4.

*and reconciled two store accounts that kept me until five. I made myself a salad and took a seat at my computer. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed a new message from Newbie.

Hi, P.U., I really would like to get to know you better, so please don't take this the wrong way. I'm not ready to meet anyone in person yet. I'm still getting comfortable with my surroundings. I hope you understand.

Newbie My beat-skipping heart sank. I'd never met this woman, and our messages were really only small talk, but I felt down in my bones that this woman might be worth getting to know. She didn't shut me out completely, but it was a rejection nonetheless. I didn't respond.

Instead, I took another long bath after eating half my salad. I was in bed by eight and asleep almost immediately.

I got up the next morning, took a shower, and was nursing a cup of coffee when the phone rang.

"Good morning, sis," Kalen chirped happily. "How are things?"

"Things are fine." I decided to save the happenings at the Ca.n.a.l Street salon for when she got back. No need to trouble her with c.r.a.p while she was sailing the ocean blue. "Are you and Toad having a good time?"

"I sure am, but Todd is in our room nursing a hangover. I have video of him doing the robot last night on the dance floor. It was awful. He's gonna be so embarra.s.sed when he sees it. I can't wait for him to wake up."

"I'm looking forward to seeing that myself," I said with a grin. Todd was the most reserved stick in the mud I'd ever seen.

He must have been trashed.

"I think we need to send Mom and Dad on a cruise for their anniversary next year," Kalen said around a mouthful of something that was no doubt delicious and fattening.

*"They live in the Keys. Why would they want to go on a cruise?"

"Well, it doesn't have to be in the Caribbean. We could send them on one that goes to Alaska."

"I'm game if you think we can get Dad off the golf course long enough to go. Mom will be equally as difficult. She doesn't do the cold."

"Let me work on Mom. She'll love it if she'd give it a chance."

I was glad that we were on the topic of Mom and Dad that kept her from pressing me about work and badgering me about my lack of a life.

"Okay, honey, I'm gonna run now. This call is costing us a pretty penny. Love you."

"Love you, too, sis."

On my list of personal things to do, I wanted to have gone on a date while she was away, so I could show her that I was capable of finding my own girlfriend. Sadly, I realized that it had always been that way with us. She was always trying to take care of me, and I was always trying to show I could do it on my own.

Kalen was the consummate planner for everyone. She was the one who convinced our parents to retire and move to Florida.

Todd was her high school sweetheart, and she mapped out his college education, then steered him to a premier architectural firm. I think she dressed him each day for work. The one thing she never had success with was my love life, though she tried her hardest.

I booted my computer and took a look at my new messages.

I weeded out most of them, but there was one that appeared promising.

Hel o, Pitifully Ugly, All the profiles on here seem to be the same, but I have to say your personal note is a standout. I LOVE the picture.

If you're real y a woman, and you'd like to chat, I would be very interested in hearing from you.

Charity *smiles*

*Okay, sweet Charity, let's give it a whirl.

Hi, Charity, I am definitely a woman...at least last time I checked.

I'm so clever.

Glad you liked my profile. I was at a loss for something to say, and the picture, well, it was too easy to pa.s.s up.

Tell me about yourself.

P.U.

I dug into the bank reconciliation for the Rampart store that took me through lunch. I was proud of myself for having a few slices of boneless skinless chicken grilled with a dash of seasoning and an apple. Then I checked my messages.

h.e.l.lo again, About me, okay, here goes. I work at Charity Hospital as a pediatric ICU nurse, hence the user name. I'm not much of a party girl, but I do enjoy having a few drinks with friends. I love being outside, and I spend a lot of time in the garden. I grow all my own vegetables. I can't wait for spring. I love reggae music. It reminds me of another favorite place, the beach. I celebrated my thirty-seventh birthday in Panama City this past summer.

I'm looking to make a friend first, and if that develops into something more, that's fine by me.

Your turn, Charity She had me at vegetables.

Hi, Charity, We're about the same age, and it sounds like we share some common interests. I enjoy the beach and outdoors. I also love homegrown veggies. I don't grow them, but I love to eat them. I like the spring and summer the best.

I'm an accountant for a couple of local businesses, and I work from home. I have the luxury of a flexible schedule. On *cold weekends, I'm usual y curled up in front of the fire with a good book. Old movies are a pa.s.sion. Anything with Doris Day or Deborah Kerr is a winner. I guess they remind me of my childhood. I used to sit curled up on the sofa with my mom as a kid watching them.

Okay, your turn.

P.U.

Wow, that was really simple. Why didn't I think like that when I was writing my profile? I took it as a positive sign that I might be becoming a conversationalist, even if it was on a keyboard.

I'd been working for an hour when I saw that I had a new message from Charity.

Hi, P.U., I loved Deborah Kerr in The King and I . I'm reluctant to admit that I'm a huge Rogers and Hammerstein fan. Does that make me gay? I work shift work, and I'm off today and tomorrow. Would you like to meet me for coffee? No pressure.Charity Oh, d.a.m.n. I wasn't expecting that. I kind of thought it would play out slowly like it had with Newbie. I took a deep breath. I could do this. We could meet in a public place, and if things didn't work out, we could simply walk away.Hi, Charity, That sounds good. How about Cafe Du Monde around eleven? I'll be wearing a green hoodie and jeans.P.U.Her response was immediate.Meet you there. I'll be wearing a blue peacoat and jeans. I look forward to meeting you in person.*And just like that, I had a quasi date. I couldn't focus on work any more after our chat. The day was sunny, and I felt like a walk.I dressed and headed out."Feeling better?" Hailey was sitting on a bench in the courtyard when I walked out. She was bouncing a tennis ball that Fuzzy caught in midair.The embarra.s.sment of the previous evening had all but faded until I saw her. "Yes, much better."Hailey scooted over to one side. "Would you like to sit down?"I took a seat at the opposite end, and Fuzzy brought me her ball. I bounced it, and she caught it and promptly returned it to me. "You've made a lifelong friend," Hailey said with a smile."I guess I don't have to worry about her biting me now.""No, she'd never bite, but she will rub that slimy ball on your pants leg if you don't watch her. Do you have a pet?""Just a stuffed pig that sits on top of my fridge. His name is Albert."This earned me a laugh. I was doing well."I suppose that Albert doesn't shed."It was my turn to laugh. "No, but he does balk when I eat too much of his ice cream.""What kind of work do you do? If you don't mind me asking."Hailey turned in her seat and looked at me."I work from home. I do accounting for a couple of businesses.How about you?""I'm a senior sales manager for Manheim Pharmaceuticals, and right now, I'm on vacation.""Sounds exciting."Hailey took a turn bouncing Fuzzy's ball when it was dropped in her lap. "Trust me when I say it's not, but it pays the bills.""So are you happy with your new place?""I really am," she said with a smile. "I wasn't sure I'd like living so close to the French Quarter, but now I love it. And my apartment has a great view of the courtyard.""That's what I love most about this place." I looked around at *the high red brick walls covered in ivy. It was cozy and well kept.The chimenea was kept with burning logs most afternoons. Each tenant would add another log to the fire as they came and went."The view or the courtyard?""Both. I think my apartment is directly above yours, so I have the same view, and I love coming out here, especially in the spring when the flowers are in bloom."Hailey nodded. "I look forward to seeing it in the spring. I appreciate being able to walk Fuzzy in the courtyard after dark.That's what I was doing when you came in last night."She kind of looked at me as if she were waiting for me to explain what my problem was. I mumbled off, "I kind of had a problem with my...zipper.""And you were lit. I could smell the alcohol on your breath a few feet away." She laughed heartily then. "You really shouldn't drink and zip, it's not safe."I scratched at my chin. "I think I would've found that funnier when I was drunk.""Oh, stop it. It was corny, but you know you want to laugh."And I did. She made me feel relaxed, and that was big since I hardly knew her."Your phone has one h.e.l.l of a vibrator on it. The change in your pocket was rattling." Hailey began to laugh, then her face reddened when she seemed to realize what she'd said.My face colored, as well. There was no way I was going to admit that I had pants full of bullets going off."Okay, Fuzzy," Hailey said when the dog began to yip. She looked at me apologetically. "It's dinnertime for her. She keeps a tight schedule.""Chicken on a stick again?""Actually, that was for me, but I did share." Hailey stood. "It was a pleasure chatting with you, Shannon.""You too."Our conversation truly had been a pleasure, brief as it was. I had to admit that I'd had a good time talking with Marvin and his friends the night before, too. I was meeting people on my own.Not on the arm of a girlfriend who did all the talking or with 40.*Kalen taking the lead. I found it refreshing and a little exciting.I was reminded of grade school. As long as Kalen was around, I had friends, but when she was out with the chicken pox one time, no one talked to me. That was the loneliest week I'd ever had then. In a way, I always sort of resented her for being so outgoing and forcing me into the background. But the truth of it was I never would've met anyone if it hadn't been for her. I was always clinging to her and hiding in her charismatic shadow, afraid to speak up and make myself known. The really pathetic part of it was I'd not only done it as a child, but as an adult, as well.41.