Stephanie looked into the mirror and released a cry of despair. She had hardly eaten anything at dinner- a considerable feat considering the enormous Thanksgiving feast that Annabella had laid out in the main dining room- but somehow, defying all laws of logic, her hips had grown about half a mile wider since she had woken up that morning. It was incredible. When she had tried on the clothes earlier, the pants had looks fabulous- the buttery brown suede skimming her curves with flattering closeness. Now they made her look like a slut. With a sigh, the woman tugged at the zipper, and flew to the closet. Anthony would be here any moment....Anthony would be here!!!!....and she didn't have the slightest idea what she was going to wear.
How was it possible that it was already almost six o'clock? Time hadn't seemed to move at all this morning. It wasn't until she had finally given herself permission leave the table and return to her room to get ready that the minutes had begun to stream past in a blur.
Anthony would be here in five minutes...Anthony!
Stephanie closed her eyes as the memories of the night before flooded in. She had finally told Anthony what she felt- that she loved him as more than a friend...and he hadn't run away! He had wanted her too! He had said so, and then he had kissed her....Involuntarily, she smiled at the memory. She could almost still feel his lips against hers, his strong hands on her back....
He was going to be here in FOUR minutes! Stephanie snapped herself back to attention. Her eyes fell on a corduroy skirt and matching jeans jacket. She could change it, but removing the black turtleneck sweater that she was wearing would undo her hair...THREE MINUTES!
She was stuck with the slut pants.
With a sigh of frustration, Stephanie hopped into her ankle boots and looked for her coat. She frowned as she spied the supple black leather jacket, suddenly struck by the number of cows that had died for her outfit. What if Anthony was an animal rights activist? What if he was allergic to leather?
TWO MINUTES! Stephanie felt a fluttering in her stomach as she threw the jacket on her shoulders and ran to the mirror for a final check. She should have thought of all of this earlier. She had been surprised- distracted by the sound of his voice first thing in the morning when he had called to arrange the date- a trip into town to watch the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas lights in the park, and to visit the little festival booths set up in the center of town. She had half-believed that the night before had all been a dream, and when the phone had rang....
ONE MINUTE. Stephanie clawed for a brush, suddenly noticing that her hair looked completely ridiculous. Cosmo hair. What had possessed her to think that a bluefly.com ad was an appropriate inspiration for a hairstyle? The woman wearing it in the picture was a cartoon... Maybe if she could find a hairclip, she could just tuck it up and-
A gentle rapping at the door interrupted the line of thought.
He's here. Stephanie thought with despair. And I look like an idiot....
She looks like a model. Anthony had to struggle to keep his jaw from dropping when Stephanie opened the door. Her hair was fluffier than usual, - part of it had been teased back at the crown and secured with a tortoiseshell clip. Her bangs that slashed saucily across her forehead, and the rest fell around her shoulders, flipped up on the ends. Her clothes were equally attractive- soft looking brown suede pants, black books, black jacket...A lot of cows died for that outfit, he thought, noting the abundance of suede and leather, but she looked amazing. At least the creatures had not died in vain.
"I....uhm....." Forgot how to talk. Anthony thought as he struggled for a simple "hello." He finally managed it.
"Hello." Stephanie replied with a shy smile. She looked at the tissue-paper wrapped bundle in his hands. Sensing the gaze, the Dr. thrust the parcel forward.
