneybrook? What are you doing? Why are you here?" She began peppering him with questions, as he began to laugh.

"Everyone's fine. I've been transferred to New York- I'm a lawyer now." Stacey laughed, but was secretly impressed

"You? A lawyer? I couldn't imagine that when you were fifteen."

"I know.... would you like to have dinner sometime?," he looked shy and boyish as he asked and she laughed at him again. Sam had always made her laugh.

"I don't know..."she teased him, but they exchanged phone numbers, and made a date for the following evening. When he picked her up, she stunned him by wearing a white, two-piece strapless dress, her blonde hair twisted back, and very little make-up.

"I don't look like an accountant do I?" she giggled self consciously as Sam looked at her in awe.

"No- but you look really beautiful." It was a wonderful evening- they had so much catching up to do and the restaurant was empty before they both caught their breath.

"We must have bored them all away," Stacey said easily.

"That, or been very loud." After that, it seemed to Stacey that they were seeing each other every night and, before she knew it, they were in love. It was 3 months after they 're-met' (as Sam liked to say) when Sam took her out to dinner, followed by a hansom cab ride through Central Park. It was a beautiful, clear night and Stacey felt at peace with the rest of the world.

"I've never been as happy in my life," she sighed happily, gazing up at the stars, Sam's arm around her shoulders.

"Neither have I," Sam said casually. "However, there is something I want to ask you." She turned to him, her blue eye big and innocent- she hoped he wasn't breaking up with her. "Don't worry Stacey, it isn't bad news.... will you marry me, Anastasia Elizabeth McGill?" He slipped a small, perfect diamond ring on her finger as she looked at it and cried.

"Yes, yes, yes!," she shouted, throwing her arms around him.

They decided to get married immediately and, six weeks later, they were married in a small ceremony in New York with their friends and family. Claudia couldn't make it (but sent a beautiful painting), but Mary Anne and Logan were there, as were Kristy and Cameron. However, Kristy seemed oddly distant to Stacey- perhaps, Stacey surmised later, she really hadn't wanted anything to happen between them. It was, however, the happiest day in her life and, four years later, she was still on top of the world.

She shook her head, glanced at her watch and sighed, heading down the hall to the senior partner's office.

"Anastasia, I'm not going to mince words. You are a very fine accountant, and have brought some excellent clients to the firm, yet...I don't think you're happy here anymore, are you?" Stacey was surprised, but rallied quickly to cover her true feelings.

"No, Mr James, I'm very happy here. Hopefully I'll be a partner soon." Bryce sighed, and leaned back in his chair.

"Unfortunately, Ms McGill, times are changing and so is this firm. Have you heard the rumours of a merger?"

"Yes," she said slowly, with a sinking heart. They weren't keeping her on anymore.

"Well, the firm merging with ours has plenty of accountants, and they weren't all that keen on keeping on any of our junior staff on...."

"I'm not part of it am I?"

"I'm sorry Stacey. We'll give you your severance pay, but you finish at the end of the week." She walked back to her office in a daze- she had been fired from her job! She hadn't been happy there for a long time, but to be fired- at 30- she was stunned. The phone rang as she sat down- it was Sam

"Hi sweetheart, just called to see if you wanted to meet me downtown for lunch....Stace? Stacey, what's wrong?" On her end of the phone she was crying silently, tears running down her cheeks.

"I've been fired," she managed to choke out. "They don't need me anymore because of the merger."
"Oh honey, I'm so sorry. I didn't think they'd fire you because you've been there for 8 years. Don't worry, you'll find another job- and I'll help you." Stacey cried even harder.

"It's not that- what about IVF?"

"Stace, we can still do that. We've saved enough money over the years to try it at least once. Honey, meet me in the lobby of your building at noon, and we'll talk about it then....Stace, it's going to be okay- and I love you.

"I love you too," she sobbed then hung up, and cried on her desk. It wasn't the job or the money that meant so much to her- it was the chance for Sam and her to have the baby they longed for. They had immediately tried for a family as soon as they were married, but the months went by and nothing happened. They went to a specialist who found nothing wrong with either of them, although she admitted that diabetes sometimes made it harder.

"And a baby can be more difficult on a person like you, particularly with your circulatory system." However, she had still been optimistic about the chances of IVF- although it was expensive. They had been saving for 3 years- and the job had paid good money, especially with her first (and now only) promotion. And now she had been fired...their dreams of a baby were going down the drain. Just then, her mobile beeped- it was a message from Mary Anne:

BABYSITTER'S MEETING FOR AUGUST 7TH AT 5:00PM AT CLAUDS. WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS BUSINESS TO TALK ABOUT.

She wiped her face and looked at her tear stained reflection in the mirror- perhaps that's what she really needed at the moment. Time with her oldest friends- time to reminisce with her fellow babysitter friends.