Love Becomes Her (19 page)

“I
’ve never been so nervous in my life,” Barbara said as she paced the gleaming parquet floors. She peeked out the window for the umpteenth time, praying that the weather would hold up and not give in to the deluge that the forecasters had predicted.

“I know what you mean,” Elizabeth said, wringing her hands. “How do I look?”

Barbara turned away from the window. “Beautiful,” she said, her smile reaching her eyes. “You wear love well.”

Elizabeth walked up to Barbara and took her hands. “And what about you?”

Barbara drew in a breath. “I’ve made my decision, and if Michael shows up tonight I—”

“They’re here!” Ann Marie shouted. “The news van just arrived. And cars are pulling up out front!” Her three-inch heels beat out a rapid path to the front door.

Stephanie, looking model beautiful, came running
out from the back room, her newly done weave bouncing and behaving on her bare shoulders.

Barbara and Elizabeth looked at each other, their expressions beaming with anticipation.

“This is it, girl,” Barbara said.

“Let’s do it.”

During the next two hours the house was filled with men of every ilk: short, tall, dark, light, young, old, in shape and out. It was a boutique that every red-blooded woman could only fantasize about—men, men, men! The pure male scent and essence of them filled the rooms as they freely roamed about, getting the grand tour. It may have been raining water outside but it was raining men inside of Pause.

Desiree and Dawne were the perfect hostesses, ensuring that their special guests were adequately fed. Raquel pointed out the benefits of the contemporary but ergonomic furnishings that helped to not only relax the mind but the body, all set against the historical structure of the building.

“This is incredible,” Ron whispered in Elizabeth’s ear when he was finally able to steal a minute with her.

“I can hardly believe this is really happening.” She stepped close to him and pressed her palm against his hard chest. She was finally ready to take the leap. “Let’s celebrate, later…at my place.”

He smiled. “Say no more.”

Upstairs, Stephanie was in deep conversation with a potential client when she felt a presence behind her. She turned to see Anthony watching her. She wrapped up her talk and gracefully excused herself.

“Well, hello. I wasn’t sure if you would make it.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” He looked around. This is really something. You all should be proud.”

“We are. The artwork and photos that you did were a major help.” She drew in a breath to keep herself in check. “I really should get back to the guests. Thanks for coming. Enjoy yourself.” She made a move to leave.

“Steph, wait.”

Her heart pounded. “Yes?”

“I think there’s something that you should know about me…. I’m not married.”

Barbara tried to concentrate on the conversation between two gentlemen who’d just signed up for Pause, but her eyes kept drifting to the door. Michael had yet to arrive. Maybe it was a sign, maybe it was just as well. Then why did she feel so let down?

Out of the corner of her eye she caught a flurry of activity and flashbulbs began going off in rapid succession. He stood head and shoulders above everyone else and she suddenly felt like a young girl whose prince had just rode in on a white horse. Her heart was racing so hard and fast that she felt light-headed.

“Go rescue your man,” Ann Marie whispered in her ear.

But she couldn’t seem to move and she didn’t have to. He was walking her way. And like the Red Sea, everyone parted to give him space, following him with their eyes and with their cameras.

He looked down into her upturned face with a love so strong burning from his eyes that she thought she’d cry from the pure beauty of it.

“I told you I’d make it,” he said only to her.

Ann Marie felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned.

“Mama, you have a phone call.”

“A call? Did they say who it was?”

“I could barely hear them over all the noise.”

“Thanks, sweetie, I’ll take it in the back office.” She excused herself and went to the office and closed the door.

A red light was flashing on the multilined phone. She pressed the button.

“Hello, this is Ann Marie.” She pressed a finger to her free ear to drown out the last of the noise.

“Annie, it’s Terrance. I’m coming to New York and I want to see you…and Raquel.”

“W
ell, ladies, I think we did it,” Barbara said as they all sat exhausted in the lounge area of Pause.

The last of the guests had finally departed and Desiree, Dawne and Raquel volunteered to clean up. Close to one hundred men had signed up on the spot, paying with cash and credit card for exclusive membership. They were on their way, and with all the publicity the spa would get they were on the map, as well. They had clients that would be coming from as far away as Washington, D.C. The sky was the limit.

“I think you’re right,” Elizabeth said, laughter lifting her voice.

“We need to get good and drunk more often. No telling what we could come up with next,” Stephanie quipped.

“I could sure use one,” Ann Marie said. She looked from one to the other. “Terrance called. He wants to see me.”

“And?” they said in unison.

“And…I’m a big woman now after all, right? It’s time that Raquel met her pop.”

“Absolutely!”

“Go for it, Annie,” Stephanie said. “How often do we get second chances?”

“Yes, Annie, take it from me. It’s always better the second time around,” Elizabeth said, her mind already envisioning her night with Ron christening her bed.

“I’m going to take a chance, too,” Stephanie announced. “With Tony.” She told them about how she’d stuck to her guns when she believed he was married and how he’d told her tonight that he had been, nearly five years earlier. After he lost his wife he’d never taken off his ring. He saw no reason to until now.

“Steph, I’m so happy for you. Just take your time, okay?” Ann Marie said.

“I will.” She hesitated a moment then looked at her friends. “And I want all of you to meet my sister…soon.”

They were all silent for a moment, understanding the importance of Stephanie’s trust in them.

“I have an announcement to make,” Barbara said, standing up, breaking the poignant silence.

The trio looked at her in anticipation. She held out her left hand and the diamond snapped, crackled and popped in the light.

A collective gasp filled the room an instant before they swarmed around her for a group hug. Everyone
began talking at once, making plans for her wedding, what they were going to wear, what roles they would play, who to invite.

All Barbara could do was laugh, her joy so complete she had no words. What more could a woman want? She had what was sure to be a thriving business, a handsome young man who adored her, and she had her friends.

There were definitely some rocky roads ahead for all of them. The paths they’d each chosen were uncertain: she and Michael, Ann and Terrance, Elizabeth and Ron, and Steph and Tony. But one thing they could always count on was each other.

“Hey, do you think we’ll ever make this place coed?” Elizabeth asked as they prepared to leave.

They all looked at each other.

“Naw!”

Their laughter mixed perfectly with an unpredictable and exciting future.