"You didn't respond, did you?" Laura asked, trying to make eye contact with Howie, but he was avoiding her gaze. Laura's voice got more stern. "Howard, please tell me you didn't--" Howie cut her off before she could say it, because he didn't even want to hear the words.
"NO, it didn't get that far, but it went too far in my book. How could I do this? How could I have done this to Lisa?" Howie buried his face in his hands. It was obvious how sorry he felt, even though he and Lisa weren't officially a 'couple' until now. "I just don't know what I should do. Should I tell Lisa what happened with Misty? I mean, I believe in total honesty, but if I tell her, she may think that I just wanted to commit to her out of guilt, which could be farther from the truth." Howie looked up at Laura. "I really do love your sister, Laura. Please, tell me what you think I should do... and be honest."
Laura paused, trying to be as objective as possible, which was no small task. She had to think about everyone involved, for of course she loved her sister, and had grown to care about Howie a lot too. Finally she spoke. "Well, Howie, I know that you do love Lis. I can see it in your eyes. I know that you would never intentionally hurt her, and now that you've committed to her, I know and feel in my heart that you'll be faithful to her. I think this may be one of those few instances where the phrase, 'What she doesn't know won't hurt her,' fits. I believe in honesty too, and if this had happened after you had committed to Lisa, then I'd say tell her. But this may just end up hurting her now, and I think you should just put it behind you and look forward." Kevin then spoke up. "I have to agree with Laura on this one. I believe in total honesty too, but you may be right when you said she may think you committed to her for the wrong reasons. But you gotta do what you're going to be comfortable with--what's right for you," he said.
Howie sighed, relieved that they both had told him to do the same thing that he had already made up in his mind to do. He had just wanted some confirmation that he wasn't going to make a mistake by handling things that way. But there was one more thing he had to worry about. "OK, that solves that problem, but there's another one I have been thinking about. If Lisa and I are standing up in your wedding, and Lisa's the maid of honor, I'm going to have to see Misty a lot. I'm just worried about encountering an awkward situation with her."
Kevin sighed sympathetically. "I don't know what to tell you, D. I just suggest that you just concentrate on Lisa, and try to block out what happened Tuesday night. Don't let Misty get to you. If she sees she's getting under your skin, she'll end up interfering. But she's a grown woman, and I'm sure she'll understand. I'm sure she's over it already. You'll see." Laura nodded in agreement.
"Thanks, you guys. I'm glad someone's got their heads on their shoulders the right way," Howie said, a bit of a laugh in his voice and a half-smile on his face. Kevin and Laura smiled too as all three of them got up and all walked to the door. "Goodnight. See you guys tomorrow," he said, still nervous about seeing Misty again. He hoped Kevin was right, that she was over what happened already.
"Goodnight!" Kevin and Laura said, as Kevin closed the apartment door.
"Once again, I'm pleased to say we got a lot accomplished," Misty said as everyone stood up. She was a bit upset to see that Howie and Lisa had gotten noticeably closer since seeing them a week ago, and the more she tried to ignore it, the more it aggravated her. Then Laura spoke, interrupting her thoughts. "Well, thank you Misty. Things are really starting to come together, and I can't wait," she said, as Kevin motioned for Howie to go into the kitchen with him. Both Laura and Kevin could read what exactly was going on in Misty's head, and they didn't like it one bit. They were going to do their best to make sure she didn't come between Lisa and Howie.
Laura and Misty were making their way to the door, when Misty turned to ask Laura a question. "Hey, Laura, would it be an inconvenience for you to cut my hair, maybe this weekend? It's way overdue and just really bothering me. I need to get it done before I take a scissors to it myself, and make it worse to deal with then it already is!" she said, laughing a bit, trying her hardest not to show her frustration. Laura laughed along, attempting to be pleasant and sociable to her. "Well, I'm cutting Lisa's tomorrow around 2 o'clock, so why don't you come over then too?"
"Tomorrow sounds great! See you then!" Misty said, saying goodbye and closing the door behind her. Lisa smiled. "The more I talk to her, the more I like her," she said, as she went to the kitchen to be with Howie. Laura closed her eyes and sighed. Oh Sis, if you only knew, she thought, if you only knew. Laura followed everyone else by making her way to the kitchen.
"Hey, Lisa. Come on in," Laura said as she let her sister in, taking her coat. "Have a seat while I hang up your coat." Lisa smiled, sitting down in the living room. Laura returned, sitting next to her.
"So, tell me, how are things with Howie?" Laura asked, curious to see if what almost happened with Misty had gotten to him. Laura's worries were put aside as soon as she saw the smile come over Lisa's face. "Things couldn't be better, Laur. I really love him, and he says he loves me too. I just have this feeling that he's the one for me. And if we're half as happy one day like you and Kevin are, then we'll be truly blessed," she said, her face just glowing. Laura smiled, relieved that things were still well between her and Howie. "Well, thanks Lisa. I wish nothing but the best for you too, you know that." Laura then stood up. "What do you say we get started on your haircut? Misty will be here soon and I want to be finished with you by the time she gets here, OK?" Lisa sensed an urgency in her voice but brushed it off, thinking that maybe she and Kevin had plans for later that she wanted time to get ready for. "Sure, Sis, let's get to it, then!" Lisa followed Laura to the kitchen and sat down as Laura began to spray her hair with water and comb and clip it.
Laura was just finishing Lisa's cut as she heard a knock on the door. "Oh, that must be Misty. I'll go get it," she said, putting down her scissors and comb. "Look at that and tell me what you think. I'll be right back." Lisa picked up a mirror and looked at her new cut as Laura went to let Misty in.
"Hey Misty," Laura said, trying to sound happy to see her. Misty smiled. "Hey Laura," she said, as Laura took her coat. "I'm ready for you!" Today Misty seemed different. Probably because Howie wasn't there. Whatever the reason, Laura was glad. Relieved, she motioned for her to follow her into the kitchen. "I'm just about done with Lisa. She's just got to decide if it's short enough now. I could never have my hair as short as hers, though. I love my long hair," Laura said, attempting to make the conversation light. Again, Misty was very receptive to her. "I think her hair looks cute," she said, smiling. "I could never keep it above my shoulders like that, but it looks good on her." When they entered the kitchen, the smile on Lisa's face showed she loved her cut.
"Great as usual, Laura," Lisa said, as she begun to blow-dry her hair. Laura turned to Misty. "Your turn, ma'am," she said, giving a smile to Misty, hoping that she wouldn't sense the relief behind her smile. As hoped for, Misty was totally oblivious to it. "Great!" she said, then proceeding to tell Laura how she wanted it cut. Laura immediately went to work.
After finishing Misty's cut, all three ladies sat down in the living room and chatted about many things. Movies, music, weather. Soon the subject turned to men.
"Sure, they seem to be more trouble then they're worth sometimes, but I can say in my case, I don't mind the 'trouble.'" Laura said, as she got up. "Any refills on the coffee?"
"Yeah I'll have another," Lisa said, handing Laura her cup. "Me too," Misty said, also giving her cup to her as she went to the kitchen. Misty decided to take an opportunity to thank Lisa for thinking of her when she couldn't go with Howie to the conference Tuesday night.
"Oh, well it's my pleasure," Lisa said, smiling. "No, the pleasure was all mine. Howie's such a great guy, not to mention a great kisser," Misty said casually, looking out the corner of her eye for a reaction from Lisa. A reaction is what she got.
Lisa's words almost choked her. "Kisser? You kissed Howie?" she asked, almost believing she had misunderstood what Misty had said, but something deep down was telling her that she heard right. "Yeah, among other things," Misty said, giving Lisa a knowing wink. Lisa's heart sank. This explains so much, the flowers, this sudden need to commit to me... and I thought it was because he really loved me, she thought, as she felt her heart break. Before Lisa could say or show any kind of response, Laura came back in the room. She immediately sensed her sister's despair. "Lis, what's wrong? Tell me," Laura said, feeling her forehead. "Girl, you're warm, hon. Why don't you go lie down? Take a nap."
Lisa numbly got up and started walking towards Laura's spare bedroom, speaking as she did. "Yeah, sounds good to me." Her voice suddenly had lost its joy. Misty smiled satisfied as she spoke. "Well, since she's not feeling well, I suppose I better go. Thanks for the haircut, Laura. It looks great!" she said, walking out the door with a bounce in her step. Laura didn't like the sudden chipper atitude that Misty had suddenly taken on, and had a strong feeling that Lisa's sudden 'illness' may have been due to something Misty had done or said to her. Laura walked down to her spare room to ask Lisa about it, but saw that Lisa's eyes were moist with tears, as she drifted off to sleep. Laura covered her sister with a blanket, also shedding a tear for her sadness, as she left her in her slumber.
Take me back to the first page, please.
Tell Laura what you think...
