Bliss, Inc. (Indigo Love Spectrum)

by Chamein Canton

  He sat down. “Can’t a guy come and see his big brother?”

  “Sure he can.”

  “Good. Then how about you split that roast beef sub with me?”

  Matthew handed Michael the other half. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.”

  Matthew turned to Rob. “Hey, Nye, this is my kid brother Michael.”

  They shook hands. “Nice meeting you. Why do they call you Nye?”

  “I teach physics. So I’m Rob Nye the science guy.” He looked at the clock and gathered his papers. “And speaking of science, I have a class to teach. It was nice meeting you, Michael.”

  “You, too.”

  “Catch you later, Matt.”

  “All right, man.”

  Michael wiped his mouth. “He seems like a nice guy.”

  “He is. So what brought you to my neck of the woods? While I would like to think it’s because of my radiant personality, I’m sure I would be wrong.”

  “I came to see what’s been happening with Paige. I haven’t had a chance to talk to you since that night.”

  “I know.”

  Michael’s cell phone rang. He checked the caller ID. “Hold up a second. It’s Jennifer.”

  “Take your time.”

  He flipped the phone open. “Hey, sweetie.” He paused. “So she agreed to the one attendant. That’s terrific, I guess Paige talked to her.” He paused again. “Be sure to give her my thanks, too. I’ll talk to you later. Love you, baby.” He closed his phone.

  “It sounds like Paige saved the day.”

  “She got Isabelle to back off, and that’s quite a feat. So what’s been happening with you and our Miss Paige?”

  “Things are going pretty well. We spent most of the weekend together.”

  “You did? That sounds promising.”

  “I feel good with her.”

  “You look happy.”

  “I am happy. She’s a wonderful woman.”

  “So when are you two going public?”

  “After your wedding.”

  “Why?”

  “That’s the way Paige wants it for now. She doesn’t want anyone to think she got the job because she’s with me.”

  “Why would anyone get that idea?”

  “Paige wants it to be close to the vest for now and I don’t have a problem with it.”

  “I guess as long as you’re okay with it that’s fine.” He paused. “So do you have any chips to go with this sandwich?”

  Matthew pointed to the vending machine. “There you go.”

  Michael fished around in his pockets. “Do you have a dollar or some change?”

  Matthew handed him a dollar. “Here you are, the big executive, and I have to give you a dollar for potato chips. It’s a sad day in corporate America,” he joked.

  Michael grabbed the dollar. “You’re a real joker, Matt. Don’t forget I could mention a few things to Mom and Dad.”

  “You little stinker, you are still a tattletale.”

  “What do you expect? I am your kid brother.” He laughed and then got his chips from the vending machine.

  “If I pay for a soda, will you shut up?”

  He put his hand out. “It will for now.”

  Matthew handed him another dollar. “It’s nice to know that the going rate for your silence hasn’t changed.”

  * * *

  Paige and Jennifer made it to the Stage Door Diner before the mad rush of lunch patrons began. The two were quickly seated and the waitress took their order.

  Jennifer sipped her soda. “It’s nice here.”

  “I like it, too.”

  “Michael wants me to be sure to thank you on his behalf, too. He was glad to hear the news about the bridal party.”

  “You’re welcome. I was happy to do it.”

  “How did you get her to back down?”

  “I appealed to her overall goal for the wedding, which is to show off her beautiful daughter as she gets married. I said if we go for a less is more philosophy it’s more about the couple than their bridal party.”

  “You’re a smart woman, Paige. I guess that’s why you’re so successful.”

  “I do my best.”

  Paige sipped her soda. “I wanted to have a chance to talk to you without your parents or anyone around.”

  “Okay.” She seemed to hang on Paige’s words.

  “You know, Jennifer, I see a lot of myself in you, particularly when it comes to the way you relate to your mother.”

  “You do?”

  Paige leaned back. “Yes. Even though we’ve had our differences, I want you to feel free to talk to me about anything.”

  Jennifer finished her coleslaw. “Thanks, but I’m fine. I can deal with my mother.”

  “I know you think you can, but I have a feeling she’s starting to get to you.”

  “How would you know that?”

  “For one thing, look at how casually you dressed this morning when you knew you had an appointment at a high-end florist showroom.”

  “I wanted to be comfortable.”

  “You dress for comfort when you’re meeting a friend for a burger. When you have an appointment with the florist to the stars in his glamorous showroom, that’s the time to get dressed up.”

  “I got up late.”

  “No, you didn’t get up late. You knew it would bother your mother and you wanted to get back at her for the bridal party thing.”

  “You figured all of that out from jeans and a shirt? Or is this just Psychology 101?” she said snippily.

  “I don’t need Psychology 101 to recognize passive-aggressive behavior. You’re trying to push all her buttons. That’s why you take an extra roll at lunch or put jeans on when you know your mother expects you to dress up. Has she said something to you about your weight?”

  “My mother is entitled to her opinion.” She tried to act as if it didn’t bother her.

  Paige knew better. “Come on, Jennifer, mothers don’t have opinions when it comes to their daughters. From birth to eighteen they have dictates and edicts you have to follow or there’s hell to pay. Once you’re over eighteen, dictates turn into advice and constructive criticism, but let’s call a spade a spade: They are still trying to tell you what to do.”

  “It sounds like you know my mother.”

  “So she has said something about your weight.”

  “She thinks I can stand to lose a few pounds.”

  “For the sake of the dress, of course.”

  “Sounds like you’ve been recording her.”

  “I didn’t have to. I have a mother just like her.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.”

  “It’s the truth. My mother may not be a mover and shaker in business like your mother, but she is a nutritionist.”

  “Your mother’s a nutritionist?”

  “Yes. Back then she was known as a dietician and she worked in my school.”

  Jennifer looked horrified. “She worked at your school?”

  “Oh yes. My mother worked at my junior high school. And believe me, you haven’t lived until you hear your mother call your name over a lunch crowd of seventh graders.”

  Jennifer shuddered. “My mother came to open school night, plays, and sports stuff. I guess I had it easy.”

  “Compared to me it was a walk in the park.” Paige paused. “Imagine, being in the lunch line with your tray and there’s your mother standing there to make sure you put the right things on it.”

  “Ouch!”

  “I was allowed to get an actual snack pack of cookies twice a month, and that was it.”

  “Twice a month?”

  “You heard right. The funny thing is most of the women on both my mother and my father’s side are tall. In fact everyone is tall. You met my sister.”

  She nodded in agreement. “Siobhan is tall.”

  “She’s six feet tall without shoes. I’m five feet, eight inches tall and my son Max is six feet, seven.”

  Jennifer’s draw dropped.
“Your son is how tall?”

  “He’s six feet, seven inches, and he doesn’t play basketball. He’s a fencer.”

  “Fencing is cool.”

  “He enjoys it, but that’s beside the point. The fact is, I’m not supposed to weigh 120 pounds. If I did my family would probably put me in rehab.”

  “That’s true.”

  “I used to let it bother me to no end. Eventually I came to the realization that I was never going to be a supermodel in the traditional sense and I made peace with it. Instead, I decided I would make an effort to look my best no matter what the tag number said in the back.”

  “That sounds like a healthy attitude.”

  “It’s a healthy and hard-won attitude. As long as I eat properly, exercise, and make sure I’m dressed to the nines or looking casually chic, I am good to go.”

  “So she, your mother, doesn’t say anything anymore?”

  “Of course she does. She’s my mother and she means well, just like your mother does. I know it can’t be easy living in a world where bird appetites are a matter of course. Still, you can’t let anyone, including your mother, steal your joy or dampen this time in your life. You’re getting married to a gorgeous man who is nuts about you.”

  Jennifer smiled. “I know.”

  “And unless you’ve been sending Heidi Klum in as your body double in the bedroom, I assume he’s seen you au natural.”

  She laughed. “He gets the real me.”

  “Good. Well, I have a little surprise for you this afternoon.”

  “A surprise for me?”

  “That’s right. She sipped her soda. “Here come our burgers with extra fries.” Paige grinned.

  “I won’t tell if you won’t.”

  “You got yourself a deal. Now eat up.”

  * * *

  After lunch Paige took Jennifer to Michelle’s of New York Plus Size Boutique where they were met by personal shopper Marisa L. A lovely, curvy brunette with a great smile and an amazing amount of self-confidence, the camera loved her.

  “Hey, Marisa!” Paige hugged her.

  “Paige! It’s so good to see you.”

  “It’s good to see you, too. How is T.J.?”

  “He’s good.”

  “He’s such a sweetheart. You guys are great together.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Now I’d like you to meet my client, Jennifer Klein, the bride-to-be. Jennifer, this is Marisa L. She’s a personal shopper, stylist, and plus size model.”

  “Nice to meet you, Jennifer.” Marisa shook her hand.

  “It’s nice meeting you, too. So you’re a model?”

  “Yes. I’ve done a lot of runway and print ads. I hope to go further by becoming a spokesmodel for a plus size line.”

  “It’s only a matter of time, Marisa.”

  “From your lips to God’s ears, Paige.” She put her hands together.

  “Listen, Jennifer, I arranged for Marisa to shop with us today to help you get a little more kick in your wardrobe.”

  She looked down at her clothes. “Do I dress that badly?”

  “No, not at all. This is just a way to jazz your style up a bit.”

  “This isn’t about changing you, it’s about enhancing you overall,” Marisa reassured her.

  “Not to mention this is Michelle’s shop and she’s got one hell of a selection,” Paige added.

  “So shall we, ladies?” Marisa held the door and they walked in.

  Once they were in Michelle’s they introduced her to IGIGI separates and dresses. Jennifer felt like a star when she modeled different outfits. After that the car drove them to Lee Lee’s Valise, which carried Monif C, Svoboda, Trentacosta, and Abby Z, to name a few. When Jennifer saw the different styles she was floored.

  “You know, I never heard of these designers before.”

  Marisa smiled. “That’s why we’re here.”

  They bought some more dresses, tops, and pants. Marisa and Paige worked with Jennifer to get the right fit for her. For their next to last stop, the car drove them to Avenue and Lane Bryant for jeans, sexy lingerie and, most importantly, some well-fitted bras. For their last stop they hit Ashley Stewart for a couple of dressy denim dresses and skirts. When the day was over Jennifer had quite a haul to take home.

  The car dropped Marisa off at her place in Tribeca.

  “Thanks again, Marisa,” Paige said.

  “It was my pleasure. I hope you had a good time, Jennifer.”

  “I did. Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome. Hey, Paige, when you get the chance, give me a call. We can go to lunch or something.”

  “That sounds like a plan. I’ll give you a call within the week.”

  “Okay. Have a good day, ladies.” She shut the door and the car pulled away.

  “Where to, Ms. Klein?” Jason asked.

  “You have to go to Penn Station, right, Paige?”

  “Yes. I have to head back to the office to wrap some things up.”

  “Very good then.” Jason answered.

  “Paige, I want to thank you again for doing this for me.”

  “As Marisa said, it was my pleasure. Sometimes a little shopping therapy combined with an excellent stylist does a world of good.”

  Jennifer smiled radiantly. “I can agree with that.”

  “By the way, it doesn’t have to end with shopping. There are some great plus size communities online, too. There’s Venus Divas, Elegant Plus, and Plus Model Magazine, and Michelle’s of New York has a plus size fashion blog on her website.”

  “Sounds good. I think I might check them out.”

  “Have fun.”

  Paige was satisfied with the afternoon. She knew she’d taken time away from her business, but she needed to be flexible. Paige knew that she wasn’t going to be able to change Jennifer’s mother, but she figured if she could help Jennifer increase her self-esteem it would go a long way towards improving their relationship. She kept her fingers crossed and hoped for the best.

  * * *

  When Paige finally returned to the office she realized it was a late day for everyone. She was sure she’d missed the buzz about Patricia’s non-wedding.

  Adriana ran behind Paige. “Hey, how did it go this morning?”

  “Very well.” Paige hung up her coat.

  Adriana sat down. “Nathan Parker. We are really in the big time. So what was he like?”

  “He was nice. I liked him. His reputation for spectacular creations is well deserved.” She paused and booted up her computer. “His reputation as a flirt is well deserved, too.”

  “He is a man, and you are wearing your killer navy blue suit.”

  “You know I had to pull out the stops,” Paige said playfully.

  Adriana laughed and then turned serious. “I still can’t get over what happened to Patricia.”

  “I can’t believe it either, but at least she has a supportive family to help her through it.”

  “Thank God for family.” She paused. “You’re a little late getting back. Everything did go well, right?”

  “Yes, I already told you that. I made an appointment with Marisa for Jennifer,” Paige said as she went through her messages.

  “How is Marisa?”

  “She’s great, as usual. We took Jennifer on a little shopping and styling extravaganza. I thought she could use some girl time. She doesn’t have many friends.”

  “That was awfully nice of you.” Adriana sat down.

  “Hey, I do my best.”

  Just then a panicked Eve knocked on the door.

  “What’s wrong, Eve? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” Adriana said.

  “About a week ago you would have guessed right.”

  “That sounds ominous, Eve,” Adriana said quietly.

  “It is ominous. It’s Johanna Van den Berg.”

  “I’m afraid to ask.” Paige furrowed her brow.

  “Believe me, you don’t have to.” Eve moved over so Paige could see for herself.
r />   There stood an overly tanned Johanna Van den Berg in a black robe with a hood, sobbing.

  Shocked, Paige’s eyes widened. She looked like an Oompa Loompa in a Darth Vader robe.

  “Oh, my God.” Adriana covered her mouth.

  “Her wedding is on Saturday. Paige, what are we going to do?”

  “What in the world happened? She’s not a tanner.” Paige was incredulous.

  “’It seems one of her friends convinced her to get a little color. They went to one of those spray tan places,” Eve said.

  “A little color?” Paige lowered her voice. “She looks like orange sorbet.”

  “Isn’t she Dutch?” Adriana asked.

  “Yes.” Paige threw her hands up. ”Don’t get me wrong, I think Johanna is a lovely person and a beautiful woman, but she has to be the whitest woman I’ve ever met.” She turned to Adriana. “Remember what a time we had trying to find the right shade of white for her skin tone?”

  Adriana rubbed her forehead. “Don’t remind me.”

  Paige flipped through her organizer. “This friend stuff kills me. What is it about being a bride-to-be that they suddenly take their friends’ beauty advice when they never checked with them ever before? I don’t know what kind of spell is cast, but someone needs to find an antidote.” Paige continued her quest through her organizer.

  “Too bad Charmed is over. We could use the power of three.” Eve laughed.

  “You’re right, but for now I have to settle for the power of Camille’s Day Spa. Maybe they could fit her in tomorrow morning.” She dialed the phone. “They are still open, right?”

  Adriana looked at her watch. “I think so.”

  “Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

  “You read my mind, Adriana.”

  “Okay, Eve, Camille has a spot open early tomorrow morning. I think we have some of her business cards at the front desk. Ask Deidre to give one to Johanna and she’s all set.”

  “That’s a relief.” She turned and made her way back to Johanna.

  “I will never understand why they don’t listen when we tell them not to do something. It’s for their benefit,” Adriana sighed.

  “When it comes to weddings some adults turn into children. They want what they want and they have to get it.” Paige tapped her desk.

  “She’s learning one expensive lesson.”

  Just then the intercom buzzed.

  “Yes, Deidre?”

  “You have a call on line one.”