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Mavis turned her around for the tenth time. “Just a little tuck here, and I’m finished.” She had several straight pins with colored heads sticking out of her mouth, making it difficult to understand what she’d said.

Ida wondered how Mavis was going to lift the fabric off her without jabbing her with all the pins, but she kept the thought to herself, knowing that Mavis was an expert seam-stress and wouldn’t put her in a position where she could get hurt. Mavis was like that, Ida thought. Kind, loving, caring, not a mean or spiteful bone in her ever-thinning body. She’d often wished she was more like her friend but accepted the fact that she wasn’t.

Ida knew she was mean-spirited, spiteful, and wicked to her three best friends, but that was just the way she was. They seemed to accept her that way. After fifty years, not one of them had declined her friendship. They’d loved her just the way she was. She loved them all in return, but wasn’t the kind to gush on and on about it. They knew she cared about them. Why else would she be there allowing Mavis to poke and turn her around as though she were a mannequin? Friends do such things for one another. That was what she kept telling herself. She looked at the clock on the stove. She’d been in the center of the kitchen for almost an hour. If Mavis didn’t finish up soon, she would have to tell her it was time to quit.

She simply had to pee.

Mavis spun her around, eyeing her up and down. “There, it’s perfect! Hold your arms up.” Mavis gently lifted the fabric up and over the top of Ida’s head. Not once did she feel the slightest pinprick.

“I don’t see how you do that, but I’m about ready to bust. I’ll be back.” Ida raced to the downstairs bathroom, took care of business, then returned to the kitchen. In her absence Mavis had set up the ironing board and was stretching the teal fabric on top of it.

“You mean you actually iron that before you’ve finished,” Ida said in complete and utter amazement. “I can’t imagine why you would do that. Isn’t it a waste of time when you know you’ll have to iron it all over again after you’ve finished?”

“I’m ironing the seams down. It makes it easier to sew. I don’t mind ironing. I used to spend Sunday evenings ironing Herbert’s dress shirts when he was alive. It’s a mindless task, Ida, not laborious.” Mavis ran the iron along the fabric, weaving in and out, avoiding all the pins she’d inserted.

“Oh. Well then if you don’t need me anymore, I need to go…uh, I have to call my broker.” Ida was about to head upstairs when Mavis called out to her.

“Ida, I saw you this morning.”

Ida stopped dead in her tracks, then turned around to face Mavis. “What are you talking about?” She knew. She just wanted to hear Mavis say the words. Kind of.

“I saw you get out of that limousine.”

Damn! Now what to do?

Temporarily stunned, Ida wasn’t sure what to say. She remained rooted to the floor for several seconds before she gathered her thoughts enough so that she could speak. “Oh, well then…”

Mavis interrupted her. “You don’t owe me an explanation. As long as you’re happy and safe.”

Ida contemplated what to say and what not to say. She was an adult and didn’t like all this sneaking around. In fact, she was going to tell Sammy it was time to go public with their relationship. They were both free, there was simply no reason to keep their feelings for one another hidden. With a lightened conscience, Ida found her voice. “I have been seeing someone.”

Mavis continued with her ironing, though Ida saw the slight smile on her face. “I guessed it was something like that.”

“You don’t think I’m a tramp, do you?” Ida asked.

Mavis placed the iron on the edge of the ironing board, then unplugged it from the outlet. “Oh Ida, of course not! I would never think such a thing. I think it’s wonderful that you’ve met someone.”

“Really? I wasn’t sure how you would react. Toots and Sophie are always teasing me. They think I can’t live without a man, but that’s not true. It’s just…I just seem to attract them.” Ida smiled. Well, it was true. She didn’t go searching for them. They came to her.

Mavis dipped her head like a bashful teen. “Actually I’ve met someone, too. His name is George. He has a dachshund named Albert.”

For once Ida smiled a genuine honest-to-goodness straight-from-the-heart smile. “Let’s go outside and sit on the deck.” Any thoughts of spending the afternoon bathing and sleeping were gone. Ida perked up when the topic turned to men. “And you can tell me all about him.”

With a lightness in her step, Mavis beamed when she spoke, “I’ll bring a pitcher of lemonade. I can’t wait for you girls to meet him.”

“Let me help you,” Ida said.

“No, no, you go on out and wipe the sand off those old deck chairs. I’ll only be a minute.” Mavis grabbed a damp sponge from the sink. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

Ida took the sponge from her. “I’m okay now. Truly. I can sit on sandy deck chairs, Mavis. As a matter of fact, I want to sit on dirty chairs. It reminds me just how grateful I am for Dr. Sameer’s help. I don’t know what I would do without him.”

Mavis took the pitcher of lemonade from the refrigerator and grabbed a tray of ice and two glasses. “Come. I want to hear all about your new love,” she said.

Out on the deck, Mavis poured them each a tall glass of fresh-squeezed lemonade before settling into the weather-beaten chair next to Ida’s. “So tell me about George,” Ida said cheerily. She simply loved to talk about men.

“We met on the beach. Coco saw his dachshund, Albert, and fell madly in love. I’ve never seen her so taken with another dog. Albert refused to walk when he saw Coco. I think it was love at first sight for the two. George and I just started talking, and one thing led to another. We’ve been meeting on the beach for the past two weeks. We’re going out to dinner as soon as we can find a sitter for both dogs. He’s very hesitant to leave Albert with just anybody. Of course I understand, and I told him so. I said Toots and Sophie would watch the dogs, but he said he wasn’t sure and would have to meet them first. So, when they meet, and if Albert takes to Sophie and Toots, then we’re going out on a real date.”

Ida couldn’t recall Mavis ever being quite as animated as she was at that moment. Her eyes sparkled, and her skin glowed like she’d just had one of those facials that Ida paid hundreds for in Manhattan. Love. Mavis looked like a woman in love!

“I can watch the dogs, Mavis. You don’t have to ask Toots or Sophie.” Ida said this knowing Mavis wouldn’t accept her offer. Coco hated her, and she figured Albert would, too. Dogs didn’t seem to like her for some reason.

“Oh no, but thank you. Coco really likes Toots.” Mavis shifted her eyes downward. “Not that she doesn’t like you, it’s just that Toots is more of a dog person.”

Somewhat chagrined and not exactly sure why, Ida just nodded. “Well, the offer still stands. You know, in case of an emergency. So tell me more about your George. Is he tall, dark, and handsome?”

“Yes, he is. He’s also kind and loves animals. He is a widower, too.”

“He sounds nice,” Ida thought. Just like dear Mavis.

“Oh, there’s much more to him than that. He owns a string of dry cleaners, and says he’ll never fully retire. He travels a lot, too. He’s never been to Maine. I asked him if he would like to come and visit me sometime in the future, but he didn’t answer. I wonder why? Do you suppose he doesn’t like easterners?”

Ida almost fell out of her chair. Mavis was so naive. Poor thing. Ida would have to teach her a thing or two about men. Maybe she should start a dating service or an advice column; she certainly had enough experience. Something to do with her free time. Or maybe she would just enjoy herself by taking pictures of whatever she wanted whenever she wanted. She’d thought about that many times but never dreamed it was possible. Once she took the photographs of the Pitt/Jolie kids, who knew where that would lead? Ida promised herself she would be open to all the possibilities regardless of where she was in her romantic life. She really did not have to have a man in her life. Someday she would prove this to Toots and Sophie. She smiled at the thought.

“Ida? Are you all right, dear?” Mavis asked.

Ida shook her head, “Yes, I was just woolgathering. No, I don’t think being an easterner has anything to do with George’s not answering you. It’s quite possible he didn’t hear you.” Ida smiled. Poor Mavis spoke in such soft tones it was all Ida could do to hear her.

“Really? Now that you mention it, I suppose it is possible. He does seem to lean toward me when we’re talking. I’ll just have to speak loud and clear the next time the subject comes up. What do you think?”

“I think you should invite George and Albert over for dinner. I’m sure Toots wouldn’t mind. You could make that fish dish of yours that I like so much. Of course we could call out for something if you don’t want to cook. This way we would all get a chance to meet George, and he could decide if Toots and Sophie are worthy enough to dog-sit.”

Mavis clapped her hands together. “That’s a wonderful idea. Why didn’t I think of that? We meet every morning at sunrise. I’ll make sure to ask him. Of course, I want to clear it with Toots first. She’s been so good to me. I would hate it if she thought I were taking advantage of her generosity. And I’m not sure if she would even want a stranger in the house now. Maybe I should wait until all the remodeling is finished. I wouldn’t want to embarrass Toots.”

Ida took a sip of her lemonade. “I’m sure Toots wouldn’t want you to wait, but it’s probably a good idea to ask her first. She can be moody when she wants to be.” Ida shouldn’t have said that, but it was true. Toots could be as big a bitch as Ida. That’s why they fought like cats and dogs. They were very much alike, though Ida was sure Toots would never agree with her. As the old saying goes, “It takes one to know one.”

“Well she did just lose her husband, Ida. Of course she’s moody. It took years for me to recover from Herbert’s death. Sometimes I’m still not sure that I’m over it. I still miss him, and it’s been almost fifteen years.” Mavis gazed longingly out at the Pacific.

“She’s had eight husbands. I think grieving has become routine for her. It’s an event for her, she told me so herself. I don’t believe Toots’s moodiness can be attributed to grief.”

“Well, I for one don’t care what kind of mood Toots is in. She’s my dearest friend.” Mavis paused as though she’d made a massive blunder. “And of course so are you and Sophie. I love each one of you.”

“Oh Mavis, you’re too sweet to be hanging with three old women who do nothing but complain about one another. You should be with people who are more like you.”

“And what kind of people would that be?” Mavis asked.

Ida brushed sand from her lap. “Nice people, people who don’t bitch all the time.”

Mavis laughed. “I wouldn’t change one thing about any of you, so you can stop right now. Now, you haven’t said one word about this mysterious man that you’ve been sneaking out to see every night for the past few weeks. I want to know all about him.”

Shit, it was confession time.

************************************************************************************************

Abby had checked her e-mail at least ten times since she’d replied to the publicist’s message. Nothing. She thought that she should have heard something by then. E-mail was practically instantaneous. If the Pitt/Jolie publicist wanted to arrange for an interview, one would assume they would check their e-mails often enough to get the process going. Abby glanced at her watch again. Damn, only four minutes had passed since she looked at it the last time. Chester lay curled up in a ball on the Barcalounger, fast asleep. Dogs, they could sleep anywhere. Almost like men. Men. No, she would not think of men because thinking of men would remind her of Chris Clay. And Chris Clay was not someone she wanted to think about. Not after she’d seen his face plastered on the cover of People with that sleazy-ass star of the month. No, men were jerks. Men made promises they couldn’t or wouldn’t keep, unlike women, who always kept their promises. At least she did.

She remembered her so-called date with Chris right before the fire. They’d gone to Pink’s, a hot-dog stand made famous for its “cuisine” and the stars who often dined there. They’d gone together. She’d eaten three hot dogs. He’d kissed her fingers. Each and every one of them. One at a time. Abby had promised herself she wouldn’t wash her hands for at least a week, but she had eaten those words almost as fast as she’d gobbled down the hot dogs.

She’d spoken to Chris on the phone in the wee hours of the morning, had asked him for a favor. And he’d flat out told her no. He hadn’t minced words either. She’d been avoiding him ever since. He’d told her he liked her. As in really liked her. Her mistake, she’d believed him. Her dear stepbrother, whom she’d had a crush on since she’d first laid eyes on him. She had been fourteen and he was eighteen, and now at twenty-eight she still couldn’t stop thinking about him. Damn!

She heard the bell on her computer ding, letting her know she’d received a new e-mail. Maybe the publicist. She clicked on the yellow mailbox. An e-mail from Victoria’s Secret. Yes, just what she needed. A sexy pair of panties with a matching bra. No one to appreciate them except herself, so she definitely wasn’t in the mood for designer lingerie. No need. Her love life had been stuck in slow motion for so long, it would take more than sexy lingerie to lure her out of…what? There wasn’t anyone she wanted to date, except Chris. He’d ruined any chance they had when he’d refused to offer his legal advice, telling her he was working for her mother. Abby believed him; she’d even asked her mother just to double-check. Still, he could’ve helped her out. Conflict of interest, he’d said. Conflict of interest my ass, Abby thought.

Chester stood up in the Barcalounger and stretched languidly before jumping off his favorite chair. “You want out, I bet.” Abby found his leash on the back of her chair. She clipped it to his collar, grabbed her keys, and headed outside for Chester’s afternoon stroll so he could water the bushes.

Once out in the parking area, Abby removed Chester’s leash. Now that the parking lot was completely fenced in, there was a nice safe area where Chester could run loose and do his business while she didn’t have to worry about keeping him collared. Rag would’ve had her ass if he’d known she allowed Chester to roam freely. He’d been real big on insisting she keep him on a leash, always reminding her of the liability if he were to bite an employee or, God forbid, an advertiser. She wished that Chester had taken a bite out of the old bastard. Would have served him right after all the trouble his leaving caused. Abby had high hopes that he would be found someday. Until then, she had more important things to worry about.