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was built like a miniature doll with platinum blond hair peeking out from under her fur hat. Her perfume filled the room.
    A bemused Jim looked down at his fluffy charge, then up at me. “Cute, huh, Jessica? I wonder what kind of dog it is.”
    “It looks like a toy poodle,” I said.
    The dog watched Jim closely, but when he tried to put his nose near the dog’s snout, we heard a low growl.
    “Pravda!” its owner said, scowling at her pet.
    The dog slunk down in Jim’s arms and whimpered.
    “This will work in U.S. of A., yes?” she asked, holding up a box.
    “Guaranteed,” Jim said.
    She looked confused and Jim corrected himself. “Yes. This will work.”
    “ Spasibo! Thank you.”
    She put on her coat, took back the dog, handed the box to Jim, and followed him to the register. It was difficult to say how old she was since she wore heavy eye makeup and bright red lipstick, but I guessed she was in her twenties. She nodded at me. “ Izvinite ,” she said, as she walked past. “ Scusi. Uh, pardonnez-moi .” She stopped and shook her head. “Nyet!” Satisfied that she had found the correct language, she tipped her head to the side and smiled. “Excuse me.”
    “Certainly,” I said, returning her smile.
    She dug through an oversized alligator-skin purse and presented her credit card to Jim. When he’d completed the transaction, she signed the sales slip with a flourish, regally walked to the door with a dog in one arm and a shopping bag on the other, and waited while one of her bodyguards held it open for her.
    “Wow!” Jim said, returning to the desk after locking up. He waved a hand in front of him. “We don’t have such glamorous customers every day.”
    “I’m sure you don’t,” I said, chuckling.
    “I hope you’re not offended, Jessica. I just meant—”
    “I know exactly what you meant, Jim, and of course I’m not offended. She must be one of the reporters with the Russian film crew I heard was in town.”
    “How exciting. I never met a Russian before. Can’t wait to tell my wife. Of course, I may leave out how pretty she was.” He called out, “Hey Dave, you just missed a looker.”
    David poked his head out of the back room. “What did you say?”
    Jim grinned. “Never mind.” He handed me my skates. “Thanks for waiting, Jessica.”
    “Wouldn’t have missed her for the world,” I replied.

Chapter Four
    T he moment of my big day arrived.
    I called the local cab company at which I had an account and arranged for a taxi to take me to the ice arena. I admit I had mixed emotions. On the one hand, I couldn’t wait to lace up my skates and step out onto the ice. On the other hand, Seth’s admonitions about being too old to take up skating again and risking injury stayed with me. I’ve always liked to consider myself someone who listens to others and benefits from their wise counsel. Seth had my best interests at heart, and there was no argument that what he’d warned of could happen. But I’m also a person who doesn’t believe in losing out on the joys of life because of fear. That latter belief system overrode Seth’s concerns, and I happily and enthusiastically got in the taxi, my arms around my skate bag, and the sort of smile on my face that you see on kids about to embark on an adventure.
    The arena was busy when I arrived. I told the driver that I’d call when I needed a ride home, went inside, and took a seat at one of several round picnic tables arrayed in front of the concession stand, which hadn’t opened yet. A half dozen other skaters were there getting ready to take to the ice, and if I’d been concerned that I’d be the only older person on the ice, I was quickly disabused of that notion.
    At the next table was a woman with gray hair styled in a pageboy. She was easily my age, perhaps older, and wore black wool slacks and a pink angora sweater. She had already donned her gleaming white skates and was applying a lip balm over her pink lipstick. Next to her