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Dreaming of Tomorrow Page 9


  “Nicole,” Emily asked tentatively, “if I let you put me on a diet and exercise program, how severe would it be? Would I have to starve myself to death and work out like I was in training for the next Olympics?”

  Nicole laughed. “Not really. I have an easy start program. One that’s also easy to stick to because if it’s not practical and fairly easy, you’ll give it up.”

  “I’ll email you a copy of the plan but basically here’s what I’m suggesting. . .” She went on to tell Emily her basic plan. “First, analyze your eating habits and find one or two things you can eliminate from your diet forever. Give them up completely. Say for example, colas or potato chips. Whatever you know you can do without.”

  “Salads and veggies?” Emily was only partly teasing.

  “No way, Jose.” Nicole was firm. “Give up the good stuff. In fact, you need to add a couple of things to your diet, things like more fruits and veggies. Now for the next thing, write down everything you intend to eat before you eat it. Carry a notepad everywhere you go.”

  “Okay.” Emily nodded.

  “And make sure to have a cup of soup and salad with low fat dressing before you move on to your meal. Except at breakfast, of course. Then go to your vegetables at lunch and dinner, then your entree. Also, as silly as it sounds, remember to quit eating when you feel full. No stuffing yourself.”

  “So far, I can do it,” Emily commented. “It doesn’t sound too scary.”

  “Also, allow yourself a dessert once a week, but no more than that. When you want to treat yourself to something special, make sure it’s not food. Try other things like new clothes or shoes, perfume or a CD, stuff like that.” Nicole paused, then continued slowly, “And don’t use food for comfort. I think that part may be hard for you.”

  “I do use food as a comfort or a treat,” Emily admitted.

  “Two more things: First, don’t weigh or measure yourself too often. In fact, I’d use your measurements instead of your weight to track your progress. And lastly, work out.” She paused as Emily groaned. “You’re already doing most of it. You ride and swim almost daily now. Just add to that gradually. Take a walk or use a treadmill, and build up both your speed and distance. Also work on strength training to build firmer muscles. Muscles actually burn calories faster than fat. Of course, it’s great that you’ve already found out how much you enjoy swimming and horseback riding. Just keep those two things up, and work out in the gym when you can. Try to enjoy yourself, and the workout. Work on getting yourself healthy, and try not to focus on losing weight.”

  “It sounds like a lot of work but also it sounds very sensible,” Emily commented. “And I love the swimming and horseback riding. It’s more fun than a workout, and my clothes are already getting looser.”

  “Gee, I wonder how that happened.” Nick grinned.

  “You’re devious, you fiend.” Emily laughed. “I like that about you.”

  “Of course, you should have a doctor check you out before beginning all of this, although this is basically just healthy advice,” Nicole concluded.

  “That’s all?” Emily was amazed.

  “Think it over. I’ll bet it turns out to be enough. That is if a slow weight loss and a gentle firming of your muscles is enough.” Nicole paused. “The problem is, most people who want to diet, want to crash. They need instant gratification or they get bored and give up.”

  “That’s the trap I always fall into, I get impatient,” Emily admitted. “I’ll give your plan a try. Let’s set the table.”

  With the ease of old friends instead of new acquaintances, they set the table and laughed over Nicole’s stories about life as a model. With the ease of old friends instead of new acquainttances, they set the table and laughed over Nicole’s stories about life as a model. Then they sat at the kitchen table with a glass of wine waiting for Hans.

  Emily finally asked Nicole a question that had been puzzling her. “Why do you want to get out of modeling and into running a fitness center?”

  “Let’s face it. I’ve been blessed with a face and a figure that sells products,” Nicole sipped her wine, “but it’s not like I cured cancer or solved global warming. I know of girls who go to extremes to get thin thinking that they can have it easy. They diet to the point of anorexia, some get hooked on pills, and there are even some who kill themselves if they can’t get to that perfect look.”

  “My God.” Emily was shocked. “That’s so sad.”

  “It’s pointless too.” Nick continued, “That easy life is not so easy. I have to model swimsuits in January, coats in July, plus I have a very erratic schedule, either working long hours or wondering when the next job will come along.”

  “I can’t believe you have to sit and wait very often.” Emily laughed.

  “Well, not yet but I’m getting older and in modeling being young is almost as important as being thin.” Nicole finished her wine just as they heard a knock at the door. “That must be Hans.”

  Emily went to the door to let Hans in. Aside from the pasta they had everything ready. The salads were made, the spaghetti sauce was simmering, and the water for the pasta was waiting on the stove. Emily opened more wine and served Nikki and Hans, then turned on the stove.

  After introducing Hans to her parents, they decided to eat dinner before getting out the photographs. They sipped the wine while the pasta bubbled. Then everyone was seated and Emily served dinner. Emily was so nervous about seeing the photos that she could hardly eat. Although she knew these would be excellent shots done by a top fashion photographer, with the help of professionals doing her hair and face, she knew what she looked like. I’m sure no raving beauty, she thought to herself, and no matter what they did to me, it’s still going to be me. Don’t let it matter so much, she thought. Still, she hoped she would see something to give her optimism for the future, a taste of confidence in herself.

  As soon as they had finished eating dinner and cleared the dining room table, Hans brought out the pictures. The first group he brought out, the casual picnic shots, were great. Emily looked relaxed and natural in the pictures, not posed. Hans had made 8 x 10 prints of two of the poses, and he had a proof sheet with the rest of the shots.

  “I thought these two were the best, but some of the others came out very good too.” Hans showed her the prints and the proof sheet. “What do you think?”

  “I never thought anyone could take pictures of me that looked this good.” Emily smiled softly. “Thank you Hans.”

  She handed them to her father.

  Pete looked at the pictures and passed them to Mae. “These are beautiful, darling, but I’ve always seen you that way.”

  “This is a real pretty girl,” Mae said. “Why don’t you bring her over sometime?”

  “That’s me, Mom,” Emily said gently.

  “By golly, it is.” Mae smiled. “You look real good, Sis.”

  Emily looked at Nicole and Hans with a sad grin and said softly, “Close enough.”

  Hans brought out the business shots. Once again, he had printed two of the shots in 8 x 10s and he had the rest on proof sheets. In the first shot, Emily sat at a computer; she looked cool and professional. In the second, the shot with her chair turned away from her desk as she leaned back and laughed into the phone, her hair was beginning to come out of the bun. It was just a few tendrils, but the effect made her look like she was taking a break after a long hard working day, flirting with an unseen man over the phone.

  “Is it possible for me to say thank you too many times?” She looked at Hans with her eyes shining.

  “Hold on, it gets better.” Hans winked.

  He waited while the business shots made their way around the table then he brought out the first of the formal shots, the pictures of Emily in the red evening gown. He had printed several shots of her--one that seemed to catch her entering a ballroom; another, a playful shot of her twirling around with her skirt floating like a chiffon cloud around her legs; and last, a shot of her sitting at a table look
ing expectantly at the door, waiting for someone to arrive with a yearning little smile on her face, and a long stemmed red rose in her hand.

  He had only printed one shot of her in the second evening gown but it was the most spectacular shot so far. The gown was a soft shimmering cloud; it had a silver beaded bodice with thin spaghetti straps, and a skirt that was a swirl of tangerine chiffon. There was a very long matching chiffon scarf draped around her neck, the ends fluttering from the force of a strategically placed fan in the studio. Her hair was perfection, a riot of windblown curls.

  The pose had her standing against what appeared to be the rail of an ocean liner; the setting seemed to be soaked in moonlight and stars with a gentle breeze in the air. The ship’s rails hid many of her figure flaws, and the way she was leaning slightly forward holding the rail emphasized her full breasts. Her expression was filled with tenderness and poignancy. “Hans, I’m speechless,” Emily said.

  Everyone at the table looked at the picture in awe. It was one of those rare shots that seem to be too good to be of a real human being.

  “I hate to break the spell,” Hans said finally, “but do you want to see the other shots, Emily?”

  “What other shots?” Emily asked, then she blushed. “Oh, those . . . What the heck, bring them out.”

  She turned to her father and said, “We also shot a few lingerie shots, Dad. Hans is being tactful.”

  “Hans, I’ve seen her in lingerie and underwear all her life.” Pete grinned. “Fathers do that sometimes when they have daughters running around the house.”

  The shots were stunning, even if the setting was fairly predictable: a king-sized bed covered with silk sheets and surrounded by thin, wispy curtains. The final shot was the one of the gown as it seemed to hang for a moment, suspended in time, before hitting the floor. The shots were tastefully done, sexy and erotic, but without any nudity. Emily was stunned.

  “Wait until David sees these!” Nicole exclaimed.

  “I’m not going to show them to David just yet. These will have to wait,” Emily said firmly.

  “But not too long.” Nicole grinned. “As for the rest of these, can I show them to my agent?”

  “Sure.” Emily grinned. “Why not? She’ll either love them or hate them, and the funny thing is, it doesn’t matter to me. I love them. You were right, Nicole. These pictures have given me a new confidence.”

  “I have a separate set of prints for your agents, and duplicate of the proof sheets.” Hans rose from his chair and pulled them out of his briefcase. “I’d better go, Emily. Thanks for dinner.”

  “Thank you, Hans.” Emily kissed his cheek and said, “I don’t know how to repay you.”

  “Someday, maybe when you’re famous, you will.” He smiled at her with genuine friendship. “But for now, your smile is enough.”

  After Hans left and Nicole followed shortly thereafter, Emily checked her email and found Nicole’s basic plan:

  BASIC DIET AND FITNESS PLAN:

  1. DIET:

  A. FIND ONE FOOD OR EVEN MORE (IDEALLY AT LEAST TWO FOODS) THAT YOU CAN ELIMINATE FROM YOUR DIET FOREVER AND ADD AT LEAST TWO HEALTY FOODS.

  B. WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING THAT YOU INTEND TO EAT BEFORE YOU EAT IT.

  C. MAKE SURE TO EAT VEGATABLES, FRUITS, AND GRAINS AND CLEAR SOUPS FIRST, WATCH OUT FOR CONDIMENTS; QUIT EATING WHEN YOU FEEL FULL.

  D. ALLOW YOURSELF A DESSERT ONCE A WEEK. MAKE ALL YOUR OTHER TREATS TO YOURSELF SOMETHING OTHER THAN FOOD.

  E. DON’T WEIGH OR MEASURE YOURSELF TOO OFTEN, MAYBE USE MEASUREMENTS INSTEAD OF WEIGHT TO MEASURE YOUR PROGRESS.

  F. DRINK LOTS OF WATER.

  2. EXERCISE:

  A. IF NOTHING ELSE TAKE A WALK EVERY DAY, BUILDING UP BOTH SPEED AND DISTANCE, OR USE A TREADMILL.

  B. WORK OUT ON STRENGHTH, TRY USING WEIGHT MACHINES TO BUILD MUSCLE.

  C. FIND MORE PHYSICAL HOBBIES--SWIMMING, HORSEBACK RIDING: WHATEVER YOU ENJOY.

  3. WARNING:

  HAVE A DOCTOR CHECK YOU OUT BEFORE BEGINNING ANY DIET OR EXERCISE PROGRAM.

  Reading it over, Emily decided to give it a real try. She found a notepad, then starting making notes about exercise, and foods she could give up. Going slightly against Nicole’s advice, she made up a list of goals paired with things she would like to use as rewards for reaching each one of them. She put the notepad in her purse.

  She made a note to show the plan to the doctor next time she took her father in for a visit. Her father’s doctor was always offering to give her a quick check-up and to answer her questions. He took his time with her, and he was patient with Mae. Emily thought he was one of the best men she knew.

  Chapter Eleven

  Two days later, David showed up bright and early on her doorstep. Totally ignoring her parents he enfolded her into his arms in a warm hug, accompanied by a tender but passionate kiss.

  “It seemed like I’d never get home.” He grinned, kissing her again.

  “I missed you, too.” Emily smiled at him with a trace of the devil in her smile. “But I was busy while you were gone.”

  “You better not have been busy with another guy.” He was only partly teasing.

  “Silly man, are there even any other guys around? I can’t see ‘em.” She reveled in the warmth of his arms. “I spent a lot of time with Nicole.”

  “You did?” David’s eyebrow’s shot up. “What did you two get up to?”

  Emily still wanted to surprise David with her riding, so she just shrugged. “Well, we ah, worked out in the gym and went swimming. We also did a makeover and photo shoot.”

  “I can tell.” He looked her over. “Your hair looks fantastic, and if I’m any judge of it, you’ve lost some weight.”

  “Just a little.” Emily smiled at him, snuggling in his arms.

  “More than a little, I’d bet.” He kissed her forehead, smiling.

  “Will you have dinner with me tonight?” David asked.

  “Sure.” She grinned. “I’ve got nothing better to do.”

  “You’d better not have,” David growled, then he looked at his watch. “Oh man! I’ve got to run. I’m due in court in twenty minutes. I don’t want the judge to fine me for contempt.”

  “Then get going!” Emily laughed as she gave him a gentle shove. “See you tonight,” Emily added.

  That night over dinner she gave David a surprise. She showed him the photos Hans had shot. David loved them. He was shocked to see how relaxed Emily looked in the casual scene, how natural she looked in the office scene, but it was the formal pictures that really blew him away; she looked sexy and confident, and very desirable. She gave him an 8 x 10 of the picture of her in the tangerine and silver gown. She held something back however, she didn’t bring out any of the lingerie photos to show him.

  For the rest of the week, they were together every evening. They went out to dinner on Thursday, but the rest of the week they spent at Emily’s with her folks.

  While they were at dinner, David told Emily about an idea that he’d had. It was an idea that seemed too outrageous to be real, but the more Emily examined it, the more she admitted it could work. His idea was deceptively simple: She could have Julia move in with her family and be there to work part time as a private care nurse for her folks.

  “I’ve talked to her, even before I met you and she said the property taxes are eating her alive. She has someone who wants to buy her place. Actually,” he admitted, “I want to buy most of her land, and someone else wants the part with her house on it. I took the liberty of asking her if she’d be interested, and she said she would. She doesn’t even want a salary, just room and board. She only wants to care for your folks part time because she wants to have time for herself, but even so it’d be a bargain for you. I know she’d be there when you needed her. It’s good for her, too. If she moved in with you, she wouldn’t have to spend the money she gets from the sale of her land for living expenses. She can save it so she’ll have enough money for her future. She’ll find a new place when you, I’m sorry
, no longer need her services.”

  “Let me think it over but it sounds like a good idea. She’s very good with both of my folks. She’s patient with my mom, and she treats my dad with kindness and respect. She doesn’t baby him like so many people seem to do.” Emily mused aloud, “It would sure free me up to get out of the house more, maybe even work a little. Nicole said her agent is interested in my photos. In fact, she sold the picture I gave you to a catalog, and one that I haven’t shown you yet to a calendar.”

  “There’s some you haven’t shown me?” David picked up on it immediately. “Why not? When can I see them?”

  “I’m saving them for the right moment, and that’s all I will say about them for now.” Emily smiled mysteriously.

  That Saturday they finally spent the day at David’s house with her parents. David told her to come around noon since he had the vet coming out to give the horses some shots and a check-up before she got there.

  David used the time alone with the vet to ask him if he knew of any dogs that wouldn’t cause Pete’s allergies to act up.

  “We can give him some antihistamines for today and see how it goes,” David explained to the vet. “His doctor said it was okay for a special occasion, but still it would be nice if we could find a dog that he could live with. Emily would really love a puppy and I thought I’d get her one for her birthday.”

  “I’d check with the doctor but I think a hairless dog would be okay.” She smiled as she loaded her supplies into her vet truck. “I know of a litter of Chinese Crested puppies that are ready for new homes in about a week, call my office for the number.”

  When Emily pulled up with her folks, David had just watched the vet drive away. She got her folks out and set them up in some chairs in the shade not too far from the arena. True to her doctor’s prediction, Mae remembered very well how to act around horses and how to ride. In fact, she thought it had only been a few days since her last ride! She fell in love with Target, calling him “Brownie” and refused to use a saddle, preferring to ride him with just a halter and rope. Target plodded around the arena, some equine instinct telling the big horse to be careful. David rode Nicole’s horse, and to his surprise, Emily rode his young horse.