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June readhis email and felt a flutter of awareness, but not fear. Just having this communication with him was giving her something to look forward to, and she needed that sense of ‘hope’ that came with each email, or on each Monday morning when her delivery arrived.
The driver was now teasing her about the flowers, wondering what bouquet it would be next week. Amanda was green with envy and snapping at her new husband, wanting to know why she hadn’t gotten any flowers since they’d married… and June just felt alive.
In fact, she received a small package today at the office that surprised her. Ian had sent her that scarf, but that came in a very weathered, beat-up, stamped package… but this was from Amazon, which explained why it came so fast instead of taking 2-3 weeks.
Opening the box, she hesitated and smiled. Inside was two small packages that surprised her at how feminine a gift it was. There was a bottle of perfume called Gucci Bloom that smelled heavenly of flowers, and she sprayed it lightly on her wrists immediately, nearly purring in happiness.
Looking at the other package, she sighed openly and stared at a shockingly red tube of expensive matte lipstick. She had always loved deep red lipsticks… but Mark had preferred a dusky rose color. Both were intimate, feminine gifts designed to make her feel good about herself – and both utterly perfect.
Getting up from her desk, she walked to the bathroom to remove the pink lipstick and don the bright red with excitement. As she looked at her reflection, she wiped the other away and took a deep breath. Applying it, she couldn’t help the infectious smile that touched her face.
“Perfect,” she whispered aloud to the woman in the mirror, and closed her eyes.
Having a pen pal, a friend, that was so sweet and caring was just incredible, and what she needed. She didn’t need some bossy, clingy, or possessive man always hovering about. Having Ian in her life was enough, and already pushed the boundaries she’d set up for herself.
As she walked out of the bathroom, feeling a boost of confidence from the bright red lipstick… it immediately faded as Donna and Amanda stared at her.
“What? Too much? Is it too red?”
“Oh, it’s gorgeous on you…” Donna volunteered.
“Yup,” Amanda said, giving her this smarmy smile that immediately set her on edge. “I think your guy will like it – and I’m assuming it’s from him.”
“Yes, it’s from my friend.”
“Friend, huh?” Amanda chuckled and turned away, looking back at the file she was working on and the documents that were all over her desk. Just the way the woman acted set her on edge.
“Did something happen?”
“You had a delivery.”
“It’s not Monday.”
“No, it’s not…” Amanda chuckled again, shaking her head. “I thought you told Donna your pen pal was in Afghanistan?”
“He is…” and her voice trailed off as her eyes searched her desk, before freezing. There on her desk, lay a turquoise box that she recognized.
Tiffany’s.
There was a large Tiffany’s box sitting on her desk atop of the papers and folders she had waiting. The vibrant color practically glowed against the silver lettering, almost like a beacon.
… Or a red flag.
“He’s in Afghanistan,” June whispered openly, looking at the two women. “Right?”
“I thought that was what you said.”
“Who brought that… that box here?”
“A guy…”
“What guy?!” she barked in alarm, feeling a spasm of anxiety take hold as her eyes searched the windows at the front of the office, looking to the parking lot for any signs of a man nearby.
“Some tall guy that came in asking for you.”
“Why didn’t he wait?”
“Cause ‘Greedy’over here told him you had left for the day with a client to show houses, and offered to help him.”
