pulled back his shoulders. “There’s a difference.”
They both laughed.
Aleks got the conversation back on track. “I’ll have my assistant set up the interviews for later this week.”
“Sounds good. I need some time to get the site in order anyway.”
“Listen, we’re having a baby shower for Martina and Rob this weekend. I want you to come.” Aleks sat back in his chair.
Milton knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer. But he tried anyway. “I’m going to be really busy, I don’t think–”
“You’re coming, and that’s the end of it. Don’t think you’re going to be hibernating while you’re in town. It’s been too many years since we’ve all hung out together and we’re not wasting the time.”
“All right.” Milton held his hands up in defense. “Still pushy as ever.”
“Damn straight.” Aleks slapped his hands down on his large desk. “Do you remember where Rob’s parents live?”
“I think so. In the Markland area, right?”
Aleks nodded. “I’ll email you the address and the directions just in case. There will be a lot of lovely ladies there. Unless of course you have someone waiting for you at home.”
“No. No girlfriend at the moment.” Or during any moments in the last five years. His life was already too complicated without adding the expectations and disappointments of a relationship.
“Then we’re getting you laid.”
A burst of laughter flew out of Milton’s mouth. “I don’t exactly need your help to get laid.”
“When was the last time you got laid?”
“I get laid,” Milton blurted out in defense. “But I don’t particularly like dating. Or relationships. Or the whole marriage and children thing.”
“You’ll change your mind.” Aleks gave him a sly grin.
“Mr. Reformer, all high and mighty now that he’s settled down. Let’s not forget that you were the most commitment-phobic male in the area. Hell, the entire country.”
“And I was wrong.”
Milton couldn’t get over the transformation of his friend. He was happy that both Rob and Aleks had found happiness, but they didn’t have a curse hanging over their head. They didn’t bring a fate of death with them into their relationships.
“I’m not trying to marry you off, buddy.” Aleks placed his hands palm down on the desk. “But we are going to find you a playmate.”
Milton shrugged. There was no use arguing with Aleks. “I guess I don’t have a choice.”
“Not at all.” Aleks smirked. “And what better place to meet women than at a baby shower?”
Chapter 3
“You’re looking mighty cute today, Amie. Big date?” Amie’s customer sat down on the long massage table then spread her body out along the soft leather.
Amie bent over the small sink. Her red sundress hiked up her legs as she washed her hands with lime-scented soap. The sundress, her hair style, all of it was a huge leap from her usual choice of attire–yoga pants and racer back tank tops.
“I’m going to a baby shower.”
“Oh, I love baby showers,” the woman cooed as she brought her hands up and clasped them together, resting them on her chest. “Babies are wonderful, aren’t they?” Her head turned toward Amie, and her eyes sparkled in that motherly way. Amie hoped one day to have that same sparkle in her own eyes.
“Yes, they are.” Amie dried her hands with a white, fluffy towel. She still couldn’t comprehend that her best friends were going to have a baby–Rob and Martina.
“Dear, am I going to make you late?” Maggie jerked up off the table as if suddenly realizing she was a burden. “We can reschedule if you need to leave.”
She was always thoughtful and considerate. A lovely woman who suffered from chronic back pain. The result of a motor vehicle accident many years ago. She hadn’t been the same since. But their Reiki sessions had been working wonders, or so she’d been told.
“Lie back, Maggie. I have lots of time before I need to be anywhere.” Amie laid her hand on Maggie’s shoulder and guided her down against the leather.
“When are you done with your teaching hours? I’m going to have to start paying you one of these days.”
Maggie had been one of her guinea pigs, just like Aleks, during Amie’s quest to become a Reiki Master. The fact was, her teaching hours had been over for months now but Amie had lied.
Maggie’s husband had passed away almost two years ago. She was a regular for yoga. Taking a class twice, sometimes three times a week.
Amie could see the toll death had taken on this lovely woman and knew that the power of Reiki could help her. After some convincing, Maggie agreed and even now, although Amie had her certification, she took forty-five minutes out of her week to give this woman an extra boost to get through the day. The last thing Maggie needed to feel was helpless, so Amie kept the fact that she had already completed her certification a secret.
“Don’t worry, Maggie. You’re doing me the favor, remember?”
“All right. I don’t know what I would do without you, Amie. I’ve never felt better. More centered. More at peace with life. You have magic hands, dear.”
Amie did her thing, slowly drawing the energy from the universe, letting it flow through her hands and over the body of her friend. From head to toe she healed the spiritual, the physical and the mental realms of the body.
When they were done, Amie washed her hands again in the sink.
“We might have to switch our appointment times,” Maggie said. “I’m going to have to move and I’m not sure where.”
“Moving? Why?”
“I don’t want to, but the apartment building we’re living in is being torn down so they can add on to the hospital. We have six months to move out.”
“That’s bullshit. Damn developments. Damn money hungry assholes.”
“Apparently the hospital owns all the land surrounding it, including three apartment buildings and an outdoor mall. They finally have the funding to build a new children’s wing and expand their emergency facilities so they want their land back.”
Maggie and her daughter Kristen had to move out of their home after her husband died. She couldn’t afford to maintain the household on her own, not with the salary of a medical secretary.
“At least it’s not because of a shopping mall,” Maggie added.
“That’s not the point. The point is that whoever is in charge of these things only cares about one thing, their bottom line, and they’ll screw anyone and anything to get where they need to be. Ugh! And these people who make their living tearing down memories and erecting cold, generic buildings...they make me sick.”
“Tell me how you really feel.”
“I’m sorry. This might be a little bit of a sore spot.” Amie walked around the table and rested her bottom on the edge.
“Oh, honey. Don’t get all sour puss before your big party.”
Amie snorted, a little sound that made her forget why she was riled up in the first place. Amie wasn’t lacking in the motherly love department, but she was no less appreciative of Maggie’s affection.
“I’m fine,” Amie whispered. Even though she wasn’t. Hearing Maggie tell her story brought up too many memories of