all right."
"No, it's impolite," Jean said, sitting back and crossing her legs. They were long and slim, and she had a gold ankle chain spotted with small diamonds on her left ankle. Miriam hadn't missed much about their affluence. Both apartments contained expensive things, from their oversized television sets and state-of-the-art stereos to their furnishings, decorations, and ornaments.
"To tell you the truth, I've just been sitting back and admiring your apartments. Both of you have such beautiful things."
"And so will you," Norma said.
She started to shake her head, her eyes tearing.
"What's wrong, Miriam?" Jean asked quickly.
"Nothing's wrong. I just can't believe how fast all this is happening. I feel as if I'm being ripped out of one world and placed into a completely different one overnight, not that it's not all wonderful... it's just.. . just..."
"Overwhelming," Norma said, nodding, her face serious. "It was the same for me."
"And me," Jean chimed in.
"But don't fret about it," Norma said, leaning over to pat Miriam on the knee. "You won't believe how quickly you'll adjust and enjoy. Right, Jean?"
"She speaks truth," Jean said, and the two of them laughed. Miriam had to smile, her anxiety slipping back again.
"Anyway, getting back to you. What have you been doing with yourself while your handsome young husband has been burning up the legal turf in—what did you call it
—Blithedale?" Norma asked.
"Yes, Blithedale. Small community, but we love it. Loved it, I should say." She paused. "Funny, it's almost as if I've left it and been here for months," Miriam said softly. The feeling made her bring her fingers to the base of her throat. Both women stared, similar smiles of amusement on their lips. "Anyway," Miriam continued, "for a while, I tried to do some fashion modeling, but all I did was a department store show here and there. I quickly realized it wasn't the career I really wanted for myself. I helped my father..."
"Who is a dentist?"
"Yes. I worked as a receptionist for nearly six months and then I decided to concentrate on Kevin and our home life. We intend to have children this year."
"So do we," Norma said.
"Pardon?"
"Intend to have children this year," she said, looking at Jean. "In fact. . ."
"We've been conspiring to have them about the same time, although the boys don't know it." They laughed. "Maybe you'll join us now."
"Join you?" Miriam's smile widened in puzzlement.
"Actually, Mr. Milton suggested it to Jean at one of his parties. Wait until you see the penthouse. He's bound to have a party any day now, since there's a new associate in the firm."
"Oh, he gives wonderful parties, gourmet catering, music, interesting guests . .."
"What do you mean, Mr. Milton suggested it?" She turned to Jean.
"He has a wry sense of humor sometimes. He knew we were planning on starting our families this year and he pulled me aside and said wouldn't it be something if Norma and I had our children about the same time, maybe even the same week. I told Norma, and she thought it was a great idea."
"We've been planning it like a campaign, marking days on our calendars when the forays will begin," Norma said, and they both laughed again. Then Jean stopped abruptly.
"We'll show you our plans and maybe you'll join us, unless you and Kevin have already ..."
"No, we haven't."
"Good," she said, sitting back.
Miriam saw they weren't kidding. "You say your husbands don't know?"
"Not all of it," Norma said.
"You don't tell your husband everything you do, do you?" Jean asked.
"We're very close, and something as important as this . . ."
"So are we, close," Norma said, "but Jean's right. You've got to have some personal, woman secrets."
"We three have got to stick together," Norma said. "Men are wonderful, especially our men, but they are, after all, men!" She widened her eyes.
"You should say four," Jean corrected. Norma looked puzzled. "We four have got to stick together. You're forgetting Helen."
"Oh
"No, it's impolite," Jean said, sitting back and crossing her legs. They were long and slim, and she had a gold ankle chain spotted with small diamonds on her left ankle. Miriam hadn't missed much about their affluence. Both apartments contained expensive things, from their oversized television sets and state-of-the-art stereos to their furnishings, decorations, and ornaments.
"To tell you the truth, I've just been sitting back and admiring your apartments. Both of you have such beautiful things."
"And so will you," Norma said.
She started to shake her head, her eyes tearing.
"What's wrong, Miriam?" Jean asked quickly.
"Nothing's wrong. I just can't believe how fast all this is happening. I feel as if I'm being ripped out of one world and placed into a completely different one overnight, not that it's not all wonderful... it's just.. . just..."
"Overwhelming," Norma said, nodding, her face serious. "It was the same for me."
"And me," Jean chimed in.
"But don't fret about it," Norma said, leaning over to pat Miriam on the knee. "You won't believe how quickly you'll adjust and enjoy. Right, Jean?"
"She speaks truth," Jean said, and the two of them laughed. Miriam had to smile, her anxiety slipping back again.
"Anyway, getting back to you. What have you been doing with yourself while your handsome young husband has been burning up the legal turf in—what did you call it
—Blithedale?" Norma asked.
"Yes, Blithedale. Small community, but we love it. Loved it, I should say." She paused. "Funny, it's almost as if I've left it and been here for months," Miriam said softly. The feeling made her bring her fingers to the base of her throat. Both women stared, similar smiles of amusement on their lips. "Anyway," Miriam continued, "for a while, I tried to do some fashion modeling, but all I did was a department store show here and there. I quickly realized it wasn't the career I really wanted for myself. I helped my father..."
"Who is a dentist?"
"Yes. I worked as a receptionist for nearly six months and then I decided to concentrate on Kevin and our home life. We intend to have children this year."
"So do we," Norma said.
"Pardon?"
"Intend to have children this year," she said, looking at Jean. "In fact. . ."
"We've been conspiring to have them about the same time, although the boys don't know it." They laughed. "Maybe you'll join us now."
"Join you?" Miriam's smile widened in puzzlement.
"Actually, Mr. Milton suggested it to Jean at one of his parties. Wait until you see the penthouse. He's bound to have a party any day now, since there's a new associate in the firm."
"Oh, he gives wonderful parties, gourmet catering, music, interesting guests . .."
"What do you mean, Mr. Milton suggested it?" She turned to Jean.
"He has a wry sense of humor sometimes. He knew we were planning on starting our families this year and he pulled me aside and said wouldn't it be something if Norma and I had our children about the same time, maybe even the same week. I told Norma, and she thought it was a great idea."
"We've been planning it like a campaign, marking days on our calendars when the forays will begin," Norma said, and they both laughed again. Then Jean stopped abruptly.
"We'll show you our plans and maybe you'll join us, unless you and Kevin have already ..."
"No, we haven't."
"Good," she said, sitting back.
Miriam saw they weren't kidding. "You say your husbands don't know?"
"Not all of it," Norma said.
"You don't tell your husband everything you do, do you?" Jean asked.
"We're very close, and something as important as this . . ."
"So are we, close," Norma said, "but Jean's right. You've got to have some personal, woman secrets."
"We three have got to stick together," Norma said. "Men are wonderful, especially our men, but they are, after all, men!" She widened her eyes.
"You should say four," Jean corrected. Norma looked puzzled. "We four have got to stick together. You're forgetting Helen."
"Oh
Similar Books
