Chapter 11

Brenda had the housekeeper and two maids running in circles by
afternoon. It was almost funny, and I had to force myself not to laugh.

"Don't put the vase of dried flowers there!" Brenda yelled when one of
the maids placed it in the entrance to the living room.

I decided I had better go outside and keep out of the way.

Glenn was just getting out of his car as I came out of the house. He
hesitated for an instant when he saw me coming, then got the rest of the way out and closed the door.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked me.

"It's the dried flowers," I explained.

"Have you been into Mark's whiskey?" He asked, looking into my eyes.

I shook my head. "You had to be there to understand. Honestly, you'd
think the president was coming. She's rearranged the furniture three
times, and now she's going crazy over flowers."

"Mark should be back soon." Glenn said.

I looked over through the garden to the path leading to the gazebo. "I
wonder what Miss McMahon looks like?"

"Melissa?" he asked, smiling. "The cover of a magazine. She's an
actress, you know, quite well-known already."

I felt ill. "Old?"

"Twenty-five isn't old." He laughed. "Mark can't be without a woman
for long. He really can pick them."

I wanted to hit him. To scream. To do anything but stand here with a
calm smile on my face and pretend it didn't matter. Suddenly, it
mattered. Mark was my...My what?

"Jaime, you aren't listening." Glenn said. "I said would you like to
go into two with me and buy a new dress or two?"

I looked at him. "What for? I don't dress in rags."

"Of course not." he said. "But Brenda suggested that you might like
some new clothes since we're having guests."

I drew in a deep, angry breath. "Put on my best Sunday clothes, you
mean?" I thought about it, imagining an outfit daring enough to make
even Mark take notice. I began to smile. "All right. Take me
someplace expensive."

"Uh, Jaime..?" Glenn said.

"Mark won't get the bill until next month." I reminded him. "By then, I
can be in Paris or London."

He chuckled. "All right, come on. We've got to hurry or we won't be
here when Marks guests arrive."

I didn't tell him, but that was just what I had in mind. The idea of
greeting Melissa McMahon made me want to spend several days in town. I
disliked the woman already, and I hadn't even met her.

I left Glenn in a coffee shop in the mall while I went to the women's
department in Hubbard's the most expensive clothing store in all of
Texas. All the while I was dreaming of Mark seeing me in one expensive
dress after another. I'd show him! I'd be the most beautiful woman
he'd ever seen, and I'd make him stand back and take notice!

But when I tried on one of the elegant dresses I'd picked out, all I
saw in the mirror was a little girl trying to play dress-up. I looked
about fifteen. All the excitement drained out of me. My whole body
seemed to slump as I stared at my reflection.

"It doesn't suit you, does it?" the pleasant blonde saleswoman asked.

"It looked so beautiful on the model..." I began, looking toward the mannequin.

"Because it's designed for a taller, thinner figure. If I may suggest
some styles..." She said.

"Oh, please!" I said.

"Wait here."

The three dresses the woman brought back looked far less dramatic than
those I had picked out. On me they came to life. Combined with my dark
hair and green eyes, the mint one was devastating. The taupe emphasized
my rounded figure. The beige brought out my soft complexion and its
simple lines gave me elegance far beyond my twenty years.

"And this is for evening," the woman said, bringing out a burgundy
velvet gown with a deep V-neck and slits up both sides. It's a dream of
a dress, I thought, studying my reflection in the mirror, my face was
glowing as I imagined Mark's reaction to this seductive style - the light went out of me when I remembered the warning he'd given me, about
provoking him. But surely I had the right to wear what I pleased...

"Jaime, we've got to go," Glenn called.

One eyebrow went up, and all the mischief came back. What would this
gorgeous gown do to Glenn?

I opened the curtains and walked out. He stared at me, with lips
slightly parted, his eyes stunned.

"Jaime?" he asked.

"Yes. Oh, Glenn, isn't it a dream?" I asked, spinning around.

He nodded. "A dream."

"What's the matter?" I asked innocently.

"Are you sure it's legal to wear something like that in public?"

"Why not? It's very fashionable. Do you really like it?"

"Honey I love it. But Mark..." He began.

"I'm grown; I have to remind Mark..."

"You won't have to remind him anymore if you wear that dress. He'll be
able to see for himself."

"I'll bet that actress wears more revealing clothes than this."

"She does but her lifestyle is different." He began.

"You mean she sleeps with men, don't you?"

"Hush, for heaven's sake! Remember where we are."

"But she does, doesn't she?" I asked, feeling the anger burst through once more. She sleeps with men like Mark!

"I know you've been at it with Mark about your writer friend coming.
But don't think you'll retaliate by insulting his latest female
acquisition. He'll cut you into little pieces." Glen said, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm tired of Mark telling me to live my life. I want to move into an
apartment." I declared.

"Don't tell him yet." Glen said, loosening his tie.

"I already have." I said, smiling.

"And what did he say?" Glen asked.

"He said no. He always says no. But it won't work anymore. I'm going
to get a job and an apartment and you're going to help me." I said, lacing my arm through Glen's.

"Oh, like hell I am! I'm not taking on Mark for you."

"That's what's wrong with men today!"

"What is?"

"That no one's brave enough to take on Mark for me! I'll bet Jeff will."

"If he does, he'll wish he hadn't. And if you buy that dress, I'm going
away for the weekend. I can't stand the sight of blood."

"Mark won't do anything. Not in front of his guests."

"Mark will do anything any time, in front of anyone, and if you don't
know that by now, you're even crazier than I thought you were." Glen began. Placing his hand back on my shoulder. "Give it up. Mark's only trying to do what's best for you."

"That's beside the point. I don't want to spend the rest of my life
being told what to do. Mark's not my keeper."

"If you go out after dark in that dress, you'll need one."

"You're a nice man."

"Jaime, are you sure...?""

"Don't be such a worrywart." I turned to the saleswoman. "I'll take
all of them. And that green velvet one, as well."

"What green velvet one?" Glen asked, as his eyes got bigger.

"It's ever so much more daring than this one. It doesn't have a back at
all," I added in a whisper.

"Lord help us!" Glen said, putting his hands over his face. "Don't bother him. He has wars and floods to worry about."

"And I have you."

"Lucky man. Come on. You have to sign the ticket."

"Whose name would you like me to sigh on it?" Glen asked, grabbing the pen.

"Silly!"

Glenn and I managed to sneak in the back way and dart upstairs to dress
for dinner without being seen. Recklessly, I slid into the burgundy
velvet dress after I had my bath and fixed my hair in a seductively soft bun on top of my head. I used only a little makeup. The woman looking back at me in the mirror bore no resemblance to the young girl who'd left that room earlier to go shopping.

Satisfied with what I saw I added some Happy perfume and went downstairs. I heard voices coming from the living room and Mark's was
one of them. I felt suddenly nervous, uneasy. I lifted my head, and
gathering my courage walked straight into the room.