“A little sore, but okay.”
“It’s only been three days. The soreness will ease off. You’re talking well. In some cases we have to bring in a speech therapist, but I don’t think you have to worry about that.” He rose from where he’d been perched on the corner of his desk. A soft breeze wafted from the open window behind him, bringing with it the gentle rustle of palms and the fragile essence of frangipani blossoms. “So what do you think? Are you ready to go home?”
Her sigh was a teasing one, and her eyes twinkled. “I don’t know. Ten weeks in the Bahamas … body wraps, massages, manicures … sun and sand and sipping all kinds of goodies through straws…. It’s not a bad life.”
“But the best is ahead. When does your plane leave?”
“In two hours.”
“Nervous?”
“About my debut?” She sent him a helpless look of apology. “A little.”
“Will someone be meeting you when you land in Boston?”
“Uh-huh. Beth.”
He squinted and raised a finger, trying to keep names straight. “Your business partner, right?”
Lauren smiled. “Right. She’s dying to show me everything she’s done since I’ve been gone. She rented the spot we wanted in the Marketplace, and from what she writes, the renovations are nearly done. We’ve got prints and frames on order and have been in close contact with the artists we’ll be representing, so it’s just a question of getting everything framed and on display.”
“For what it’s worth, Lauren, you strike me as a patient but determined woman. I’m sure you’ll be successful.” He threw a gentle arm over her shoulders as she started for the door. “You’ll drop me a line and let me know how things are going?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And you’ve got the name I gave you of the specialist in Boston in case you have a problem?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And you’ll be sure to eat—and eat well?”
“I’ll try.”
Releasing her shoulder, he turned to study her face a final time. His gaze took in the symmetry of her nose, the graceful line of her jaw and the now-perfect alignment of her chin before coming to rest with warmth on her pale gray eyes. “Smashing, Lauren. I’m telling you, you look smashing.”
“Thank you. Thank you for everything, Richard.”
“My pleasure, sweet lady.” He gave her hand a tight go-get-’em squeeze, then turned back to his office. The last thing Lauren heard him say was a smug but thoroughly endearing “Good work, Richard. You done us proud this time.”
Laughing softly, she retrieved her suitcase from the reception area and headed for the airport.
“You … look …smashing!” was the first thing Beth Lavin could manage to say through her astonishment when, after Lauren had grinned at her for a full minute, she finally realized that it was indeed Lauren Stevenson who stood before her.
The two women hugged each other, and Lauren laughed. “You sound like my doctor.”
“Well, he’s right!” Beth’s eyes were wide. Hands on Lauren’s shoulders, she shifted her friend first to one side, then the next. “I don’t believe it! Your profile is gorgeous, and you’ve filled out, and your eyes look huge and wide-set, and you had your hair cut….”
In a self-conscious gesture, one of pure habit, Lauren threaded her fingers into the hair above her ear to draw the thick chestnut fall forward. Then she caught herself. With a concerted effort, she completed the backward swing, letting her hair swirl gently around her ears so that her face was free of the cover she’d hid behind for years. “I really look okay?” There was honest anxiety in her voice.
“You have to ask?”
Lauren gave an awkward half shrug. “I look at myself in the mirror and see a new person, but in my mind I’m the way I’ve always been.”
“I’m no psychologist, but I’d say that’s normal.” Beth’s expression brimmed with excitement and the touch of mischief Lauren knew so well. “A different person—think of the possibilities! What if you were to bump into someone you’d known before, someone like Rafe Johnson—”
“Macho Rafe?”
“Macho Rafe, who would never have thought to look at either of us, but all of a sudden he sees this gorgeous woman and makes his play. You could string him along, then reveal your true identity and cut him off dead. Ah, the satisfaction!”
