“Someplace called Manny’s.”
“You’ve never been to Manny’s?”
“I’m new in town. I just moved here a few months ago for a teaching position at the U of M.”
“Okay…well, that describes the whole school marm thing. Manny’s is a steak and seafood place where everything from the napkins to garnishes looks wonderful. You need to blow this guy away tonight. I’ve got it — I’ll be right back.”
Cooper went to the back office and cut open a previously mailed box with the words “no forwarding address” stamped on it. “Zoë, honey, your dress is going to a good cause…trust me,” Cooper whispered as she pulled a sexy black cocktail dress with a slightly plunging neck line from the box.
Cooper emerged from beads separating the floor and back office holding the precious cargo.
“I like it!” Jen exclaimed.
“Your date may not be able to concentrate on anything else. Try it on!”
After slipping it on, Jen noticed — maybe for the first time — that she really did have a great figure. It was the only time she could recall smiling at herself in a mirror. The smile remained plastered on her face when she exited the dressing room.
“I can’t believe it! I feel like one person went in there and another one came out,” Jen declared as she did a pseudo-model twirl.
“Wow! You look fabulous! Norma Jean went in and Marilyn came out.”
The two women talked for another half hour. “I feel like I know you from somewhere,” Jen remarked.
“I feel that way too, but there’s no way we’ve met before. No crazy psychic stuff going on with this girl.” Handing her the box containing the dress, Cooper said, “I wrote my home phone number on the box. If you ever want to hang out, call me. We’ve got to be around the same age.”
Page 43
