Part One

Anyone walking down the hotel's corridor could clearly hear the laughter ringing down the hall. Indistinguishable voices were heard chattering. Upon entering the room possessions could be seen strewn everywhere. More specifically evening wear for that night. Four women were ensconced in the room enjoying their time together.

Curlly was in the bathroom preparing to model one of her outfits for her friends. The ancient ritual of assisting a friend choose what to wear that evening had begun. For that night was the banquet where everyone was putting on their best ensemble.

North, Sophie, and Rita were sprawled on the beds attempting to recoup from the day's activities. North being the most cordial hostess offered cheesecake and cookies. Rita was contentedly munching on a cookie while still hoping the Roy Dupuis would show up.

"Carlo really is a sweetheart." North commented as she was taking down notes to put in her report.

"He was hysterical." Added Sophie. "They were all very nice."

"Well, that comment about grabbing spyboy by his brawny shoulders did it for me." Rita said between bites of cookies.

"Curlly are you ever coming out of there?" North inquired.

"Yes, I am just be patient for a bit." Curlly then came out in a midnight blue sleeveless dress with her waterfall of blond curls cascading down her back, looking quite lovely.

"That looks nice!" said Sophie. The other two girls agreed.

"But wait I could wear it with those shoes to these." She said as she held up to different shoes in each hand.

"Hmm… I vote for those but let's see the other outfit." North pointed to the shoes on the left.

"Ok." Curlly retreated back towards the bathroom but not before snagging a cheesecake to take back with her.

"Rita are you going to get ready?" Sophie asked.

"I just don't have the energy." She moaned as she flipped over onto her stomach. "My feet are killing me from Guvernment."

"Who told you to wear shoes like that?" Sophie retorted.

"But they just went with the outfit." Rita attempted to explain why she would torture herself in that manner.

"Fashion will kill you." Sophie said as she bent down to pick up her own shoes.

"Those are nice shoes Sophie," North said as she got up from the bed.

"Yes, I love them. I have had them for four years."

"So she doesn't have to worry about aching feet. Lucky girl!" Rita yelled from the bed.

"Did you guys hear that there is a wedding going on as well tonight?" North asked.

"Yeah I heard. They must be really thrilled to have all of us running around on their special day. Think we made any converts?" Rita said as she giggled from the bed. Then her mind drifted off to weddings. The closest marriage she had ever come to was when she was on the train with Sherry. The train… a rush of memories flooded through her. Michael was pretending to be her husband. For awhile after that incident she looked for him wherever she went.

"Rita."

"Rita!"

"Rita!!" In unison from the three girls.

A startled, "What!" escaped her lips.

"You were on another planet there." Sophie answered.

"Look at Curlly's dress." North added.

Rita turned to look at Curlly's dress. A basic black number that hugged her slender frame and best showed off her assets. She accented the dress with a lovely shawl that was her grandmother's.

"What do you think? It my Audrey Hepburn dress."

"That is the perfect adjective for it. Very Sabrina. I think that is the winner." Rita said as she smiled.

Sophie got up for the bed. "Since you don't seem to be moving. I am going to get ready." She walked towards the bathroom.

"All right with me."

North had already picked out a fabulous red skirt outfit trimmed in white. She was defiantly going to be the lady in red that night.

"North, you ready to see Eugene tomorrow?" Rita impishly asked. "I brought you some smelling salts just in case."

"I think I can maintain my cool without any help. Thank you."

Sophie called from the bathroom. "Rita you might need some help if Roy shows up."

"If he shows up I am going to go speechless for an extended period of time. Followed by finding the quickest way to get on stage. And I know that you will not be far behind me if he shows up." Rita said as she laughed.

"I am not denying it at all." Sophie said as she came out in a fetching silk vest as part of her evening ensemble.

"You look great." North said.

"Well, I guess I should get ready now." Rita said as she carefully lifted herself up from the bed.

North and Sophie decided to go down ahead because Curlly and Rita still had primping that needed to be done. When they finally made it down to the main floor. Rita told Curlly to go on without her she needed to get some money exchanged at the front desk.

Rita was dressed in a floor length black gown with white straps which accented her shoulders. She was wearing some reasonable shoes courtesy of Curlly. They had the same shoe size for which Rita was thanking God for.

After she changed her money with the front desk attendant. She stopped to count the money and arrange her purse at an alcove in one of the chairs. When she opened the purse the ring twinkled at her. Pulling it out she looked at it and decided to wear it after all. Putting them money in her purse she got up and crossed the front lobby. When suddenly a woman grabbed her arm. Rita turned to see who it was. It was a petite woman with red hair cut in a page boy style.

"There you are!" she exclaimed.

"I am sorry but do I know you?'

"No but I know your husband. He has been looking for you." She said as she smiled at her.

Part Two/End

"Has he now?" Rita said dryly. Rita tried hard to contain the laughter that threatned to burst from her at the ludicrious statement. She was about to correct the mistake. "Miss…

"Michael said you would probably be heading in the wrong direction. And if I saw you to bring you to him. He showed me a lovely picture of you."

The name Michael was enough to send Rita into a maelstrom of confusion. She allowed the woman who looked vaguely familiar to her to drag her to another reception hall. It appeared to be the wedding reception was going full swing. But that information barely registered in her befuddled brain.

She was going to see him again the man who haunted her dreams. Craning her neck in an attempt to catch a glimpse of him. Wandering lost in a desert of people searching for the one who could quench her thirst. She stopped short as the woman tugging her along stopped walking.

"Wait for him here." The woman told her. Rita began to feel foolish once the woman left her side. This had to be a joke that the girls were playing on her. She would give him five minutes and then leave.

Suddenly arms wrapped around her waist as a gentle kiss was placed on her neck. She felt the soft touch as her skin shivered in response. It was a good thing Curlly had put her hair up for that night.

"I've missed you." Was the whispered softly in her ear. It was the voice. The sweetly accented voice that tormented her nights.

"Michael." She said softly.

He gently turned her around to face him. He looked better if that was possible. Then again it didn't hurt that her was wearing a tux. She drank him in. Hoping her memory could retain everything in that moment. The smell: the cologne he was wearing was driving her to distraction, the sight: the green orbs that reflected his joy at seeing her again, the touch: his hands that were gently tracing patterns on her lower back…

"Michael." She repeated in wonderment.

"Care to dance." He said as he released her from his grasp.

Shaking her head in the affirmative not trusting her voice to speak coherently. He took her hand in his and led her to the dance floor where a slow romantic number was being played by the band.

Fingering the ring he gave her he said, "I am glad you are wearing this tonight." A brief smile flitted across his face. He pulled her into his arms and their bodies began to sway with the music. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes.

"I never did get a chance to thank you for it." She said as he turned her in his arms as part of a dance step. Once their bodies were runited in the same tempo, she moved in closer to him. She could feel his heart beat against hers in time.

"I need your help." That statement recalled the last time they had met. She had assisted him without question then and was about to commit herself yet again for him. "You have heard about that convention that is occurring here"

"Yes. I have."

"It seems that I bear a distinct similarity to one of the stars of the show. I can not get my job done with a hoard of woman mistaking me for someone else." His tone indicated great displeasure at having his job disrupted.

Rita tried to think whom it was he could resemble but for the life of her she could not determine whom. "So what do you want me to do?"

His eyes filled with delight at her response to assist him. "I need you to deliver a package for me. Then you have to help me get out of this hotel without being noticed."

She thought about what he said. "That doesn't seem to difficult."

"Don't worry if you get into trouble I'll be there. But there is minimal risk with this drop."

The song ended and he pulled her to the corner. He opened her purse and placed a disc inside. "Go wait outside the Alberta room and give this to the man named Alex."

"All right." She began to walk away when he tugged her towards him and he kissed her. After a couple of moments he pulled away. "Be careful," he said as his hand grazed her cheek.

Rita walked in a daze out of the reception and towards the Alberta room. She was walking so quickly that she didn't notice Curlly.

Curlly followed her. "Rita we are over here."

She turned around. "Curlly." She finally registered in her head the line of people that were waiting to enter the ballroom. There were so many people in the hallway. Michael would have been mobbed.

"We have been waiting for them to open the doors to the banquet hall. We are waiting at this door. Where are you going?" She said as she flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"I'll be right back I just want to check on the silent auction results." Rita turned and walked away.

Outside the Alberta room stood a man pacing back and forth. Rita approached him and confirmed that he was the intended recipient of the package. She turned over the package and began to walk quickly back towards Michael. When she walked down the hall again she saw that they had finally let the mass of fans into the banquet hall. At last she made it back to the wedding reception.

Where she saw Michael was talking to that woman that had brought her here. But now a tall lanky man joined them. Michael saw her and waved her over. "See I have not lost my wife again. She merely went to powder her nose." He said as his arm encircled her waist.

"Rita, I would like you to meet Josh and Lindsey. They were kind enough to keep me company while you were gone." They exchanged pleasantries. They seemed like a nice couple and they were always laughing at one thing or another.

Michael announced that he needed some fresh air and Rita readily agreed. They said their farewells to the duo and walked out of the reception.

They were in the lobby when Rita found herself in the middle of a sudden scorching kiss. When they finally broke apart breathlessly. Michael explained that he saw that one of the convention members had sighted him.

"I don't mind that at all." Rita told him gladly. "But this is going to make conversation impossible."

"Cherie, we do not have time for what I would rather be doing." He told her huskily.

Rita began to blush a pretty shade of pink. "I think I figured that out on…"

Yet again she swept into another intimate embrace. When it ended she said, "But if that continues I am going to have change your mind." She began to laugh.

They stepped outside of the hotel. A black van pulled up to the curb. He kissed her one last time. "Until we meet again, my wife. Thank you. Take care."

Rita could not stand there and watch the van drive off so she went back inside to the banquet hall. She sat down at the table with her friends who thankfully had sat at one of the tables by the door.

Sophie leaned over and said, "Did you hear?"

"What?"

"Roy Dupuis is supposedly here!" She squealed. "Someone saw him in the lobby kissing some girl."

Rita at that moment did not care. She was thinking of Michael. "Really."

"Rita, are you feeling all right?" North asked concerned. She expected this news would send her bouncing off the walls.

"Oh I am fine. I just don't think it was him. Look the talent show is about to begin." Hoping to distract them from what was bothering her. Thankfully her ploy worked.

The rest of the evening went very extremely well and the girls got autographs from a couple of the cast members of the show. Rita did not comment on Michael's appearance because at some point she thought perhaps she imagined it. That is until she got home and there was another package waiting for her wrapped in silver. When she opened the rectangular box she saw it was a bracelet to match her opal ring. With a card that said until next time.

The end

This story ©copyright Rita/Tasamin, 1999