With Thanksgiving past and the Christmas Holidays looming, I had one more story to tell the children before my winter schedule began. As time had past and I'd grown more successful, my dislike for the New England cold and snow had also grown..., to the point where I'd spent at least two weeks of every one of those winter months in Florida. We always made sure one or both of us were home to bring Lexi to Florida so she could spend her February school vacation with us and we'd also have her come back again in April, usually with her father. In between, they'd take care of the house and were always happy to spend that time alone together.
Needless to say, Elle wasn't happy with this arrangement, her NEED to have me around, at least weekly, was now both physically and emotionally obvious. But, after assuring her that I WOULD be around, "..., at least half the month," and that I would still be able to tell her class, as well as Lexi's class, their stories, she seemed somewhat mollified. I sealed the deal by adding "..., and with my wife still in Florida..., we might have an opportunity to go out on a date some night."
Now she couldn't wait for me to leave..., just so I could back again..., alone!
With school out for the holidays, Todd working, Kim and TJ spending time with friends, Elle called me at work, now armed with my, "private," line. "Can you get away tomorrow?" her question. "Something planned? I asked. "Something for you to remember while you're away," her answer.
I picked her up in the usual place, a trip to, "2Hot," one of her plans. "What if I want to take you to the zoo instead?" I asked. "Your loss," her reply.
So, I took her to visit Kat.
Normally, which would be any day but the day before New Year's Eve, Elle and I would be the only shoppers in the store before noon time. This day being the exception, there were two couples and a single girl already there when we arrived.
One of the couples was checking out, the other looking at dresses and the single girl seemingly waiting for some assistance. Kat was at the register, a smile and nod when she saw us. Our smiles in return were quickly followed by open mouth stares.
Kat was looking extremely enticing, her choice of mini skirt, garter attached thigh high stockings and revealing blouse, only the two strategically placed pockets hiding her lovely assets, was nothing like anything I'd seen her wear before. Even her hair was a surprise, a natural honey blonde color, without any pigmented enhancements. Had it not been for the tats and the piercings, she would have looked like that proverbial, "..., girl next door."
"Hi," with a smile when she greeted us, air kisses for me, a lingering kiss on the lips for Elle. "Didn't expect to see you two today. Sneaking out to a New Year's Eve party tomorrow night?"
"I wish," Elle deadpanned, "just out for the day."
Ignoring the frown, Kat smiled and informed us, "I've saved a bag of things for you," another smile for Elle, "give me a second."
With that, she disappeared into the stockroom.
While Elle wandered about, quickly joining the single girl that seemed lost, I stood by the service counter watching the store, part time security..., full time voyeur.
In this setting..., you never knew when an opportunity might present itself.
Kat retuned before any opportunities, but I stayed where I was because I knew she would disappear into the dressing room with Elle at any moment.
The remaining other couple had decided on a few things, taking them to the dressing room where Kat helped the girl set up. With that done, she and Elle went into the dressing room to the left, to try on the items that Kat had put aside.
I was left to deal with the male half of the couple and the single female.
He joined me at the service counter, while she continued to..., do whatever it was that she was doing?
We immediately hit it off, his, "I guess if I've got to take her clothes shopping..., there ain't a lot of places better than this!"
After a fist bump..., I added, "And believe me..., it's about to get a lot better!"
As, what had now turned into a habit, Elle and Kat were dawdling in their dressing room, the girl half stuck her head out of her dressing room and called her beau over to, "..., see if you like this?"
Meanwhile, the girl that had been wandering walked over to me and asked if I worked there? Interesting question..., had I deemed myself invisible! Hadn't she been paying attention?
"Ahhh..., no," I answered, "the girl in charge is helping my..., wife at the moment, but I'm sure she'll be out in a minute."
"Oh, okay..., thank you just the same," as she stood in front of me.
To be fair, this was the first time I'd paid any attention to her also, and I was surprised to see how, "cute," she was when up close.
My first impression had been, "mousey," but that was wrong. Maybe it had been her glasses, the thick black rims giving her a, "studious," look, or her hair which was up in an old fashion, "bun." Or maybe it was her clothes, because they were dark and without any shape, which adding to her overall, "frumpy," appearance.
She was..., actually cute, her eyes when seen through the lens a sparkling blue, all of her facial features..., cute!
Then I overheard my new buddy say, "Wow..., that's really..., nice, I mean it's really..., really nice."
And then Elle's dressing room door opened and she stepped out onto the sales floor, her..., Kat's..., newest choice of apparel for her...?
It was, even from fifteen feet away..., really, really, really..., nice!
Without a word, she walked past the guy and stopped in front of the 3way mirror, a slow pirouette until she was facing me and then, "Do you like?"
I nodded, but because the guy was between her and I, he must have thought that her question had been directed at him. Even with his back to me, I could see by his posture he was.., uncertain on how to answer. With his girl to his left, Elle in front of him..., and Kat now on his right shoulder..., whatever he said was going to be taken wrong by one of them, so he did what all good men would do in a similar situation, as if any of us would ever find ourselves in a similar situation..., he turned to me and asked, "Is this what you meant by, "..., things getting much better?"