A Different Kind of Forever - By Dee Ernst Page 0,58
I have ever found, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you.”
“Oh,” she whispered, as she broke into a smile. She felt a rush of happiness. She stared down into her coffee, then back up at Michael. He had a half smile on his face.
“I’m overwhelmed.” She put the mug back on the tray. She was still smiling, feeling young and silly and happy. “Michael, I just – oh, my.” She reached out and grabbed him, pulling him toward her, kissing him, small, excited kisses on his lips and face. She was half laughing, and he took her by the shoulders, kissing her deeply.
She stopped laughing. “I don’t know, Michael. I think I am in love with you. But I’m not sure.” She stroked his cheek. “Is that going to be enough for you?”
“Are you kidding? It’s fine, it’s great.” His eyes were bright. “I’ll take it.” He kissed her again, and she sank into the pillows.
“I need to celebrate again,” she whispered.
“Again?”
“Long story. Move the tray. Kiss me again.”
He did.
The next week she stopped by her house and there was a message from Sharon for her to call.
“I need new toes,” Sharon complained. “Let’s get a pedicure and have lunch. I haven’t seen you in days.”
Diane looked at her feet. “Good idea. Actually, I think I need a total tune up. How about TonyO’s?”
“Wow, aren’t we fancy schmancy? Can we get something for tomorrow on short notice?”
Diane flipped through the phone book. “It’s summertime and everyone is off somewhere else. I’ll call. I’ll let you know.”
When Sharon walked into Antonio’s Day Spa the next morning, Diane was waiting for her. Sharon looked at her closely as they sat down, plunging their feet into foaming water.
“Did you get your eyebrows done?” Sharon asked.
“Yes. And a bikini wax, mud treatment and a facial. I feel like I’ve been here since dawn.”
“Since when do you spring for all the extra treatments?” Sharon spoke cautiously. She knew that Diane, while financially comfortable, did not have a lot of extra money. And everything at Antonio’s was very expensive.
Diane looked guilty. “Well, with the girls gone and Michael feeding me, I felt I could splurge.”
Sharon nodded her head slowly. “Sure. But since when have you been getting facials? And mud? What the hell is that about?”
Diane took in a deep breath. “A couple of nights ago, Michael and I went to the movies, and afterwards, I went to the bathroom, and you know how those lines are, so I was in there for a while, and when I came out, this incredible girl was talking to Michael. Sharon, she was gorgeous, legs up to her neck, boobs out to there, swinging all this long hair around. I just looked at her and felt, well, old and run-down. So I figured I’d treat myself to a little sprucing up.”
“Shit.” Sharon said angrily. “You look fantastic, Diane.”
Diane looked at her friend. “I know I do. I think I look great for my age. But I’m still forty-five, you know? My boobs sag, I’ve got those great little lines around my eyes, my jaw line is soft and puffy, not to mention the gray hair.”
Sharon snorted. “Now wait. Your hair always looks terrific. I haven’t seen gray on your head in a long time.”
Diane made a face. “I’m not talking about the hair on my head,” she said wryly.
Sharon sighed. “Oh, that gray hair. Yeah, that really sucks.”
Diane shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve never been very self conscious about my appearance before, but now it seems important, you know?”
Sharon was watching her friend’s face. “What does Michael say about all this? I mean, I don’t know him all that well, but he seems very, I don’t know, unimpressed by the physical. Or material. He’s really down-to-earth, isn’t he?”
Diane chewed her lip. “He is. He would never say anything. He tells me I’m beautiful and sexy and gorgeous, no matter how I really look.”
Sharon sighed. “So, what gives?”
Diane watched as bright coral polish went on to her toes. “He told me he was in love with me.”
“But that’s great!” Sharon exclaimed.
“I know it is. It’s better than great. I’ve been walking around with this huge ridiculous grin on my face, feeling like a silly fifteen-year-old. And then I saw him with this woman and it just, I don’t know. It made me feel perfectly awful. I wanted to scratch her eyes out.”
“Jealous? My goodness. So you must be in love with him after all.”