"Honestly?"

"Yes, always."

"My parents had a fund raiser here last week that took months to plan and construct. Luckily the crew hadnt started tearing it down yet, so I asked if I could use it for a special occasion."

"Its wonderful. But surely youre not going to waste all this on just you and I, are you?"

"Uh," yes, thats exactly what I had planned to do, "no, of course not. Wait here, and enjoy some spumoni. Ill be right back."

s.h.i.t! I ran into the kitchen and picked up the phone. "Charles, its Blackie, I need you in the kitchen ASAP!"

Luckily, Charles was just in the next room. After talking with him briefly, I returned to Chris in the ball room.

"Everything all right?" She asked me with a curious glint in her eye.

"Oh, yes, I was just checking on the guests, they seemed to be running late."

As if on cue, the household staff came through the door, timidly, wondering why they were there. They probably thought my party was over and they had been summoned to clean up now. Charles, at the head of the line, walked over to me.

"As per your request, Madame, I have a.s.sembled the staff."

"Thank you, Charles."

"Youre very welcome, Miss, uh, I mean, Blackie."

I slapped him on the shoulder and walked over to the staff, "Ladies and gentlemen, my parents and I greatly appreciate your hard work on our behalf, and would like for you to take some time to have a little fun, so...," I turned around, facing the room and flailed my arms out, "this is all for you!"

I dont think they believed me at first. Not that I could blame them since I had never done anything like this before. Finally, with a nod from Charles, they fanned out, and began enjoying themselves.

I returned to Chris and she smiled so wide at me that I thought she might cry.

"You have so much great potential, Melinda Blackstone."

"Well, if I do, its because I was inspired by you. Now, what do you say to a gondola ride?"

I couldnt help but be in awe of Melindas generosity to her staff, and at how fast she could think on her feet. It was the perfect evening, and everyone had such a good time. Their laughter was contagious and so welcomed. I missed having that kind of fun at a party.

I was talking with one of the staff, I think she was the chamber maid, when she mentioned in pa.s.sing that Melinda had changed all of a sudden. I asked her how so, and she said that she had been invisible before, unless she had done something wrong, and then the Mistress would yell at her. I noticed she had an empty gla.s.s in her hand and wondered how many drinks shed had to loosen her tongue like that. I told her that I too had been the recipient of Melindas anger, but that she shouldnt take it to heart because Melinda wasnt angry with her, she was just venting in general. The maid seemed relieved and smile at me before she left.

I cannot take credit for Melindas change in att.i.tude. She has done that all by herself and I couldnt be prouder of her. I cant wait until she starts the test because I think once she has felt the sting of poverty, she will want to change it for others. I find myself getting excited over the possibilities for her, for us. But I cant allow myself to go there yet, to feel more than just friendship for her. I cant. I wont. First I need to make sure that this isnt all just a ploy so she can manipulate things to her advantage. To what end I dont know, but if she truly wants to change, I truly want to help her in any way I can. That puts me precariously out on a ledge, wondering if she will push me off, or pull me be back. I want so desperately for her to pull me back.

After the wonderful opera came to an end, where I was cried into Melindas handkerchief through most of it, she showed me to the guest room, which was on the other side of the first floor. A very s.p.a.cious room with all the amenities not unlike our guest room at home. It was nearly midnight and I had not slept in two days. When I saw that I would be sleeping in a king size bed with silk sheets and warm blankets, I was more than happy to call it a night.

I fell asleep that night the happiest I had been in a very long time.

Disappearing Act-Christine Livingston and Meg b.u.mgartner Sat.u.r.day, I returned to work, floating on air as I delivered plates full of barbeque ribs to patrons. Im not sure what had me feeling so good, although getting a good nights sleep on that incredibly comfortable bed had something to do with it. And of course, then theres Melinda, who wowed me at every turn. But after all that she had shown me, I wasnt so sure she could do it anymore. I found myself praying that she could make it through the next month, because I did not want to see her fail.

"Chrissie, whats a girl got to do to get a little service around here?"

"Meg! When did you walk in?"

"Just now, can you take a break?"

The dinner rush hadnt started yet so I said sure, and led her over to a table. "Do you want something to eat, Meg?"

"No, thank you."

"So, how did you find me? I dont recall telling you where I worked."

"Im a detective, remember? I know where you live and where you work. Have you considered moving closer to work to save you some time and expense?"

"Yes, that was my original plan, but I dont want to now because of Norma."

"Norma?"

"Yes, shes in her eighties and lives in the apartment two doors down from me. Shes become like a grandmother to me and I treasure her friendship. I dont want to move away from her."

"She sounds very special and Im glad for you. Listen, Ive been trying to get a hold of you but I couldnt find you at home or at work. Is everything all right?"

"Oh yes, everything is great. I had a day off and Melinda took me to San Francisco to show me where she lives."

"Where she lives? Are you two, uh..."

"Oh no, its nothing like that. Ive challenged Melinda to a test and she wanted to show me what she would be giving up in order to complete the challenge."

"I dont understand?"

I explained to Meg what we would be doing and why, and she was shocked when I told her that Melinda would be moving in with me.

"Why cant she get her own place?"

"Because I want her to succeed and after seeing how rich she really is, I think she needs a go between to help her over the rough spots." I looked at Meg closely and saw the concern in her eyes. "Its really all right, Meg. I could use the company during the holidays."

"You know she drinks heavily and throws cash around like it grew on trees?"

"Its okay, you can say what youre really thinking, that shes a bad influence and will lead me down the devils path. But youre wrong about her, Meg. Ive seen an incredible change in her since I first met her. She wants to change and I want to help her change. I believe that my convictions are stronger than hers and I have no fear of her influence over me."

"Youre convictions had better be rock solid, because money is a strong enticement. Especially considering-"

"Considering that my parents kicked me out and Im living in a slum now? If I can withstand that kind of heartache, I can withstand a little enticement from Melinda Blackstone. And just imagine if she succeeds, which I know she will, she will be a completely different person with empathy for others and compa.s.sion for the less fortunate."

"Chrissie, where do you see this going, your friendship with Blackie?"

"Im afraid to say it out loud in case I jinx it, but I see us being more than friends. Together we could do so much more to help people, than we could ever do separately. At least, thats what I would do with my money if I had any." I realized I was treading into revealing waters. "Anyway, to change the subject, were you looking for me for a specific purpose?"

"Yes, Frankie and I wanted to invite you to Thanksgiving dinner. Frankies a wonderful cook and you wont be disappointed."

"Oh, but I am disappointed. I have already made plans to be with Norma and Melinda on Thanksgiving."

"Thats all right, perhaps we can get together some other time."

"Absolutely. Can Melinda come too?"

Chapter Fourteen.

A Lot To Be Thankful For - Christine Livingston, Melinda Blackstone and Norma Shelby Norma invited us to Thanksgiving dinner, and Melinda asked me if she could provide a turkey dinner with all the tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs on Thursday. I told her no, because it would defeat the purpose if she stored up on supplies and then lived off of them for any length of time. Even if it was just for the holiday. Since that would be her first full day of being penniless, I told her that I would use my emergency tips and buy the turkey. That way Norma wouldnt be out the expense. Even if she did have antiques worth a lot of money, she didnt have any money either.

Norma was very excited to be spending the holiday with friends and I wondered how long it had been since shed had someone spend the holidays with her. I know that I had dreaded being alone on the holidays and now I was looking forward to them.

Melinda moved in the day before Thanksgiving, bringing only the clothes she wore, a dark blue shirt and a pair of jeans, plus some T-shirts, another pair of jeans and underwear. She left behind her wallet full of credit cards, her cellphone and her money. The only problem that I could see, and didnt have a solution for at the moment, was her expensive Italian Suede shoes. She said she didnt have anything cheaper. In this neighborhood people have killed for less.

"So, do you think youll survive in this tiny apartment for a month?"

Her face was like stone when she said, "I sleep in the raw."

I think she meant to shock me with her statement, but I had thought all that through already. "Thats no problem at all." I walked over to the bed and tugged on the sheet I had hung from the wall, and pulled it across the bed to a hook on the opposite wall. "I forgot to show you the room divider."

"And when were in bed together?"

She had a devious twinkle in her eye when she asked that, but that was the first thing I worried about when I decided to invite her to live with me. I pulled the comforter back on the bed to show her that we each would have our own sheet and blanket, thereby providing some modic.u.m of privacy. I didnt tell her that I had bought the extra sheet and blanket at a flea market. I thought Id spare her that much. After all, they werent silk or satin and I was sure that would be problematic enough for her.

The first night, we sat on the bed and had a snack of tuna and crackers and the kitten gobbled up the crumbs afterwards. The bed was actually the only place we could sit because it was too cold to sit on the fire escape outside. We reminisced about that wonderful trip to San Francisco, and I pointed out to her that she had committed her second random act of kindness, but she looked away, and picked up the kitten.

"I uh, well, I didnt actually plan that the staff would attend the party."

"I know, but they didnt know that and now they have a better regard for you, because of you kindness."

"You knew? Why didnt you call me on it?"

"For the reasons I just told you, the staff think youre wonderful now. Its a big step in changing your reputation."

"Well, it was kind of cool, having them thank me for a great time and for the first time, mean it."

"Its a great feeling, isnt it? Its sort of like getting high without the drugs getting in the way."

"Yeah, thats right. We should get high all the time."

She grinned and I knew she was joking around. After playing a few rounds of gin rummy, I was getting tired so I asked if she was ready for bed. The first problem we ran into, as roommates, was that when one of us was ready for bed, the other one had to be also. I didnt have a television to watch and no chairs to speak of so you either laid in bed and read or you sat on the floor and played with the kitten.

Since it was the first night, we both went to bed at the same time. I pulled the sheet I was using as a curtain, across the bed and undressed on my side of the room while she did the same on her side. She chose to wear a T-shirt and panties, and I put on my flannel pajamas with the polka dots. I felt like I was wearing granny panties compared to what she was wearing to bed. Finally when she was ready, I pulled the curtain back and we crawled into bed.

"Oh, by the way, thank you for wearing your T-shirt to bed instead of sleeping nude, and I snore... very loudly."

Turn-about was fair play.

I barely slept a wink all night. I have to admit, its already starting to be a difficult transition for me. First of all, when I was Blackie Blackstone, I never got to bed before one A.M. As Melinda, going to bed at ten P.M. was way too early. Second of all, that bed had a lose spring that was stabbing me in my kidney, every time I moved. And thirdly, every time I did finally dose off, the kitten woke me up again by playing with my hair, or sticking her tiny little nose in my ear and purring so loud it startled me.

Then theres sleeping next to a beautiful woman and remembering shes just a friend, so no touching allowed. I have no siblings, and never shared my bed with anyone that I wasnt having s.e.x with, so this was a completely new and somewhat disjointed feeling I was experiencing.

It seemed like hours before the sun finally peeked between the drab buildings and even longer before Chris woke up.

"Good morning, sleepy head. Its about time you woke up." Normally people would say that to me because I usually slept in until noon.

"Good morning, roomy. Did you sleep well?"

"Not a wink."

"Oh, Im sorry. Was it because everything was different from what you were use to?"

"It was a whole bunch of things, including this crazy kitten of yours. Did you know she has a kinky side to her?"

"Oh, do you mean the way she likes to sniff your ear just as youre falling asleep and then wakes you up with her purring>"

"Yes, thats it exactly. So shes done that to you before?"

Chris set up and stretched, a long stretch that ended with the cutest little squeal.

"She had been, until you moved in."

I could hear the teasing in her voice so I teased back, "Well then, I think tonight Ill hide a little tuna in your ear and let Blackie see that you smell even better."

Chris rubbed her ear and said, "You wouldnt dare... would you?"

I just grinned at her and got out of the bed. "Dibbs on the bathroom," I announced, and bounded off.

"Dont use up all the hot water!" She bellowed at me.

I let the water run for a long time and finally, it was hot enough to tolerate. The shower was small, like everything else in that apartment, with the base no wider than one of those steel tubs, and the shower curtain was circular and hung from a round rod attached to the ceiling. The shower head protruded from the ceiling as well and pointed one direction, down. As different as it was, the shower did its job, and I stepped out onto the bathmat and dried off. It was harder to dry off because there was less room to stretch and bend. Okay, this will take some major getting use to. When I was finally done, I realized that I had not brought a change of clothes in with me. At home I would just walk around nude and not think twice about it.

I cracked the door a tiny bit too asked Chris to bring me some clothes and then I realized there would be no way to dress in here unless I stand on the toilet and bend over to keep from b.u.mping my head on the ceiling.

I hollered out the door, "Chris, help. How am I supposed to dress in here?"

"Its okay, you can come out here and dress."

Okay, if she doesnt mind my being naked then I dont. I walked out feeling surprisingly modest until I saw that she had put the curtain back up. With the light coming in from the window, I could see her silhouette through the curtain,, standing beside the bed.

"Its going to be a beautiful day today, I wish we had time to get out and enjoy it."