Days went by, and I didn't see Hailey at all. I went by her place and knocked a few times, but she never answered, nor did she answer my calls. I wondered if something was up with her ex. I was standing in front of my window looking out at a clear winter's day when I saw a familiar head of curls coming down the block. I hightailed it downstairs and met her as she came into the courtyard. "Hey, how're you doing?"

She didn't smile, and her eyes were hidden behind her dark gla.s.ses. "Hey, I'm fine. How about you?" She wasn't rude, but her tone was cool.

"I was worried about you. I haven't seen you around."

"There was a problem at the office. My vacation was cut short. Been working a lot of long hours."

I looked at the dark gray suit she was wearing and the briefcase that she had slung over her shoulder and felt a little silly.

I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my jeans that were hanging loosely on my hips. "You want to go hit a few b.a.l.l.s tonight? Maybe work off some stress?"

She frowned then and shifted her briefcase to her other shoulder. "I'm sorry, but I can't. I have a lot of new job stuff." Her face flushed, and she started moving quickly toward the door.

"I'll see you later," she called over her shoulder.

She didn't appear happy to see me at all, and I stood there 0.

*wondering what I'd done. Everything was fine when I last saw her. Dejected, I went back up to my apartment, and instead of going back to work, I sat on the sofa, my head still swimming from our encounter. I went back over every word... new job stuff.

In retrospect, I should've figured it out then, but I guess my emotion clouded my judgment.

"Who the h.e.l.l are you?" Kalen asked as she walked into my apartment. She reached up and fingered my hair, then lifted up my shirt and patted my shrunken belly. "Not that you looked bad before, but, Shannon, you look amazing." She hugged me tight, then held me at arm's length again. "I feel a shopping trip coming on. We have to outfit this new body of yours."

"You look great, too. Your hair is full of highlights." I looked closer at Kalen. Maybe it was the lighter hair framing her face that gave her face a radiant glow. "I think you might've gained a pound or two, and on you, it looks spectacular."

Kalen sashayed around. "That's because I stayed by the pool the entire time we were aboard the ship and ate like a complete pig while Todd played in the casino."

"You need a loan now? Did he blow the savings?" I asked with a grin.

"Nah, he works his a.s.s off, he deserved his playtime." Kalen circled me and looked me over from head to toe. "What got into you, girl...or who?"

I shrugged. "It was time for a change, and since I wasn't going to lunch and eating in reckless abandon every day, the weight just dropped off." I left out the part that I didn't have much of an appet.i.te for the last week. The distance between Hailey and I had gnawed at me.

Kalen grabbed me by the wrists. "Let's go have a light lunch, then go shopping."

I picked around my salad and ate half a cup of soup as I listened to the details of the trip. Kalen showed me countless pictures on her digital camera. Most were of men lounging poolside. She was faithful to Todd, but she did a h.e.l.l of a lot of window shopping.

1.

*"You haven't eaten a lot," I said, pointing to her salad.

Kalen rubbed her stomach. "I've been queasy a lot lately. I might've picked up a bug or something on the ship. Then again, maybe I'm getting used to being on solid ground again. It's nothing that a shopping trip won't cure," she said around a yawn.

Kalen dragged me through endless stores at the mall. I did buy a few pairs of jeans and a couple of sweaters, but my heart wasn't in the hunt. Kalen was pulling shirts off the rack and holding them in front of me when she looked at me oddly.

"Something is bothering you." She narrowed her eyes.

I'd done my best to laugh and look like I was enjoying myself, but Kalen had that ability to see right through whatever veneer I tried to hide behind.

She replaced the shirt she was holding on the rack, and with a twinkle in her eye, said, "It's time for dessert."

La Madeleine's pastries were a weakness of mine, but I could only manage a few bites of a tart. Kalen was watching every move like a hawk. "Tell me what it is, sis." She took my hand. She had inhaled her Danish and was looking at my plate with sugar l.u.s.t.

"It's nothing, really. I've become friends with a new tenant in the building, and I think I may've done something to offend her."

"Have you asked her about it?"

"No. I...haven't seen her lately. The last time I caught up with her, she said she was really busy at work. I didn't want to bug her.""Is there a romantic interest between the two of you?" Kalen asked. Her eyes were like laser beams.

"She's straight and divorced, so no." I told her about our tennis game and how Hailey's dog was a movie buff. Also, I told her about the last day we hung out together and how everything went great, then seemed to turn sour.

"Think you might have a crush on her?" Kalen asked.

"I said no. We're just friends...or were."

Kalen rested her chin in her hand and stared at me. "You had a glow about you when you were talking about her, that's why I asked."

2.

*"I know I can't have her, so I don't let myself go there. I just...wish I could meet someone like her. She makes me feel comfortable."

"You have to look at the positive, love. Before recently, you didn't feel 'comfortable' around anyone but me. Maybe this friendship is a precursor to meeting that someone special."

With those words banging around in my head that evening at home, I returned to the Rainbow Room. I weeded out the freak nasty messages and looked hard at one that had potential.

h.e.l.lo, Pitifully Ugly, You're not going to believe this, but this real y is my first go- round at the online thing. I've been a member for a month now, and I've visited your page a dozen times before I worked up the courage to write you. Even though what you wrote about yourself was funny, you didn't answer any of the profile questions. So to be honest, I was hesitant to make contact. But I have chatted with a few women on here I thought were decent, and that turned out not to be the case. So I'm taking a chance.

I've lived in New Orleans for a few years. My last relationship ended amicably six months ago, and I'm ready to meet someone nice. So if you're a good person, and you would like to talk, I'd like to hear from you.

Marci P.S. Avoid "Charity" like the plague. She's seriously twisted.

If Marci thought Charity was twisted, she might just be worth a try.

Hi, Marci, My profile is odd, I admit that. I couldn't think of anything that I thought was eye-catching, so what you've read was what I came up with. Maybe I'll update it when I'm not having a few gla.s.ses of wine.

I hear what you're saying about the people on here. It's hard *to judge character when you're looking at a computer screen.

For all you know, I could be a six hundred-pound man with back hair, but I'm not. I'm just your average girl who's on the shy side, hoping to meet someone nice, too.

Instead of asking the usual sil y questions, let me ask you something off the wal . If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be?

P.U.

I turned up the volume on my computer and put my new clothes in the wash. I heard the ding of a new message when I walked back into the living room.

Hey, P.U., As they say, we are all our harshest critics. If I had to pick one thing from my long list, it would be to let my hair down more often and jump into new things with both feet. I have a terrible habit of second-guessing myself and being too afraid of just getting out there, ya know?

Marci Yes, I did know. I silently prayed that I wasn't talking to a six hundred-pound furry freak man and replied.

Hi, Marci, I know exactly what you're saying. I also know that we can hide behind these computers for months being afraid to take the next step. So with that said, would you like to have coffee sometime? We could meet in a public place, and if it doesn't work out, we'll know right off the bat.

I realized that I kind of sounded as blunt as Charity, so I had to add a disclaimer.

I see that you too have encountered Charity, and I a.s.sure you that I'm nothing like her. P.U.4.*We talked for another two hours, and I had a date for drinks the next evening.It's funny how new clothes that fit well instill confidence.I was nervous, sure, but I was pleased with my reflection in the mirror. I kept telling myself that this was no big deal, just a couple of drinks, and if things didn't work out, I'd never see Marci again.It was a lot better than being fixed up by someone you knew and that person would know all the gory date details. If I made a fool of myself, only one other person would have to know.I met up with Hailey in the courtyard as she came home from work. She looked tired, and I didn't try to keep her. I hoped that it was just what she said-busy with work. The gnawing in my stomach and the tiny voice in the back of my mind said otherwise."Long day?" I asked as she approached."Very." Hailey swiped a strand of hair from her eyes. "You look nice.""Thank you. I...I'm meeting someone for drinks."Her face held no expression. "I hope it goes better for you than last time," she said wearily."I appreciate that." An awkward silence settled between us."Well, I better get going. I hope things get better for you at the office."She shot me a halfhearted smile and walked away."Hailey," I called out, causing her to stop and look back at me. "If I did something to offend you, I hope you'll tell me."She looked as though she were going to say something, then shook her head. "Stop worrying, everything's okay. Maybe we can play tennis again next week.""Okay," I said as I watched her go.Marci, to my delight, was neither a man nor anything like Charity. She was a cutie with a vivacious personality to boot. She did most of the talking, which made things easier on me. She had a raspy voice that I found s.e.xy, and I could've listened to it for hours. In fact, I did.*The only drawback was that she had blond hair, and for a few seconds, I was reminded of Hailey. I tamped that thought down.We were roughly the same height, but her build was slightly larger than mine. I liked that about her. Her eyes were brown, unlike Hailey's green. I found myself once again surprised and irritated that I was thinking about Hailey, a straight woman who was only offering friendship."Do you think you'd be interested in having dinner with me Friday night?" Marci asked out of the blue."I'd love to, and I applaud you for jumping out there and asking me because I was sitting here trying to muster the courage to do the same.""Well, you accepted, so you jumped out there, too." She clinked her gla.s.s with mine."Do you like seafood?" Marci asked."Love it.""I know a great place that I think you'll enjoy then. Do you want to meet somewhere or are you comfortable with me picking you up?"I answered by swiping a pen from the bar and jotting my address on a napkin along with my phone number."I wanna ask you something," Marci said as she stuffed the napkin into her purse. "Why did you pick the name Pitifully Ugly? I think you're really cute.""Thanks," I said with a smile. "This is going to sound pathetic," I began as I wiped the moisture from my gla.s.s. "I felt pitifully ugly the night I made my profile. I'd just come home from a nightmare date that my sister set me up on, and I knew if I didn't put something out then, I'd never do it.""I'm glad you did," Marci said with a shy smile. "You're the nicest person I've met in the Rainbow Room.""Have you been on many dates since joining?"Marci held up three fingers as she took a sip of her drink."The last was with Charity, and I almost gave up."I nodded and laughed. "I met her for coffee, and I almost threw in the towel myself."Marci held up her gla.s.s in toast again. "Here's to not giving up."*I clinked my gla.s.s with hers and made a toast of my own."And to Charity, may she find someone just like her...or worse."Marci met my gla.s.s with hers and laughed. "We're gonna have to quit toasting, or I may have to take a cab home.""Ah, I see you're as wimpy as I am when it comes to alcohol." I wasn't tipsy, but I was pretty sure my next drink would be water.