Home » The Archives » Chapter 9 » Regrouping and Recouperation
| Re: Regrouping and Recouperation [message #176 is a reply to message #158] |
Mon, 23 July 2012 08:52   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
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Field Commander
Switzerland |
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(Tuesday, August 7, 10:00 a.m. Wichita, KS; Wednesday, August 8, 3:00 a.m. Tracy Island)
Tuesday afternoon, Andrea's eyes lit up when Heather asked if she'd want to help her go shopping.
Heather met Andrea during a late night organ donor flight three years ago when Andrea had been sent by the Meteorology department of the local television station to cover one of Heather's flights. Heather had to coax Andrea in the co-pilot's seat and as soon as the iced box with its precious cargo was locked down, Heather taxied the Blue Streak to the runway. Up until then, Andrea had only flown on commercial flights and she hated flying. Heather settled her down as they flew, and by the time they returned with their mission accomplished, Andrea hated flying even more, but appreciated Heather's work, and the two became fast friends. The meteorologist's report gave a rare glimpse into organ donor flying and the need for more planes and pilots.
Andrea hurried over to the Regis with a limousine and two glasses of champagne. Handing a flute to Heather when she stepped in, Andrea asked, "Okay, what's going on? Why am I picking you up at the hotel and not in El Dorado?"
"A tornado took the house," Heather said simply. "And knowing how much you like to shop, I thought you might like to come with me."
"That beautiful brick home of yours?!"
"The whole thing and everything in it," Heather replied. "More than likely it's flattened a wicked witch wearing ruby slippers. I would like to have the slippers if nothing else."
Andrea broke into giggles. "Okay, 'Dorothy' let's see what we can find! I'm so thrilled you called me!"
The ever efficient Mr. Howe drove the women in style to Harriman's department store. Knowing Andrea's sense of adventure in clothing, Heather wasn't ready for micro-mini skirts, mini dresses, and platform shoes. Putting up her hands, Heather announced, "Hold it! I'm not going for anything radical!"
Andrea gave her a look of comic alarm. "Nothing? Not even for the bedroom? Come on! Let me find something radical at least for lingerie."
Her nose twitching from the bubbles in the champagne, Heather relented. The word radical to Andrea meant sex kitten style. "Okay, I'll let you go radical for lingerie, but it's got to be comfortable." Heather winced. "I cannot believe that I've got to redo everything! This will take forever!" she said as they walked in.
They both grabbed catalogs. "Will you need an evening dress?" Andrea asked. "They've got some drop dead gowns on the third floor! I might just pick one up."
"Or two," Heather replied.
In the dressing room, Heather stripped down, while Andrea began choosing outfits. "Just remember, I don't have a man I'm trying to impress here!" Heather called out.
Finding three outfits, Andrea gathered them up and threw them over the door. "Try these, and you darn well ought to! So, are you going to rebuild then? How about a split level?"
"Well--I've gone ahead and accepted Jeff Tracy's offer." Heather said over the dressing room door.
"Jeff Tracy? So you're leaving?!"
"Uh--well--yes. I am," Heather answered. I've finally admitted to it. thought to herself.
Miffed slightly by the news, Andrea thought about the possibilities. "Well, you won't be too far away. Rumors at the station say that Jeff Tracy's brood live somewhere around Kansas City," she said as Heather wiggled into an outfit.
Heather studied her reflection in the mirror. "They're a little bit further out than that." She walked out of the dressing room so Andrea could look at the design. Andrea shook her head. Going back into the dressing room, Heather tried a silk white babydoll set. With rhinestones running up and down the two straps of the halter, and the skirt coming down just barely to her thighs, Heather thought it had some merit. If I did have a boyfriend, and he saw this, it would be shredded to pieces in twenty minutes! Andrea thought the same thing when Heather came out with it on.
When Heather and Andrea reached the next department, filled with the finest evening gowns, they were set down in soft, comfortable chairs by a tall, elegant, woman. She had flashing ebony eyes and soft blue-black hair carefully coiffed and dressed as if she walked directly out of a French fashion magazine. She made Heather feel slightly underdressed.
"My name is Monique and we'll run through each design until you find something you like. This first design is called the 'Emerald Isle'." The model was a strawberry blonde, dressed in a shimmering green gown with an empire collar. Heather shook her head. "This next design is called 'Opalescence'."
"You know," Andrea spoke hopefully. "Jeff Tracy has all those sons of his. You might get hitched up with one of them. Maybe Virgil or Scott?"
"What? You mean as husband material?" Heather stifled a bad need to laugh. "Much as I hate to be so deflating, I met four of them and not one of them had any interest in me--at all. Besides, you know how much Jeff Tracy makes. I wouldn't have a dowry big enough to offer!"
Andrea laughed. "More than likely, he'll marry them off to women to seal business deals!"
Heather wasn't laughing, and pretended to study the next dress. Andrea's words reminded Heather a little too much of her mother's desires.
Continuing on with her work, Monique looked at her cue card. "This next design is called 'Champagne For Two'." The next model was tall like Heather and wore a dress that seemed to be poured on pale yellow crystals. As she did a slow pirouette, the dress was ablaze with flash and sparkle.
Both girls turned to look and Andrea's eyes lit up. "That's it! That's perfect!" she cried out, waving a finger at the model.
Heather released a concerned breath as she gave it a critical study. "Andy, do you think I've got the figure for that?" This comment had Andrea and Monique looking at each other wide-eyed. "Doesn't leave much for the imagination.
Andrea looked at Monique and said, "We'll take it. Trust me, Heather. A dress like that will trigger more imaginations than you'll know what do to do with!"
"This next dress is a stunning masterpiece created by Francois Lamaire called 'Lady In Red'."
The dress was simply a turtleneck floor length dress in a rich dark red velvet. With a simple jewel necklace, Heather thought it looked comfortable. "I'll take that one."
As Monique recorded Heather's choice, Andrea asked, "I wonder what the Tracys are really like. The tabloids have them as a bunch of playboys, carrying on all over the place."
"That's because they can't get to them. I've met them, and they are so normal, they could be your next door neighbor that you hope invites you over for the occasional drink or a party."
"You've met them?! What's Virgil like?"
Me and my big mouth! I've got to remember that Andrea works for a televid station. "He's a lovely pianist, very gracious, and his eyes twinkle."
"How about Gordon?"
Heather thought back for a moment as the dresses continued to be paraded. "The Olympic swimmer? He's a bit of a tease, but he's very caring."
With a gleam in her eye, Andrea asked, "What about Jeff? I would die to meet Jeff. He is so good looking! He's married, isn't he?"
"'Fraid so."
Heather chuckled as Andrea looked sad. "Wouldn't trade up, huh?"
"'Fraid not."
Both of them suddenly laughed as Monique rolled her eyes at them.
Finally, they made their way to the Casual Corner where Heather could buy the things she felt used to. Boots, slip on pumps, sandals, jeans, silk shirts, three suits, and everyday underthings. By the time they finished in the shop even Andrea was tired. "Okay, it's a small core of things. That should at least give you the ability to run around with something other than your lounge slippers. Let's get these to the limo, and get you back to the Regis. In about an hour and a half, I'll be due on the set."
Soon, they'd gotten back to the Regis where Andrea's driver went in to find a baggage cart and piled Heather's things on it. Before Heather was given a hand out of the limo, she hugged Andrea. "Thank you for everything."
"There's something special in one of the bags for you. Bye!"
Heather got out suddenly wishing she wasn't leaving. As the door closed to the limo, Heather waved goodbye, wondering if it would be the last time she saw her excitable friend. A bellhop followed her into the elevator with her packages.
As the last bag was brought in, Heather slapped her forehead. "Oh no. I forgot to get luggage!"
The bellhop, Craig, waved a hand. "We're hooked up to the broadband internet through the vidtv communication system. Just order at your leisure and the parcels will be brought to your door." Handing the bellhop a handsome tip for his help, Heather walked into her room.
As soon as the last bag was pulled into her room and Craig had gone, Heather flopped herself on the bed. "Oh man, I'm tired. Think I'll order room service with a drink from the bar," she groaned. "All that training in the naval academy and she wears me out!"
She touched a button on the control console by the computer which called room service directly, careful not to snap at the operator. Heather began to feel the uncomfortable sense that she was in transition. Shopping with Andrea had done it. Her home near Aunt Jenny was gone, her life at the testing grounds was now gone, she'd said goodbye to Andrea realizing it was for good.
"Room service!" a young male voice responded. "This is Michael."
"I'd like dinner brought up to me including sushi and a lobster. A bottle of white wine and a glass of crème de menthe, please. I guess I need comfort food tonight."
"In that case, I'll send up some chocolate covered cherries. They're imported. You like them."
Laughing, Heather thanked Michael, realizing she was suddenly feeling lonely and homesick. "I sure hope to heck I know what I'm doing."
Post by AmandaTracy on 11/29/2006
  
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