been that way with us. She was always trying to take care of me,

and I was always trying to show I could do it on my own.

Kalen was the consummate planner for everyone. She was

the one who convinced our parents to retire and move to Florida.

Todd was her high school sweetheart, and she mapped out his

college education, then steered him to a premier architectural

firm. I think she dressed him each day for work. The one thing

she never had success with was my love life, though she tried her

hardest.

I booted my computer and took a look at my new messages.

I weeded out most of them, but there was one that appeared

promising.

Hel o, Pitifully Ugly,

All the profiles on here seem to be the same, but I have to say

your personal note is a standout. I LOVE the picture.

If you’re real y a woman, and you’d like to chat, I would be

very interested in hearing from you.

Charity *smiles*

Pitifully Ugly

Okay, sweet Charity, let’s give it a whirl.

Hi, Charity,

I am definitely a woman…at least last time I checked.

I’m so clever.

Glad you liked my profile. I was at a loss for something to

say, and the picture, well, it was too easy to pass up.

Tell me about yourself.

P.U.

I dug into the bank reconciliation for the Rampart store that

took me through lunch. I was proud of myself for having a few

slices of boneless skinless chicken grilled with a dash of seasoning

and an apple. Then I checked my messages.

Hello again,

About me, okay, here goes. I work at Charity Hospital as

a pediatric ICU nurse, hence the user name. I’m not much of a

party girl, but I do enjoy having a few drinks with friends. I love

being outside, and I spend a lot of time in the garden. I grow all

my own vegetables. I can’t wait for spring. I love reggae music. It

reminds me of another favorite place, the beach. I celebrated my

thirty-seventh birthday in Panama City this past summer.

I’m looking to make a friend first, and if that develops into

something more, that’s fine by me.

Your turn,

Charity

She had me at vegetables.

Hi, Charity,

We’re about the same age, and it sounds like we share some

common interests. I enjoy the beach and outdoors. I also love

homegrown veggies. I don’t grow them, but I love to eat them. I

like the spring and summer the best.

I’m an accountant for a couple of local businesses, and I

work from home. I have the luxury of a flexible schedule. On

Robin Alexander

cold weekends, I’m usual y curled up in front of the fire with a

good book. Old movies are a passion. Anything with Doris Day

or Deborah Kerr is a winner. I guess they remind me of my

childhood. I used to sit curled up on the sofa with my mom as a

kid watching them.

Okay, your turn.

P.U.

Wow, that was really simple. Why didn’t I think like that when

I was writing my profile? I took it as a positive sign that I might

be becoming a conversationalist, even if it was on a keyboard.

I’d been working for an hour when I saw that I had a new

message from Charity.

Hi, P.U.,

I loved Deborah Kerr in The King and I . I’m reluctant to

admit that I’m a huge Rogers and Hammerstein fan. Does that

make me gay? <grin>

I work shift work, and I’m off today and tomorrow. Would

you like to meet me for coffee? No pressure.

Charity

Oh, damn. I wasn’t expecting that. I kind of thought it would

play out slowly like it had with Newbie. I took a deep breath. I

could do this. We could meet in a public place, and if things didn’t

work out, we could simply walk away.

Hi, Charity,

That sounds good. How about Café Du Monde around

eleven? I’ll be wearing a green hoodie and jeans.

P.U.

Her response was immediate.

Meet you there. I’ll be wearing a blue peacoat and jeans. I

look forward to meeting you in person.

Pitifully Ugly

And just like that, I had a quasi date. I couldn’t focus on work

any more after our chat. The day was sunny, and I felt like a walk.

I dressed and headed out.

“Feeling better?” Hailey was sitting on a bench in the

courtyard when I walked out. She was bouncing a tennis ball that

Fuzzy caught in midair.

The embarrassment of the previous evening had all but faded

until I saw her. “Yes, much better.”

Hailey scooted over to one side. “Would you like to sit

down?”

I took a seat at the opposite end, and Fuzzy brought me her

ball. I bounced it, and she caught it and promptly returned it to

me. “You’ve made a lifelong friend,” Hailey said with a smile.

“I guess I don’t have to worry about her biting me now.”

“No, she’d never bite, but she will rub that slimy ball on your

pants leg if you don’t watch her. Do you have a pet?”

“Just a stuffed pig that sits on top of my fridge. His name is

Albert.”

This earned me a laugh. I was doing well.

“I suppose that Albert doesn’t shed.”

It was my turn to laugh. “No, but he does balk when I eat too

much of his ice cream.”

“What kind of work do you do? If you don’t mind me asking.”

Hailey turned in her seat and looked at me.

“I work from home. I do accounting for a couple of businesses.

How about you?”

“I’m a senior sales manager for Manheim Pharmaceuticals,

and right now, I’m on vacation.”

“Sounds exciting.”

Hailey took a turn bouncing Fuzzy’s ball when it was dropped

in her lap. “Trust me when I say it’s not, but it pays the bills.”

“So are you happy with your new place?”

“I really am,” she said with a smile. “I wasn’t sure I’d like

living so close to the French Quarter, but now I love it. And my

apartment has a great view of the courtyard.”

“That’s what I love most about this place.” I looked around at

Robin Alexander

the high red brick walls covered in ivy. It was cozy and well kept.

The chimenea was kept with burning logs most afternoons. Each

tenant would add another log to the fire as they came and went.

“The view or the courtyard?”

“Both. I think my apartment is directly above yours, so I

have the same view, and I love coming out here, especially in the

spring when the flowers are in bloom.”

Hailey nodded. “I look forward to seeing it in the spring. I

appreciate being able to walk Fuzzy in the courtyard after dark.

That’s what I was doing when you came in last night.”

She kind of looked at me as if she were waiting for me to

explain what my problem was. I mumbled off, “I kind of had a

problem with my…zipper.”

“And you were lit. I could smell the alcohol on your breath a

few feet away.” She laughed heartily then. “You really shouldn’t

drink and zip, it’s not safe.”

I scratched at my chin. “I think I would’ve found that funnier

when I was drunk.”

“Oh, stop it. It was corny, but you know you want to laugh.”

And I did. She made me feel relaxed, and that was big since

I hardly knew her.

“Your phone has one hell of a vibrator on it. The change in

your pocket was rattling.” Hailey began to laugh, then her face

reddened when she seemed to realize what she’d said.

My face colored, as well. There was no way I was going to

admit that I had pants full of bullets going off.

“Okay, Fuzzy,” Hailey said when the dog began to yip. She

looked at me apologetically. “It’s dinnertime for her. She keeps a

tight schedule.”

“Chicken on a stick again?”

“Actually, that was for me, but I did share.” Hailey stood. “It

was a pleasure chatting with you, Shannon.”

“You too.”

Our conversation truly had been a pleasure, brief as it was. I

had to admit that I’d had a good time talking with Marvin and his

friends the night before, too. I was meeting people on my own.

Not on the arm of a girlfriend who did all the talking or with

40

Pitifully Ugly

Kalen taking the lead. I found it refreshing and a little exciting.

I was reminded of grade school. As long as Kalen was around,

I had friends, but when she was out with the chicken pox one time,

no one talked to me. That was the loneliest week I’d ever had

then. In a way, I always sort of resented her for being so outgoing

and forcing me into the background. But the truth of it was I