Cole & Jamie

Chapter 17

"I was surprised when Cole told me he needed me to style his plus one. At first I thought he meant Julian who is usually adamant on dressing himself." Rose shook her head. "I gave up that fight a long time ago. And then he told me it was for his date. Talk about shocked."

I licked the pink frosting off the top of my second cupcake. Shortly after dinner Michelle had abandoned us to go play on her tablet in the living room leaving Rose and I alone in the kitchen. It was nice to get to know her better. "I'm glad you agreed to dress me. I was going to find a dress on my own but I'm afraid I wouldn't have found anything as beautiful as the pieces you have." Owning your own boutique gives you more options than the average person, but nothing compares to the reach a celebrity stylist has. I mean Rose must have access to designer showrooms I've never even heard of.

"Not a problem. Cole's one of my favorite clients. I'd do anything for him." She rested her chin on her folded hands. "Now tell me this love story, I hear it's quite whimsical."

I laughed. "I don't know if that's the word I'd use."

"Tell me," she sang.

So I did, I told her Cole and I's ongoing love story with a few creative licenses to add to the whimsy. Explaining it back to people I can see how someone can describe it as whimsical or as Destiny has deemed it, 'Hallmark.'

Rose sighed, "I knew he was a romantic. I'm just glad he's stopped messing around with those social climbing airheads and settled down with someone real. He's a good guy, and he deserves to be with someone who loves him for who he is and not what he has."

I stirred the ice in my glass. "Would you say that was his type before?" Social climbing airhead wasn't exactly a category that I would put myself in, and I wouldn't put Cole in that category either.

"Mostly. There was one that wasn't, shocking, considering the industry she was in, but the others." She tsked. "Talking to them made my brain melt out of my ears."

I nodded happy to know that he was able to see through anyone trying to use him, but thinking of him around people that didn't have his best interest at heart.

"I've never heard him talk about anyone the way he talks about you. And you know getting him to talk is like pulling teeth."

I flushed, my face getting warm. "He can be a little anti-social."

"Obviously not as much as I thought. When he told me he was moving here I thought he was finally going full recluse."

"We do our best to keep him social." Between myself, my mom, and Harriet, he gets out of the house much more than he would like.

Michelle ran into the kitchen with her tablet hanging from her fingers. "Mimi, will you help me? There's something wrong with the screen."

"Of course." Michelle climbed into my lap while I helped her get back to where she was. She sneakily grabbed another cupcake which I'm sure would not bode well for bedtime, but that was Joe and Trish's problem.

"Rose are you staying here," she asked digging into the frosting-covered cake.

"Unfortunately, I'll have to go soon, Doll face. I have an early flight."

"When will you come back?" asked Michelle.

"Soon. And how about when I come back we do a fitting just for you?"

Michelle's eyes lit up. "I want a sparkly dress," she told her, her mouth covered in blue frosting. "And shoes. Oh, and a crown! With a pink backpack."

Rose made a show of typing the notes on her phone as if Michelle was an actual client. "I will find the most beautiful dress just for you."

Michelle squealed, grabbing her tablet and jumping off my lap. "I can't wait to tell Mommy."

Rose and I stood from the kitchen table. I was back in my leggings and t-shirt again, my cinderella moment gone for now. "You know you have to keep this promise now, right?"

"Of course, I hardly ever get to style kids so this should be a lot of fun."

Now Trish and I will have to find a place for her to wear this sparkly dress and crown. I had a hard time believing Gucci hold up against the kindergarten playground. And I'll make sure to pay for the session this time.

Rose was flying back to New York tomorrow to help some of her other clients. But before she left to go back to her hotel she pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm so glad we were able to meet."

I smiled against her shoulder. "Me too. Thanks again for your help."

She smiled down at me. "If I know Cole this won't be the last event he drags you to. We'll be seeing each other again very, very, soon."

Oh, I wonder how much that was going to cost. Before my brain could go overboard with calculations, I smiled. "Have a nice flight."

When Rose left it was nearly time for me to take Michelle home, but not before I cleaned her up. She'd managed to get blue frosting almost everywhere but her mouth. That was my fault I should know better than to trust a child with anything dyed or sugary.

I sat her on the closed toilet seat in my guest bathroom while I wiped her face and hands with a warm washcloth.

As I wiped her hands, Michelle asked, "Mimi, are you moving again?"

With my brows furrowed, I asked "No, Baby, I'm not moving anywhere. Why do you ask?"

"Well, you said you and Mr. Cole were going to New York and that's where you lived before, right?"

I nodded. "Right."

"With Mr. Tony."

My lips pressed together. So this is the conversation we're having. "Yes, baby, with Mr. Tony."

"You don't like it better there? With him.."

My heart suddenly ached in my chest. I set the stained towel on the side of the tub and held Michelle's hands. "I like it better here with you, and your mom, and my mom, and Cole. There are things that I miss there, but this is my home. You have nothing to worry about, I'm not going anywhere for a very long time."

This seemed to take away much of her stress. Her shoulders relaxed, and she wiggled her now clean fingers. "I like Mr. Cole better than Mr. Tony," she admitted, "He never used to play games with me. But Mr. Cole does and he lets me win."

"I'm glad you like him." Cole is much better with Michelle than Tony ever was. Strange considering how much he talked about wanting children and starting a family. I realize now that he never voiced any desire to raise these imaginary kids. That was going to be my job, I guess.

As if.

I picked Michelle up off the toilet seat. "And what do you mean he lets you win?"

I have exciting news! This is more of a personal win than anything, but I'm quitting my second job today so I'll have more time to devote to writing which is what I really want to do. For the last few months I've been working 7 days a week and writing bits and pieces where I can. I'm excited for this new chapter in my life. And to be able to write more for you all.