Here Comes Love

Amy stood at the open bi-fold doors of her closet, as her eyes raced through every piece of clothing carefully hung on plastic hangers. It’s not that she cared that much about clothes, but her mother always said thin wire hangers eventually distorted the look and shape of whatever you put on them. It became an unconscious habit to buy plastic hangers every time she bought clothes.

“This is ridiculous,” she said to no one around as she whipped the hangers across the metal rod. “All these clothes and I have nothing to wear!”

To any female who considered herself normal, Amy’s closet would appear to be almost bare. To Amy, she had more clothes than she knew what to do with. Her closet consisted of one formal gown, thanks to her stint as the Maid of Honor at her sister’s wedding, three out-of-style leather miniskirts, seven silk blouses left over from her days as, what she called her sophisticated college days, and three mid-calf summer dresses.

Amy preferred the more relaxing style of jeans and big sweaters in the winter, and shorts and T-shirts in the summer. She owned one bathing suit that she estimated to be about six years old. And because of her job as an environmentalist, jeans and shorts and her uniform shirt were the only formal clothes she thought she needed.

Today, was one of those in-between days, a beautiful warm spring morning with the promise of a warmer afternoon but a cooler evening. Yet, Amy knew being on the water would be much cooler. And much to her chagrin, that’s exactly where she’d find herself at 8PM.

Amy’s concentration was broken by the ringing of her phone. “Saved by the bell,” she said to the emptiness of her closet as she turned toward the nightstand.

She flopped on the bed, wondered who’d be calling her at 9:00am and picked up the phone without looking at her caller ID. “Hello?”

“Hi, Amy, it’s Kate.”

“Hi, Kate,” she answered to her best friend. “What’s up?”

Kate noticed the strain in Amy’s voice.

“Nothing much,” she said a bit cautiously as she anticipated her friend backing out of their latest adventure. “Just wondered if you’re ready for tonight, but from the sound of your voice, you sound frustrated. What’s wrong?” Kate had a hand in arranging the night’s events for Amy – something that both pleased and annoyed Amy.

At 26 years old, she was comfortable with her job and her life. She went out as often as she like and stayed home when the mood suited her - except for the times when her friend, Kate, badgered her into attending some kind of expedition that Kate insisted would be fun. Although Amy grumbled and complained before any such event, she always admitted later that she actually enjoyed herself.

“You know, Kate, I could strangle you and not think twice about it.” Amy did her best to sound annoyed, but Kate recognized the muffled giggle in her voice.

“That excited, huh?” Kate didn’t bother to stifle her laugh and finished with, “Okay, Amy, what’s going on?”

Kate heard Amy let out a huge sigh and trying not to imagine the worst, completely buried her amusement. Until she heard Amy say in defeat, “It’s not what’s going on; it’s what isn’t going on! Kate, I have nothing to wear!”

For a few seconds, Amy heard silence on the phone as Kate pressed her hand to her lips to stifle the new laughter she felt building up in her throat.

Before Amy could ask if her friend was still there, she heard, “Listen, Amy, we don’t have to be at the dock for several hours yet. I’m coming over and we’re going shopping!”

Amy was about to object when she heard the click on the other end. She sighed deeply and resigned herself to the inevitable as she pushed the button to end the call. She stared upward at the ceiling and thought, God! I hate shopping for clothes! I’d rather battle a rattle snake.

She looked around at the clothes she’d already strewn around her room and wondered if she’d have enough time to put them back where they belonged. One thing she hated more than shopping for clothes was ironing the clean ones she wrinkled.

Amy smiled devilishly as a thought flew across her mind. I could just leave them here until I get back. Yet she knew as soon as Kate walked in, she’d insist on re-hanging them before they left. Kate is such a clotheshorse! she thought with amusement.

Shaking her head, she began picking them up piece by piece and placing them on the hangers.

By the time Kate rang the doorbell, much to Amy’s dismay, all her clothes were put away.

Amy quickly pulled the brush through her long blonde hair, picked up her purse and walked to the door.

After spending the next three hours in the mall, then stopping for lunch, Kate and Amy finally arrived back at Amy’s small cottage.

They carried the bags into Amy’s room and then, being completely exhausted, she complained teasingly to Kate, “I think I’ll pass on tonight. I’m much too tired now to go anywhere but bed.”

Kate laughed as she looked at the large shopping bags sitting on the floor waiting to be emptied. “Not a chance, pal! After today, you are definitely going out tonight! Listen, Amy,” she said a bit more seriously, “we did good, today! At least you now have plenty of clothes to choose from,” she said as Amy interrupted with, “Yeah, and plenty of bills to go along with them.”

Kate continued as if her friend said nothing, “And speaking of choosing, wear the white sundress with the matching short rose- colored jacket. That’ll be great for tonight. Oh, and don’t forget the white deck shoes.”

She turned to leave and heard Amy sigh as she mumbled, “Yes, Momma.”

Before Kate closed the door behind her, she turned to Amy and said, “I’ll pick you up at seven sharp! Be ready.”

Amy looked at the clock as she sat on the edge of her bed and pulled her fingers through her hair. The bright red digital numbers read 1:45. As she flopped backwards on her bed, she grabbed her pillow and pulled it over her face, closed her weary blue eyes and screamed, “Oh, God! Why me? Why did I have to say I’d go tonight? UGH!”

Slowly, she pulled the pillow off her face and realized the ringing she heard in her ears didn’t mean she was going crazy with frustration. It was the phone. Rolling over quickly not knowing how long the phone had been ringing, she grabbed it and pressed the “answer” button. Catching her breath, she said, “Kate, I’m just getting in the shower. I’ll be ready. You don’t …”

A familiar laugh echoed in her ears and the voice interrupted, “Hi, honey. It’s mom, not Kate.”

“Oh, hi, Mom. What’s up?” Amy lay back on her pillow, closed her eyes again and relaxed.

Instinctively, her mother said, “Don’t lie back, Amy. I can hear it in your breathing.” She laughed again and Amy could feel her mother smile as she moved her body into a sitting position. Amy placed her elbows on her knees as she rested her chin on her left palm. Her mother continued, “I called to remind you about tonight. Kate made me promise.”

Her mother heard the laughter in her voice. “She left not long ago. I realized I had nothing to wear so we went shopping.”

“Shopping? You actually went shopping for clothes?” her mother teased in a surprised tone of voice.

“Very funny, Mom,” Amy said back in a mock sarcastic way.

“Well, good for you, sweetie. It’s about time. I know it’s a chore looking for clothes, but they really are necessary,” her mother just couldn’t help herself as she laughed. “Listen, honey, I’ll stop by quickly on my way home to see what you’re going to wear tonight. I’m dying to see all your new clothes.”

“Mom,” Amy explained, “Kate’s picking me up at seven, so I won’t have too much time, but I am looking forward to showing you my new wardrobe. I’ll see you later.”

Amy hit the end call button, stood up and walked to her new menagerie of clothes and plastic hangers. She never bothered to cut the tags off. Wearily, she thought, I’ll do that when I’m going to wear them.

Once the clothes were put away, although tempted to lie down and take a nap, she glanced at her image in the mirror, instead. Taking a deep breath, she said to her reflection, “Okay, troops! Let’s rock and roll!” Then in a poor attempt at whistling Stars and Stripes Forever, she marched herself into the bathroom.

By 6:00pm, she was showered, and her hair shampooed and dried. While her new sundress hung on its assigned hanger, Amy picked up the scissors and carefully snipped off the thin plastic string that held the tag.

It is a pretty dress, she thought as she fingered the delicate embroidered pattern. Amy stepped into the lace panties and matching strapless bra that Kate convinced her to buy. “Oh, Amy, you just have to get them. They’re so pretty - and so- well, so feminine!”

Although Amy already considered the undergarments in her dresser drawer delicate and feminine, she caved and made the purchase.

She carefully slid the dress over her head and shoulders and pulled the zipper up the back. Happy with the way her long hair fell in soft curls down her back, her light blue eyes seemed to sparkle under the brown mascara.

Okay, girl, she mused as she turned toward the full-length mirror, time to see what you’ve turned yourself into.

Wow! she thought as she whirled around. Girl, you sure do clean up good! She decided the only other addition she needed was a hint of the deep pink colored lipstick that now sat on her bedroom vanity table - another of Kate’s demands to be added to Amy’s new wardrobe.

When she heard the doorbell chime, she checked the clock. Mom, she thought and walked down the hall.

When Amy opened the door, her mother’s mouth fell open. Then the older woman put her hands on her hips and said, “Okay, where’s Amy? What have you done with my daughter?”

Amy laughed. “Mom, is there really that much of a difference?”

“Amy, honey, you look spectacular! My baby girl’s all grown up.” There was a slight hitch in her voice that she quickly quieted.

“Oh, Mom! I guess I just never realized the need to dress up before. Pants always felt just fine and now? Well, I feel like a princess.”

“You look like one.” She pulled her daughter close and gave her a hug of approval. “I have a gift for you. Sort of, I guess, to celebrate your new wardrobe.”

“Mom, you don’t need to buy me gifts when I buy clothes!”

“Actually, Sweetie, I had to run an errand at lunch time and saw these in the shop window and couldn’t resist them.”

Amy’s mouth slackened as she opened the first box and found a beautiful and delicate twisted designed gold chain. The second held a matching bracelet and the last, matching hoop earrings.

“Mom, they’re beautiful. You’re right. They really set off the dress, not too fussy and not at all plain. They are just perfect!”

“Honey, so are you! Now,” she said as she fastened the necklace around Amy’s neck and helped her with the bracelet. Amy hooked the earrings in her pierced ears and slowly turned in the view of the mirror.

“Mom, what do you think?”

Her mother placed her arm around Amy’s shoulders and said, “You’d better put a small pad and pen in your purse. I’m sure there will be many young men begging for your phone number.”

“Oh, mom!” Amy said as her mother guided her toward the living room, “Now, before I leave, tell me exactly where you’re going tonight and with whom?”

Amy explained that a group of Kate’s former college friends were getting together for a sunset cruise that included dinner and dancing. Kate told Amy that her friends encouraged her to invite Amy. “Mom, you know Kate! Where she goes, I’m invited and as soon as I said I’d go, she got all excited, grabbed my hands and almost screamed in my ear, ‘And wait til you meet Eric! He’s drop-dead gorgeous and just dying to meet you!’”

“’Dying to meet me?’ I asked her. Mom, I have no idea who this Eric guy is but clearly, Kate must have told him about me, so I guess I’ll meet him tonight.”

“Sounds like Kate has everything under control. Go! Finish getting ready and you can call me tomorrow and tell me all about tonight.”

She gave Amy another hug and walked out to her car.

A few minutes after Amy’s mother left, Kate arrived and although she helped Amy decided on what dresses to buy, was still amazed at how her friend looked. “Wow! Amy, you look hot! Turn around.”

As Amy slowly spun, Kate noticed how the thin straps of the dress smoothly glided down Amy’s firm shoulders to the squared-off top that darted neatly around the waist. The skirt of the dress fell in soft folds just above the knee and swirled gently as Amy turned. The print was a soft white, decorated sporadically with tiny pink roses. The sleeves of the matching bolero-styled jacket reached just above the elbow while the bottom fell in the middle of Amy’s back - directly at the same place her hair ended.

“You really think so?” Amy was delighted at her friend’s reaction.

“Look at you! Wow! Amy! I’m speechless. And that jewelry!” Kate was definitely impressed.

“A gift from my mom,” Amy admitted.

“Nice finishing touch!” Kate softly fingered the necklace and earrings with the slightest twinge of envy which she swallowed immediately.

After Kate’s once-over and her recovery at seeing Amy’s transformation, the girls headed out.

“So, tell me about this Eric guy,” Amy said feigning a yawn as she tried to sound bored but not succeeding.

After Kate finished her biography about Eric, Amy was indeed intrigued, but her cautious mind stifled the rush of adrenaline in her veins. Can’t let an image block the truth. I’ll just have to wait and see for myself.

As they drove to the pier, Amy busied the conversation with topics other than Eric, the mystery man she was about to meet. And yet, the harder she tried not to think about him, the faster the blood raced through her veins in anticipation.

After parking the car, they walked toward the ferry and Kate handed their tickets to the harbormaster. She turned and smiled at Amy, “Well, pal, are you ready?”

Amy smiled back and nodded, sure that if she opened her mouth, a flurry of butterflies would escape and fly toward the dock light. Kate placed her arm in Amy’s and, together, they walked the gangplank to board the boat.

As Amy searched the already boarded crowd, she didn’t need Kate to point out Eric. Her description was right on target. She judged his height to be about 6’2” and he was drop-dead gorgeous. She found that her fingers ached to rake themselves through his soft light brown hair that had one unruly wave that wanted nothing more than to fall into his eyes - and did. And those eyes!

While Amy’s were a light sky blue, Eric’s seemed to be a very pale gray.

As their eyes met, it seemed as if everyone else disappeared. Whether they read each other’s minds, or their thoughts were the same, they may never know. All they knew for sure was they had the same thought at the same time.

They walked toward each other, with Eric holding a magnificent white rose trimmed in red, his lips turned slightly upward into a most handsome smile.

Amy blushed but returned the smile.

Smiling at each other, their thoughts secretly voiced their unspoken words, Here comes love!