It had been a long time since Carla had seen her best friend Abbey. The two of them had moved away from the small town where they grew up, and both of them now resided on opposite sides of the country. They both vigorously pursued their professional careers, Abbey as a fashion designer, and Carla as a personal assistant to a corporate executive.
It was during one of Carla's long tiring days that she received a call from out of the blue. It was the long lost voice of Abbey, her teenage friend and confidant. Abbey's career had taken a sudden dramatic rise and she was now contemplating a business launch of her new fashion line on the East Coast. She had frantically searched the phone books and contacted Carla's family, finally getting her number and giving her a call.
Carla invited Abbey to stay at her house in the hills. Abbey let her know that she was bringing her new hunky boyfriend Todd with her. Carla offered them her guest room. With that Carla was left tingling with anticipation for a week before Abbey finally arrived.
*****
The door bell rang out loud as Carla rushed through the house making a few last adjustments and tidying up her late lunch. She looked at the clock it was already late in the afternoon. They must have been running a little earlier that expected. She swept around the entrance way seeing a dark blurred silhouette through the distorted glass beside the front door.
She stopped and looked into the large mirror which hung opposite the doorway as part of her entry hutch. She brushed a rogue hair back down and examined an imaginary imperfection of her slender face. The door bell rang yet again and the silhouette swayed side to side impatiently.
"One second!" she called out, hoping that it didn't sound too obvious that she was standing right next to the entrance. Carla turned back to the mirror and checked the small amount of makeup she wore, a light dusting of foundation covering her normally pale complexion. She pinched her lower lip to remove a tiny smudge in her crimson lip stick. Her shoulder length raven black hair tied back in a simple pony tail, glistened in the light.
She stepped back from the mirror and straightened out her sheer tight fitting black dress. It accentuated her trim figure and perceptibly lengthened her short stature body. Carla knew the little black dress was a bit revealing, and not what she would normally wear when visitors visited her house. But Abbey was a fashion designer and she felt it necessary to make a good impression in front of her and her new boyfriend.
With a quick turn of the lock Carla threw the heavy oak door open and gazed out at Abbey and her partner Todd who towered above her, heaving two heavy bags in her trail. Abbey gave her trademark wide smile, her pearly white teeth and friendly face seemingly unchanged from her teenage years.
"Hi Carla," greeted Abbey in a warm voice stepping into the door way and giving her an inviting hug. Carla looked over her shoulder to see the imposing figure of Todd. He was indeed a hunk of a man. He smiled likewise and greeted her as Abbey continued the long embrace.
Todd must have been at least six foot four, and had the well trained physique of an athlete. His skin was well tanned and his bleached blonde hair spiked in a stylish fashion. He wore a pair of casual well fitted jeans and a thin black leather jacket, the air outside just the right side of cool.
Abbey stepped away from Carla and looked her in the eyes. "My God Carla you look fantastic," she praised with an honest voice. "That dress suits you so well I might have to get you to do some catwalk work for me at my new show."
Carla laughed at the suggestion and waived Abbey and Todd past her and into the open dining room, shutting the door behind them. Abbey babbled on as she walked through the entrance and around the corner, Carla not hearing exactly what she said just pretended to agree.
She rounded the corner and gave Abbey a quick scan as she examined the strange room. Abbey hadn't changed much since her school days, she was undoubtedly more mature and a woman now, but she had the same features and figure she always had. Her long chestnut hair tied in an elaborate braid running down the length of her back.
"I see you haven't cut your hair," said Carla making small talk. Abbey turned and smiled, making an extra effort to whip the long tail around her shoulder with a wry smile. Abbey had a friendly persona, radiant blue eyes but not the slightest hint of makeup on her natural good looks. Her figure was long and sinewy with sleek legs hugged tightly by a pair of designer jeans. She wore a fashionable black pull over which still flattered her thin physique and matched her tall black heeled boots.
"Your place is great I love what you have done with it," complimented Abbey as she stepped around the room and familiarized herself with the layout of the house. She made shapes with her fingers like an interior designer, examining light aspects and so on and constantly giving positive feedback over what she saw. "Wow, I always knew you had style Carla."
"Thanks Abbey," Carla replied slightly embarrassed at the constant complimenting and now somewhat aware of the distance between their level of dress. "You guys must be bushed from your flight, care for a drink?"
Todd stood diligently with the bags while Abbey continued to search out the floor. He gave her a polite nod and Abbey called out her assent from down the hallway. Carla walked into the kitchen which adjoined the dining room while Todd watched. She fetched three tall wine glasses and dug into the half a dozen bottles she had chilled in the fridge, fetching the one she thought was appropriate for the occasion. She measured out three even glasses as Abbey returned to the room still raving about the interior.
Carla politely handed her guests a glass each and then retrieved her own. They all sat down facing each other at the solid wooden dining table. "So how are you?" asked Carla.
Abbey hadn't changed a bit, she still knew how to talk on end about everything and Carla found herself nodding along. Todd had obviously become accustomed to this and only rarely interrupted Abbey's stories to agree with her or make light of the tale.
Carla could see why Abbey was so upfront about him on the phone. He was an almost perfect specimen of male prowess. He had chiseled good looks, a friendly yet commanding voice and a good sense of humor. Somewhere inside Carla she felt the slightest twinge of jealousy for what Abbey had. Her love life on the other hand had become stagnant in the last few months and her demanding career had crushed any hopes she had on that front.
The evening seemed to breeze past, Carla getting up a few times to refill glasses and talk about a piece of artwork which adorned the room with Abbey who seemed very knowledgeable about the area. Carla served a light dinner which both her guests appreciated and they relaxed with a cup of coffee and general discussion.
By now the night had taken hold and Carla had to excuse herself to shut the windows and blinds. She slipped into the guest room to make a final inspection that everything was tidy and presentable. She had no idea why she was so anal about presentation, but did the inspection anyway.
She returned to the room to find Todd leaning back in his chair and letting out a long stifled yawn which he quickly grappled with on seeing Carla enter. He offered a muted apology hoping not to look ungrateful for the night of entertainment. Abbey didn't miss a beat and again began to talk about what she was doing on the East Coast and offering for what seemed the thousandth time an invitation for Carla to visit.
"You look tired," Abbey said addressing Todd who was stretching his legs under the table. "Do you want to go to bed? I won't be far behind you. I think the jet lag is catching up with me as well."
"I'll show you into the guest room," offered Carla as she tidied up the kitchen and wiped her hands. She led her two guests down the hallway and to the spacious guest room. Todd lugged the two heavy bags in the door and dropped them down in the center of the floor. The room was dominated by a large double bed which ran down the middle of the room, the walls lined with stylish artwork and an antique dresser which Abbey again got worked up about.
Todd excused himself and walked into the adjoining ensuite to wash up before bed. Carla and Abbey slipped back out shutting the door and heading back to the dining room. Carla knew Abbey wanted to talk about more than just the fashion business and travel. It was with that thought in mind that she handed Abbey another freshly charged glass.
"So how long have you been with Todd?"
Abbey beamed at the question, she was obviously enraptured with the handsome hunk. "We've been together for about six months, and it has been the best six months of my life. He is without a doubt the sexiest man I have ever met. I still pinch myself when I realize he's all mine. Sorry, I must be going on a bit. How about you? Any significant other?"
"No," Carla said glibly. She didn't want Abbey's sympathy but in reality her love life had ground to a frustrating halt. All the good guys seemed to be taken or saw her only as a friend when she wanted more. She couldn't understand it. She was an attractive woman with a well respected career. "Work and everything seems to be acting against me on that front," she offered in qualification of her lack of love.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't seem rude and intrusive. I know that careers can really destroy that facet of life, but don't give up on it. I was just about to give up on love when Todd walked into my life."
