Talia Of Animalistic - Chapter 15

 

The day before Talia and Richy leave for Megalopolis, the scab over the entrance wound sloughs off in the shower revealing soft thin pink tender skin. The muscles are still regrowing under that pink skin and are also thin and tender and feel like a deep bruise as if someone wearing steel toed boots had kicked her there repeatedly. But Talia’s an old pro at ignoring, living with and remaining functional while in pain. So except for the fact that her pain occasionally creeps into her scent, there are few outward signs that Talia is in pain.

They take Richy’s personal vehicle and pick up Margie. Talia’s glad the event is coinciding with the new moon. She’ll work too while she’s there. Richy has left Deputy Al and Abbot in charge. Talia calls her uncle when they reach Megalopolis and he’s waiting with the doorman and valet when they arrive at Devonshire Tower.

“Look here, Mr. Shaw,” Uncle Bob says happily to the doorman, “it’s my favorite niece.”

“Uncle Bob, I’m your only niece,” responds Talia smiling as she receives a warm hug from her uncle.

“And Mr. Shaw,” Uncle Bob informing the doorman as he takes Margie’s hand, “this is the lovely Margie Sumpter, a law enforcement officer from Bayberry Falls.” Then he tilts Margie’s chin up and gives her a sweet kiss.

“And the young man getting bags from the trunk,” inquires Mr. Shaw, “might this be the fiancée you were telling me about?”

“Yes, yes,” confirms Uncle Bob standing tall and proud, “this is Sherriff Richard Griffin, also of Bayberry Falls.”

“Good to see you again, Mr. Griffin,” Mr. Shaw smiling genuinely happy. “Would you like me to send for someone to help with the bags?”

“No, we can manage,” answers Richy, “and just Richy’s fine. Sorry if I was a little rude my first time here.”

“Nothing to be sorry about,” Mr. Shaw replies, “You were a man on a mission, bringing your beautiful lady a lovely bouquet of flowers and a picnic lunch.

Ms. Devonshire, if you don’t mind,” Mr. Shaw puts out his hand and Talia gives him her left hand.

“Look at that Chester,” Mr. Shaw tells the valet as he holds Talia’s hand up to show off her engagement ring, “Isn’t that just absolutely lovely?”

As Talia blushes prettily, Chester the valet says, “It’s nearly as gorgeous as Ms. Devonshire herself.”

“You both need to stop,” Talia tells them smiling happily, “You’re embarrassing me.”

“We heard you were ill,” shares Mr. Shaw genuinely concerned with her wellbeing.

“I’m technically not quiet one hundred percent yet,” admits Talia. “But I’m ever so much better than I was. Thank you so much for inquiring.” Then she gives Mr. Shaw a hug. You won’t catch any of the Drumpts giving their doorman a hug, but Talia doesn’t give a damn about that sort of thing. Just because one person got blessed with better opportunities than another doesn’t make them any better than anyone else.

“Margie,” questions Richy trying to juggle all the bags, “do you think you brought enough stuff?”

“Here,” says Margie relieving Richy of a couple of bags, “These two connect together like this and pull.”

“How many of these are yours,” Bob asks Margie.

Except Richy answers the question for her, “Let’s put it this way Uncle Bob, only one of these is mine.”

“I wasn’t sure about what I might need,” says Margie defending herself.

“Here,” volunteers Uncle Bob, “Let me give you a hand.”

As Uncle Bob relieves Richy of a couple of bags, Richy hands his key to the valet. And this time he smiles good humoredly as he tells him, “Don’t get any ideas, Chester.”

Chester returns the smile happily, “No sir, I’ll be real careful with her,” as he slips into the driver’s seat.

Uncle Bob talks as they walk, mostly for Margie’s benefit, telling her about Devonshire Tower’s many features and amenities. He points out the check in desk for the 11 floors of hotel rooms, everything from trucker’s specials to presidential suites. There are always at least four bellhops on duty twenty-four hours a day. The bellhops favor the truck drivers because they usually only have one or two over the shoulder bags and tip well. He motions in another direction explaining that there’s a bakery, butcher shop, grocery store etcetera in the tower as they wait for an elevator. He motions in the opposite direction and mentions there’s a coffee shop, ice creamery, pizzeria, a bar and grill, a two floor night club with dance floor, DJ and bar on its first floor, pool tables, arcade games, bar and jukebox on its second floor, as well as a couple of different types of restaurants too.

The second floor of the tower is Cingular Communications. The third floor houses a twenty-four hour fitness center and an Eyecrafters. Fourth floor has the twenty-four hour day care which will provide daycare for elderly and disabled as well as infants and children and there’s also a family practice/urgent care clinic with a pharmacy. The fifth through the fifteenth floors are all hotel rooms. Sixteen, seventeen and eighteen are the location of Devonshire World Law headquarters. The Nineteenth through the thirtieth floors are the apartments. Employees get their apartments at one-third market value because Uncle Bob tells Margie, “We believe in taking good care of our people so they will take good care of us.”

Margie is just as observant as Richy, noting that the elevator has two surveillance cameras. But neither is noticeable if you’re not paying attention and don’t look for that sort of thing. One to observe the passengers riding the elevator above the elevator doors. And the other above in the back of the elevator to observe the people entering and exiting the elevator doors.

When they step off onto the penthouse floor, Margie notes that the common area that surrounds the four sets of two elevators is also well monitored. A camera across from each set of elevators watches the elevators’ doors. Then there’s another camera watching each penthouse door. She likes that the cameras are not obvious, just tiny efficient digitals that go easily unnoticed.

Bob puts his hand over the scanner by his door and a second later they hear the lock click as it unlocks. Uncle Bob and Richy stand back and let the two women enter ahead of them.

Margie’s never been a penthouse apartment before and says “Wow,” in awe as she looks around.

“It’s somethin’ ain’t it,” Richy ask Margie. “I think it’s bigger than my house.”

Uncle Bob chuckles, “Not exactly cozy is it? One of Talia’s many unknown talents is home decorating, another is art. She has a good eye for art as well as a talent for it. This is one of her pieces.”

“Talia,” says Richy marveling at piece, “I was looking at this when I came for lunch and you didn’t tell me you made it.”

Talia shrugs, “I didn’t know I was supposed to tell you.”

“You don’t have to be modest, honey,” Margie tells Talia.

Talia tilts her head confused as she looks at Margie.

“She can’t help it,” Uncle Bob tells Margie and Richy, “Talia truly doesn’t see what the fuss is about. She’s always showed a talent for art. Reynold and Panther encouraged her to develop it constantly. There was no shortage of charcoal pencils, colored pencils, crayons, paints and brushes. In middle school she asked to take shop class and we discovered she had a talent for wood working and tools. She turned out various pieces of art for years: paintings, sketches, sculptures, poetry and pottery. Then she just stopped about a year before she walked out on Lance’s proposal.”

“Why did you stop,” Margie asks Talia.

“It wasn’t helping,” explains Talia, “my headaches got worse for a while and it wasn’t helping. But when the mood strikes me, I’ll make something. I actually still turn out a few pieces a year. But they’re more functional now. They don’t just take up space like that monstrosity. They’re center pieces, hand woven baskets, quilts and stuff. When I start to accumulate too many, I give them away as gifts.”

Uncle Bob shakes his head. Talia is an enigma. He tells Margie, “Let’s put your bags in the guest room right by my room.”

As Richy drops a couple of Margie’s bags onto the bed he tells her, “If you start unpacking now, you might be unpacked by next week.”

Margie narrows her eyes at Richy, “Better to be over prepared than under prepared.”

Uncle Bob tells Talia, “After Richy drops off his bag in your room, bring him to the library and scan his hands so he may come and go as he pleases.”

Richy follows Talia back to her room on the other side of the penthouse. He sits his duffle bag on top of her dresser.

These drawers are empty,” Talia shows Richy. “You can use them. There’s room in the wardrobe too. I mostly just have quilts and crocheted Afghans and throws stored in there. They make good house warming presents and shower gifts. Even domesticated folks appreciate receiving a gift that’s handmade, functional and decorative all at the same time.”

“You crochet too,” asks Richy.

“Yes,” Talia pulling open a wardrobe drawer open revealing quilts and throws, “I’ve tried knitting, but crocheting’s easier. There’s plenty of room in the closet as well.” She opens the walk in closet’s doors revealing about a dozen sensible business suits with a choice of skirt or slacks, all of the same cut, just in various colors. Several pairs of the same modest heels comfortable yet sensible and fashionable shoes to go with the suits, again in colors to match the suits or blouses: white, black, grey, taupe, chocolate, red, purple, and navy blue. She wasn’t a female that was crazy for shoes. Talia hated shoes. But in dealing with domesticated people, they often didn’t take you seriously if you were barefooted. So the shoes in the closet we necessities not wants. She also has a good pair of joggers, a few pairs of flats, a couple pairs of sandals and a couple of slip on clogs.

Talia pulls navy blue slacks with a matching jacket, a white tank-top style blouse and a pair of her modest heeled pumps in white to match the top from the closet. Then from one of the top drawers of the dresser she retrieves a matching set of bra and panties. Talia thinks it’s silly that she likes her bra to match her panties, but she does.

“What are you doing,” asks Richy.

“I’m gonna get a quick shower before I scan your hands in and go down to my office and get to work. Normally, I would have been sitting in my chair by eight a.m. and it’s nine.”

“That’s fine,” Richy taking the clothes from her hands and laying them on the dresser. “Let’s just make sure you need a shower first,” he says pulling Talia to the bed.

“Richy, I’m already late,” responds Talia putting her arms up and letting him pull her top off.

“Late is late,” Richy tells her as he unhooks her bra and kisses her neck, “doesn’t matter if it’s two minutes or two hours.” He pulls off her skirt and panties at the same time. “Late is late.”

“This isn’t fair,” says Talia allowing Richy to pick her up and lay her on the bed, “I don’t ravish you when I know you’re running late for work.” She watches Richy strip naked.

Richy climbs onto the bed with her, “Wouldn’t be angry if you did.” He parts her feminine lips and licks and sucks her clit the way he has come to know pleases her best. After the first orgasm washes over her, he folds her legs over his arms, reaches under her back and grips her shoulders.

As he works his way inside her, Richy confesses, “I am a selfish man. I am going to enjoy having you to myself for a couple of days, no Cougar sleeping on the other side of you, and no Bass watching us mate as he masturbates.”

Talia’s big brown slightly slanted eyes with their pretty fringe of ebony black lashes are suddenly wet with sadness.

“What’s wrong,” asks Richy as he slowly thrusts into her tight moist hot channel.

“I’m sorry,” Talia apologizes, “I would change it if I could. I know you don’t want to share me in any way with anyone else. And if I could make it different I would, just the two of us, me and you.”

“Hush,” Richy says softly. He hadn’t meant to make her sad, or make her feel guilty for something that wasn’t her fault. And her love for him is so great, if it was in her power, she would change it for him. She would squash and ignore her love for Cougar. She would erase scent marks that officially making Cougar and Wildcat her mates. And there in her eyes, he sees undying, unconditional love, all for him and only him.

Richy realizes there’s a part of Talia that belongs to him and only him. After all, she had come to him and only him as a virgin. And if he told her she must deny her other two mates, no matter how much it hurt her heart to do so, she would obey him and deny Cougar and Wildcat. Yet even though he hated to admit it, he needed the other two men to help keep Talia safe. He worried for Wildcat, who had yet to come claim his rights to Talia as her mate. And Fjord is out there somewhere. He hasn’t returned to his tribe. No one has seen him since the day he showed up at Richy’s thinking he would claim Talia, and no one wants to see him. Hence, the Water Tribe has started to move closer to Richy’s territory and is functioning like a normal tribe again.

Richy kisses Talia deep and slow. “Hush,” he tells her as his love making becomes more vigorous. “I’m getting what I need and that’s what’s important. That’s what matters.”

“Give me what I need,” request Talia. “Fuck me hard and give me your baby.” Talia got her cycle the day after the incident with Bass. Her normal four day cycle. But getting it had made her sad. And Bass hasn’t asked to touch her again, yet.

“Now I definitely need a shower,” Talia tells Richy, “and a nap that I’m not going to get. Thank you very much, sir.”

“You’re welcome Ma’am.” Richy watches Talia walk across to her bathroom. He watches as she pauses in the doorway and steadies herself against the doorjamb. He sits up immediately very concerned, “Are you ok?”

“Fine,” Talia insist as she sits on the toilet, “just a little dizzy, it happens sometimes.” She hears Richy approaching as she empties her bladder.

“Happens sometimes since when,” asks Richy.

Talia wipes herself catching a glimpse of a bright red streak of blood on the tissue before she drops it in and flushes. “Since my father’s fit of temper.”

“Oh,” Richy stepping up to the urinal thinking that her father’s little fit of temper just kept on giving. He glances down as he relieves himself and notices a small bright red streak of blood along his shaft. He decided to keep track of her cycle during her last cycle and knows it’s not time for her cycle yet. He thumbs a streak off his shaft and sniffs it, confirming it’s not menstrual blood.

“Talia you’re bleeding,” Richy tells her concerned as he shows her the streaks of blood on his shaft.

Talia smiles unconcerned, “It’s nothing.” She turns and starts the shower. Then she steps in front of the mirror and starts piling her hair on top of her head.

“Talia, if I’m hurting you…” starts Richy worried.

“You weren’t hurting me. Yeah, I’ll be a little sore later, but it was worth it. You’re worth it,” she tells Richy with a smile.

“Talia, if I’m hurting you, you need to tell me,” Richy tells her very serious.

“I wasn’t experiencing any pain,” Talia informs him. “I can’t tell you you’re hurting me if I’m not in pain. It’s fine. Let it go.”

“It not fine,” states Richy angry with himself. Then he has a thought, “This isn’t the first time this has happened is it?”

“No,” Talia answers with a sigh, “The first time did scare me a little so I talked with my doctor about it. Most people get a physical once a year, but Zaniski likes to see me every three months. He usually has to hunt me down, calling and leaving messages on my voice mail, with my assistant Jude and sending me emails. So he was pleasantly surprised when I called while I was here during the last new moon and asked to see him. I got my first full pelvic exam and Pap smear. I had a little bruising, a couple of tiny vaginal tears, but he said it was nothing to worry about. He thinks I’m exaggerating how well-endowed you are.”

“I’ld like to talk to him,” Richy tells her concerned, “Can you give him a call and asks if he can see us today or maybe some time tomorrow?”

“I’ll call from my office,” Talia tells him taking his hand, “Help me wash up.”

That puts a smile back on Richy’s face, “Hell yeah,” and he steps into the shower behind her.

Richy gets to visit the second floor of the penthouse. Uncle Bob and Margie are sitting together chatting happily as they sip pero, a hot drink similar to coffee. Richy’s never developed a taste for coffee or pero, but Talia pours herself a cup of pero and loads it up with cream and sugar.

The library is actually a combination library-media room. It’s spacious with two desks with electronic notebooks. One wall is lined from floor to ceiling behind the desk with electronic readers on law and the history of law. There’s a long meeting table with comfortable looking chairs around it. On the other end of the room is a large screen ultra-thin digital television mounted on the wall. Across from the TV is a comfortable couch, chaise lounge, a recliner, and two living chairs. All arranged in a semicircle to allow all those who are seated to be able to interact while also watching TV.

Uncle Bob and Margie are sitting together on the couch. The tray of pero and tea biscuits sits on the table along the back of the couch.

As Talia steps over to one of the desks, Richy asks her, “How’s your cream and sugar?”

Talia nods approvingly, “Yummy. Cream and sugar, good… Now place your hands on this panel for me, please… Thank you,” she places her thumb over the lower left hand corner of the panel and it scans Richy’s hands, first up and then down.

“All done,” she informs Richy. Then he watches her type a code into the notebook and scans her own hand, “Good.”

“That’s it,” asks Richy.

“It’s actually a little more complicated than it looks,” answers Talia, “but yeah, that’s it.”

“This building has like the mother of all security systems in it, Richy,” Margie tells him, “Digital cameras monitor all the public areas. And there’s an intercom system, so if the security guards spot someone who looks suspicious or lost they can talk directly to them. There’s a panic button on the intercom at the front door and Bob even has a panic room.”

“The Drumpt buildings probably have better security technology wise,” says Bob, “but all of our security guards live in the building. This is their home too. Everyone wants to feel safe and secure in their own home. They want their families safe and secure. So our guards go that extra mile to keep this building safe and secure because they live here with their spouses and children. Devonshire Tower has the best safety record in all of Megalopolis, and we have a soup kitchen and homeless shelter in our basement.”

“I didn’t see any homeless people hanging around,” says Margie.

“The entrance for the shelter and soup kitchen is at the back of the building,” explains Bob. “But the homeless that come here are serious about putting their lives back on track. No alcoholics or drug addicts allowed, unless they agree to treatment, and we don’t hesitate to test for drugs and alcohol. You may have seen someone from our shelter and not realized it. There are showers, washers and dryers and plenty of donated clothing. And our business owners aren’t afraid to go down to the shelter and look for the extra help they need for the day. I haven’t met a homeless person yet that didn’t have some kind of work experience. Sometimes they go from our shelter to being employed here full-time and living in one of our apartments.”

“I need to get to work and get some work done,” insist Talia. She swallows the last of her pero.

“Aren’t you the little work alcoholic,” comments Margie.

“Talia will do a month’s worth of work while she’s here,” Bob tells Margie and Richy. “She has the smoothest running department. Her people are all focused and hard working.”

“I reward being focused and hard working,” explains Talia. “Bonuses for a tardy free month, double the winter bonus for an absence free year, a monthly bonus for a month of error free work, plus I treat everyone to lunch on me. They also respond well to verbal praise and small personal gifts. Happy bees are busy bees and I like it when they’re happy. Happy people are more productive and easier to work with. OK, I’m heading down.”

“Do you both really need to get to work right away,” Richy ask Bob and Talia.

“No,” answers Bob, “Margie has agreed to help me tux shop for you. So she’s going to accompany you and me. We’ll come back and get Talia for lunch or she’ll work straight through into the evening hours. At five p.m., Margie will meet Talia’s assistant Jude and Johnson at Talia’s office and drag her dress shopping. If you haven’t learned this yet, Talia will take care of everything and everyone but herself. Margie, you make sure she takes care of herself while you’re out shopping.”

Talia furrows her brow unhappily, “I’m going to work,” and she briskly leaves the library. Her heels click on the steps.

Richy catches up to her and takes her hand. Uncle Bob holding Margie’s hand catches up with them at the elevator.

“My, aren’t we an eager beaver,” states Margie.

“I have work to do,” responds Talia anxious, “and it won’t get done if I’m diddling around.”

The ride down to the seventeenth floor is fairly quiet. Uncle Bob explains that the sixteenth floor is mainly storage for Devonshire World Law: case files, electronic readers of law precedents etcetera. The seventeenth floor houses the main offices of Devonshire World Law. It’s headquarters. The eighteenth floor is conference rooms and a ball room with a dining hall. All available to be leased or borrowed. The ballroom and dining hall are leased out regularly for weddings.

They walk Talia to her department. As they step through the doors to the accounting department, Richy and Talia smell the same thing.

“Someone’s been arguing,” states Richy.

Talia knows everyone’s individual scent in her department and calls out two names, “Valdez and McKay.” She points to her office door. Two men stand, walk past looking chastised, and enter Talia’s office.

Talia takes a deep breath, “On a day when I’m wearing shoes and have to go shopping later, jiminy.”

There’s a distressed little “Oh” from a female in the office because they all know just the shoes or just having to go shopping would make Talia irritable, but both on the same day makes her extra testy.

“Two minutes,” Talia tells Richy, Uncle Bob and Margie.

Richy smiles as he watches Talia shut her office door. He’s proud of her. The same woman, his mate, who had prostrated herself before him because she was afraid he was going to be angry was now demonstrating the strength he knew she possessed inside her. She is strong with good leadership skills. She’s the queen here. And he realizes she would never prostrate herself before Cougar. And if he wasn’t her true-mate, she would never have done so before him. He realizes he must be careful like Cougar said. She may be confident and in charge here at her job, but she is fragile and unsure of herself with him and he wants her to feel safe and secure with him.

After Talia shuts the door behind herself, everyone hears her yell, “Now what the hell!”

“Don’t worry,” Jude says as she gets up from her desk, “Those two are actually best friends, but they’re very competitive. They have a disagreement occasionally. But catching her on a day while she’s wearing shoes because she needs to go shopping later, glad I’m not them.”

“Margie,” Uncle Bob does introductions, “this is Talia’s assistant, Jude. She’ll be accompanying you, Talia and Johnson shopping later.”

Margie shakes her hand, “Good to meet you.”

“Likewise,” Jude smiling. “Have you ever been shopping with Ms. Devonshire before?”

Margie shakes her head, “No.”

“She doesn’t mind it so much if she actually needs something,” Jude explains, “But she hates these ‘fancy swanky’ formal get togethers in the name of charity where she’s required to waste money on a dress she’ll wear once. So you’re going to hear about it. We just let her get it out of her system and agree with her because every word out of her mouth is absolutely correct. Once she gets it all out, she’s usually fine.”

“Red,” Richy interjects.

“Red,” questions Jude and Margie.

“Yeah,” Richy smiling, “Guide her toward something red with an open back. Real low in the back so we can see her tattoo.”

“That’s not going to be easy,” says Jude. “She’s always careful about keeping her tats covered.”

“I think I can get her to do it,” says Margie.

The door to Talia’s office opens and the two men exit looking miserable. They go to their desk and get back to work. Talia steps up to Jude and says, “Dock them both 15%.”

Jude repeats shocked, “15%.”

Jude notices the lovely engagement ring on Talia’s petite hand. But Talia’s obviously isn’t feeling well. So as Jude steps back behind her desk, she says, “Yes Ms. Devonshire.”

“Babe, are you getting a headache,” Richy asks Talia even though he knows the answer.

Talia admits, “Yes… Sometimes certain scents can trigger one. Some people have a bite to their anger that gets to me. And the sourness some people produce when they lie is just awful.”

“Well let’s step into your office and call Dr. Zaniski real quick,” suggest Richy.

Talia nods and Richy follows her into her office shutting the door behind himself. He requests, “Speaker phone please.”

Talia does as he requested as she reaches into her desk and pulls out acetaminophen from a drawer. “Would you grab me a bottled water from the mini-frig in the corner please?”

Richy grabs the water and hands it to Talia as a receptionist answers the phone at the doctor’s office.

“Devonshire Tower Health and Urgent Care Clinic, Tabby speaking. How may we be of service?”

Talia quickly swallows four acetaminophen, “Good morning, Tabby. This is Talia Devonshire. Is Dr. Zaniski in today?”

“Yes, Ms. Devonshire, he is. Please hold for a moment while I put you threw to him.”

“Thank you, Tabby.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Devonshire.”

“Wow,” says Richy, “She’s putting you straight thru to the doctor.”

Talia explains, “She’s just following orders. Zaniski sees very few patients himself. The nurse practitioners and interns deal with most of the patients. But they’ve been told that I have a unique condition, to put me through straight to him when I call. No one sees me except Zaniski. My file, if anyone tried to pull it is less than basic. He keeps a special file on me that no one else has access to.”

“Talia,” a man’s smooth deep confident voice comes through the speaker phone, “you’re uncle called the other day and said you had a serious injury. He wants me to give you the once over as soon as possible.”

Talia sighs, “That’s not why I was really calling. I’m calling because my fiancé is here with me and he’s concerned like I was when I came to you last month…”

“She says it’s nothing,” Richy interjects, “but I just need to make sure. I don’t like the thought that I might be hurting her during sex.”

“Talia,” Dr. Zaniski sounds as if he’s smiling, “just come on down and see me. I’ll be happy to meet with you and your fiancé.”

“Now,” questions Talia.

“Now is fine,” responds Dr. Zaniski, “You know we’re seldom busy during the day… Bring her down Mister? …”

“Mr. Griffin,” supplies Richy, “We’ll be right down, thank you.”

“See you both in a few minutes,” says Dr. Zaniski, “I look forward to meeting you, Mr. Griffin.” Then there’s a click as he ends the call.

Richy puts out his hand for Talia and waggles his fingers. Talia takes his hand and they leave her office.

“Jude,” Talia informs her, “I’m going down to see Dr. Zaniski. I’ll be back as quickly as possible.”

Jude stands, “Ms. Devonshire, we know you were incapacitated. We heard different things. It must have been serious because…”

Talia interrupts her, “It was nothing serious. I’m absolutely fine.”

Richy tugs the hand he’s holding and says, “Liar. You were shot. You almost died.”

Talia is mortified and tells Richy firmly, “No one here needed to know that.” There has been an all stop to work in Talia’s department. The eyes of all her staff are upon her. She tugs her hand away from Richy’s and he realizes he’s just made a big mistake as the scent of Talia’s concerned staff scents the room.

“Ms. Devonshire,” Jude just as concerned as the rest of the staff, “If you need another day or…”

“I will return as soon as Dr. Zaniski is finished with me,” Talia informs Jude. “You all have five minutes to say whatever it is you need to say to each other. But upon my return, when I step through those doors, I better be returning to a productive focused work environment.”

Talia walks determinedly from the accounting department without another word. Richy, Uncle Bob and Margie follow her. Talia swipes the down sensor at the elevators. Richy steps up next to her and can feel the tenseness vibrating off of her. They all step on to an elevator and Talia taps the sensor for the fourth floor. The doors slide closed.

“Talia,” Richy says softly.

Talia grabs Richy by the throat and slams him against the back wall of the elevator. His hands instinctively grab her forearm. Her grip on his throat tightens and he puts his hands up in surrender.

“Why,” Talia asks Richy upset. “I respect you in your home, your territory, at your job. I would never do or say anything to undermine your authority at your job.” Talia takes her hand away from Richy’s throat and turns away from him, “How could you call me a liar in front of them? I’m not a liar. There was simply no purpose in them knowing I was shot. Now they’re distracted. There will be dozens of errors today. And ‘liar’… There’s no way to repair the damage of that one word.”

“They know you’re not a liar,” Margie tells Talia.

“That doesn’t matter,” Uncle Bob tells Margie, “The right or wrong word said at the right or wrong time can make or break a case. Even if the judge tells the jury to ignore what was said or an attorney withdraws the question, it’s already in their brain. You can’t extract it.”

Richy knows exactly what Uncle Bob just said is true and apologizes to Talia, “I’m so sorry.” He also knows Talia would have never have been that careless with her words.

The doors of the elevator slide open. Dr. Zaniski is waiting for them. Uncle Bob greets him first and does introductions. Dr. Zaniski shakes Margie’s hand. Then he shakes Richy’s hand as he tells him he’s a lucky man. Uncle Bob and Margie take seats in the waiting room while Richy and Talia go back with Dr. Zaniski.

In the exam room, Dr. Zaniski pulls a step out from the bottom of the exam table and pats the top of the table. Talia steps up and sits down.

“For a newly engaged couple,” Dr. Zaniski sharing his observation, “you two don’t seem very happy.”

“We had a disagreement before we came down,” explains Talia.

“My fault,” admits Richy.

Dr. Zaniski nods his understanding, then he turns his attention to Talia’s physical wellbeing. “You’re uncle told me you were shot.”

Talia takes off her jacket and pulls up her top. “It went in back there and exploded out here.”

Dr. Zaniski runs a finger around the small pink entry scar then request, “Lay back.”

Talia complies with the doctor’s request. But when he reaches to touch the exit scar she grabs his wrist and warns, “It’s still tender.”

“I’ll be careful,” Dr. Zaniski assures her. And he is very careful as he feels around the large pink scar. “Your uncle said there was a gaping hole.”

“Was,” responds Talia, “Still a little tender, but I feel fine.”

Dr. Zaniski would like to run a bunch of tests, but he knows Talia won’t agree. “So what’s your concern Mr. Griffin?”

“That I’m hurting her during sex and she’s not telling me,” shares Richy. “She was bleeding after sex this morning, and no it wasn’t menstrual blood. I know what menstrual blood smells like.”

“Talia came to me just last month,” Dr. Zaniski shares with Richy, “Apparently, you came for lunch and while you were here for lunch the two of you were intimate and there was a little bleeding afterward. She came down in the middle of the afternoon and I did a quick pelvic exam. Looked like the sex had been a little rough, but as long as she’s not experiencing any serious discomfort during sex, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

“But Dr. Zaniski,” Richy’s concerns are not alleviated, “I’m a really well hung guy and…”

Dr. Zaniski continues, “Talia did convey to me that you were one of the most well hung men she’d ever seen, but you’re also her first lover. And I’m going to tell you like I told her, she’s a petite girl, but she’s still nearly 10 to 11 centimeters deep. That same vaginal canal expands and stretches during child birth to release babies that are around 50 centimeters in length. Naturally, she’s going to have to do some stretching to accommodate any male as all women do, but she still shouldn’t have any trouble accommodating even a rather largely endowed man.”

Richy looks the well-meaning Dr. Zaniski over. He’s nearly as tall as Richy with chocolate brown skin, a medium length afro of nearly black with a light sprinkling of gray and deep gray eyes. Dr. Zaniski’s stance and scent tells Richy he thinks they’re being silly. That Talia has exaggerated his penis size; possibly, he thinks because Talia has had no previous lovers she’s assuming Richy’s huge and that Richy is over confident about his penis size.

“You don’t understand,” Richy tells Dr. Zaniski as he unbuttons and unzips his jeans and shows Dr. Zaniski his manhood. “About here I begin hitting the end of her. That’s about 10 centimeters. But I’m still nearly three times that long. And I’m managing to fit it all inside her. She’s managing to take all of me, and I’m enjoying every minute of it. But I can’t stand the thought that I may be hurting her. I love her. I want to make love with her. I don’t want to hurt her.”

Dr. Zaniski looks at Talia with wide shocked eyes.

“I wasn’t exaggerating,” she tells Dr. Zaniski. “He may be my first lover, but that’s not the first penis I’ve ever seen.”

Dr. Zaniski takes a deep breath and blows it out. “Thank you for clarifying things Mr. Griffin. (Richy tucks himself away and zips his pants.) Forgive me Talia. It was wrong of me to assume you were exaggerating just because of your lack of experience. After all, you’ve never exaggerated anything to me previously. You’re usually very precise or you minimize to keep others from being overly concerned.” Dr. Zaniski sighs, “Well obviously Talia has to do a lot more stretching to accommodate you. I don’t think there’s anything you can really do to completely avoid some bruising and tearing of Talia. Just make sure she’s well lubricated. Use your fingers to begin the stretching process before you begin to penetrate her. Then take the beginning penetration slow. As long as she’s not complaining of any discomfort, nothing’s wrong. And a little bruising and tearing are nothing to be worried about. As you’ve witnessed for yourself, she’s a quick healer. Also, in time, her body will become accustomed to yours, and this won’t be a problem in the future.”

“How long do you think it’ll take before her body gets used to mine,” asks Richy.

Dr. Zaniski shrugs, “I’ve never met a man as well-endowed as you, Mr. Griffin. So I can’t accurately say how long: a couple of months, possibly a year. I’m purely guessing.”

Talia hops off the exam table and slides her jacket on, “I need to get back to the office. I’ld like to actually get some work done today.”

“Of course Talia,” responds Dr. Zaniski with a smile. He tells Richy, “She takes her responsibilities very seriously. Perhaps after work tomorrow Talia you could come down and let me perform a few tests, just to alleviate some of your uncle’s concerns.”

Talia sighs, “I suppose.”

“Could we have a few minutes alone, please Dr. Zaniski,” request Richy.

“Sure,” Dr. Zaniski agrees with a nod. “When you show yourselves out, just leave the exam room door open.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Richy tells the doctor as he steps out of the room.

Talia takes a step toward Richy, crosses her arms and asks, “What?”

Richy steps up to Talia and crouches down next to her turning up his big brown eyes to look up at her as he begs for forgiveness, “I’m so sorry.” He clutches her thigh and rubs his cheek on her hip.

“You want me to forgive you right here and now,” ask Talia.

“Please,” says Richy as his hand rubs slow and soft between her thighs. “I won’t be good company for Uncle Bob and Margie if I’m worried about how badly I messed up with you today with my big mouth. I’m sorry and I need you to forgive me please.”

The problem is if she forgives him here and now, he’s going to expect forgiveness sex here and now. “Richy, I can’t just hop in the shower. I need to get back to work.”

Richy rubs his face in her crotch, “Please Talia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a jackass. And you don’t want Margie to kill me because I got on her nerves because I was worried about this. Plus there’s a sink right there: soap, water, paper towels, trash can next to the sink. I’ll clean you up. Please Tali, I’m sorry, please.”

Talia sighs because she knows she’s not getting out of this exam room without forgiving him first. The sigh tells Richy she’s giving in. He slides up high enough to beg her to kiss him while remaining low enough to still be submissive. He rubs his face into her neck and plants soft kisses under her chin. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, “Please, I’m sorry.”

Talia takes his face in her hands and kisses him. “I know,” she tells him, “I love you no less. We’re fine.”

Careful to remain nonthreatening, Richy leads Talia back to the exam table, guides her onto the step and leans her over the exam table.

“Richy please try to be quick,” request Talia.

“I know,” Richy slides her slacks and panties down, “you’re anxious to get to work.” He slides a finger inside her as he undoes his pants, “Lubrication is not a problem,” he responds after finding her instantly wet for him.

“You know that’s not a problem,” Talia tells Richy. Then she bites her bottom lip as one finger sliding in and out of her becomes two. Normally the male seeking forgiveness from a female would begin with the male tasting the female, but they’re not in a place where they have time to do things properly. Two fingers becomes three and Talia hisses, “Richy please.”

Taking his time with his fingers helps. Easing the head of his cock inside her is easier, but he’s still got to get the rest of his cock inside her. She tries to shove herself back onto him and he puts a hand on the small of her back to keep her still as he works the rest of his cock in. He’s already hitting her cervix at the place he showed the doctor, little more than one-third in, with two-thirds to go. But he keeps pushing, sometimes a little to the right, sometimes a little to the left, banging her cervix with every push. But that miracle of her body accepting his happens and his whole cock is pushing deep inside her continuing its constant bang against her cervix.

“Yes,” says Talia orgasming from the rhythmic bang of Richy’s cock against her cervix, “Hurry, Richy, harder.”

Richy’s a little wary of the harder part. But her scent and her orgasms tell him she’s enjoying it as much as he is, so he complies with her request. After all, he needs to make this quick. They’re not in a place where they can take their time. And it doesn’t take him too long to have her orgasming hard enough to suck his seed out of him, but not long enough to make her purr. Or perhaps, where they are at is keeping her from relaxing enough to purr for him.

“Stay put for a minute,” Richy tells Talia as he steps over to the sink.

“Hurry, please,” she tells him, “it’s chilly in here.”

Richy checks himself carefully for a few moments and is relieved to find no fresh blood from Talia on his cock. He quickly washes himself off and tucks himself away. Then he takes care of Talia, checking her for blood as he washes and dries her. Again, there’s no blood to be found and he’s very relieved.

“How do I look,” asks Talia concerned she may look disheveled.

“Beautiful,” answers Richy opening the door for her.

Talia runs her hands over her clothes, “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Talia and Richy step out into the waiting area and find Uncle Bob and Margie chatting happily with Dr. Zaniski.

“Talia,” Uncle Bob turning toward Talia and Richy, “instead of us coming up and interrupting you in an hour or so for lunch, why don’t we get lunch together now. I’ve invited Dr. Zaniski along. Plus, you’ll be able to work relatively uninterrupted for the afternoon.”

It’s a good idea so Talia agrees, “Okay.”

At five-zero-five pm., Talia’s administrative assistant, Jude Lawson, Margie and Uncle Bob’s assistant, Sally Johnson step into her office.

“Talia,” Jude stepping up to Talia’s desk.

Talia acknowledges with a nod, “Okay, I’m coming.” She closes out the program she was running. She sits back and exhales unhappily as she slips her shoes back on.

“Talia,” Jude crossing her arms, “It’s not that bad. Come on.”

Talia gets up and trudges over to the other women. “OK, let’s go,” she says unenthusiastically.

“You really don’t like clothes shopping,” states Margie.

“Hate it,” Talia clarifies letting Jude pull her by the hand.

Margie swipes the down sensor, “Well, I love clothes shopping. I kept my eyes open while I was with Bob and Richy. I saw a couple of hot little red dresses while we were out.”

“Little,” questions Talia warily as they step on to an elevator.

“Don’t you dare prejudge anything before you’ve even seen it and tried it on,” Jude tells Talia.

“Don’t worry,” Sally tells Talia, “we’ve never let you down before.”

“I know,” sighs Talia. Then she tells Margie, “Their side job is keeping me from looking tacky.”

“You’ve never looked tacky,” says Jude pulling Talia off the elevator.

“Can we get a bite to eat before we actually go into one of those awful overpriced over rated so called swanky clothing boutiques,” asks Talia pouting.

“Are they dragging you shopping, Ms. Devonshire,” asks Mr. Shaw the doorman.

“Yes,” answers Talia grumpily. “The money being wasted on putting on this charity ball should just be donated straight to charity. Not to mention the money wasted on garments that’ll be worn once then discarded.” Talia suddenly puts a hand over her loudly growling stomach as she nearly doubles over.

Mr. Shaw steadies Talia by the arm. He asks extremely concerned, “Are you alright Ms. Devonshire?”

“I need to eat,” answers Talia. “Please, before we start shopping, can we eat?”

“Of course,” answers Jude as Margie and Sally nod their agreement concerned.

“Mr. Sousa’s still open right there,” Mr. Shaw indicates. “Chester, walk Ms. Devonshire over to Mr. Sousa’s for a sit down.”

“Yes sir,” Chester the valet taking Talia’s arm.

“Now I just feel silly,” says Talia as she lets Chester walk her over to Mr. Sousa’s vending van and cart. He always sets up a couple of card tables and folding chairs. He doesn’t need a permit to set up here, just Mr. Devonshire’s permission which he has.

“Don’t feel silly,” Chester tells Talia, “You looked like you were about to faint.”

“I wasn’t going to faint,” insist Talia.

“You looked faint to me,” states Margie.

“I’m just hungry,” insist Talia.

“Talia,” Mr. Sousa greets warmly, “haven’t seen you for a while.” He takes her arm from Chester, “Come, have a sit down.”

“Thank you, Chester. Thank you, Mr. Sousa,” Talia sitting down, “I just need a bite to eat.” The other three women sit down with her.

“So what can I get for you lovely ladies,” asks Mr. Sousa pleasant as always, “I have buffalo burgers, buffalo-dogs, buffalo-sausage, whole wheat buns, whole wheat pitas, whole wheat flat bread, salad: green and fruit…”

“I’d like a fruit salad,” says Talia, “and a buffalo burger in a pita with the works and a vegetable juice.”

The other women order too. And when Mr. Sousa brings their food, the three women watch a little surprised as Talia consumes her food with gusto. And when Talia has Mr. Sousa Tally up their bill, she has him add a buffalo sausage with sauerkraut and mustard along with a bottled water to go. Talia eats the sausage as she’s walking with the other women.

Margie stops in front of a store and points at a dress on a mannequin, “You have to try on this dress.”

Talia’s mouth drops open, “Absolutely not.”

“When Richy saw this earlier when we were on our way to pick out his tux he said, ‘I bet that would look hot on Talia.’”

“He did,” asks Talia even though she can smell that Margie’s telling the truth.

Margie nods confirmation with a wide smile, “Yes he did.”

“Oh come on Talia,” Jude encourages, “Just try it on.”

“It can’t hurt to try it on,” adds Sally.

“Oh my,” says Talia as she looks at the little red dress. Then she finds herself being pushed inside the store by all three women and finds herself staring wide eyed as she turns in front of three mirrors with the other three women and a store associate looking on.

“That’s the dress,” says Jude.

“Definitely,” adds Sally nodding approval.

“Richy sure does have good taste,” states Margie. “I need to have him help me.”

Talia shakes her head, “But you can see my tribal tattoo. There’s no back to this thing. If it dropped any lower back there my ass would be on display. And I won’t be able to wear any underwear beneath it.”

“Richy won’t mind,” Margie tells Talia.

“If Richy had his way, I’d be naked all the time,” responds Talia. “And there are no pockets. Where am I supposed to put my phone and bill fold with my ID.”

“We have a nice selection of purses,” says the sales associate trying to be helpful.

“I hate purses,” says Talia rolling her eyes, “Please, don’t make me tote a purse too.”

“I saw some shawls with patch pockets in various colors near the purses,” suggest Sally.

“That’s a good idea,” says Jude. “That way you won’t feel like your back is so exposed.”

“Then I can just spend the whole time I’m wearing it worrying about my boobs falling out and taking extra care to sit like a lady because I won’t have on any underwear.” Talia looks at the price tag, “At least it’s not half as expensive as some of the other dresses in some of the other places.”

The sales associate steps up with a selection of shawls. Together they decide on one. Then Sally brings up the ordeal of shoes.

“Absolutely nothing spiked,” declares Talia firmly, “no outrageously high pointy heeled monstrosities period. I can’t walk in those things. And tripping and falling all over oneself is not ladylike.”

Jude rolls her eyes as they’re checking out, “Don’t get into a snit before we’ve even stepped into a shoe store. I know exactly what to get you.”

“What,” asks Talia grumpily as she pays for their purchases with her bank card.

“You don’t have any trouble in a three inch pump,” explains Jude calmly, “We just need to get you a wedge heel to get you a little extra height. Perhaps something with a peek-a-boo toe or a pair that’s kind of like a flip-flop. And if we could find a pair in that same sexy red as your dress, that would be perfect or black like your shawl would be fine too.”

Talia is not excited as they walk down the road to a swanky shoe store. When they step into the shoe store, a sales associate rushes up to them. The associate is eager because four women carrying shopping bags are obviously on a mission, and he asks with a big smile, “How may I assist you ladies?”

“Yes,” responds Jude taking charge, “we need a pair of shoes that will look good with this shade of red,” showing the associate the dress, “and it needs to be a wedge heel.”

“And absolutely no spikes,” adds Talia.

“Wow,” says the associate checking out the dress, “this is a hot little number… Listen, we have a dressing room for just this kind of situation,” he leads the way. “For the full affect, we need to see the dress with the shoes… Now, step in here and put the dress on. I’ll go grab some shoes while you’re changing.”

Talia takes a deep breath and takes the dress from Jude. She’s not sure this is a good idea as she says, “Okay,” and steps into the dressing room.

“What size do we need,” asks the associate.

Jude answers, “She wears a six and a half medium or wide.”

When Talia steps out of the dressing room the associate is returning with several pairs of shoes. It doesn’t take long for Talia with the help of her three companions to decide on a pair of shoes for Talia. The red straps of the shoes remind Talia of cherry lifesavers.

Talia’s only complaint is, “I kind of feel like I’m stilt walking.” The wedge heel has raised her from 1.53 meters (5 feet) to nearly 1.7 meters (nearly 5 foot 5″).

“You just need to practice walking in them a little,” says the associate taking Talia’s hand and leading her back and forth a few times. “You have beautiful legs. This dress and these shoes really show them off.”

As Talia lets the associate lead her back and forth in the shoes, she responds, “They don’t put short legs like mine in magazine adds or on runways, super models only need apply.”

The associate shrugs, “Supermodel, stupermodel, they all have knobby knees and spaghetti arms. The average so called supermodel has more plastic parts than a set of Legos… Me? I prefer real people. They’re more fun than those plastic bimbos that come in here expecting everyone to kiss their boney butts.”

Talia smiles amused.

“Well would you look at that ladies,” says the associate smiling too, “She knows how to smile and it’s a beautiful smile. And I think you’ve got the hang of it. Go back and forth on your own a couple of times…” They watch her. “Ladies, she’s got it.” And they applaud her.

“Okay,” says Talia relieved, “Let me get out of this dress so we can tally out.”

But Talia finds they’re still not finished. They drag her into a salon that’s also a jewelry store. Talia crosses her arms defiantly, “I hate these pokey, proddy, picky places… I don’t want any tips or gel nails. No fake nails of any kind.”

“You don’t need to get any fake nails,” Jude tells Talia. “You have good nails, but you still need a manicure and a pedicure.”

“And a trim,” adds Sally, “You have a bazillion split ends.”

“A trim,” says Talia with her eyes wide with panic.

“It’s ok, sugar,” Margie assures, “Richy got a trim today, manicure and pedicure too. Except he was way more agreeable and cooperative than you.”

“I don’t mean to be trouble,” says Talia tearing up. “It’s just all this stuff. I feel so lost. I just don’t get it. And it’s scary to be lost and confused… I really don’t need a trim, do I? No one but my grandmother has ever trimmed my hair.”

Margie says understandingly as she tucks a length oh Talia’s hair behind her ear, “You haven’t had a trim since before your grandmother passed… Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. It’ll be just a trim to get rid of your split ends.”

“There’s another problem,” says Talia pulling Margie away from everyone else. She whispers, “I don’t get manicures and pedicures for a reason.” She squeezes the tip of one of her fingers and a retractable claw pops out from beneath Talia’s finger nail. “If they squeeze too firmly or just right, they pop out and the technician gets poked. I’ve been accused of scratching on purpose.”

“It’s ok,” Margie assures, “I’ve got you covered.” She leads Talia back over to her companions and the waiting technicians and announces, “Listen close people, this is not a haircut, just a trim. This is not the time to try out any bright ideas or get scissor happy. Robert Devonshire is only a phone call away. And if one of you gets scissor happy, I’ll be calling him just after I bust my foot off in your ass. And for the manicure and pedicure, due to a medical condition, Ms. Devonshire needs someone with an extremely soft touch. Someone who can do it without squeezing the shit out of her delicate little fingers and toes.”

So Talia finds herself sitting under a drier a while later with her hair freshly trimmed, shampooed and lots of huge rollers in her hair. There’s a nail tech sitting on one side of her working on her fingernails while another sits at her feet working on her toenails. Her companions are chatting happily as they sit under driers getting their nails done. Talia is not chatting happily. She’s nervous and uncomfortable, only speaking when spoken to. Her nail techs attempt to make conversation with her, but Talia is tight lipped. She doesn’t relax any until one of the techs ask her about her engagement ring.

When a jeweler starts bringing over pieces for Talia to choose from, there’s a mini argument between Jude and Talia. Talia insist, “I don’t need any new jewelry.”

“You’ve been wearing the same nose screw and earrings for the last decade,” Jude tells Talia. “You’re going to get some new jewelry for this and you can wear it to the next few functions as well… Now, listen,” Jude tells the jeweler, “Don’t bother bringing over anything that’s platinum, gold or white gold. She thinks they’re too expensive. Besides, silver looks great against her skin.”

“Platinum would look great against her skin too,” inserts Margie.

“I’m not wearing any platinum,” responds Talia, “I don’t wear it. It’s too expensive.”

“If I know Richy, honey,” Margie informs Talia, “that ring on your finger is platinum. He wouldn’t put nothing but the best on you. That man’s been waiting for years for you to walk into his life. He had that ring picked out five years ago.”

Talia looks at the engagement ring on her finger, “Platinum wasn’t necessary. It wasn’t necessary for him to spend that kind of money on me. I didn’t expect a ring or even a proposal.”

“He didn’t spend as much as he originally planned,” Margie informs Talia. “He went with a smaller diamond than he originally planned. He’s paying attention. He’s noticed you’re conservative. Plus, he mentioned something about not wanting the ring to look gaudy on your petite little hand. I wish he was here right now. You would walk out of here with a crown.”

Talia scoffs, “A crown, that’s ridiculous.”

Margie declares, “When that man looks at you, he sees his queen. And I dare you to try and tell him you’re not.”

Talia’s not just conservative for a free person, she’s conservative for a domestic too. Talia has just two tattoos while the average domestic has four or five, more than the three or four a free person has. Talia may have five piercings in each ear and one in her right nostril, but that’s it. She doesn’t have any piercings in any private places either like Jude and Sally, who both have intimate piercings along with their tongues, ears and noses pierced.

The jeweler returns carrying several wide boxes, too wide to just be holding earrings, “Everything is silver is as requested. And I thought perhaps an ensemble might be desirable.”

“An ensemble,” repeats Sally approvingly, “that’s an excellent idea.”

Talia tries to keep an open mind, so she tells the jeweler, “I’ll have a look,” but she’s not promising anything.

Everything the jeweler shows Talia is beautiful. The first ensemble is just a pair of earrings with a matching necklace with the jeweler showing Talia a set of six ensembles. She thinks they’re all beautiful. But one ensemble does stand out for her. In her opinion it’s quite elegant. It consist of a pair of earrings that daggle nearly to the shoulder, a matching necklace with a layered appearance, a bicep bangle, a nose screw with a delicate chain that attaches to the ear with an ear cuff and several strands for her hair that can be attached using small butterfly shaped clips or woven or braided into the hair.

“Is there an ensemble you like best? Or would you like to see some other selections,” asks the jeweler.

Talia nods yes, but is reluctant to say which ensemble, “It’s just so extravagant. I try to stay away from extravagance. It serves no real purpose.”

“Well,” Jude shares her opinion, “I like the one with the little butterfly clips. I think the pearls worked into it make it elegant.”

“I agree,” adds Sally.

Talia bites her bottom lip as her eyebrows furrow.

“I know how to fix this,” says Margie pulling out her phone. “May I take pictures of the ensembles to send to her fiancé?”

“That’s just fine,” the jeweler agrees with a nod.

Margie takes a picture of each with her phone and sends the pictures to Richy, “We’ll let Richy decide.”

A minute later, Margie’s phone rings and she talks to Richy via Bob. The conversation is short. Margie points to an ensemble, “The lady will be taking this ensemble.” Talia is relieved Margie pointed to the ensemble she preferred with the butterfly clips.

Then Talia’s phone rings and it’s Richy. She finds herself trying to explain, “Yes, that’s the one I wanted… But… I just… It’s just seems so extravagant to me… I just couldn’t give myself permission to buy it… Yes… I hope so… I love you too.”

There’s a collective “awe,” for the “I love you.”

“Here try this shade on her,” Jude directs a make-up tech.

“You know I don’t know anything about make-up,” Talia tells Jude while the make-up tech tries to apply lipstick, “and I’ll never be able to put those lovely little butterfly clips with those silver strands and pearls into my hair.”

“That’s what we’re for,” Sally tells Talia. “We’re going to come and get ready with you, make sure you’re perfect. And be there for you in case of any type of female need arises.”

Jude adds, “We’ll make sure it looks like you’re socializing by hanging out with you.”

“I’m not that pathetic,” Talia protests.

“No,” Jude clarifies, “you’re just that anti-social at these dinners and dances.”

Talia sighs because she can’t argue with that. She’ld like to, but unfortunately it’s true. She just can’t take all that fake behavior, Talia prefers people that don’t like her or are uncomfortable with her just don’t speak to her and keep their distance. But unfortunately, excessively wealthy domestics are usually into appearances and will try to socialize with her because they don’t want to appear anti-social or prejudice or because they want to be able to use her or her uncle to their advantage some way somehow.

A make-up tech hands Talia a mirror.

“It looks fine,” says Talia, “But I’ll never be able to recreate it.”

“Will you stop worrying,” Sally tells Talia. “We’re going to be there to take care of you just like I said.

In the big mirror, Talia gets a good look at her face and hair. The time under the drier with the large rollers in her hair has tamed her wildly wavy hair into smooth flowing waves. Her hair and face look like something that might appear in a fashion magazine, but her short curvy body just doesn’t match in her opinion.

Talia sighs sadly, “Can I please get something to wipe this stuff off my face with?”

“Don’t you want to wear it home,” asks Sally disappointed.

“No,” answers Talia flatly.

“Aw, Talia,” says Jude also clearly disappointed.

“It’s alright,” Margie tells the other two women, “Richy has never seen her in make-up. Let her take it off. That way it’ll be a surprise when we do her up for the ball.”

A tech hands Talia some wipes. Then she carefully but sadly removes all the make-up. None of this was fun for her, just stressful.

Talia is relieved to be back at the penthouse. Margie takes Talia’s shopping bags. She tells Talia, “I don’t want Richy nosing threw them. He’ld have you modeling that little red dress in private for him.”

Talia gets a glass of ice water. After stowing the shopping bags in her room, Margie comes back to Talia in the kitchen and asks Talia, “Where do you think they are?”

“Library,” answers Talia. Margie follows her up to the library where they find the two men watching a basketball game.

Talia sadly pulls her fingers through Richy’s smooth dark chocolate brown hair, hair that had started the day nearly reaching his waist, but now stops between his shoulder blades.

Richy smells Talia’s stress and sadness and tells her assuringly, “It’ll grow back. I’ve had it much shorter than this before. I lost a bet during college and had to shave my head.”

The thought of Richy shaving his head puts a look of horror on Talia’s face.

“You didn’t have a fun day at all today did you,” asks Richy hugging her.

“That girl hates shopping,” shares Margie with Richy and Bob. “Richy you just need to learn all her sizes and take care of all that stuff for her because that few hours out with us was torture for her.”

“Torture,” repeats Uncle Bob not understanding. “How are manicures, pedicures and getting your hair done torture?”

“Bring her over here Richy,” request Margie as he motions them over to her and Bob. When they get to her and Bob, Margie takes Talia’s hand. She squeezes the end of one of Talia’s petite fingers and a claw pops out from beneath her nail.

Margie tells Bob, “You can’t enjoy a manicure and pedicure if you’re worried about that happening the whole time.”

“But you’re not using any of your guardian,” Richy tells Talia.

Talia shrugs, “I was born like this. They’re always present under my nails, small and mostly unnoticeable while my guardian is off, but ever present.”

“Try not to worry about it,” Richy tells her as he pulls his fingers through her salon smoothed hair, “You got through it. It’s over now.”

Uncle Bob can see how the ever present little claws could pose problems. But he asks, “Well, what about the clothes shopping and getting your hair done? Surely some of that was enjoyable?”

Talia scowls as she answers, “No… Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a petite 10/12 that fits me. Because their idea of petite is like six to ten centimeters taller than I am. I always have to have them taken up or wear a pair of heels so I’m not tripping all over myself, and I hate shoes. My feet are killing me.”

“But you look so nice,” compliments Uncle Bob pulling a lock of Talia’s salon tamed hair through his first two fingers.

“And I guess I didn’t look nice before,” responds Talia upset. “Wild barefooted Talia with her wild untamed hair.” She turns and walks away, rushing down the stairs and jogs to her room and flops face down on her bed.

Richy pauses in the bedroom doorway. Talia is lying face down on the bed, still in her business suit with just her shoes kicked off. And Richy doesn’t miss the blisters on her feet. Just a few hours walking in those sensible relatively low pumps and she has blisters. He climbs onto the bed with her. He pulls her hair aside to peek at her face. She’s having a nice soft quiet cry.

“You know Uncle Bob loves you,” Richy tells Talia. “He thought you’ld enjoy a little girl time and pampering. I thought you might enjoy it too. Neither of us knew manicures and pedicures were an issue.”

“I don’t get it,” responds Talia. “What’s so important about those things?”

“Technically nothing,” answers Richy. “But many women enjoy it. They think of it as pampering. And unfortunately, I think the people attending this charity ball will be paying attention to little insignificant details like manicures and pedicures and styled hair.”

“You mean domesticated women enjoy those things and I’m not a domesticated woman, Richy. And I hate going to these events for just the reasons you just stated. Most of the people there don’t truly care about charity. They’ll be there to show off their wealth. ‘Hey, look what I can afford to wear.’ And this ring is platinum, isn’t it?”

Richy doesn’t know where that question came from as he answers, “Yes it is”

“Why,” asks Talia, “Platinum is expensive.”

Richy shrugs as he answers, “Because I believe the woman I love is worth it.”

Talia doesn’t actually believe that but she can’t figure out how to argue with him on it. Plus, with that one statement he made her feel valued and loved. So she manages a smile for him.

Bob turns to Margie and states, “I take it that she didn’t have any fun.”

“She was miserable,” Margie informs Bob. “You’ll never have to worry about her becoming a shopaholic.”

“I just wanted her to have a little fun,” shares Bob, “Get out and have a good time with the girls.”

Margie reminds him gently, “Bob, she’s not domesticated. She doesn’t need or want to be pampered domestic style. To her it’s just a lot of poking and prodding, not fun. And before today the only person to trim her hair was her grandmother. And she wasn’t ready for some stranger to touch her hair. I had to hold her hand while she cried as the stylist trimmed her hair. It was very traumatic for her.”

Bob begins to pace, “I wasn’t trying to traumatize her.”

“I know,” says Margie understandingly, “and she knows it to. But you did make her feel like she’s not good enough. She’s already painfully aware that no matter what she does, she’ll never truly be a full-fledged member of domesticated society and she accepts that.”

“Not good enough,” says Bob in disbelief. “I don’t think it’s possible to get better than her. I’m proud of her.”

“She knows that,” Margie tells him, “and here in this building you’ve created an atmosphere where she can be comfortable because she can be herself. Outside of this building in the city, she’s a fish out of water. She can only play domesticated to a point, then it becomes too much for her.”

Bob sighs as he descends the stairs. Margie follows him. He stops in Talia’s bedroom doorway. She’s leaning back on her elbows on the bed with Richy gently rubbing her feet.

“Sore feet,” asks Uncle Bob stepping into the room.

“Yep,” answers Talia.

“She has a few blisters too,” shares Richy, “but her toenails look good.”

Uncle Bob sits on the edge of the bed and tells Talia, “I love you and I’m very proud of you just the way you are. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t wish you were mine instead of those two knuckle heads.”

“I know and I’m sorry. I just got overwhelmed.” She sits up and hugs her uncle who rocks her like when she was a little girl.

“Next time,” Richy tells Talia, “I’ll go with you. We need to get you some flip-flops and sandals. Those are things you can walk around in that are comfortable and no one will think anything unusual. I bet we could even find some sandals that would be appropriate for the office.”

“You like shopping,” Talia accuses Richy with a smile.

“Under the right circumstances, yes,” admits Richy. “The best part about today for me was pointing out dresses to Margie I thought might look good on you.”

Margie informs Talia, “And while we were picking out his tux, he kept asking Bob, ‘do you think she’ll like it.’”

Richy shrugs as he grins crookedly, “I hope you like how I look in my tux.”

Talia looks as her uncle and Margie and says, “As if it were possible for him to look bad.”

Margie gives Bob’s arm a tug and tells Talia, “Before you go to bed tonight Tali, come get me and I’ll tie your hair up for you for the night.”