Upon a Midnight Clear (Legend, Colorado 2)

"No!" Barbara said adamantly. "This is all part of the holidays. You start eating, and you don't stop until January. It's an eatathon. Anything and everything you can stuff in your mouth."

"I think I'll pass," Kim said. "But you go right ahead. I'll leave this out for you."

"So why are you so crabby? Getting nervous about your show?" Barbara asked, referring to the second major show of Kim's career. Her first show had been six months earlier at a local gallery in town. A buyer from a prestigious Miami gallery had seen her work there and had offered Kim a showing at his gallery, one frequented by wealthy clients. It was an important break for Kim. Her career had demanded long hours and hard work, with little financial reward.

"No. I don't think so. I mean I'm nervous, but I don't think that has much to do with my mood."

"Are you missing Ed?" Ed was Kim's most reeent boyfriend, a fellow artist who had recently decided to move to L.A. and become an actor.

"Ed? No." Kim had been relieved when Ed had decided to move. It was an easy, almost painless way to end a relationship that had been going nowhere fast. "I'd have to be a masochist to miss him. I mean, I guess I miss having a date every now and then, but I don't miss always paying for his dinner, watching him flirt with other women in front of me, and being told I could benefit from hiring a personal trainer—as he's squeezing my rear end…"

"Yeah, right! As if he was Mister Studly!"

"Exactly," Kim said, shoving another Bugle into her mouth. The mere thought of a hard-core workout was enough to make her stomach rumble.

"Anyway, you're a toothpick. He's crazy!" Barbara said enthusiastically.

Kim shrugged. "According to him, my body is not toned."

"I should be so unlucky," Barbara said wistfully, staring at her pretty and thin friend as she ate a spoonful of Cheez Whiz. "You know what you need?"

"To lay off the Cheez Whiz?"

Barbara stuck the spoon back inside the glass jar and said, "You need to relax a little. Get out there and date, instead of always working."

"I'm busy. And I'm happy with my life. My time is important to me—and I'm not going to waste it dating just to… date."

"Mr. Right could be out there waiting for you, and you'd never know it. You'll never meet him holed up in here all day and night."

"I'll never meet Mr. Right because he doesn't exist."

"Tell me what you're looking for. Maybe I can fix you up with someone."

"No thanks."

"Cmon. What kind of guy are you looking for?"

"Someone who puts family above… well,, his career."

"Better look for a guy over sixty-five. If you want to come before his career, stick with retirees."

Kim laughed as she took a hair band out of her pocket and skillfully pulled her long brown hair back in a ponytail. "Whatever happened to old-fashioned romance?"

"Old-fashioned? Forget sixty-five, maybe you better try a guy over seventy."

"You know what I mean. The "Hey, it's cold out here, let me give you my coat" type of love. The kind of guy that brings flowers…"

"I've got just the guy. My grandpa—Grandpa Willie. You'll love him. Want to see a picture?"

"Does he have gorgeous eyes, nice hair…" Kim replied, playing along.

"I think he has a nice hair. How many do you want?"

Kim smiled at her friend. "Grandpa Willie, huh?"

Barbara nodded. "He is cute." She laughed. "Let's say you can choose three things about your Mr. Right. What are they?"

"Things?"