The Women's Job - Part 14

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"Jeffrey, trust me. No one will be able to tell. Come on and join us."

"Just wait until you see how pretty I make you look," Brook added.

I looked at each of their encouraging faces. How could it be any worse than going to the Hyatt in a dress? I got away with that. "Just this once."

"Alright, Jeffrey!" I obviously made Christy very happy.

"Jennifer," I told her. "If I've got to do this, when we're out, my name's Jennifer."

In the hour it took my hair to dry, Brook made me over. She used different makeup than I would have used but to tell her that would not have been wise. A few things that she did differently than Connie had, I liked better. My eyes were more pronounced and the shade of lipstick wasn't so striking. I checked the color, 'Pale Rose'.

Christy took out the rollers and brushed out my hair. The tight curls looked so strange in the mirror. They were all delighted with the way it came out.

When they finished with me and I was in the jeans Christy had loaned me and the print top Brook supplied, I had to admit I looked very convincing.

I drew the line at the bra stuffed with socks and Christy caved in without arguing. "So you look like a flat-chested girl. That's not so unusual."

The weatherman on the car radio said it was going to rain that afternoon. The sky was already starting to cloud over when we got to the park where they were having the fair.

"Don't forget your purse." Debbie reminded me when I got out of the car without the one she loaned me. I hadn't forgotten it, but I wished they had.

I had expected them to try to embarrass me in some way but it never happened. They treated me as if I were just another of their girlfriends and after about an hour of walking around amid crowds, I began to feel a little more at ease.

I remember Connie's words and held my head up and kept my shoulders back. I tried to avoid eye contact with people but that wasn't always possible.

There were a lot of middle-aged and older people there. I was not concerned with them. It was the people my age and younger that made me nervous. They were more in tune, I felt. They would be quicker to recognize a freak like me in the crowd.

While it remained overcast all day, it only drizzled off and on. It didn't stop us from browsing.

Christy and the others stayed close to me, as we went into almost every booth to look at all the things on sale. We spent more time in the jewelry booths than the others and in one, Christy bought me a pair of earrings she liked. I was wearing a pair of Brooks that she had loaned me. I tried to tell them that my small hoops were just fine but she playfully insisted. They were big and flashy and made me feel self-conscious. She convinced me when she explained that they'd draw attention away from my face. Not, she insisted, that I needed to. Just the same, I took her advice and wore them.

We ate hot dogs for lunch. We bought them from a vendor at the food concession. The kid who served us went out of his way for the four attractive girls who were obviously without male companionship. I didn't pay him any attention but neither did the others. I thought that odd, considering how young and good-looking he was.

I became very nervous when it seemed that a couple of young guys were following us. What I dreaded was being approached by a guy who wanted to make small talk. That could easily happen, walking with Christy, Brook, and Debbie.

It never happened. I was just paranoid.

I made up a story for the girls, about Connie expecting to see me around three, explaining that we had work to do. It wasn't till after three when Debbie and Brook brought us back to their place to get Christy's car.

They offered to let me change but Christy insisted I would change at her place.

"You were marvelous today Jennifer." She apparently liked calling me that. She tenderly touched my cheek, then leaned across the front seat of the car and kissed it.

Christy was such a sensuous person. She made me feel warm all over.

When she pulled into her parking place in front of her apartment she suggested, "I'll make us dinner. Then afterward we could go for a walk in the park before it gets dark."

I did want to spend time with her, but not like this. "I can't Christy. I have to go. I promised Ms. Sackett that I'd get some work done today."

We stood next to my car. "Don't you even want to come in and change?" She rubbed up against me, trying to entice me inside.

I wonder what the neighbors would think if they came out and saw two young women standing there rubbing against each other, kissing. "Christy, not here. Someone will see us. I really have to go."

"The hell with them. Don't go yet, Jennifer."

"I have to." If I as much as set foot inside her door I knew in my heart, I'd have a terrible time getting away. Even having to go home, looking the way I did, was better than letting her trap me. I suddenly felt a wave of emotion well up inside me and I began to cry. "Christy," I said weeping. "I have to go." I fumbled with my keys, trying to get the door open. I couldn't even see the keyhole through my tears.

"Come on inside Jennifer." She put her arm around me and I just caved in.

Christy sat beside me on the couch while all the pent-up emotions I had been building inside me came out with my tears.

"Let it all out." She kept telling me while she held me, stroking my head. I felt so silly, getting so emotional. It was a few days later before I realized that it was the hormones that caused my emotions to take such a roller coaster ride.

It was five before I left. Still wearing the clothes the girls had loaned me. Christy put my clothes in the car. My hair needed washing before the curls would go away. Looking the way I did, Christy thought it would be better if I kept my makeup on until I got home. She repaired the eye makeup my tears had ruined. She wasn't aware I was capable of doing it for me.

Christy made me promise to call her when I got home.

The doorman didn't say anything when he opened the door for me but I was sure his eyes followed me all the way to the elevator.

I was grateful that Connie wasn't home to see me in the makeup with my hair that way. Not that she would have minded. She thought I looked cute as a girl but not for the same reasons as Christy. It didn't turn Connie on. If Connie had asked me to do what the girls did to me, I would have done it myself, if for no other reason than to please her.

I made the obligatory phone call to Christy, to let her know I was home all right. I felt so foolish at that point for having broken into tears in front of her earlier. "No, I'm fine now."

"I really had fun today. I still can't get over how wonderful you were."

Wonderful? Was she talking about in bed or the way I looked, made up? "I'm glad you had a good time." There wasn't much enthusiasm in my voice and she picked up on it.

"Didn't you have a good time?" She sounded genuinely concerned.

Telling her no would have been a turn-off for her and I certainly wasn't ready to end our relationship, then and there. I tried to sound more enthused. "I did, honest."

She sounded relieved. "Debbie and Brook think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. They adore you."

"I think they're great too." Friday night had been a blast with them. Even Saturday, with Debbie's lighthearted kidding and Brooks fussing over me, was fun.

"I think you're very special to Jeffrey."

At least she called me by my real name. What do you say to a girl that thinks you looked better as a girl than a guy? Still . . . It wasn't like she did it to ridicule me. She could have done that easily and I imagined most girls would have. Then I thought about the reaction from the girls at the office. How they loved me as Jennifer. It was just that I felt differently toward Christy than I did toward my friends. I wanted her to be more than just another friend. I decided not to let what happened today ruin everything. I was no worse for it. "I really like you too, Christy."

"Would you like to get away for a day? Debbie and Brook and I were planning to just get out of the city tomorrow."

I wasn't ready for another episode like today. "I can't. I promised Connie I would do something with her tomorrow."

She was disappointed. "We'll do it another time. I'll call you tomorrow night when we get home." She promised.

I jumped right in the shower and washed away the reminders of the day. I didn't know till I was drying my hair that it didn't lose all the curls from the set that morning. Even washing it again didn't work so I pulled it all back with my brush and, with a rubber band, put it in a ponytail. Connie would wonder about it, of course, since I hardly ever wore it that way. I just didn't want to tell her what Christy and the others talked me into doing that day.

I buried the jeans, top, and panties in one of the dresser drawers. Christy had said not to worry about returning them. Since they fit me so well, I could keep them. The top was Brook’s and I would return it, and Debbie's panties, as soon as the opportunity arose.

I hadn't forgotten my promise to Connie and called Virginia. I would have just as soon not but.

She was thrilled to hear from me. "I just wanted to thank you again for having lunch with me Jennifer." I didn't feel comfortable with her calling me that but to contradict her wouldn't have served any purpose.

"I called last night to ask you if you wanted to go out and have dinner with me but Connie explained you were out with your friend, Christy. Did you have a nice time?"

She probably would have loved to hear about what we did that morning. "Oh yes. We ate at a place called Crabby Bill's, then went to a movie."

She wanted to know what I ate, what movie we saw and what kinds of things we talked about. I answered most of her questions but didn't give her all the details of our conversations. I didn't understand why she was so curious about me.

"Does Christy like it when you pretend to be Jennifer?" That one caught me off guard.

I lied. "She doesn't know about Jennifer."

"Wouldn't it be easier if she did?"

"Not for me," I told her. It was time to end the conversation. "I have to go now, Virginia. Connie will be home soon and I want to fix dinner."

"That's very sweet of you."

Lying to the woman didn't make me feel very good about myself.

"Would you like to come over and have dinner with me tomorrow?" She offered sweetly.

I thought fast, lying yet again. "Oh, I'd love to but I promised to take Christy out tomorrow evening."

"That will work out fine. I always have my dinner in the afternoon on Sundays. We'll have time to talk and get to know each other a little better."

My excuse backfired. If I tried to make up another, she'd certainly know I wasn't anxious to spend time with her. "Is it all right if I just come as myself?" I prayed she wouldn't ask me to dress up as Jennifer again.

"Dear, you just come over anyway that you're comfortable. Dinner will be ready around two. Why don't you try to get here around one?"

I had to ask, "Who else will be there." I assumed her husband, whom I hadn't met yet. Who else she invited, I had no idea.

"It'll just be you and I."

That was a relief. I could go as myself and just pass a few hours with the woman. It couldn't be so bad. "I'm looking forward to it," I said pleasantly.

"Wonderful. I'll see you at one. Have a nice evening dear."

"Thank you, you too. Goodbye." What was her interest in me? Maybe I'd find out tomorrow, I decided.

I took advantage of the peace and quiet. The thought of making myself dinner didn't appeal to me. I had eaten more in the past two days than I normally ate in a week. I still felt stuffed.

I curled up on the couch in my leggings and an oversized tee shirt. They had become my favorite things to wear, lounging around the house. There was nothing on TV that interested me so I just read magazines till Connie got home around seven.

Before she even put her things down, she noticed. "You look cute with your hair that way. I like it."

If she liked it in a ponytail, she would have loved the way it looked before I had washed it. "Thanks." Connie always had a kind word or a compliment. Even if it was left-handed.

She ran her fingers through my ponytail. "There, that looks better."

She had fluffed it out, making it fuller, I found out later.

"So, did you and Christy have a good time?" She sat next to me on the couch.

"We had fun." What else could I tell her? "I like her friends."

"What did you all do?" She asked.

"I met her at her place then we went and met Debbie and Brook at Crabby Bill's."

"I've heard of that place. They're supposed to have great seafood."

"Then we went to a movie and back to Debbie’s and Brook's apartment."

"That's when you started drinking?"

"Yes, well no. We had a few beers with dinner but I wasn't driving."

"Good."

"Debbie had a couple of bottles of wine and they were gone before we knew it."

"It's just as well you stayed there."

"We got up in the morning, had breakfast then went to an arts and crafts festival."

"You wore the same clothes the whole time?" Connie asked.

I decided it was better to tell her, at least part of it. "No, Christy loaned me a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt."

"I'm glad she had something that fit you."

I was going to tell her that they didn't, that they were skin-tight but that didn't seem important now. "Then we dropped off the others, I changed and Christy brought me back to her place to get my car and I came home." That was the short, uncomplicated version and that was enough.

"I'm glad you had a nice time. Are you and Christy going to see each other again?"

"Sure." Under different circumstances.

Connie changed the subject. "I'm going to make something to eat. Are you hungry or have you already eaten? I'm sorry I'm so late getting home. I was having a good time shopping."

"I'm not really hungry," I told her. I thought about asking her what she bought but decided not to.

"Do you feel all right?"

"I'm fine," I assured her.

It wasn't till she was sitting down to eat at the kitchen table that she remembered. She called out to me, where it sat in the living room. "Did you remember to call Virginia?"

I got up and went into her. "I called her as soon as I got home."

"What did she say?"

"She invited me to come for dinner tomorrow."

Connie just looked at me a moment. I read her mind. "She said to dress any way that makes me comfortable."

"What are you going to wear?" Connie put down her fork.

"I thought I'd just wear slacks and a shirt."

Connie didn't say anything, it was just the way she looked at me for a second before she picked up her fork and resumed eating.

"What?" I asked.

She set it down again and looked at me. "Honey, I'm not going to tell you what to do. You have to make up your own mind. It's just that it's Jennifer she wants to see. We both know that."

"She told me to come anyway I was comfortable."

She spoke to me like a mother. "Of course she did. She wouldn't tell you to dress up as Jennifer, would she?"

It was obvious now. "No, she wouldn't." I sat at the table.

"Whatever Virginia's reasons are, it's that side of you she saw at lunch that she wants to come to dinner tomorrow."

"I just feel so strange, "

"Jeffrey, just do what your heart tells you, you should and you know I'll support you."

I knew that I could rely on that. It was my decision, alone.

No more was said on the subject that night. We relaxed and watched TV.

"I really am happy to have you living here with me, Jeffrey. I never realized how lonely it was, living alone." She hugged me as we got up to go to bed.

"I'm really happy here too."

"Do you suppose I could have a kiss good night?" She asked so sweetly.

I couldn't say no. "Sure." I answered smiling and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

She returned it, hugging me again. "Goodnight Honey."

"Good night, Connie."

I compromised. I wore the slacks and shirt I planned on wearing but, for Connie, I did my hair the way I had for the luncheon. As I blew it dry and then curled it with my curling iron, I wondered. If I had a set of rollers like Brook's, would I be able to set it the way Christy had? It was just a passing thought.

I liked the way I did my makeup better than Christy's way. The only thing she did that I did prefer was the way she put on the eyeliner. I put it both over and under my eyes and they stood out more prominently. I thought they looked better that way. I couldn't bring myself to say 'prettier'.

If I had 'Pale Rose' lipstick, I would have worn that instead of the deeper red that Connie had bought me. I thought to myself, I could stop and pick up some and some nail polish to match, but no. I just couldn't bring myself to walk into a store alone, as Jennifer, and buy cosmetics.

I conceded to wearing jewelry and Connie agreed that I didn't have to wear the bra and falsies. "You look very nice. I like the way you did your eyes." Connie told me with an approving smile. I still felt foolish but my self-confidence was improving. Connie was responsible for that. This was going to be the first time I ventured out on my own. Granted it was only a matter of driving to Virginia's but I would be alone.

I had on my wide serpentine gold necklace and bracelet. "Your other set would look much nicer with that outfit," Connie advised.

"They're just so feminine looking," I argued. Connie just looked at me smiling. What could I have been thinking of?

"You should wear that nice ring she gave you too."

I changed the jewelry and put on the ring. "How's this?"

"Fine, but your earrings just don't go. We have to get you some new ones. Your hoops are just too plain."

Plain was all right.

"Let's take a look in my jewelry box."

I followed her into the bedroom. She held a few of her earrings up to my ears. "These." She decided, holding up a heart-shaped gold drop. "These are perfect."

If I thought the necklace was too feminine, the heart earrings just pushed it over the brink. "Aren't these a little too much?" I asked.

"Absolutely not." She said, concentrating as she put them in my ears. "They look lovely on you."

Connie stood back and looked at me. Her expression changed to a wide grin. She all but laughed.

"What, what is it." Did I look that absurd?

"I was just thinking."

"About what?" I was anxious to know.

"I just was thinking it was so sweet that we're swapping jewelry and mine actually looks better on you than it does on me."

The one thing that terrified me, especially being alone, was the recurring concern that I'd have a problem or an accident and I would be stopped. It occurred to me that my license said I was 'Jeffrey Mitchell' and anyone looking at it and my picture would certainly know that there was something wrong. I drove very carefully.

I was stopped at a light when a car full of teenage boys pulled up alongside me. I only looked over at them by instinct, without thinking. Two of them were looking at me. They said something but I couldn't hear what it was with my windows rolled up. I looked away immediately and pretended to ignore them. When they pulled away from the light, the kid in the front passenger's seat was still watching me and yelled out the window. All I could make out was, "Hey Babe, " I was glad I couldn't hear the rest.

The rest of the ride was uneventful. I kept my eyes on the road the rest of the way. I pulled into Virginia's driveway at just one o'clock.

She was thrilled to see me and just had to make a fuss about how nice I looked. She escorted me to a small sitting room off the main foyer. At the party, a week ago, I had seen only the large formal living and dining rooms. The rest of the house was unknown to me. When I commented about how large and beautiful it was, she just had to give me a tour.

At the luncheon, she asked me questions about my family. Now Virginia wanted to know more detail. She asked about my childhood, friends, my parents, the trouble I had gotten into, how I was treated in jail, everything, right up till I went to work for Connie. I had expected questions about why I looked and dressed the way I did, but to my surprise, she didn't ask. It was a relief because I would have had a real problem answering.

Dinner was excellent but I was careful to watch my manners and not to eat too much.

When the girl that served us cleared the table, Virginia announced. "I hope you don't mind but I couldn't resist buying you something." She went to the lowboy and, opening the cabinet, withdrew a brightly wrapped package and handed it to me. "I just couldn't resist."