This is an uplifting and fun chapter, Karlie is going to get some encouragement and uplifting from her best friend.

Almost the entire dialogue for Allie had been provided by Mlle.Fox, my partner in crime on this chapter and in many more to come in which this character appears. Thanks, Mlle.Fox!

Thank you to all my reviewers who have given me words of encouragement or constructive criticism. I love all of you.

Disclaimer: The only things that are mine are the storyline and any characters not created by GL, SK, or ALW.

Celebrate the successes of others as you would have them celebrate yours.

God's Best for Your Success

I Surrender All

CHAPTER 16

Karlie's eyes followed his retreating figure as he headed of the stage and down the middle isle to the outer lobby. She was certain he could feel her hungry eyes on him, but he never turned around to acknowledge that fact.

She knew he had a standing appointment with his accountant and assistant, the woman of whose friendship Karlie had become just a little bit jealous. Karlie did not know Dominique Chandler, but she knew enough to know that Erik valued her friendship.

Karlie left the stage and headed to her dressing room to change. This was a special day for her; her best friend was returning today. A woman Karlie had grown up with and whose opinion she esteemed most.

Alexandria Danielle Waterford was born into an upscale family from Lafayette. She went to the finest schools and wore the finest clothes; her father had been a senator and her mother, a teacher.

Allie, as Karlie called her, was not the typical child of a rich family. She rebelled against the "standards" everyone expected her to live by and her father had allowed her the freedom to make her own choices; something her mother had resented.

She had left the "finest schools" and shed the "finest clothes" and had chosen, instead, to make a difference in the lives of children whose everything had been ravaged by the war. She helped place orphaned children in homes where they would be loved and cared for…just as their birth parents would have done. This called for extensive travel, and there were months on end that these two friends would not see each other; and then, they would only get a day or two to catch up.

Allie had become an orphan herself, six years ago, when her parents were killed in a factory explosion where her father was holding a campaign speech to gain voters from the working class. Many had died that day, among them, her mother and father.

Karlie walked to the spot where they had agreed to meet in the last correspondence they had exchanged. Rucker's Café, on the third block east of the opera house, had been a favorite of theirs for years.

Karlie was so anxious to talk to Allie about everything that had happened over the last five months. Erik would be the most important topic. Although he wasn't officially "in her life" as a significant other, Karlie could no longer deny the attraction she felt toward him and she had to talk to Allie about it.

Allie had been the one to try to talk her out of a relationship with Mason, advice that Karlie now regretted ignoring. Allie was her voice of reason and she hoped and prayed she would have some counsel about Erik.

Karlie walked into the café and took a seat in the far left corner. She ordered a coffee and crescent and waited for Allie.

She didn't have to wait long. A petite, vivacious, fiery redhead bounded into the café in a day dress of baby blue. Her gorgeous green eyes landed on Karlie and they ran to each other and embraced like long lost sisters.

When they pulled back, Allie declared in a thick, drawling Southern accent,
"Well Karlie Bordeax! Still short as ever I see! What's the matter with you? I distinctly told you to grow three inches to make it easier on your gentlemen callers to kiss you!"

Laughing at her wink, Karlie replied, "Yes…and I recall telling you to stay out of the sun or your freckles would grow together and turn your skin a permanent brown…"

Karlie tried to hold her face in a stern, schoolteacher mode, but could not pull it off. They both fell into a round of laughter.

Hand-in-hand, they made their way back to their table with Allie ordering a coffee and a piece of coffee cake.

The conversation varied for the first half hour; from the latest fashions to "how is your family"; and since neither of them had any close family; that conversation did not last long. They laughed about the past incident with Mason, even though Allie did give that "I-told-you-so" look that made Karlie cringe and Karlie told her about Bernardo and his "questionable" preferences.

Of course, they both agreed that he got what was coming to him and Allie was impressed with Karlie's resolve. Allie had also been taught to stand up for herself and defend herself; her father would have it no other way.

Karlie took the last sip of coffee she had and broached the subject of men, "So Allie, what poor, unsuspecting bachelor is the subject of your latest conquest?"

Allie put her hand to her bosom and gasped in mock horror, "Why Karlie darlin' I thought you knew me better than that! You know I'd never go after only one man when I got three tryin' to chase me down the aisle!"

Laughing at Allie's wink, Karlie asked, "Do you ever change?"

"Only when life gets borin' Sugar! How 'bout you? Any tall, dark, handsome strangers in your life?" Allie asked with anticipation in her voice.

Karlie had been waiting for a couple of weeks for the opportunity to discuss Erik with Allie, and know that she was going to have that opportunity; her nerves were jumping out of her skin. She pushed all reserves aside and dove in.

"Well…now that you mention it…" Karlie began, "…there is someone who has swept into my life and turned every one of my hard earned opinions about men completely upside down." Her tone was dripping with forged irritation.

Allie sat there with a knowing smirk on her face while Karlie told her everything she knew about Erik, not leaving out anything – his tragic past, his incident with Christine, his mask, his generosity and genius, and his recent turn around with the help of Demi.

"He's everything I swore I would not fall for again Allie; rich, eccentric, foreign, and so… handsome." Karlie mused with hesitation and horror as she looked behind Allie to see none other than the object of her fascination walking in the door.

Allie noticed how Karlie suddenly started sinking down in the chair and turning her head toward the outer wall as not to be seen. She had her head down and her hand covering her eyes. If she was trying hard not to draw attention to herself, she may have been achieving the exact opposite effect.

"It's him." Karlie whispered, pointing at him from behind her hand that hid her face.

Allie looked, as one who never cares that they're caught staring. She saw a man a tall as a timber sit down at a table and nervously shift through the menu. She raised an eyebrow at the mask, but she had to admit, her friend had taste.

Allie trailed her eyes over his broad shoulders, noting happily and speculating wildly the muscles that undulated under his expensive brown suit. The corner of Allie's mouth lifted in an appreciative smirk as she skimmed over his fine chiseled face, sensual mouth, aristocratic nose, wavy, midnight black hair and gemstone eyes.

He was just as uncomfortable as Karlie was sitting in this restaurant (though, for different reasons, most likely). That told Allie this man was different from other upper class men she had met. A plan began to sparkle in Allie's eyes. She wouldn't have picked a better man for her best friend, if she had done it herself!

Giving out a long slow whistle, Allie leaned against the back of her chair and crossed her legs, saying, "Lord have mercy! Mmm…mmm! He is absolutely delectable! Oh yes, definitely reel him in, Honey!"

Horrified, Karlie's eyes opened wide and she exclaimed, "What!"

Allie looked dryly and annoyed at her friend, "Girl, you have been without my influence for far too long! Now listen, you've been pining away after this man for weeks, but since you are acting like you just got caught, like a raccoon picking through the garbage, that clearly indicates to me he doesn't have a dang clue about your feelings, does he?"

Karlie stared obdurately at her best friend and finally admitted, "Uhmmm….no."

Allie's disbelief was written all over her face, "Then get your scrawny littl' ballerina behind over there and start flirtin' like a siren to a sailor! Now, I understand his childhood an' all, but seriously Sugar, if any man deserves the attentions of a beautiful woman, it's that man!" She paused briefly to give Erik a nod.

"And if the road leads to true love then Halleluia! Praise the Lord!" Allie chimed, waving her hands in the air like a church member on Sunday morning, But even if it doesn't, do you want that question hangin' over your head for the rest of your days? 'What if Erik was the one for me?' 'Sides, you better snatch him up before some tall, leggy blond with the intelligence of brick snatches him up before ya!" She was shaking her head, raising her eyebrows, and wagging her index finger at Karlie, "Believe me, they're quick!"

Karlie was aghast! She was not quite the free spirit that Allie was, and the thought of flirting with Erik in broad daylight with the chance of him shunning her advances was just about more than she was willing to endure.

She knew it had taken a great deal of effort for him come into the restaurant in the first place; he was still very leery about public places. She looked at Allie, with her expectant features and than back at Erik's lounging figure; he had no idea he was being examined from head to toe, like some expensive cut of meat.

Allie rolled her eyes and bowed her head, shaking the fiery curls from their perfect slumber. She uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, "Are you gonna to move your fannie, or am I gonna have to show ya how it's done?"

Karlie could feel the panic rising in her chest. It wasn't that she didn't want to flirt with Erik, she most certainly did…but she wasn't sure how he would react; and rejection was not a pleasant thing.

Karlie's eyes rested on Erik, but her voice was directed at Allie, "What if he isn't interested in me, Allie?"

Allie's incredulous look almost made Karlie laugh. "Not interested?...Sug...he's a man! Of course he'll be interested! You just have to know HOW to flirt with him. Not like some Jezebel off the streets, but...with a little cleverness...Now...correct me if I'm wrong...but ain't it professional courtesy to at least...buy your new employer a per-lunch drink?"

She raised her eyebrows and smiled impishly, "Maybe introduce him to your financially stable, best friend who might see fit to invest in the production?" Allie said suggestively, leaning forward on the back of her hand, her elbow on the table, looking into her friends waiting glance.

Karlie sputtered, her lips trying to think of what to do. "I just don't know Allie…"

"Oh Hon come on! Charm the pants off him before someone else does! What do I have to do…drag you over there myself? You know I will!" Allie stated, pointing a finger at her.

Karlie laughed at her dearest friend and decided she could do this. She had never had a problem flirting with a man before, so why was Erik any different.

She got up out of her seat and turned to head toward Erik…only to see him rise and head for the door.

To Be Continued…