“Um, don’t get mad, but I may have found a way for you to get everything you need for nothing.”
“We aren’t shoplifting,” Mia said sternly.
Audrey shook her head. “It will just cost you a few minutes and your dignity. Follow my lead.”
Mia followed Audrey out into the store where the manager greeted them. “You look fabulous. I think you look better in those clothes than in these,” she said, unrolling the Ice Queen poster. “If you let us take pictures of you in our clothes for our ad, then you can have everything you wear in the pictures for free, plus the normal modeling fee, of course.”
“When?” Mia asked, thinking about her hairy legs.
“Tomorrow on the beach, just north of Navy Pier. We’ll bring the clothes, swimsuits, etc. You bring, well, yourself.”
Mia turned to Audrey who said, “I had Alan look at the contract. Mia, it’s a good opportunity, and it’s a good company. They donate a lot of their proceeds to ‘developing world’ charities.”
“Let me ask Ted.”
Audrey handed her the phone.
Ted flushed red, listening to Mia on the phone. “Why are you asking me?”
“You’re my husband, you dolt.”
“What are you modeling?”
“Yoga and exercise clothes. I’ll make some money. We can use money.”
“Audrey’s checked them out?”
“Yes.”
“It’s fine with me. Mia…” he paused.
“Yes.”
“Thanks for asking. It means a lot,” he said, putting down the phone. He looked over at Cid who was grinning from ear to ear. “Did you know about this?”
“Know about what?”
“Mia just asked my permission for her to model some yoga stuff.”
“Dude, she asked you. Evidently someone learned something from the past.”
Ted blushed. “I guess it’s my turn to do the same,” he said, printing return to sender on the unopened snail mail that had arrived that morning from Beth. Jake and Cid had blocked her from sending anything digitally. He had gotten a new personal phone number, and her phone number had been blocked on the PEEPs system. How long could he avoid doing this? Beth had decided to use the US postal system to get in contact with him. Before she showed up on his doorstep, it was time for him to man up and take care of Beth Bouvier.
~
Angelo watched from his perch while Mia took direction from the photographer. He looked at the way she moved, and she seemed more graceful than he remembered. He had been alerted by Audrey McCarthy’s seemingly innocent questions about whether he had to be naked to transform, and could he fly with a racerback tee on? He told her that unless he was going to totally transform into a bird or was traveling to the aerie, and as long as the clothes didn’t impede the wings, he could be clothed.
This peaked his interest. He had his little spies follow Mia and Audrey from the latter’s apartment into the city and over to the beach in the wee hours of the morning.
Mia was different, but how far had her transformation come? He knew not to push her. When Mia needed his help, she would ask for it. As long as Sariel wasn’t in the picture, Angelo would be patient to wait. Mia would come to him. He was certain of it.
~
Alan watched Mia emerge from the water over and over again. He knew her well enough to know that she was at the edge of her good manners. It had been an exhausting morning, with her being poked and prodded until she was doing yoga poses that she had never done before. Audrey was looking after Mia like a stage mother. He had her back legally and had insisted on receiving half the promised fee in advance. He knew how slow accounting departments of advertising concerns could be. He wanted to make sure that Mia left this beach with money in her pocket.
Mia brightened when she saw Alan. She waved, and when she was chastised by the photographer, she flipped him the bird. Yes, Mia had reached her limit. Alan walked over and tapped the producer’s shoulder.
“Ms. Martin agreed to four hours of modeling, and you are pushing five right now. I suggest you wrap up or you’re going to fall into the overtime clause, and that will cut your profits in half,” he warned.
Audrey watched as the producer called a halt to the session. She was thankful that Alan had stopped by. Alan, who had long given up on Audrey romantically, greeted her in a cool business manner while he embraced Mia warmly.
“You were marvelous,” he said after Audrey excused herself to go over and speak with the producer.
“I expect I’m going to be hurting in places I’ve never hurt before,” she said. “Do you have time to have lunch with Audrey and me? My treat?”
“Actually, I was hoping to take you to dinner later if you’re still in the city.”
“Me?”
“Yes, I have an important client who wants to meet with you. I insisted that I come along as a chaperone.”
“This client isn’t Angelo Michaels, is it?” Mia asked.
“No. I can’t tell you the particulars, but if you could trust me, in my opinion, I think that this is in your best interest.”
“I trust you, Alan. Can you tell me what I should wear? I’m going to have to purchase an outfit, because I don’t think stretchy is going to be Chicago chic enough.”
“Would I be a prig if I suggested a nice dress and shoes, not sandals? The client is older and may be uncomfortable with Malibu Barbie.”
“I did ask,” Mia said, wrinkling her brow. “I’ll drag Audrey along shopping. She’ll be able to help me. It’s a hell of a time for Ralph to be gone on his honeymoon.”
“Have you heard from them?”
“I got an email with lots of pictures attached. I’m still sorting through them,” Mia confessed.
“I’m so glad they decided on the summer cruise. Bernard was looking a little tired last time I saw him,” Alan said.
“Planning for a wedding and
