Saving All My Lovin'

Ann Marie pursed her lips. “The boom-boom.” She grinned.

“Ann Marie!” she hissed between her teeth as if there was someone else around to hear them. “That’s private.”

Ann Marie stretched out the top half of her body across the counter and laid her head down. “Can’t I live vicariously through you?”

“What?” Elizabeth started to laugh. “You? You have got to be kidding.”

“Me stuff gon’ dry up and blow away.”

Elizabeth covered her mouth and howled with laughter. “It can’t be that bad,” she sputtered over her chuckles.

Ann Marie partially lifted her head and turned dark eyes on Elizabeth. “Worse.”

“Good morning partners,” Barbara sang, sailing through the door. Stephanie was right behind her.

“Hey everybody.” Stephanie sat down next to Ann Marie. “Too many drinks last night?” She lowered her head to meet Ann Marie at eye level.

“She says she’s all dried up,” Elizabeth said.

Barbara and Stephanie looked at each other in a millisecond of confusion. Then it hit them simultaneously.

“Ooooh.”

Barbara put her arm around Ann Marie’s shoulders. “It’ll be all right girl. The right man will come along before you know it.”

“Easy for you to say,” she grumbled. “You got a man/child and you been to the Promised Land.”

The trio broke up laughing and even Ann Marie had to join in.

“You definitely have blossomed,” Stephanie said to Barbara. “You look happy.”

Barbara blushed. “I am happy.” She turned her smile on each of her friends. “And I have to thank you all for that.”

“Us?” Elizabeth asked.

Barbara nodded. “Yes, if you all hadn’t convinced me to take a chance on Michael…” She shrugged.

Stephanie placed her hand on Barbara’s shoulder and angled her head to the side. “What red-blooded, healthy woman wouldn’t take a chance on a fine young thing like Michael? And he has money too! Girl you got it made.” She waved her hand.

“Look who’s talking,” Elizabeth piped in. “You got a little more than lucky with Tony.”

Stephanie grinned. She tossed her weave over her shoulder. “He definitely has potential.” She turned to Elizabeth, her eyes narrowing. “Did, uh, you and Ron christen your new bedroom last night?”

Elizabeth sucked in a gasp as all eyes turned on her. She lowered her gaze then looked up. “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Her smile showcased every tooth in her mouth.

“I take that as a yes,” Barbara said and they all high fived, except for Ann Marie who’d retreated to a stool at the end of the counter.

She looked smaller than usual, childlike almost with her clear complexion and hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her diminutive body was clad in a form-fitting baby pink velour tracksuit and for once she didn’t have on heels. She was staring off into space and had to clear her head of its turmoil when she realized her three friends were standing in front of her.

“What’s up Ann?” Barbara, ever the mother and counsel asked in a soft voice.

Ann Marie sighed. “I feel alone. For the first time in years, me actually feel alone.” Her eyes suddenly filled, taking the trio by such surprise they didn’t know how to respond.

Tears were usually the domain of Elizabeth. Ann Marie, on the other hand, was notorious for her sharp tongue and indifferent attitude. This was a side they’d never seen.

Ann Marie sniffed hard then began fumbling in her bag for a tissue. She wiped her eyes and nose then straightened her shoulders. Drawing in a breath of resolve she looked her friends in the eye. “PM fuckin’ S.” She snickered. “That’s all. So don’t be gettin’ all gooey-eyes wit me. I’m still a bitch.” She sniffed again. “So are we here to work or hang out at the bar?”

Everyone’s smiles returned. That was the Ann Marie they recognized.

“Well, I’m going to do some Web searching and see how much coverage we got then make some calls,” Stephanie said, easily slipping on her PR hat.

“I’m going to check the equipment and make sure all the supplies are in place,” Barbara said. “As much as I’m going to love running my hands over all those male bodies, we’re going to have to get some other therapists in here other than me. If last night was any indication of the client load, we’re going to be busy.”

Elizabeth nodded, tugging on her bottom lip with her teeth, deep in thought. “I’ll put together a list of potential positions and what qualifications we’re looking for and then we can all review it later on today.”

“Sounds good,” Ann Marie said. “I’ll work on the roster for the new clientele.” And of course she’d check out Mr. Chambers in the process. She headed over to the check-in station, a horseshoe shaped black ceramic table topped with two flat-screen computer monitors, a multi-line phone, rolodex, fax and credit card machine. Beneath the counter was a three-drawer rollaway file cabinet that would contain the hardcopies of client information.

She flipped open the guest book from the previous night and one by one began to scroll through the names. There it was on page three: Sterling Chambers. Ann Marie smiled. She turned on the computer and opened up the Member database. She clicked on the Search field and typed in Sterling’s name. In a blink of an eye, all of his basic information appeared on the screen: address, phone number, cell and how he paid—American Express Platinum. When the details were complete she’d know his exact height, weight, general physical health, eye color and emergency contact name—hopefully not a spouse. This whole spa thing for men could really turn into a goldmine. It would be raining men nonstop.

“Glad to see you smiling.” Barbara set a stack of white towels on the counter.

Ann Marie’s head snapped up. “Oh.” She clicked off from the screen. “Yeah, having one of those moments.”

Barbara smiled. “Well, I better get set up. The doors will be opening soon.” She walked off.

Barbara was the one constant in the group that everyone seemed to turn to, even her. But this time she kept her little secret to herself. They’d all agreed when they’d decided on this little venture that it was only to look and not touch, to fantasize, not act on the fantasy. So the last thing she wanted her friends to think was that she was desperate and using the spa as a dating service.

The doorbell rang. Ann Marie’s heart jumped in her chest. She watched Elizabeth go to the door, held her breath and released it with a disappointed sigh when Dawne, Elizabeth’s daughter came in laden with trays of food.

“Hi!” she called out. “I’ll take these to the kitchen. Desiree is bringing the rest.” She hurried off. Desiree soon followed pushing a cart of canisters of their specially made health juices. Having two daughters that owned their own health food restaurant was paying off already.

Before long they were all too busy to think straight. Within the first two hours twenty men had come through the door. Some had come to the grand opening the night before; others were referred by those who did.

Ann Marie worked the front desk with Elizabeth registering the men and giving them a quick tour of the facilities. Everyone wanted a massage. Lucky Barbara, she thought as she keyed in the information on yet another newcomer. Her fingers felt as if they would fall off and it had barely been four hours. If this many men were available during the day what would happen after the regular work day was over?

As she worked on printing out hardcopies of client records to be filed away, Raquel walked in.

Ann Marie stopped what she was doing and stood, stretching her stiff back in the process. She would need one of Barbara’s massages at this rate.

“This is a surprise. I wasn’t expecting you.”

Raquel’s heavenly brown eyes were red-rimmed.

Ann Marie frowned. “Chile what’s wrong?”

“Why don’t you tell me, mama?”

“Look, I’m working. Me no have time for games.”