Two soft dimples decorated her soft cheeks, at least to me they seemed so soft.
In all honesty, everything about the woman before me seemed to be delicate–even her perfume. It didn't try too hard or choke the life out of me while I sat there doing my best to not worry about my appearance, it sort of was an uplifting scent to the one which had clung to the chilly room the entire time I had been there.
The tight sheet made me feel worse, but a little she was sort of distracting me as she was politely detailing to me just how I had embarrassed myself in front of an entire office.
I could already picture my full body just tumbling to the floor, for everyone to see. I, however, was glad I had opted for a pair of pants, I couldn't imagine what would have happened if I had been wearing a skirt, some part of me imagined me in the worst comprising situation that I could ever find myself in. For some reason, this made me so aware of my weight, my body. What was keeping me from bringing my knees even closer to my chest and covering my whole self with that sheet was one thing–pride. I didn't want to show that side of myself to a mere stranger, whatever it was saying at the moment, and I didn't even know what my sister had already told her while I was lying there.
I watched as she tugged her long wavy jet hair behind her ear, my sister nodding to her every word.
It made me a bit uncomfortable, I even tried to send her some sort of signal as I threw my eyes at her–she didn't budge, however. I have left no choice but to try and smile at the nice lady before me who looked so beautiful in her simple yet elegant suit, which I was certain was worth the kind of money I had never held.
There was something quite fragile about her pale biscuit tone, it was as tender in this pretty which her wavy hair decorated so nicely as it fell right past her elegant shoulders. Her slightly wide eyes held this distinctively delicate shape, narrowing close to meeting the bridge of her slim nose. Their color wasn't as black as close up, maybe they were a deeper tinge of whiskey or something and carried a light as soft as the curve of her plump upper lip.
Everything about this lady was so pretty and delicately dainty, even the way she folded her hands on her lap sitting up straight was, in a way that I could never be.
Her dimples showed up again as her eyes brightened. "I don't know what it is about you. . .but I like you, Grace."
I didn't know what to say, it wasn't that I was intolerable or anything. I was just not the easiest person out there, it was kind of my nature. Yet, here was a stranger so happy to have met me in such circumstances. I didn't get it, I sort of wanted to laugh at this. To tell her she was probably going to change her mind because it was so much easier to, at just one little push she was to jump the boat. I just offered her a smile, not even sure if it wasn't so tight or not, I could barely tell much. I guess last year had ruined me, this hospital was reminding me of it.
"I was talking to your sister about something and. . .I hope you don't get upset with her, but she mentioned something about you needing a job," she said, fumbling insider her leather bag that was sat in her lap with the care it was worth.
"She did?"
"We were just talking and it came up," my sister said, nonchalantly.
I guess she saw no issue with sharing my business with a stranger, maybe her helping me out sort of made it right in her eyes.
I didn't even have the strength to even say something about it, I just turned to the nice lady as she pulled out a shiny business card, fingers almost a paler contrast to it.
I was going to give it to my sister as soon as we got home, she was going to learn.
"Here." She hands me the card after eyeing it thoroughly and I had no choice, she had helped me–I took it. I wasn't going to be rude to her and my momma had raised me right, so there was no purpose in embarrassing her when I didn't even know what she was going to say.
I was also saving my energy for my sister.
I held the card in my hand, my eyes raking over the words written in it.
The same company I had fainted in the elevator of, I sort of felt my cheeks flush at the thought of me, as big as I was along the hip area, falling over to the floor.
I cleared my throat before I spoke. "Uh, thank you."
I didn't even know what I was thankful for.
"I'm supposed to be getting married in four months, but. . .we won't be able to."
"I'm sorry," I said, my eyebrows involuntarily knitting together as I sort of frowned, feeling a bit sympathetic towards her.
I guess her special day was important, she had every right to be sad about it and I felt for her. I just didn't know how that had anything to do with me, a stranger, but judging by the way my sister sat there still pretty much smiling ridiculously, I was sure–she was in on it too.
I didn't even know if it wasn't even her idea in the first place. I just wasn't going to say anything until she elaborated, I didn't want to be rude.
"He's taking on two jobs, being the manager and handling other duties," she spoke, dipping to the side as she lowered her bag to the floor.
I nodded just so she could elaborate further.
"He does all the duties which his assistant should be doing. . .and I know it isn't my place, but. . .I want to get married already," she finally said, letting out a sigh as her shoulders sort of slumped.
"It must be hard, how long have you guys been engaged?" I tried my best to at least not make her feel I wasn't a bit interested.
Her face lit up, her lips parting into a smile. "Three years."
"Is it his boss there too?" I sort of regretted that but it was already too late, I had said it.
"You know how men are like, you gotta push if you want something," she said, offering me a lopsided smile.
"And if you don't they assume you're fine with everything," my older sister added, bringing a smile to my face–it felt so unfamiliar to my cheeks.
"Then you're screwed," I sighed, adding lightly.
"I don't want to be the wife-to-be for the following. . .eight years, sorry."
"I bet," I said.
I had gone down the aisle and had done the whole 'soul mate' thing, it hadn't worked out as I thought. I didn't even dream of a man anymore, I was fine with things as they were–my heart belonged in my chest, not in some man's palm. I wasn't going to learn the same lesson twice.
"I sort of. . .suggested you to him and I know it may not be my place, but. . .I need your help," she said, biting her lip nervously.
"We've just met." My sister sort of glared at me for that one.
"I know," she said, sighing.
I arched my left brow as I slightly leaned forward, folding my arms. "I could be a serial killer."
"I'd rather go with being murdered than to hear someone announce me as the bride-to-be one more," she said, a soft smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
There was something so warm about her.
I guess her eyes were making it so much harder to deny her. "Fine."
"You will? I mean, I don't know the details yet. . .but I'm sure you'll fit in."
"If you say so."
The thing was that I was sure this wasn't going to go well, but she was trying and she was nice enough to not see it.
I wasn't so sure the husband-to-be was to see me that way, I just didn't say tell her so.
"He'll be waiting for your call."
I nodded. "Okay."