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necessary. I have a good business and I take care of it
and my employees really well. That should be enough. This stupid
stuff takes up time and money and you just wait it’s going to be a
nightmare and I’m going to end up on the bottom of the pile.
    “And now I have to sit still and have a woman play
with my hair. Yuck. It’s building up, isn’t it? It’s going to be a
disaster.” BB understands and he patiently let’s her cry out her
frustrations until she makes herself stop, then tells the GPS the
address of the hair place and the very sweet voice, that sounds
like her Mom talks to her the whole way.
    “Where’s Steven?” She’s carrying her dress in a long
plastic white bag and hanging onto to her shoes and panty hose
bags.
    “He’s been in his office since you left, Judy. I’ll
tell him you’re here. Your hair looks nice.”
    “Thanks Clarence. I have to be there by eight. I’ll
get dressed and get out of the way.”
    “No problem. This is my oldest son, John. He works
out with me in the evenings.” She walks over to meet him. He looks
about fifteen or so and very much like his Dad. He’s taller than
Judy already.
    “Glad to meet you, John. Your Dad helped me to learn
to dance today. He’s a very good dancer.” She smiles. He
doesn’t.
    Opening the door the women’s locker room John’s
voice says he’s going to tell his Mom. She couldn’t be upset with
her or Clarence could she? Another reason she doesn’t touch men.
She doesn’t make trouble. Rule Number Two.
    It’s been nearly two days, since she’s cleaned up.
She feels and looks filthy and scrubs hard, trying to wash away the
memory of her Mom’s face, the terrifying night run, and Simon’s
threats to her business. He’ll be at this thing and she’ll have to
talk to him. It’s unsettling that she’s excited and angry at the
same time.
    Finished dressing, the image in the mirror startles
her. It takes her a few seconds to recognize herself. “What do you
think?” The mirror says that she’ll do. Busting through the door
with her now heavy training case over her shoulder, she hears a
gasp or two and a moan from Jeremy.
    “What?” Five guys and the two girls, who are younger
than her, are staring. She quickly looks around for Steven and
finds him in the shadows outside his office. He has an odd
expression on his face and his feet are headed straight for her.
She holds his eyes and hope they’re not going to be
disapproving.
    He stops in front of her, takes the heavy black bag
off her shoulder. “Walk to the center of the room and turn
around.”
    “Seriously? Maybe I should take some of your
business cards and pass them around tonight.” She laughs. That’s
really not a bad idea. Maybe she could get him some more customers
to pay him for helping her be an idiot.
    “Move,” he orders and she sees the beginning of his
crease. Talking off with her usual pace, he yells, “Slower, you
aren’t in a race.”
    Slowing down, she’s bashed again, “Slower. Relax
your arms and take shorter steps.”
    Doing what he says makes her sway a little. It feels
good in this dress and her shoes don’t make so much noise. She
turns and looks at him. “And?”
    “Walk back.”
    She walks slow and holds his eyes to see if he’s
pleased that she can follow orders that make sense. He’s smiling so
she smiles back.
    In heels she’s almost able to look him directly into
his eyes. She likes that.
    “Don’t walk any faster than that all night.” His
voice sounds rough. He clears it when she stops in front of him.
“You’re breathtaking, Judy. Maybe you should wear your gun.”
    Steven doesn’t laugh, but everyone else does.
    “I am.” She pulls up her dress and shows him the
thigh strap. “See.”
    He’s laughing like she’s never heard him before. It
sounds good but then he takes her by the shoulders and turns her
around so everyone can see. “This is the perfect woman, folks. Come
on, I’ll walk you to your car. I don’t