CHAPTER 5

The young, elegant saleswoman smiles at Jenny as she’s checking out an assortment of fur coats. She holds up a beautiful dress.
“Here’s something you might like”, she says, politely.
Jenny examines the label and arches her eyebrow.
“Do you carry any real fur?”.
The saleswoman smiles again, slightly.
“No. All our fur is faux”.
Jenny grimaces, annoyed.
“Of course. The animals. How silly of me”.
The young girl shrugs her shoulders, then walks away.
Jenny sneers, then looks over at a small child staring at her.
“Fuck off”, she mouths at him.
“I got your message and came as quickly as I could”, exclaims Mrs. Stevens, approaching her.
Jenny turns to her showing her most sheepish smile.
“I hope I didn’t keep you from something…”.
Mrs. Stevens throws her hand in the air.
“Not at all”, she says hurriedly, “What’s wrong?”.
Jenny bends her head.
“It’s Nikki”.
“What about her?”.
Jenny gives her a sorry look.
“Well… You promise you won’t say anything to her. We’ve developed a friendship and…”.
Mrs. Stevens’ hand slightly clutches on her forearm.
“Jennifer, you have my word. It isn’t drugs is it?”.
Jenny purses her lips, shaking her head.
“It’s worse. I think there’s something going on between Nikki and her music teacher…”, she murmurs in a more conspiratorial tone.
Mrs. Stevens’ eyes pop up and her mouth falls open.
“Tasha? That’s crazy!”.
“I know. Nikki is so young and Tasha is so –“.
“Woman! And black!”, Mrs. Stevens snaps.
Jenny leans forward and looks at her straight in the eyes.
“She’s been sending her love letters that Nikki hides under her doll house. I questioned whether or not to tell you, but something like this could destroy her reputation at Oakwood and I don’t want to see her get hurt”.
Jenny picks out an expensive suit and approaches the sales counter.
“I hope I did the right thing in telling you”, she whispers to Mrs. Stevens, “I’d hate to see Nikki ruin things with Tim”.
The older woman seems frankly upset.
“I can’t thank you enough”, she murmurs, absent-mindedly.
“You will be discreet about this?”, Jenny asks quietly.
Mrs. Stevens watches her in the eyes.
“Absolutely”.
“Will that be cash or charge?”, the saleswoman chimes in politely, smiling.
Jenny looks through her purse, then rolls her eyes.
“Oh poo. I left my credit card at home!”.
Mrs. Stevens pats her shoulder.
“Let me get that for you”.
“Oh please. I can’t have you do that”.
“It’s the least I can do”.
The older woman hands the credit card to the saleswoman, and Jenny smiles, blushing.
“Thank you…”.