Run Away Baby

She refrained from snorting. Did Randall still think he was lucky? She doubted it. “That’s a nice thing to say,” she told Charlie. In her peripheral vision she was watching Clark Lorbmeer’s door. She could hear him yacking away on the phone in there. Loud. Showy-offy. Importantish. She suddenly wondered if there were cameras on her.

“Well, it’s true,” said Charlie.

Abby shook her head. It was time for him to stop. Time for him to go on his way.

“Can’t you take a compliment?” he asked her.

“Shhh,” she whispered, looking pointedly at Clark’s closed office door.

“I’d think a girl like you would be used to it. Someone beautiful like you. Aren’t you used to it?” he whispered.

“Stop,” she whispered back. She was now at a point in her life where she had to wonder if guys liked her. The days of being the hottest girl alive had fizzled years ago. She wasn’t sure if it was because she was usually surrounded by middle-aged men who feared her husband, or because she’d simply lost her prettiness.

It sometimes surprised her when she got ready for a party and saw Charlize Theron (the twenty-something, gorgeous version of her) staring back in the mirror. She’d look at her reflection and think, ‘Oh, you’re still here? Why haven’t you taken off for someplace better? I was expecting to see Peppermint Patty or a pile of gray sludge. So anyway, nice to see you again.’

“If you’re not going to talk to me, then I guess I might as well get going,” said Charlie.

“It’s just… I can’t do this,” she said.

“Sure. I understand. See you around.”

Chapter 15

“Hi, Abby. How are you today?”

“Good Krissa. What’s up?”

“Mr. Greer asked me to tell you that he noticed Palmyra’s having their big yearly sale right now. He said you should stop over there if you feel like it, and pick out some things for yourself. I know you like that place,” Krissa told her, naming an expensive boutique Abby didn’t particularly care for, but that Randall thought epitomized how a yacht-riding model wife should dress.

“Thanks for the tip.”

“Sure,” said Krissa. “Do you think you’ll check it out?”

“Sure, I can do that.”

“Great! He thought you’d be happy to have the opportunity to get out for a bit and buy yourself something nice. And I think he already called your personal shopper there so she’d set some things aside for you.”

“Yeah, I figured that.”

“If you stop anywhere else, let me know, okay?”

“Well, since I’ll be heading out anyway now, I might stop at Westbrooke Mall.”

“Oh. Okay.” Abby heard the sound of Krissa scribbling this fact on paper.

“That should be fine. Anywhere else?” Krissa asked.

“I might get some lunch.”

“Do you know where?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Okay. When are you thinking you’ll head out?”

“Pretty soon I guess. I’d hate to show up late to the Palmyra party and find that all their best bikinis have been picked over.”

“Okay.” Krissa laughed. “Check in if anything unusual comes up.”