Leighton nodded and took another sip of coffee. The tangy tasting note made the flavor especially crispy, especially delicious. "I think we have gone overboard here Anna. I look like an Aunt Gemelia's Christmas tree, don't you think?" Leighton mocked her reflection in the mirror. She waited for a response from Annamaria who was rummaging through the great pile of clothes on the bed, in search of an appropriate wrap. "So wha.. dya think?" she asked again, this time with her mouth full of glazed walnuts. She dug her hand into the blue glass bowl on her dressing table for a second helping. "Please no eat anymore that signorina mia," Annamaria pleaded. "You will be full and not eat supper before you go". She was perpetually concerned about her Leighton's odd eating habits.Annamaria handed her a soft black Alpaca wool wrap and reassured her that she was perfectly dressed for the Gala, before hurrying downstairs to the kitchen to put together a quick healthy snack for Leighton.
"I'm not going to eat anything fancy," Leighton yelled out from her room hoping Annamaria would hear her. "I'm putting the dress on now and will be down right after and then I need to leave. Toast me a strawberry pop tart if you really must. Anna? Anna!" she called out impatiently to the woman who had, over the years, become a mother figure in her life.
Leighton stared at herself in the mirror. She looked like the goddess Aphrodite. She wondered what Kara would say when they met? What would she speak to Jennifer Marrone about? What would Jennifer be wearing? What would Kara be wearing? Who would Ricky come with? Alessandra or Dolly or someone new? Would Ricky think she looked good? Would he say something to her? Should she mention the flowers? Should she not? Leighton stopped her train of thought that had begun to go nowhere. She couldn't lose it already, the night was still young.
She was greeted in the kitchen by a very dismayed look on Annamaria's face and plate full of pop tarts. "You're just the best," Leighton chuckled, gave AnnaMaria a warm embrace and left. The limousine that Kara had sent for her was waiting outside. Leighton was ready to rock and roll.
The forty five minute drive to the party was long and punctuated with several traffic jams. The well lit streets were teeming with pedestrians, some in a hurry, some out on a stroll. The night was gorgeous. She was brimming with nervous excitement. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering around in a frenzy previously unknown to her. She was going to meet a lot of very important people including Ricky. She had to admit to herself that her thoughts on him were now of a serious nature. Were his words genuine after all? They had been exchanging emails regularly and even chatted online more than a few times. For the most part, it was still casual banter with the usual flirting thrown into the mix but he also often brought up wanting 'something more' with 'someone real'. Could anything ever happen between them and if it did, then would it work she pondered. She gazed up at the great expanse of black above. The divine roof that provides us with shelter was flawless that night. "How real am I really?"
As she gave it sincere thought, a strange vague discomfort arose within her; like a knot in her stomach, a dull ache in her heart, a sadness. Was she feeling guilty for pondering on the possibility another man in her life? Why? He had made it clear to her that they had no future together. Their feelings for one another did not matter because they weren't going to be together. He wanted to move on and for her to move on as well. But did he really? His words echoed in her mind and she winced:
At some point, we'll have to come to terms with the fact that we will have to be happy with the people and the circumstances around us - and that doesn't include each other...
Leighton's eyes welled up. She looked out again at the magical night sky. It was as clear as his words were.
"I am not going to ruin this night," she said with sudden urgency. But does love ever ruin anything? She did not know. She was happy and complete. She loved her life, she loved everyone in it. There was nothing that she needed from him. All she wanted was to share what she had with the person who had helped her get there. She was certain there was nothing unnatural or even 'wrong' in wanting it, but since it couldn't happen, it couldn't happen. She had to move on, she decided with the conviction that Cookie Monster would have had, had he ever decided to go on a 'no-cookie' diet for over a week.
The limousine finally arrived at the Grand Plaza. Leighton grabbed her silver tassel purse and stepped out, ready to dine and dazzle.
She looked up at the heavens one last time and sighed, "I miss you anyway".
