Brandy looked around the living room, feeling completely lost. Having Mark gone so often never got any easier. For three months now he had been on the road touring, and it would be two more weeks until Mark got back. To her, it felt like two years. Granted, they managed to talk on the phone every night for at least an hour, but it simply was not enough for her. She wanted him there with her, and wanted to be able to hold him. She missed him so bad that it was turning into a physical ache.

Mentally shaking herself, she began to once more think of what she could do to take her mind off of Mark. She had already cleaned the entire house, so that option was cancelled out. Suddenly, a little light bulb went off in her head. She could call her friend Teresa, who just so happened to be married to one of Mark's coworkers. Knowing what it was like dealing with a significant other who was rarely home, they managed to be able to relate to each other right away. Knowing Teresa's husband Glenn was on the road as well, Brandy knew she was more than likely just as lonely. Heading into the kitchen, Brandy grabbed the phone and dialed in a number. As she listened to it ring, she hoped Teresa would be home.

Finally, someone on the other end said, "Jacobs's residence, this is Teresa speaking."

"Hey Teresa, are you busy?" Brandy replied.

"Brandy! Hi! I'm not busy at all, actually. I've just been waiting for Glenn to get home. He said he would be getting in around seven tonight, so I'm growing very impatient."

Brandy laughed. "I bet so. Do you have anything planned, or that you need to get done before he does in fact get home?"

"Unless I'm forgetting something, no. Why do you ask?"

"I was just wondering if you wanted to meet up, and possibly do a little shopping."

"That sounds great, actually. I need to get out of this house, anyway. Is your car still in the shop?"

"Unfortunately. Would you be okay with doing the driving, and I'll help with gas money?"

"You know I don't mind. I need to get ready, but I should be there in about an hour or so. Is that alright?"

"That sounds perfect," Brandy replied, and they bid their farewells before hanging up. Heading upstairs, Brandy changed her clothes and brushed out her hair, putting on a few sprits of her Nollie perfume before heading downstairs. Needing to pass the time, she washed up the few dishes left out from her lunch, and just as she finished putting them away, she heard a car pull into the driveway. Glancing out the window, she immediately recognized Teresa's car, and grabbing her purse, she headed out the front door to where Teresa was parked.

"You know, it seems like it has been so long since we last did anything," Teresa commented as Brandy slid into the passenger seat.

"Hello to you too," Brandy quipped, making Teresa grin. "I know, and I'm sorry. You know how wrapped up I get in the projects I start."

"Hey, don't worry about it, I'm just as much to blame. Work has been in dire need of extra help, and as a result I have been picking up the slack."

"You would think they would look into hiring more people. I mean, you guys who are there now can only do so much."

"Well, from my understanding, they have been talking to a couple people, so I hope here soon we get it more workers."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed for you."

Teresa simply smiled at this. "So where were you wanting to go to?"

"I personally was thinking the mall, but, since you're driving, I'll let you pick."

"I actually needed to find me some new running shoes, so the mall is perfect," Teresa replied, and they proceeded to make light conversation the rest of the drive.

Just as they pulled into the parking lot, Brandy's cell phone started ringing. "Hello?" she answered it.

"Is this Miss Brandy Daniels?"

"This is she."

"Yes, Miss Daniels, I was told to call you and inform you that your presence is requested at the Blue Diamond this evening, and that you are to be ready by seven sharp."

Brandy was brought back. "Who wants to see me there?"

"I was told to keep that a secret, ma'am. Also, I was informed to tell you that your transportation will be provided for."

"Oh, okay. Is there anything else?"

"No ma'am. Just that you are to be ready by seven."

"Okay, thank you sir," she replied, and said good-bye before hanging up.

"Who was that?" Teresa asked.

"Some guy telling me that I'm supposed to go to the Blue Diamond at seven tonight."

"Wow, the Blue Diamond? That's pretty impressive. It's nearly impossible to get a reservation there, and you have to have really good contacts in order to do so."

"I know. Do you think I should go?"

"Hell yeah, you should!"

"But I have no clue as to who it might be."

"Look, whoever wants you there most likely knows you, so it shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's not like you have to sleep with that person, or anything. You're simply having dinner with them. Besides, it's the polite thing to do."

"You're right, I should," Brandy replied, and then added hesitantly, "Uh, Teresa? Would you mind…helping me find something to wear there? I have absolutely nothing in my closet that would be good enough for this."

"You should know better than to ask me if I would be willing to help you dress shop," Teresa said with a smirk as they got out of her car, and headed inside.

)))))

Teresa looked at Brandy with a critical eye. Grabbing the blush, she lightly ran the brush over Brandy's cheeks, and once more pulled away.

"Well?" Brandy asked in an uncertain voice. She wasn't used to getting this dressed up.

"You look perfect, honey," Teresa replied with a smile.

"Really?"

"Would I lie? Just look for yourself," Teresa said, and turned Brandy around to where she could see herself in the mirror.

Brandy was speechless. She couldn't believe she was looking at herself in the mirror. "Wow," she murmured, cautiously touching her face and hair.

"You like?" Teresa asked.

"I love it. Thank you so much," Brandy replied, standing up and giving Teresa a tight hug.

"Anytime, hon," Teresa replied, hugging her back. Once they pulled away, Teresa handed Brandy the perfume, and she gave herself a couple of dabs before setting it back down. "Let's see what Glenn thinks," Teresa said, and grabbed Brandy's hand, leading her downstairs. "Well? What do you think of my creation?" Teresa asked as she brought Brandy over to where Glenn was sitting in the living room.

Glenn looked up from the paper he was reading, and his eyes immediately grew wide. "Wow, Brandy. You look, so…different," he commented as he stood up.

"Oh God, that's a bad thing. I'm gonna change," Brandy said, and was about to head upstairs when Teresa stopped her.

"No, you don't. I didn't mean it in a bad way, I'm just not used to seeing you this dressed up. You look gorgeous."

"Are you just saying that to be nice?"

"I most certainly am not," he replied in a reassuring tone.

"Yeah, he doesn't tell you that you look good unless you really do. If you look like crap, he'll let you know. Believe me, I know firsthand," Teresa said, playfully punching him in the arm. He chuckled when she did this, wrapping an arm around her.

Brandy laughed as well. "Well thank you for your honesty," she replied, leaning up and giving him a peck on the cheek. Just then, the doorbell rang. "Alright. Thanks guys for hanging around here with me. You can head home now, and…well…catch up on things," she replied with a smirk.

Both Teresa and Glenn laughed. "Just get going," Glenn said, playfully smacking her bottom as he pushed her toward the door.

She laughed. "I'll see you later guys."

"Bye," the two of them said simultaneously, watching her as she opened the door.

"Are you ready, Miss Daniels?" the man standing there asked, extending his arm to her.

"I am," she replied, linking her arm with his and heading toward the beautiful stretch limo that was parked in their driveway.

"Does she know?" Glenn asked once Brandy had shut the door.

"She doesn't have a single clue," Teresa replied.

"Good, that's the way he wanted it. Now…as Brandy said…I believe we have some catching up to do," Glenn commented, a mischievous look in his eyes.

"That we do," Teresa replied, following him as he took her hand in his and led her out to the car to head back to their house.