and looks and obviously a great personality, and they were attracted to each other instantly. By the end of lunch, they were giggling and having a great time, and the maitre d' was giving them angry looks for tying up two tables outside, until, finally, Gail suggested they take a walk back up Rodeo Drive.
“I'll show you the boots at Giorgio's if you want.” Anne was even more impressed when she discovered that Gail had a charge account there, and everyone seemed anxious to help her buy something. Usually, when kids went into places like that, the salespeople were anxious to get rid of them, but not Gail. Everyone called her by name, they even offered Anne a Coke from the bar. They had a great time even though Gail had decided she didn't like the boots that much after all and they were giggling again when they left.
“Ill show you the shoes at the place I went.” It was the most fun she'd had in years, ever probably. The two had hit it off, and they were having a wonderful afternoon, with nothing else to do. “Your Mom must buy a lot of stuff at Giorgio's for them to be so nice.”
Gail was quiet for a minute, staring into space, and then she looked at Anne. “My mother died of cancer two years ago. She was thirty-eight years old,” They were such shocking words that Anne just stared at her. It was the worst thing she had ever heard, much worse than anything that had happened to her in some ways. Even though she and Faye weren't close and there were times when she hated her, still to have her die that way would be terrible, and she could still see the pain in Gail's eyes now.
“Do you have sisters and brothers?”
“No. Just my Dad.” She looked at Anne honestly as they walked along. “That's why he kind of spoils me, I guess. It's like I'm all he has left. I try not to take advantage of that, but it's hard sometimes.” She smiled and Anne noticed that there were freckles dusted across her face. “I like getting my way, and he gets so upset when I cry.”
Anne laughed. “Poor man.”
“What are your parents like?”
Anne hated to even talk about them, but after Gail's confidence it seemed unfair not to share something with her. “They're all right.”
“Do you get along with them?”
Anne shrugged. The truth was that she did not, and never had. “Sometimes. They weren't too crazy about it when I took off.”
“Do they trust you now?”
“I think so.”
“Would you do it again?” Gail was curious about her new friend.
But Anne shook her head. “No, I wouldn't.”
“Do you have sisters and brothers?” They had reached the shoe shop and were wandering inside, as Anne nodded her head. “Two of each.”
“Wow!” Gail smiled the dazzling smile. She could have been a child actress if she'd wanted to, but her father would have worried about her too much. “Lucky you!”
“That's what you think!” Anne knew better and rolled her eyes.
“What're they like?”
“My older brother, Lionel, is neat. He's going to be twenty-one.” And she didn't tell Gail he was gay. “He dropped out of school too, and he's making films for Fox.” She said it like a pro and Gail was impressed again. “My other brother is a jock and goes to the University of Alabama on a football scholarship. He'll be a junior this year. And my sisters are twins. One of them just went East to go to Barnard, and the other one is trying to be an actress here.”
“Wow! That's neat!”
“Lionel is … we've always been close … the others are … well,” she shrugged again, dismissing them at one blow, “a little strange at times.” It was what they said about her too, but she didn't care what they said now. She had a new friend of her own.
Gail bought two pairs of the same shoes in different colors. And a few minutes later, she looked at her watch.
“My Dad's picking me up at four, in front of the Beverly Wilshire. Do you want a ride somewhere?”
Anne hesitated. She had taken a cab from home, but it would be fun to ride with Gail. “You don't think he'd mind?”
“Not at all. He loves doing stuff like that.” Giving strangers rides? Anne laughed. Gail was naïve in some ways but she liked that about her. They crossed Wilshire Boulevard, and stood in front of the sumptuous hotel,