**This is a Christian Story. Please do NOT read if offended! Thanks! "What? Praise God" *Rated PG-13* 
**This is an Alternative Universe Christian Story. If this
bothers you, please do not read it. This story contains my four 'original' characters Samantha Kay Green, Elaine Grace Nelson, Louise Jean Richmond,
and Naomi Ann Patterson, as well as the Monkees as side characters. I wanted to share with you all. I wrote this in 2 days. 
This is Rated PG-13.**
It was a cold and chilly day when Elaine woke up to use the restroom. "What time is it?" she asked herself as she threw the covers to the side of her so she could bring her legs around to the floor. "It's only 3 am?" she asked herself blinking a few times. "Nooooooooo, I don't want to work today," she cried out. Elaine hated her job at times and loved it at times. It varied on her mood and how nice the people were at her job. She walked into her bathroom and sat down on the toilet. She wiped her sleepy eyes with her fingers and then gave her scalp a massage hoping that would help her to wake up some. She was still very tired and very weak. When she finished in the bathroom, she looked at her eyes and said, "What the heck?" She took a piece of toilet paper and wiped her eyes. It was her mascara and eyeliner from the day before she must have fallen asleep with it still on her face. "Oh forget it, it will come off in the shower," Elaine said angrily as she walked back to her bed and crawled back under her covers and went back to sleep.
When her alarm went off three hours later, she slept right through it. When her roommate Naomi Ann Patterson was finished getting dressed, she knocked on Elaine's door. "Laney, you ready to go yet?" she asked quietly. Naomi opened the door and found Elaine still sound asleep. "Laney, wake up. You need to get showered and ready so we can leave for breakfast," she said quietly as she pushed on her friend's shoulder.
"No, I want to sleep," Elaine cried out.
"You can't. We need to hurry or we'll not be able to eat breakfast and I'm starving," Naomi said pushing Elaine's shoulder again.
"Go without me then if you're so hungry," Elaine said.
"No, I don't like walking into the office alone," Naomi said. "Please hurry up and shower so we can go. Please Laney. I'm so hungry."
"Go without me. I'm not coming in until 8 am," Elaine replied.
"Oh Elaine please wake up. Please!" Naomi said pressing on her friend's shoulder again. "It's almost 6:30 now. Please."
"I said go without me. I'm not getting up until 7:15 am," Elaine replied.
Naomi closed the door to Elaine's bedroom and grabbed her purse, keys, and phone. She left for the office without them stopping to get herself breakfast that she had gone by the time she arrived at the office. It was still dark outside and there was no one else there yet. She did not want to get out of the car by herself, especially with it not being lighter so she could see her surroundings. Naomi pulled up to the doorway and looked at the door. There was a huge sign on the door. "Closed for today."
"What?" she asked herself. "Is today a holiday I don't know about?" She fumbled through her purse and found her calendar and looked at the day. She looked at the sign again and in smaller print it read, "Family Emergency and also Corporate decided to give us a day off." Then in even smaller print it said, "HAHA Gotcha! Yeah right. Come on in, we're open today."
"Dang," Naomi said holding her heart. "I was really hoping to have a day off to sleep."
Naomi parked her car closer to the building and made sure she had her keys in her hand as weapons if she needed them. Then she got out of her car and went inside the building. When she turned on the light, she saw a shadow hiding behind something. "OMGosh we're being robbed!" Naomi screamed as she ran out into the parking lot back to her car. Suddenly, the door flew open and she saw someone coming up to her car. "Naomi, it's only me, Richard. Open the door please. I'm sorry I frightened you."
"Richard, what in the heck are you doing?" Naomi asked looking at him.
"Just trying to make the day interesting for everyone," he said. "I am so sorry I scared you."
"You had no right doing that to me, Richard! No right!" Naomi said starting to cry.
"Please don't cry, Naomi. I'm sorry," Richard said walking closer to her car so Naomi could get a better look at him.
"Where is your car at anyway?" Naomi asked.
"My wife dropped me off at 6 am this morning and I wanted to see how many people would read the sign all the way down," Richard said.
"You are in a mean and cruel mood today, Richard," Naomi replied. "I should just go home and stay there after what you did to me."
"No please don't. I'm so sorry, Naomi. It won't happen again," Richard said.
Naomi put on her tennis shoes and held her heels in her hand and said, "If you play another trick on me, I will deck you with my heels."
"I promise I won't. I'm sorry," Richard said backing away as Naomi slowly got out of her car and stood there looking at him.
"Just for your little trick, I'm leaving at noon today," Naomi said. "And Elaine and the girls are coming with me."
Richard gave Naomi a hug and said, "I'm sorry I frightened you."
As the girls slowly arrived, Naomi sat at her desk trying to calm down. It wasn't every day that she witnessed something as cold and cruel as what she did.
When Elaine walked in the door and asked, "What jerk put the sign on the door and that is not amusing whatsoever."
"That jerk would be me, Elaine," Richard said. "I was just trying to make the most of everyone's day that's all."
"Very bad trick, Richard. Very bad," Elaine replied.
Richard pulled Elaine into her office and closed the door. "I did something awful this morning, Elaine."
"Besides the sign? I can't imagine," Elaine replied.
"I hid behind a filing cabinet and scared Naomi to death when she walked in and thought we were being robbed. She's not herself."
"I can imagine. I wouldn't be either, Richard. That is not a nice trick at all, especially since she's afraid of dark parking lots already," Elaine replied.
"Will you check on her and make sure she's okay?" Richard asked.
"I would suggest you never do that again, Richard. Take that sign off the door before management sees it and you get tossed out on your butt," Elaine replied.
"I will," Richard said. "Check on Naomi please."
Richard opened the door to Elaine's office and walked out to the exit and took the sign off the door and brought it back inside ripping it up. Elaine walked up to Naomi and said, "It's just me sweetie."
"Did he tell you what he did to me?" Naomi asked.
"Yes, and it was horrible. I'm so sorry you went through that," Elaine replied.
"Me too," Naomi replied. "I was so scared. I told you I didn't want to come into the office alone."
Naomi started crying again and Elaine helped her friend to the bathroom for a while telling Sam to watch the phones.
After a half-hour, Elaine walked back to Richard's office and said, "I'm taking Naomi home for the day."
"She's still not dealing well with it, is she?" Richard asked.
"No, she's not and she can't stop crying in the ladies room. I'm also taking the day off to stay with her. That was a mean and cruel joke, Richard, and you will be very blessed if Naomi does not report you for what you did."
"It will never happen again, Elaine. I didn't think about negative repercussions that could of happened. I am very sorry."
"Well, now you know," Elaine said. "I'm taking her home."
"Please tell her I'm sorry," Richard said.
"I will," Elaine replied walking out of Richard's office and going to talk to Sam. "Can you sit at Naomi's desk today and do entry?"
"Why? Where's Naomi?" Sam asked.
"She's going home with me for the day. I will explain to you and Louise tonight what happened. Please can you just sit at Naomi's desk and answer the phone and do your entry today?"
"I can with the passwords," Sam said. "But I don't know them."
"Sign on with your own," Elaine said.
Just then someone came out of the ladies room and said, "OMGosh there's a woman passed out on the floor in there. Someone call 9-1-1."
"No need to call 9-1-1, Sylvia. It's Naomi and I'm taking her home. She's fine," Elaine replied.
"Oh okay, Elaine," Sylvia said.
"Sam, get over there and sign in so I can get her home please," Elaine begged her friend.
Sam walked over to Naomi's desk and signed off Naomi and then signed in as herself. "Okay in," Sam said.
"Thanks," Elaine replied giving Sam a hug. "I will tell you all what happened tonight."
Sam walked back to her desk and carried over her entry work and drink along with her purse and supplies. She covered Naomi for the day, but definitely wanted to hear what had happened.
Once Elaine got Naomi home and put her to bed, Elaine drove back to the office and told Richard, "I need someone to drive Naomi's car back to our house and I will bring them back."
"How is she?" Richard asked.
"She's not good Richard. She's always had a fear of being raped in a parking lot and she's terrified of coming back here. She passed out in the ladies room and I took her home and put her right to bed. But I need to get back there in case she wakes up and is lost," Elaine replied. "I'm taking Louise."
"Okay," Richard said. Elaine walked out and told Louise, "I need you to drive Naomi's car back to the house and I will bring you right back."
"Okay Elaine," Louise said looking at her friend. Louise grabbed her purse and Elaine handed her Naomi's keys and Louise drove Naomi's car back to the house. Elaine went inside and checked on Naomi and she was still asleep.
"What happened to her?" Louise asked looking at her friend.
"Remember that sign on the door this morning?" Elaine asked.
"Yeah," Louise replied.
Elaine pulled Louise out of Naomi's room and told her what had happened on the way back to the office. "Richard did that to her?" Louise asked.
"Yes, wasn't that cruel? Now the poor thing is terrified to return back to the office because of it. It's halfway my fault too because I wanted to sleep in later and she came by herself, but Richard should not have hid behind things either making her think it was a robber."
"Definitely not. I'm going to report him to Cyrus," Louise replied. "That is not funny."
"Don't report him yet. I think he's really thinking about what he did and I want to see what exactly he does."
"But Elaine, that was wrong!" Louise said.
"I know, but believe me, he is regretting it this moment. I'll see you back home tonight. Thanks for coming with."
"You're welcome," Louise replied. "Give Naomi a hug and kiss from me."
"I will," Elaine replied.
~~~~~~
During her time at the house, Elaine sat in the livingroom checking on Naomi every half hour to an hour just to make sure she was okay. When the girls arrived home that night, Samantha had already been informed of what had happened and she was furious.
"How is she?" Sam asked a sleeping Elaine in the chair.
"Still asleep. Hasn't moved all day," Elaine replied.
"I have already called Cyrus and he is having a meeting with Richard tonight about this," Sam said. "Louise had already told me about it when she returned back from leaving with you. That is not right, Elaine."
"I know it's not right, but I didn't want Cyrus called yet," Elaine replied. "Richard feels terrible about what happened as it is."
"As he should. And he needs to be written up for it," Samantha said. "Scaring a woman entering a building as a joke is illegal I believe. I'm not sure, but Cyrus is going to handle the situation."
"You didn't tell the other girls, did you?" Elaine asked.
"You bet I did," Samantha said. "They all need to be on the alert now if Richard tries this again," Samantha said kicking her shoes across the room. "He's lucky I didn't go into that office and smack him myself."
"I know he already feels terrible about it, Sam. I am sorry you told the other girls, but there is nothing I can do about it now."
"I told Cyrus I wanted a phone call from him tonight on the meeting and what the outcome would be. If the phone rings, I'll answer it," Sam said angrily.
"Okay," Elaine replied opening up Naomi's door and peeking in on her friend again. "Still asleep," Elaine replied.
"That's good because she will not want to hear me talking to Cyrus tonight because I do not accept this behavior from anyone, manager or not," Samantha said angrily. "You let one freak get away with things and he'll keep doing it again for amusement. However, you nip it early and then there's no cause for concern."
"Where's Louise?" Elaine asked looking around the room. "I thought she came in with you."
"She did, but she left to go get us dinner at the Pasta-o-rama that I called and ordered for us tonight," Sam said.
"Oh I see. That was nice of you," Elaine replied.
"Yeah and I used company phone to make my order as well. I didn't care after what I found out today," Sam said.
Shortly after Samantha arrived back out of her bedroom in her fuzzy pajamas, Naomi came out of her bedroom. "Wow what happened?" she asked the girls.
"You fainted in the ladies room and I brought you home," Elaine replied walking up to her friend and giving her a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay," Naomi replied. "How long did I sleep?"
"About six hours," Elaine replied.
"Whew!" Naomi replied sitting down. "I definitely feel better than I did earlier."
"Praise God!" Elaine said giving her friend a hug.
The phone rang and Naomi reached for it. "I'll get it," Samantha said walking over to it and grabbing it away from Naomi.
"Pardon me," Naomi said taking her hand away quickly.
Elaine told Naomi who was supposed to call and that Sam was angry and Naomi just watched.
"Hello," Samantha said sitting down on the couch.
"Sam, this is Cyrus," she heard.
"It's about time. What did you find out?" Sam asked.
"It was only a practical joke and Richard was just trying to help everyone have a good day and that he meant absolutely no harm to anyone," Cyrus said. "And I listened to his reasons for wanting to try and help the girls have a good day and he was just trying to be nice and make them smile. I believe that, Sam. He would never want to hurt anyone in that office."
"So you're telling me then, Cyrus, that you are not going to discipline Richard for causing our dear friend to collapse in the ladies room from fear and sleep for the past six hours because she was so distraught and could not function?" Samantha asked.
"I'm fine, Sam," Naomi said. Sam held up a finger at Naomi telling her to wait and Naomi rolled her eyes. "You are way overreacting Samantha."
Cyrus said, "Richard would never intentionally hurt any one of his staff including man or woman, Sam. It was a very bad practical joke and it will never happen again."
"That's not what I asked you Cyrus and you know it," Samantha said. "So you are not disciplining him, is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct," Cyrus said. "I did express my concerns over what you had told me and I did give him a 'verbal' warning, Sam. But there will be nothing else done about the situation."
"Then I will see you, Cyrus, and Richard in Milton's office first thing in the morning," Samantha said. "Because unlike you, I do not find it amusing when a staff member tries to imitate a robber and scare the staff. I will be calling Milton at home as soon as I am off the phone with you, so be prepared." Samantha hung up the phone and let out a "GRRRRR."
"You are making a mountain out of this Sam," Elaine said. "You're the one that's going to end up looking stupid. Naomi is fine."
"Well then I look stupid, Elaine. But at least I know that by the grace of God I tried to do everything in my power to try to get things resolved in a more professional manner than just ignoring the fact that there was a problem today at the office and a woman passed out from that problem," Samantha said grabbing her purse and dialing Milton's phone number.
"Okay you do that, Sam, and Naomi and I will never talk to you again!" Elaine said standing up and walking over to her friend hanging up the phone.
"You don't mean that," Sam said.
"By the grace of God I do, Samantha," Elaine replied. "She is fine. No one was hurt or injured from the incident. I love Richard as a manager and I do not want to see him get into trouble over one little practical joke on the behalf of wanting his office staff to have a good day."
"I don't either, Sam," Naomi said looking at her. "I'm fine, honest!"
"You call Cyrus back and you tell him that you have reconsidered calling Milton and that you accept his actions," Elaine said still holding down the receiver "or Naomi and I will move out and never, ever talk to you again."
"Fine," Samantha said taking the phone back. "I will call Cyrus back."
"Someone help me with this please!" Louise said kicking on the front door. Elaine ran to the door and opened it. "Thank you," Louise said handing Elaine a huge bucket full of pasta. "Naomi help me, please," Louise said.
Naomi walked out to the car and opened up the backseat. "Good grief, how much did she order?" she asked.
"Oh I would say about $100.00 worth of pasta that I expect to be paid back on. This was overkill," Louise said angrily.
Elaine got the kitchen table set up and as the food kept coming in, she said, "What on earth? There are only four of us."
"Thank Samantha because she owes me $150.00 including taxes," Louise said angrily. "You were so blessed I had that in my account, but I want it back."
"You will get it," Samantha said.
Sitting on their kitchen table was four tubs of lasagna, four buckets full of spaghetti plain, four buckets full of spaghetti and meatballs, and two tubs of breadsticks.
As Louise made the final run from her car. "Here are four 12-packs of Coca-Cola as well," she said putting them on the livingroom table.
"You must have been planning an incredible feast, Sam," Elaine said looking at all the food.
"Hey I was mad, what do you expect. I eat when I'm mad," Samantha said taking a plate and shoving it full of lasagna and breadsticks.
The girls one-by-one fixed themselves a plate full of food and Elaine mumbled to herself, "We'll have leftovers for the next five years."
~~~~~~
That following morning at the office, Elaine made sure to go with Naomi that day and she did fine and wasn't affected at all by the darkness of the parking lot. Richard was sitting in his office when they walked by to Naomi's desk. "Morning ladies," he said peeking his head out the doorway. "How are you feeling today, Naomi?"
"Much better, Richard. Thanks for asking," Naomi replied.
"That's good. I told my wife about what had happened and I was made to sleep in the basement last night with the dog," Richard said. "She's still not talking to me today."
"I'm sorry Richard," Elaine said helping Naomi in her chair and then walking over to him. "Samantha went on an angry burst yesterday. What are you and Nadine doing for dinner the next five years?"
"Huh?" Richard asked.
"We have enough food for the next five years after Samantha's ordering binge at Pasta-o-rama last night," Naomi said laughing.
"Don't even get me started Richard," Elaine said laughing as she walked into her office and closed the door. Richard looked at Naomi and said, "I'm glad you're okay, Naomi. I'm so sorry again about everything yesterday."
"It's okay Richard. I would like to forget about it and move on, okay?" Naomi asked.
"Okay," Richard replied.
Half hour later, the office door flew open and the girls heard, "Samantha, you're the one that ordered the $150.00 worth of pasta last night. I want my money after lunch," Louise said angrily.
"Fine, I'll get it for you on lunch, Louise," Samantha said. Richard looked at Elaine through the window with a sign, "$150.00 worth of pasta?"
Elaine smirked and wrote something down on paper and held it up in the window, "Yes, and she had one whole tub of lasagna herself. She was that mad at you."
"Yikes!" Richard wrote back. Elaine laughed silently and then went back to work.
Naomi looked at Sam and asked, "How are you feeling today, Sam?"
"I was fine when I threw up six times before coming to work this morning," Sam replied.
"Ewwwww," Lila said running to the bathroom. She had a very sensitive tummy and grossed out very easily. Naomi cringed at the thought and went back to work after disinfecting her desk since she knew Sam sat at it yesterday just in case it wasn't the overkill on food last night that made her sick.
During the day, Samantha's tummy rumbled all day long. Elaine walked out of her office and looked at Sam. "You okay darlin?" she asked.
Sam stood up fixing her pants and walked into Elaine's office and sat in the chair. Elaine closed the door and walked to her desk. "What's wrong?"
"I really ate too much last night," Sam said.
"I know," Elaine replied. "I had a lot too. I think you need some of this." Elaine opened her purse and gave Sam two TUMMIES and two Imodies.
"Thank you," Sam said eating the TUMMIES and she kept the Imodies for later after lunch. She put them into her pocket until later.
"What are you and Naomi going to do for lunch?" Sam asked.
"I shouldn't eat, but I need to run errands. I think Naomi has plans for lunch. Not sure."
"Plans?" Sam asked. "With who?"
"You'll see if she gets a visitor today. I can't really say anything more," Elaine replied.
"What errands do you have to run?" Sam asked Elaine.
"Oh I need to go to Walgreenies and get me some more of that shampoo and conditioner that helps to bring out the highlights of red hair. I'm almost out of it. And then I need to pick up some more 'supplies' as well and I have a massage scheduled for after work, so I will not be going to Walgreenies at night."
"You're going to the mall again for a massage?" Sam asked.
"You bet. It's so awesome and I love it," Elaine replied. "You want to come with me?"
"Sure," Sam replied. "Thanks for the offer."
"You're welcome darlin," Elaine replied.
"Thanks for the medicine too," Sam replied.
"You're welcome," Elaine said smiling.
"Uh, uh, uh," Lila said opening the door.
"Naomi's lunch date is here," Elaine said to Sam. They both walked out to the door and Lila went back to her desk. "Hello ladies," they heard as they walked to Naomi's desk and saw a man figure standing there.
"Peter! When did you get into town?" Sam asked.
"Just last night and I thought I would take this lovely lady to lunch today," Peter said pointing to Naomi who was blushing.
Naomi stood up and said, "Peter please, you're embarrassing me."
Richard stood in the doorway and said, "Holy mackeral, you are not whom you look like?"
"And whom would that be, sir?" Peter asked.
"From the Monkees," Richard said.
"Well, what would you do if I said 'yes?'" Peter asked.
"Then I would have to scream," Richard said.
"Well then 'no,' I am not him and don't even resemble him," Peter said smirking at the girls and taking Naomi's arm.
"Goodbye ladies," Naomi said waving at them as she left in Peter's arms.
Elaine looked at Sam and Louise and smiled. "He emailed her last night. She told me she checked it this morning and he was coming to take her to lunch. The rest of the guys are going to be in town this weekend and they want to take us all out."
"You know the Monkees?" Lila asked shocked.
"Know them?" Elaine asked. "Hmm, well that is a very relative word, Lila. I wouldn't say we 'know' them. I would say we 'date' them on and off when they're in town. Bye ladies!" Elaine screamed grabbing her purse and bolting out the door.
Samantha and Louise were left to take the heat from the other girls. "Um, it's my lunchtime too," Sam said.
"Yeah me three," Louise replied following out after Sam. The rest of the girls all screamed for joy and then went back to typing.
At lunch, Peter told Naomi, "You look more beautiful every time I see you."
"Thanks Peter," Naomi said taking a sip of her pop. "How have you been doing?"
"I've been fine, Naomi. Been really busy writing new songs. I wrote one for you," Peter said.
"Nah, don't tease me like that Peter. It's been three years since we last saw each other," Naomi said.
"I know, but I did write one for you," Peter said taking her hand and kissing it.
"Well, that was sweet of you Peter, however, you certainly did not need to," Naomi said smirking at him.
"Your eyes are very green today. What did you do to them?" Peter asked.
"I put on the eyeshadow that you like me in," Naomi said smiling at him. "Heavens mist it's called."
"Well, I'm in heaven right now Naomi. Just looking at you," Peter said.
"It's been a long time, Peter," Naomi said. "A very long time."
"Yes, it has and I do apologize for not keeping in touch more often. We took a few minor tours to different Countries, but nothing major," Peter said.
"How are you all getting along?" Naomi asked.
"Better than we were," Peter replied. "We have all came to an understanding that we are all different people with different tastes and styles and we are all unique in our own way and that is how God wants us to be."
"And who told you something like that, Peter? That does not sound like something you would come up with."
"Micky actually. He's completely changed, Naomi. I think a lot of Elaine's teachings have really hit home with him. He has found us a beautiful Church to attend on Sundays and between him and Mike, we all attend weekly or at least the two of them do. Mike has really turned over a new leaf as well. He kneels at the livingroom table and prays before bedtime now. And he also has been writing more unique songs that definitely are not your average Monkee songs. They are more romantic and care-free songs. It's definitely a new outlook on the two of them. Davy is still the same. He visits England frequently and he doesn't say much on the new transformation of all three of us. But I think he can see something in our eyes that we aren't ready to admit to each other yet let alone the outside world."
"Really, Peter. What is that?" Naomi asked.
"I really can't say now, Naomi," Peter said. "I will tell you more this weekend. I promise!" Peter took her hand and kissed it.
"I don't remember you being so romantic before, Peter," Naomi said looking at him.
"Like I told you Naomi, we are all different people now than we were three years ago," Peter said taking a bite of his pizza.
"Well, I like this new transformation," Naomi said taking a bite of her pizza as well.
When Naomi arrived back at work, the girls were lined up at the door waiting for her. "What on earth are you all doing?" Naomi asked looking at them.
"We want details," Lila said looking at her.
"Well ladies, a true 'lady' never reveals anything to inquiring minds, so get back to your desks and sit there and do your work," Naomi said walking by them and taking her seat at her desk.
"Since when did you become so Victorian," Lila asked.
Samantha chuckled at that and said, "Ladies, leave her alone. She is not required to tell you anything. None of us are."
"And we thought you were our friends," Lila said scowering her head at them.
"We went to the Pizza place, sat, and had a nice lunch together. That's all that happened," Naomi said. "Now leave me alone to do my work please."
Elaine arrived back and was breathing very hard and her hair was messed up. "What on earth?" Naomi asked looking at Elaine.
"What a terrible wind out there," Elaine said as she punched back in. "I ran from the end parking lot and almost got blown away."
"There is no wind out there today, Elaine," Naomi said looking at her friend.
"Whoosh, it just blew by me again," Elaine replied walking into her office and closing the door. Samantha, Louise, and Naomi went into Elaine's office and closed the door. The other girls gathered around the door to listen.
"What really happened?" Naomi asked sitting down.
"The wind," Elaine replied. "Well the wind and something else."
"You met up with him, didn't you?" Sam asked.
Elaine looked under her door and saw shadows. "Shhh," she whispered putting her hands over her mouth. She walked to the door and opened it right away and all ten office girls fell in the office.
"Eavesdroppers!" Elaine said. "Get back to your desk."
"It's no fair, you all date hunky guys and don't tell us the scoop!" Lila said angrily at them.
Elaine closed the door and put her draft dodger up against it. She walked back to her chair and sat down. "No, I did not meet up with him," Elaine replied. "I went to run my errands and some idiot crazed shopper attacked my hair as I was standing in line to the checkout. She 'claimed' I had a bug in it. Then she knocked me out of position in line and butted her way in front of me."
"How rude!" Naomi said.
"Yes, it was rude. I filed a complaint with the manager, checked my purse to make sure she didn't rob me blind and everything was there fine. It was extremely rude and I did run from the back parking lot and that's why I was breathing hard."
"Why on earth would she mess your hair up like that?" Sam asked.
"Who knows. Probably on freaking drugs," Elaine replied brushing her hair back down checking it in the mirror. "How was your lunch with Peter?"
"Absolutely divine," Naomi replied.
"That's good. Well you all better get back to work before Richard comes back and finds the girls all glued to my office door."
"Yeah," Samantha replied walking to the door and opening it again and the girls flew down on the ground again.
"Get back to your desk and sit down immediately before I write all of you up," Elaine said angrily.
Everyone went back to their desk and laughed.
After lunch, Richard noticed how quiet the girls were. All he heard was the 'click click' on the keys from their fingers. During that time, he also peeked around the corner at Naomi who was smiling as she was typing. He walked up to her desk and looked at her work and asked, "How is everything coming along Ms. Patterson?"
"Fine," Naomi replied smiling.
"You are certainly chipper this afternoon," he said.
"Yes," Naomi replied. "I've been praying to the Lord. He always makes me smile."
Richard went back to his office and sat down. He looked at Elaine who was typing away on the keys. He then started to work on his own inbox. He was shocked at how quiet the office was. That night, after their massages at the mall, Elaine and Sam walked around for a little bit. "I wonder why they're back in town," Sam said.
"Don't know," Elaine replied. "However, from what I could see on Naomi's face tonight when he picked her up and took her to dinner was that something had seriously changed about him."
"I don't know," Sam said as she walked into a cute little boutique with Elaine following after her.
Later that night back at the house, Naomi was sitting on the couch in her pajamas. "Hey you're back early," Elaine said walking in with Samantha.
"Yeah, just went to dinner and then he had to get some sleep," Naomi said.
"Where did you go to dinner?" Elaine asked sitting next to her friend.
"The French Chalet over on Mercury and Lexus," Naomi replied.
"Oooh how was their food? I heard it was very expensive," Samantha said sitting down next to her friends.
"It was medium priced actually and he paid for everything," Naomi replied. "I left the tip."
"So why is he here anyway, Naomi?" Elaine asked.
"Where's Louise?" Sam asked.
"She's in her room asleep. She got really sick I guess because I saw her dirty clothes on her bedroom floor and took them into her bathroom and the smell was awful. I sprayed it down with Lysol and hopefully she'll feel better in the morning."
"I hope so," Elaine replied.
During their fellowship time together, Naomi started to get very sleepy. "I think the food is making me tired now," she said.
"Fight it. Remember you have to fight it," Elaine replied.
"I know but still," Naomi said standing up and jogging in place for a minute.
"Is he coming to work again tomorrow?" Sam asked.
"Nope. Just wanted to visit with me today. He's busy the rest of the week with whatever he's doing here for. Then he did tell me that the guys would be here this weekend and want to take us out."
"I wonder what they want?" Sam asked.
"Don't know," Naomi replied sitting back down again.
"I'm hungry again," Elaine said looking at Sam.
"Not me, help yourself." Sam said cringing at the thought of the pasta again. Elaine walked over to the fridge and made herself a plate of lasagna and put a slice of cheese on top and melted it in the microwave. Then she sat back down next to the girls and ate.
"Ugh, I need to shower and get ready for bed," Sam said.
"Night Sam," Naomi said.
"Night darlin," Sam replied walking in her bedroom and closing the door.
"Mmm, this is good," Elaine said taking another bite of her food.
Naomi wrapped up in her blanket and turned on the TV. There before her was what the guys were doing in town that weekend.
"Elaine am I seeing things?" Naomi asked.
"No," Elaine replied.
"They are all judges at a beauty contest?" Naomi asked shocked.
"That is just sick," Elaine said putting down her food. "They want to see us because they are here judging a beauty contest."
"He never told me anything about that, Elaine," Naomi said looking at her friend.
"They are men, Naomi," Elaine said. "Shut the TV off."
Naomi shut the TV off and went into her room and cried herself to sleep that night.
"Yeah they'll be in trouble this weekend," Elaine replied angrily as she put her food in the fridge and went into her room to take a hot shower and relax. She fumed all during her shower.
~~~~~~
The rest of the week went by and Naomi was very quiet and distant from everyone. When they were all punching out at the timeclock Friday night, Elaine said, "Let's go out to dinner tonight."
"Okay," Naomi said looking at her friend.
They had not told Sam nor Louise what they saw on the TV because they knew it would make them very mad. At the restaurant, Elaine sat down next to Naomi and said, "At least it's Friday finally!"
"Yes," Naomi said smiling. "Praise God."
When they arrived back at the house after going shopping, there was a limo waiting there in the street. "Tell them to get lost," Elaine said angrily.
"Why? What happened?" Sam asked.
"We're tired and want to sleep. That's what happened," Elaine replied getting out of the car with Naomi and walking up to the house. "Ladies, we're here," they heard out the window.
"Get lost!" Elaine said opening the door and slamming it behind her.
Peter looked at the guys and said, "Let me find out what's wrong."
"Please do," Micky said. "I wasn't expecting this kind of welcome."
Peter got out of the limo and walked up to the house and knocked.
"You think they saw us?" Louise asked sitting still in the car.
"Doesn't seem like it," Sam replied. "Let's take the car and drive around."
"We don't have her key," Louise said.
"I have an extra key for all the cars," Sam said looking at Louise.
Elaine opened up the door and yelled, "Chickens get out of the car and get in here."
"Great!" Sam said. "Thank you Elaine miss loudmouth of the year."
Louise laughed as they both got out of the car. Peter walked up to them and asked, "May I see Naomi please?"
"I have no idea what is going on Peter," Samantha said.
"That's okay. I just want to see Naomi," Peter said.
Sam opened the door and Peter walked inside the room.
"Don't let him in here," Elaine said angrily. "They are only here visiting us because they are judging a beauty pageant."
"What?" Sam asked shocked.
"You saw the commercial?" Peter asked.
"Oh you bet we did," Elaine replied. "And you can tell your friends we are not interested in being used just because you're in town judging a beauty pageant."
"That's not the only reason we're here, Elaine," Peter said. "Naomi let me come in please."
"I don't care what other reason you're here. You are trespassing on our property and I want you out or I will call the police. You wish for your careers to be tarnished because of a phone call?"
"Naomi please open up," Peter said.
No one came to the door and Peter looked at Elaine again. "You turn that knob and I will have all of you arrested as God is my witness," she said angrily at him.
Peter released the door knob and left the house peacefully. He didn't want to create any fights. He got back into the limo and said, "Driver leave please."
"Are they coming?" Micky asked.
"No," Peter replied. "Just get us out of here or Elaine will call the police."
Peter looked at the guys and said, "They saw the commercial."
"I knew we shouldn't have agreed to that commercial," Micky said angrily. "I just knew it."
"What's done is done. Now we have to figure out a plan B that's all," Mike said.
"I have never seen Elaine so angry," Peter said. "She was very angry."
"I don't blame her," Micky said. "She probably thinks we're using them as entertainment to keep occupied before the beauty contest."
"I would never treat Naomi that way. Not ever," Peter said angrily.
"I didn't say you would. I'm saying that's how Elaine is viewing things right now," Micky said. Back at the house, Elaine went into Naomi's room and asked, "You okay?"
"Fine," Naomi replied holding her teddybear.
Elaine went back out to the car to make sure they were gone and then brought in all their shopping bags and put them in her roommates rooms. She was so mad at the guys that she went into her bathroom to take a long, hot shower before she exploded. That is what drove them apart to begin with. Them coming into town, sweet-talking all of them, and then something always happened that broke their hearts.
At their hotel, the guys sat on the beds looking at each other. "How on earth do we explain to them that we are 'not' using them?" Micky asked the guys. "Because I am willing to bet you anything that is what is going through Elaine's mind after seeing that commercial."
"After seeing her tonight, Micky, I certainly don't think she nor any one of them will give us the time of day anymore; which is a shame because I really enjoyed my time with Naomi," Peter said.
"I'm sorry they saw that commercial," Micky said. "I told you all we never should have agreed to it."
"It's done and over with. Now what do we do?" Mike asked.
"Nothing you can do gents," Davy said. "Just do the beauty pageant and leave peacefully without making anymore of a ruckus. Remember how they got hurt three years ago. They are still very guarded and Elaine I will not mess with. She is too full of energy at times."
Saturday came and Naomi refused to get out of bed. She held onto her teddybear the entire day. "You want anything to eat?" Elaine asked her friend.
"No," Naomi replied in a soft voice.
"You want a Coca-Cola?" Elaine asked.
"No," Naomi replied.
Elaine closed the bedroom door and sat in the livingroom drinking a Coke.
Sam walked out of her bedroom and Elaine said, "I could absolutely scream at him for coming back into town, getting her hopes up, and then crashing her into oblivion."
"It's not his fault. It's whomever did the commercial," Sam said. "Don't take it all out on them. They are just trying to make amends for what happened three years ago."
"And how on earth do you know that?" Elaine asked.
"This email I got from Mike explains it all," Samantha said. "And they won't come here anymore because they are afraid of you."
"Me? Why me?" Elaine asked.
"Because of your threatening attitude towards them," Samantha said. "It's all right here in the email."
"Let me see then," Elaine said walking over sitting next to her friend. Samantha handed her the email and Elaine sat there reading it while drinking her Coca-Cola.
"I don't like seeing her heart crushed," Elaine said. "She won't even get out of bed today."
"That's because you have instilled it in her that Peter is using her, which might not be the case at all, Elaine. You jump to conclusions way too quickly," Samantha said.
"Why do you all listen to me anyway?" Elaine asked. "I obviously know nothing of importance here. Only that I spent three months of misery when they all up and left and I had to deal with three very emotional roommates along with my own hurt feelings." Elaine grabbed a 12-pack of Coke from the fridge and went into her room slamming the door behind her. Elaine sat on her bed in her room drinking Coke one can after the next until she couldn't stand anymore. She went into her bathroom and took another hot shower to help her calm down. She hated the fact that they were back in town again. Absolutely hated it. After her shower, she climbed into her fuzzy pajamas and went back to bed. She wanted to sleep because she certainly did not want to deal with hurt feelings again. She couldn't go through that again.
Two hours later, there was a knock on the door. Samantha walked to the door and opened it. "Hey! Thanks for your call," she heard as someone put their arms around her.
"You're welcome. Thanks for your email," Samantha said.
"I knew you checked it daily, so I figured I had a good chance of you reading it. I'm very sorry about last night and that you saw the commercial."
"I didn't see it actually. Elaine and Naomi did but they told us about it," Sam said.
"Where are they anyway?" Mike asked.
"Sleeping as far as I know. Naomi won't come out of her room and well Elaine went to sleep because she hasn't came out of her room in two hours."
"I have Peter outside in the car. Do you think he can see Naomi?" Mike asked.
"He can try, but she's not very receptive according to Elaine," Sam said.
Mike went to the door and motioned for Peter to come inside the house. Peter got out of the car with a dozen red roses and two milkshakes. He walked into the house and said hi to Sam. "Hi Peter. Please do not get her upset. I will never hear the end of it from Elaine if you do," Sam said.
"I won't," Peter said carefully holding the shakes in one hand with his flowers and opening the door with his other hand. He walked into Naomi's room and closed the door. Naomi was sitting there holding her teddybear when he met eyes with her. "These are for you," he said in a soft voice.
"Thanks," Naomi said taking the flowers and smelling them.
"Vanilla your favorite," Peter said handing her a shake.
"Thanks," Naomi said taking the shake and tasting it.
Peter sat down on the bed next to her and said, "I am not using you, Naomi. No matter how the commercial looked. I am not using you."
Naomi looked at him and then looked away from him.
"Hey, we had a good time at lunch and dinner the other day, right?" Peter asked.
"Yes," Naomi said wiping the tears from her eyes. "And then I saw the commercial and Elaine said you all were using us again and well, I don't know what to believe."
"We came here to see you ladies," Peter said. "Yes, we are also here to judge that stupid contest. However, our main reason for being here is to see you ladies. And those days are over with of us acting the way we did three years ago, Naomi. I told you we are changed people."
"I know, but what Elaine said made sense too," Naomi replied.
"Elaine was very wrong, Naomi. Very wrong," Peter said kissing Naomi's forehead and drying the tears from her eyes. "May I hold you?" Peter asked.
"Yes," Naomi said starting to tear up again. Peter laid down next to Naomi and wrapped his arms around her and held her in his arms stroking her long beautiful reddish-brown hair.
That night Mike and Peter went back to the hotel to get ready for their judging event. Micky met them at the door and asked, "How did it go?"
"Sam and Naomi understand," Mike said. "Elaine was sleeping the entire time we were there and so was Louise."
"Your email got through then," Micky said.
"Yes," Mike replied. "Praise God that it did and it worked."
"Elaine is going to be a tough cookie," Micky said changing into his black jacket.
"Yes, she will Micky," Mike said. "According to Sam, Elaine hasn't been her old self since everything had happened. She's been partially back to herself, however, she can't look at any old pictures or read anything about the group."
"I need to make her understand that we are not the same people we were three years ago," Micky said.
"Many blessings on that one, Mick," Peter said. "I had a hard enough time with Naomi today. She did, however, enjoy the flowers and milkshake."
"Elaine loves mint chip icecream. I'll bring her a mint chip shake," Micky said massaging his chin as he was thinking of a plan.
"We better go," Mike said walking to the door.
"Wait!" Micky said anxiously. "I have an idea."
"We need to go now, Micky," Mike said.
"Just five more minutes," Micky said picking up the phone and calling Samantha.
At the house, "I'll get it Sam," Elaine said walking out of her bedroom.
"Hello," she said.
"Samantha this is Micky. How are you?"
"First off, this is not Samantha. And second off, why on earth are you calling her cell phone for?" Elaine asked irritated.
"Elaine?" he asked nervously.
"You got it, you rotten little creep! Don't you dare call her private phone number again. I never want to talk to you again." Elaine said hanging up the phone.
Micky looked at the guys and said, "I thought you said she was sleeping?"
"She was. Must have woke up now or something," Mike said. "We really need to go now."
"Who was it?" Sam asked.
"Micky calling your private cell phone number," Elaine said. "I'm going out!" Elaine grabbed her purse, phone, and keys and left the house angrily.
"Okay this anger thing has got to go," Samantha said looking at her cell phone to make sure it was in one piece. She called Micky back and he picked up the phone. "Hello."
"Why on earth would you call my private line?" Sam asked.
"I thought you would answer it," Micky replied. "I was going to tell you to watch the show tonight, however, that plan backfired when Elaine answered your phone."
"Please don't call my number again, Micky. Please. Elaine's left the house in a very bad mood and I worry about her driving that way," Samantha said.
"I won't call it again. I'm sorry she answered it," Micky said.
"Me too," Samantha replied. "I have to go now. Bye."
"Bye," Micky said hanging up the phone.
Samantha deleted the numbers out of her phone and then went to check on Naomi who was sound asleep snoring away. Louise was still asleep as well. Samantha went into her room and closed the door.
Sunday morning came and the girls were getting ready for Church. "Elaine, you coming to Church?" Sam asked through the doorway. When no one answered, Sam opened the door. "Laney, you coming to Church?" Elaine's bed was made and her window was open. "Elaine?" Sam said nervously walking into Elaine's room and peeking out the window.
"Is she coming?" Louise asked.
"She's not here," Sam said. "Her window's open but she's not here."
Sam walked into Elaine's bathroom and it was empty. All her makeup and things were gone. She checked her closets and everything was gone.
"Not again," Sam cried out. "Please God, not again."
"What is it Sam?" Naomi asked walking in the doorway.
"Elaine took off," Sam said. "Everything is gone."
"Oh no," Naomi said. "Why this time?"
"Micky called my phone last night," Samantha said. "You all go to Church and I'll drive around looking for her."
"We'll all go," Louise said looking at Naomi.
"Yes, absolutely," Naomi said concerned for Elaine's safety and well-being. She hated when Elaine got into her flight mode and vanished for days upon end when she was upset.
Naomi's cell phone rang in the car and she picked it up, "Hello."
"Hey!" the voice said.
"I can't talk right now. Elaine took off and we're out looking for her," Naomi said. "Bye."
"Let me know if you find her," the voice said.
"Okay bye." Naomi said hanging up the phone.
Peter walked over to the bed and pressed on Micky's arm. "She's gone. The girls are out looking for her."
"I knew she would bolt. She always does when she's mad," Micky said.
"Do you have any idea where she would be?" Peter asked. "The girls are frantic."
"No, not at all I'm afraid," Micky said.
Naomi put her head back on the seat and asked, "Where would Elaine go when she's down and out?"
"OMGosh!" Louise cried out.
Samantha turned the car around and drove to the hospital. They walked inside nervously and went to the front desk. "Elaine Nelson please," Sam said.
"Room 202," the Nurse said.
"I'm going to be sick," Naomi said falling against Louise.
"Keep it together. We don't know how bad it is," Louise said.
They walked into the room and sat next to their friend who was asleep. Samantha put her purse on the floor and started to pray for her friend.
The door opened and the Nurse asked, "You must be her friends."
"Yes," Samantha said with tears in her eyes.
"Thankfully someone found her outside a restaurant and called the ambulance," the Nurse said.
"Is she okay?" Sam asked.
"Yes, she's fine," the Nurse replied. "She's resting now because we gave her a sedative to calm down."
"What restaurant did they find her at?" Sam asked.
"Leonardi's Restaurant and Pizzaria," the Nurse said.
"Thank you," Sam replied.
"You're welcome," the Nurse said.
"Oh stop your crying, ladies," Elaine said lifting her head. "I fell and hit my head on the outside of the restaurant and went unconscious."
"Oh Elaine," Naomi said throwing her arms around her friend.
"I didn't relapse into a cycle, don't worry," Elaine said. "Get off of me Patterson or I will scream."
"You didn't binge?" Sam asked.
Elaine yawned and said, "Of course I did. But I didn't purge and that's the main thing."
"They are just observing me today and I can go home tonight if I'm feeling better. They gave me a sedative to help me relax because I freaked when I saw the blood," Elaine replied.
"How did you fall?" Louise asked.
"I forgot there was that extra step and I fell into the building and smacked my head up against it and passed out," Elaine replied.
"Did you have to get stitches?" Louise asked.
"No, thankfully not," Elaine replied rolling onto her side and covering up with her blankets.
"But your things are gone," Samantha said.
"They are in my car," Elaine replied. "I was going to stay the night in a hotel, and never made it. My car should still be in the restaurant parking lot."
~~~~~~
At work that following day, Naomi and Elaine arrived early and took their seats. "I'm glad you're feeling better Laney," Naomi said.
"Thanks, me too," Elaine replied.
Elaine sat down in her chair and let out a breath. She took her pain medication and then closed her eyes for a few minutes.
"Morning ladies!" Richard said walking into the office.
"What's so good about it?" Naomi asked.
"How was your weekend?" Richard asked.
"Terrible," Naomi replied. "I don't wish to talk to you nor anyone else today. Leave Elaine alone too, she just got out of the hospital."
"What?" Richard asked.
"I'm fine, Naomi. Just relax," Elaine said opening her eyes.
"Why were you in the hospital?" Richard asked walking into her office.
"I hit my head and fell and needed to be observed overnight. I'm fine," Elaine said. "Just really tired."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Richard asked very concerned.
"Yes, I just need to sit here and be quiet for a while," Elaine said.
"Let me know if you need to go home," Richard said.
"I will," Elaine replied closing her eyes again and covering up with her jacket.
Richard left Elaine's office and went into his. However, he kept his eyes on Elaine throughout the day.
That night, Naomi was checking her email and found one from Peter. "I hope you found Elaine. I'm so sorry our presence caused so much turmoil for you ladies. I will keep in touch more often with you Naomi. We left last night and flew back. Micky didn't feel up to staying any longer. I will keep in touch. Promise. Love always, Peter." Naomi saved the email and then went to check on Elaine, who was already snoring away. "She asleep?" Sam asked.
"Yes, she's exhausted," Naomi said.
"She needs to sleep. Don't wake her tomorrow either. If she doesn't get up to her alarm, we're letting her stay home and rest," Sam said. "I don't play with head injuries."
"Me neither," Naomi said. "Goodnight ladies."
"Night," Louise said.
"Night Nay Nay," Sam said.
Naomi crawled under her covers and went to sleep. She, too, was tired and exhausted.
That next day at work, Naomi kept staring at her flowers on her desk. "Why is he wanting to talk to me Lord?" she asked herself. "I don't understand. It's been three years and why, all of a sudden, is he wanting to talk to me again?"
Naomi sat at her desk continuing to stare at her flowers and then she started crying. "OMGosh, I am just as bad as Satan!" Naomi said grabbing her purse and flying out of the office.
"What?" Samantha said following after her friend.
Samantha walked outside and found Naomi leaning against the office wall. "What's going on?"
"We are being just as bad as Satan is by not letting the guys come and see us or explain why they were here," Naomi said angrily. "We are preventing them to cleanse their souls to us and that is not right, Sam. It's not."
"What made you think of this now, Naomi?" Samantha asked in a gentle voice.
"The flowers that Peter brought to me showing me his love and adoration and I blew him off just because of Elaine's misguided thoughts," Naomi said.
"Okay. Well, you can take care of that stuff when we're back at home tonight, Naomi. We should get back inside."
"For what, Sam?" Naomi asked. "What is so desperate inside that we cannot have a few moments to get spiritual clarification?" "I mean God is our boss, not Richard. And I have been forsaking God by not allowing Peter to express himself to me. So have you with Mike; Louise with Davy; and certainly Elaine with Micky."
Sam stared at her friend trying to figure out what was going on inside her mind.
"Ladies, is there a problem?" Richard asked. "The phones are ringing off the hook."
"Then why are you out here yelling at us and not answering the phones?" Naomi snapped back. "I will come inside when I am good and ready to."
Richard closed the door and walked back to his desk answering the phones.
Sam stood there staring at the sky with her friend quietly asking God if Naomi was right in her thinking.
That night at home, Naomi looked at Elaine and said, "You are misguided and Satan has infected your mind."
"What?" Elaine asked looking at her friend.
"You have forsaken God by not allowing Micky to cleanse his soul with you and to apologize. You are no better than Satan," Naomi said looking at her. "You need to go to that chapel of yours and get down on your hands and knees and pray for forgiveness because what you did to those guys this past weekend is unforgiveable. I, for one, will never listen to you again."
"What on earth are you rambling about?" Elaine asked confused.
"I had an epiphany at work today about those guys and I will not let you, Satan, or anyone else deter me from them wanting to cleanse their souls to us and show us love and forgiveness," Naomi said angrily.
Samantha looked at Elaine and said, "She's right. We forsake God by preventing those guys from coming here and expressing whatever they needed to us. I prayed about it all afternoon after talking with Naomi and she's right."
Louise just sat there looking at her two friends and seeing their light in their eyes. "I need to make a phone call," Louise said anxiously walking to her bedroom and closing the door.
"I'm taking the rest of the week off," Naomi said. "I'm going to California and I'm going to find out what Peter wanted to tell me. And none of you are going to stand in my way." Naomi walked to her bedroom and sat down at her computer and checked her email again. "Hey Naomi, it's Peter again. Just wanted to let you know that we got another tour lined up and will be leaving by the end of the week. I will miss you greatly, but please know you're in my thoughts and prayers. Love always, Peter."
Naomi picked up her cell phone and called Peter. "Hello," she heard into the phone.
"Peter please, this is Naomi Patterson," Naomi said quietly into the phone.
"Hey Pete, it's Naomi," she heard someone yelling.
"Hey you got my email?" he asked coming to the phone.
"Yes, I did. Congratulations on another tour," Naomi replied.
"Thanks. It just all happened so quickly, as we just got back. But we're all really excited to go through with it," Peter said.
"That's wonderful. I was wondering something. What day are you leaving?" Naomi asked.
"Saturday morning. Why?" Peter asked.
"I wanted to fly out to visit with you for a while this week. I took the rest of the week off and was wondering if you would want me to do that," Naomi said.
"That's sweet, Naomi. However, we'll be getting everything ready and practicing that I'm afraid I won't be home much," Peter said.
"Oh," Naomi said shocked. "Well nevermind I guess. It can wait for another time instead."
"What can wait, Naomi?" Peter asked.
"Nevermind. It's not important now," Naomi said. "I have to go now."
"Naomi wait," Peter said. "What's not important? I have time and you can tell me over the phone, can't you?"
"No Peter I can't," Naomi said. "It's not important and I must go take my shower now and get to bed early. Forget that I called. Goodnight, God Bless, and have a safe tour."
"Thanks. You take care okay?" Peter asked.
"I will," Naomi replied. "Goodnight."
"Night," Peter said not wanting to hang up the phone with her.
Naomi hung up the phone and sat at the computer again. She wrote him an email instead and then logged off the computer and went to take her shower.
~~~~~~
Later that night, after doing some packing, Peter sat down at his computer and checked his email. He had two from Naomi Luvs Jesus. He took a sip of his pop and opened one of them. "Peter, it's Naomi. Since I can't come and visit you now, I thought I would email you instead. You have just forsaken God by not letting me come and see you to find out about what you had to tell me, just as I had forsaken God by not allowing you to come and talk to me when you were here. I stared at your beautiful flowers you gave me at work today and I had an epiphany. It's a shame that you have to do this tour and will be so busy that you cannot make time for me to come out and share my feelings with you. And it's an even worse shame that I have to tell you these things on the internet (which is Satan's paradise you know). However, I will do what I must do so that I can cleanse myself and be free again.
Thank you for attempting to contact me after three years of silence. I am sorry that my judgements and thoughts were clouded by Elaine's misguided thoughts when we saw that commercial of you all judging that beauty contest. Thank you for the flowers and the lunch and dinner. I did have a good time with you in fellowship about the Lord. You do not realize this, but after our excruciating breakup three years ago, I ended up in counseling to help me deal with everything. I was so in love with you Peter. You were the first man I had ever truly loved. And then with the breakup and everything, I shut down for months. I lost my one job because of it, Peter. Thankfully, through lots and lots of prayer, Elaine found us all great jobs at her new company she had been working at and we have been there ever since. Seeing you again, Peter, brought back all those feelings I have had about you. And to learn that you and the guys had given your lives over to the Lord was just ecstatic for me. I felt as if all my hurt and angry feelings had dissipated out of my body that night. I do, honestly, hope that you will have a good tour, Peter. Remember though, just because you're touring again does not mean you can slip back into your old habits either. You must remain 'true' to 'God' in that tour and that means no partying, women, or anything else along those lines of un-Christianlike behavior. I need to go and take my shower now as I am feeling really kind of angry and hurt at this moment and showering helps me to relax. I get that part from Elaine who showers to help her calm down at nights, especially after a rough day at work. God Bless You Peter. Love always, Naomi." Peter clicked open number 2 email from Naomi Luvs Jesus and it read. "P.S. I forgot to tell you something. That is what I was going to express to you in person, had you not forsaken me and God by telling me you were 'too' busy. Remember something, Peter. You are never 'too' busy for God. The moment that you say you are, Satan has won. I am repenting this evening for forsaking God when you were here. I suggest you do the same thing. Pass it on to the other guys as well. Love always, Naomi."
"Micky! Come in here now please," Peter called out.
"What is it Pete?" Micky said drying his hair with the towel.
"Sit here and read these two emails I just got from Naomi. I need some air," Peter said looking at his friend.
"You okay Pete?" Micky asked.
"Read the emails. I'll be back," Peter said opening up his bedroom door and walking out on the beach. Micky sat down in the computer chair and read the emails from Naomi. His heart started to bleed inside at what the words were speaking to him.
Out on the beach, Peter took a long walk and stared at the waves that were rustling in the background. He found a huge rock and sat on it staring at the sunset. Naomi was very knowledgeable in the Lord and she knew how to speak in a manner that was non-threatening. Her words set very still in Peter's heart that night.
Back at the pad, Micky had all the guys read the emails from Naomi. "Oh dear," Mike said as he read halfway into one. "Where is Peter?"
"He's outside taking a breather," Micky said. "I can understand why."
"Me too, shotgun. Me too," Mike said.
Back at the house, Naomi was in the shower crying out in her prayer language. Elaine walked to the bedroom door and listened. "Something happened," Elaine said to Samantha.
"Yes, it did," Samantha replied. "She's repenting for forsaking the guys when they were here because when she forsake them, she also forsake God."
"Really?" Elaine asked tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes. That's what she was trying to express to you earlier," Samantha said.
"Oh," Elaine replied starting to cry as she walked back to her bedroom and closed the door. She grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom to shower and cry out to the Lord as well. "Abba, Abba," she kept crying out with her arms in the air as the water came down over her body.
~~~~~~
The rest of the week at work, Naomi did not take the time off to go to California, however, she was very quiet and remained to herself, as did Elaine. Richard noticed quite a difference in the girls, however, he did not interfere in their lives. Back in California, Peter, Mike, and Micky were packing up for the tour, however, their hearts were completely full of loneliness without the girls. Davy had been checking his email when he found one from Louise. Curiously he opened it and read it. "Hi Davy, it's Louise. As you probably already know the girls have had this epiphany in what happened while you all were visiting. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry I didn't get to see you while you were here. However, please let me know when you're all back from the tour, as I've got some vacation time to use and I would really like to fly out to see you. Have a safe tour my friend and remember God is always watching even when we don't think he is. Love always, Louise." During his sixth time reading the email, Davy felt an overwhelming urge to cancel the tour at the last minute. He stood in his doorway looking at his friends and said, "Fellas."
"Yeah?" Micky asked breathing hard from moving his drums.
"Let's cancel the tour," Davy said.
"What for?" Micky asked.
"Because I think it would be the right thing to do," Davy said.
"We already agreed to do it and we cannot go back on our word," Mike said. "I know the girls have got to us this week, but we made a promise and we must stand true to that promise."
"Just a thought," Davy said going back into his room and closing the door.
"Come on and let's finish packing everything up," Mike gasped. "I forgot how tiring this actually was."
After work that night, the girls went to a quiet dinner down in Boston. Elaine sat in the booth and stretched out her arms and legs. "What a week," she said.
"Definitely," Naomi replied. "I feel so emotionally drained and charged at the same time."
"Me too," Elaine replied. "Me too."
"Well, the guys are leaving at 5 am tomorrow morning according to Mike's message he left me on my phone," Samantha said.
"They will have a good tour," Louise said. "I really think they will."
"Me too," Naomi replied.
"What are we going to eat tonight ladies?" Samantha asked.
"Anything but pasta that we need to be finishing sometime in the near future," Elaine replied.
"Oh that will all end tomorrow night," Samantha said. "I forgot to mention, I invited Richard, his wife, and the girls from the office over for a slumber party to help finish the food."
"You did what?" Elaine asked.
"You heard me," Samantha replied. "They are all coming too, including Lila."
"Great the house is filthy and we're having houseguests," Elaine replied.
"The house is not filthy and yes we are having houseguests," Samantha said.
"AYE," Elaine mumbled to herself angrily.
After their dinner of pizza and garlic bread, the girls took a stroll down to some cute little shops near the restaurant and did a little shopping to help them walk off their dinner. When they arrived back at their house that night, there was a message on the answering machine.
"Hi ladies, it's Micky. We just wanted to call and say have a great weekend! We leave at 5 am tomorrow morning on our tour, but we will be back in two weeks. Naomi, thanks for your emails to Peter. They have definitely gave all of us clarity on a lot of issues. We love you all. Elaine, you have email. Love, the guys."
"What email did you send them, Naomi?" Elaine asked looking at her friend.
"Just something from my heart to theirs," Naomi replied. "I need a shower, I'm still sweating from the walking we did. Goodnight ladies."
"Night Naomi," Samantha replied sitting down on the couch and stretching out her arms and legs.
Elaine walked into her room and sat down at her computer. She checked her email and saw she had one from Micky.
"I know we've had a rocky past, Elaine. I know our last visit was not the best and I know you've been mad at me about how things ended up. But please know that I still have our picture together on my nightstand and I love to look at it and remember all the 'fun' times we did have with each other. There were more 'fun' than 'bad' times, Elaine. Please open up your heart like Naomi has opened ours and realize that life is too short to hold grudges against us for what happened between all four of us. We are so very much wanting another chance with you ladies and we will wait as long as it takes, however, please know that we go to a beautiful Lutheran Church down here that I found one day on a long walk. Peter, Mike, and I have all gave our hearts and souls over to the Lord. Naomi said it so perfectly in her email to Peter that he shared with all of us, "If we forsake God then we have given into Satan or something along those lines. But that really hit home with us, Elaine. We all love you and the girls. You mean the world to each one of us. Remember that. We will not forsake God anymore, and we hope that you will not forsake us anymore either. Love always, Micky."
Elaine saved the email and walked to Naomi's door and knocked. "Naomi Patterson open up that door."
"What's wrong Elaine?" Naomi asked putting on her pajama bottoms.
"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to look at you for a moment," Elaine said.
"Um okay," Naomi replied confused.
Elaine looked at Naomi and said, "I wish I had your knowledge in the Lord my friend. I feel like a failure at times compared to you."
"You are not a failure and we are not comparing ourselves, Elaine. We are all our own unique and individual person, just as God created us," Naomi said.
"I love you my friend," Elaine said giving Naomi a hug and kiss. "Thank you for blessing me."
"Um okay," Naomi replied. "Mind telling me how I am blessing you."
"Micky gave his life over to the Lord, as did Peter and Mike. That is the best blessing anyone could ever get," Elaine said wiping the tears from her eyes. "Your email did wonders in them apparently. Thank you for whatever you said to them."
"Thank God, Elaine. God put it in my heart to talk to them the way that I did," Naomi said smiling at her friend.
"Thank you Lord Jesus!" Elaine cried out lifting her arms in the air walking back to her bedroom and closing the door. Naomi looked at Samantha and Louise and just smiled.
"Goodnight ladies," Naomi said.
"Night," Sam and Louise replied. Naomi closed her bedroom door and praised God for most of the night. She loved God with all of her heart and soul.
~The End~
This is Rated PG-13.**
It was a cold and chilly day when Elaine woke up to use the restroom. "What time is it?" she asked herself as she threw the covers to the side of her so she could bring her legs around to the floor. "It's only 3 am?" she asked herself blinking a few times. "Nooooooooo, I don't want to work today," she cried out. Elaine hated her job at times and loved it at times. It varied on her mood and how nice the people were at her job. She walked into her bathroom and sat down on the toilet. She wiped her sleepy eyes with her fingers and then gave her scalp a massage hoping that would help her to wake up some. She was still very tired and very weak. When she finished in the bathroom, she looked at her eyes and said, "What the heck?" She took a piece of toilet paper and wiped her eyes. It was her mascara and eyeliner from the day before she must have fallen asleep with it still on her face. "Oh forget it, it will come off in the shower," Elaine said angrily as she walked back to her bed and crawled back under her covers and went back to sleep.
When her alarm went off three hours later, she slept right through it. When her roommate Naomi Ann Patterson was finished getting dressed, she knocked on Elaine's door. "Laney, you ready to go yet?" she asked quietly. Naomi opened the door and found Elaine still sound asleep. "Laney, wake up. You need to get showered and ready so we can leave for breakfast," she said quietly as she pushed on her friend's shoulder.
"No, I want to sleep," Elaine cried out.
"You can't. We need to hurry or we'll not be able to eat breakfast and I'm starving," Naomi said pushing Elaine's shoulder again.
"Go without me then if you're so hungry," Elaine said.
"No, I don't like walking into the office alone," Naomi said. "Please hurry up and shower so we can go. Please Laney. I'm so hungry."
"Go without me. I'm not coming in until 8 am," Elaine replied.
"Oh Elaine please wake up. Please!" Naomi said pressing on her friend's shoulder again. "It's almost 6:30 now. Please."
"I said go without me. I'm not getting up until 7:15 am," Elaine replied.
Naomi closed the door to Elaine's bedroom and grabbed her purse, keys, and phone. She left for the office without them stopping to get herself breakfast that she had gone by the time she arrived at the office. It was still dark outside and there was no one else there yet. She did not want to get out of the car by herself, especially with it not being lighter so she could see her surroundings. Naomi pulled up to the doorway and looked at the door. There was a huge sign on the door. "Closed for today."
"What?" she asked herself. "Is today a holiday I don't know about?" She fumbled through her purse and found her calendar and looked at the day. She looked at the sign again and in smaller print it read, "Family Emergency and also Corporate decided to give us a day off." Then in even smaller print it said, "HAHA Gotcha! Yeah right. Come on in, we're open today."
"Dang," Naomi said holding her heart. "I was really hoping to have a day off to sleep."
Naomi parked her car closer to the building and made sure she had her keys in her hand as weapons if she needed them. Then she got out of her car and went inside the building. When she turned on the light, she saw a shadow hiding behind something. "OMGosh we're being robbed!" Naomi screamed as she ran out into the parking lot back to her car. Suddenly, the door flew open and she saw someone coming up to her car. "Naomi, it's only me, Richard. Open the door please. I'm sorry I frightened you."
"Richard, what in the heck are you doing?" Naomi asked looking at him.
"Just trying to make the day interesting for everyone," he said. "I am so sorry I scared you."
"You had no right doing that to me, Richard! No right!" Naomi said starting to cry.
"Please don't cry, Naomi. I'm sorry," Richard said walking closer to her car so Naomi could get a better look at him.
"Where is your car at anyway?" Naomi asked.
"My wife dropped me off at 6 am this morning and I wanted to see how many people would read the sign all the way down," Richard said.
"You are in a mean and cruel mood today, Richard," Naomi replied. "I should just go home and stay there after what you did to me."
"No please don't. I'm so sorry, Naomi. It won't happen again," Richard said.
Naomi put on her tennis shoes and held her heels in her hand and said, "If you play another trick on me, I will deck you with my heels."
"I promise I won't. I'm sorry," Richard said backing away as Naomi slowly got out of her car and stood there looking at him.
"Just for your little trick, I'm leaving at noon today," Naomi said. "And Elaine and the girls are coming with me."
Richard gave Naomi a hug and said, "I'm sorry I frightened you."
As the girls slowly arrived, Naomi sat at her desk trying to calm down. It wasn't every day that she witnessed something as cold and cruel as what she did.
When Elaine walked in the door and asked, "What jerk put the sign on the door and that is not amusing whatsoever."
"That jerk would be me, Elaine," Richard said. "I was just trying to make the most of everyone's day that's all."
"Very bad trick, Richard. Very bad," Elaine replied.
Richard pulled Elaine into her office and closed the door. "I did something awful this morning, Elaine."
"Besides the sign? I can't imagine," Elaine replied.
"I hid behind a filing cabinet and scared Naomi to death when she walked in and thought we were being robbed. She's not herself."
"I can imagine. I wouldn't be either, Richard. That is not a nice trick at all, especially since she's afraid of dark parking lots already," Elaine replied.
"Will you check on her and make sure she's okay?" Richard asked.
"I would suggest you never do that again, Richard. Take that sign off the door before management sees it and you get tossed out on your butt," Elaine replied.
"I will," Richard said. "Check on Naomi please."
Richard opened the door to Elaine's office and walked out to the exit and took the sign off the door and brought it back inside ripping it up. Elaine walked up to Naomi and said, "It's just me sweetie."
"Did he tell you what he did to me?" Naomi asked.
"Yes, and it was horrible. I'm so sorry you went through that," Elaine replied.
"Me too," Naomi replied. "I was so scared. I told you I didn't want to come into the office alone."
Naomi started crying again and Elaine helped her friend to the bathroom for a while telling Sam to watch the phones.
After a half-hour, Elaine walked back to Richard's office and said, "I'm taking Naomi home for the day."
"She's still not dealing well with it, is she?" Richard asked.
"No, she's not and she can't stop crying in the ladies room. I'm also taking the day off to stay with her. That was a mean and cruel joke, Richard, and you will be very blessed if Naomi does not report you for what you did."
"It will never happen again, Elaine. I didn't think about negative repercussions that could of happened. I am very sorry."
"Well, now you know," Elaine said. "I'm taking her home."
"Please tell her I'm sorry," Richard said.
"I will," Elaine replied walking out of Richard's office and going to talk to Sam. "Can you sit at Naomi's desk today and do entry?"
"Why? Where's Naomi?" Sam asked.
"She's going home with me for the day. I will explain to you and Louise tonight what happened. Please can you just sit at Naomi's desk and answer the phone and do your entry today?"
"I can with the passwords," Sam said. "But I don't know them."
"Sign on with your own," Elaine said.
Just then someone came out of the ladies room and said, "OMGosh there's a woman passed out on the floor in there. Someone call 9-1-1."
"No need to call 9-1-1, Sylvia. It's Naomi and I'm taking her home. She's fine," Elaine replied.
"Oh okay, Elaine," Sylvia said.
"Sam, get over there and sign in so I can get her home please," Elaine begged her friend.
Sam walked over to Naomi's desk and signed off Naomi and then signed in as herself. "Okay in," Sam said.
"Thanks," Elaine replied giving Sam a hug. "I will tell you all what happened tonight."
Sam walked back to her desk and carried over her entry work and drink along with her purse and supplies. She covered Naomi for the day, but definitely wanted to hear what had happened.
Once Elaine got Naomi home and put her to bed, Elaine drove back to the office and told Richard, "I need someone to drive Naomi's car back to our house and I will bring them back."
"How is she?" Richard asked.
"She's not good Richard. She's always had a fear of being raped in a parking lot and she's terrified of coming back here. She passed out in the ladies room and I took her home and put her right to bed. But I need to get back there in case she wakes up and is lost," Elaine replied. "I'm taking Louise."
"Okay," Richard said. Elaine walked out and told Louise, "I need you to drive Naomi's car back to the house and I will bring you right back."
"Okay Elaine," Louise said looking at her friend. Louise grabbed her purse and Elaine handed her Naomi's keys and Louise drove Naomi's car back to the house. Elaine went inside and checked on Naomi and she was still asleep.
"What happened to her?" Louise asked looking at her friend.
"Remember that sign on the door this morning?" Elaine asked.
"Yeah," Louise replied.
Elaine pulled Louise out of Naomi's room and told her what had happened on the way back to the office. "Richard did that to her?" Louise asked.
"Yes, wasn't that cruel? Now the poor thing is terrified to return back to the office because of it. It's halfway my fault too because I wanted to sleep in later and she came by herself, but Richard should not have hid behind things either making her think it was a robber."
"Definitely not. I'm going to report him to Cyrus," Louise replied. "That is not funny."
"Don't report him yet. I think he's really thinking about what he did and I want to see what exactly he does."
"But Elaine, that was wrong!" Louise said.
"I know, but believe me, he is regretting it this moment. I'll see you back home tonight. Thanks for coming with."
"You're welcome," Louise replied. "Give Naomi a hug and kiss from me."
"I will," Elaine replied.
~~~~~~
During her time at the house, Elaine sat in the livingroom checking on Naomi every half hour to an hour just to make sure she was okay. When the girls arrived home that night, Samantha had already been informed of what had happened and she was furious.
"How is she?" Sam asked a sleeping Elaine in the chair.
"Still asleep. Hasn't moved all day," Elaine replied.
"I have already called Cyrus and he is having a meeting with Richard tonight about this," Sam said. "Louise had already told me about it when she returned back from leaving with you. That is not right, Elaine."
"I know it's not right, but I didn't want Cyrus called yet," Elaine replied. "Richard feels terrible about what happened as it is."
"As he should. And he needs to be written up for it," Samantha said. "Scaring a woman entering a building as a joke is illegal I believe. I'm not sure, but Cyrus is going to handle the situation."
"You didn't tell the other girls, did you?" Elaine asked.
"You bet I did," Samantha said. "They all need to be on the alert now if Richard tries this again," Samantha said kicking her shoes across the room. "He's lucky I didn't go into that office and smack him myself."
"I know he already feels terrible about it, Sam. I am sorry you told the other girls, but there is nothing I can do about it now."
"I told Cyrus I wanted a phone call from him tonight on the meeting and what the outcome would be. If the phone rings, I'll answer it," Sam said angrily.
"Okay," Elaine replied opening up Naomi's door and peeking in on her friend again. "Still asleep," Elaine replied.
"That's good because she will not want to hear me talking to Cyrus tonight because I do not accept this behavior from anyone, manager or not," Samantha said angrily. "You let one freak get away with things and he'll keep doing it again for amusement. However, you nip it early and then there's no cause for concern."
"Where's Louise?" Elaine asked looking around the room. "I thought she came in with you."
"She did, but she left to go get us dinner at the Pasta-o-rama that I called and ordered for us tonight," Sam said.
"Oh I see. That was nice of you," Elaine replied.
"Yeah and I used company phone to make my order as well. I didn't care after what I found out today," Sam said.
Shortly after Samantha arrived back out of her bedroom in her fuzzy pajamas, Naomi came out of her bedroom. "Wow what happened?" she asked the girls.
"You fainted in the ladies room and I brought you home," Elaine replied walking up to her friend and giving her a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay," Naomi replied. "How long did I sleep?"
"About six hours," Elaine replied.
"Whew!" Naomi replied sitting down. "I definitely feel better than I did earlier."
"Praise God!" Elaine said giving her friend a hug.
The phone rang and Naomi reached for it. "I'll get it," Samantha said walking over to it and grabbing it away from Naomi.
"Pardon me," Naomi said taking her hand away quickly.
Elaine told Naomi who was supposed to call and that Sam was angry and Naomi just watched.
"Hello," Samantha said sitting down on the couch.
"Sam, this is Cyrus," she heard.
"It's about time. What did you find out?" Sam asked.
"It was only a practical joke and Richard was just trying to help everyone have a good day and that he meant absolutely no harm to anyone," Cyrus said. "And I listened to his reasons for wanting to try and help the girls have a good day and he was just trying to be nice and make them smile. I believe that, Sam. He would never want to hurt anyone in that office."
"So you're telling me then, Cyrus, that you are not going to discipline Richard for causing our dear friend to collapse in the ladies room from fear and sleep for the past six hours because she was so distraught and could not function?" Samantha asked.
"I'm fine, Sam," Naomi said. Sam held up a finger at Naomi telling her to wait and Naomi rolled her eyes. "You are way overreacting Samantha."
Cyrus said, "Richard would never intentionally hurt any one of his staff including man or woman, Sam. It was a very bad practical joke and it will never happen again."
"That's not what I asked you Cyrus and you know it," Samantha said. "So you are not disciplining him, is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct," Cyrus said. "I did express my concerns over what you had told me and I did give him a 'verbal' warning, Sam. But there will be nothing else done about the situation."
"Then I will see you, Cyrus, and Richard in Milton's office first thing in the morning," Samantha said. "Because unlike you, I do not find it amusing when a staff member tries to imitate a robber and scare the staff. I will be calling Milton at home as soon as I am off the phone with you, so be prepared." Samantha hung up the phone and let out a "GRRRRR."
"You are making a mountain out of this Sam," Elaine said. "You're the one that's going to end up looking stupid. Naomi is fine."
"Well then I look stupid, Elaine. But at least I know that by the grace of God I tried to do everything in my power to try to get things resolved in a more professional manner than just ignoring the fact that there was a problem today at the office and a woman passed out from that problem," Samantha said grabbing her purse and dialing Milton's phone number.
"Okay you do that, Sam, and Naomi and I will never talk to you again!" Elaine said standing up and walking over to her friend hanging up the phone.
"You don't mean that," Sam said.
"By the grace of God I do, Samantha," Elaine replied. "She is fine. No one was hurt or injured from the incident. I love Richard as a manager and I do not want to see him get into trouble over one little practical joke on the behalf of wanting his office staff to have a good day."
"I don't either, Sam," Naomi said looking at her. "I'm fine, honest!"
"You call Cyrus back and you tell him that you have reconsidered calling Milton and that you accept his actions," Elaine said still holding down the receiver "or Naomi and I will move out and never, ever talk to you again."
"Fine," Samantha said taking the phone back. "I will call Cyrus back."
"Someone help me with this please!" Louise said kicking on the front door. Elaine ran to the door and opened it. "Thank you," Louise said handing Elaine a huge bucket full of pasta. "Naomi help me, please," Louise said.
Naomi walked out to the car and opened up the backseat. "Good grief, how much did she order?" she asked.
"Oh I would say about $100.00 worth of pasta that I expect to be paid back on. This was overkill," Louise said angrily.
Elaine got the kitchen table set up and as the food kept coming in, she said, "What on earth? There are only four of us."
"Thank Samantha because she owes me $150.00 including taxes," Louise said angrily. "You were so blessed I had that in my account, but I want it back."
"You will get it," Samantha said.
Sitting on their kitchen table was four tubs of lasagna, four buckets full of spaghetti plain, four buckets full of spaghetti and meatballs, and two tubs of breadsticks.
As Louise made the final run from her car. "Here are four 12-packs of Coca-Cola as well," she said putting them on the livingroom table.
"You must have been planning an incredible feast, Sam," Elaine said looking at all the food.
"Hey I was mad, what do you expect. I eat when I'm mad," Samantha said taking a plate and shoving it full of lasagna and breadsticks.
The girls one-by-one fixed themselves a plate full of food and Elaine mumbled to herself, "We'll have leftovers for the next five years."
~~~~~~
That following morning at the office, Elaine made sure to go with Naomi that day and she did fine and wasn't affected at all by the darkness of the parking lot. Richard was sitting in his office when they walked by to Naomi's desk. "Morning ladies," he said peeking his head out the doorway. "How are you feeling today, Naomi?"
"Much better, Richard. Thanks for asking," Naomi replied.
"That's good. I told my wife about what had happened and I was made to sleep in the basement last night with the dog," Richard said. "She's still not talking to me today."
"I'm sorry Richard," Elaine said helping Naomi in her chair and then walking over to him. "Samantha went on an angry burst yesterday. What are you and Nadine doing for dinner the next five years?"
"Huh?" Richard asked.
"We have enough food for the next five years after Samantha's ordering binge at Pasta-o-rama last night," Naomi said laughing.
"Don't even get me started Richard," Elaine said laughing as she walked into her office and closed the door. Richard looked at Naomi and said, "I'm glad you're okay, Naomi. I'm so sorry again about everything yesterday."
"It's okay Richard. I would like to forget about it and move on, okay?" Naomi asked.
"Okay," Richard replied.
Half hour later, the office door flew open and the girls heard, "Samantha, you're the one that ordered the $150.00 worth of pasta last night. I want my money after lunch," Louise said angrily.
"Fine, I'll get it for you on lunch, Louise," Samantha said. Richard looked at Elaine through the window with a sign, "$150.00 worth of pasta?"
Elaine smirked and wrote something down on paper and held it up in the window, "Yes, and she had one whole tub of lasagna herself. She was that mad at you."
"Yikes!" Richard wrote back. Elaine laughed silently and then went back to work.
Naomi looked at Sam and asked, "How are you feeling today, Sam?"
"I was fine when I threw up six times before coming to work this morning," Sam replied.
"Ewwwww," Lila said running to the bathroom. She had a very sensitive tummy and grossed out very easily. Naomi cringed at the thought and went back to work after disinfecting her desk since she knew Sam sat at it yesterday just in case it wasn't the overkill on food last night that made her sick.
During the day, Samantha's tummy rumbled all day long. Elaine walked out of her office and looked at Sam. "You okay darlin?" she asked.
Sam stood up fixing her pants and walked into Elaine's office and sat in the chair. Elaine closed the door and walked to her desk. "What's wrong?"
"I really ate too much last night," Sam said.
"I know," Elaine replied. "I had a lot too. I think you need some of this." Elaine opened her purse and gave Sam two TUMMIES and two Imodies.
"Thank you," Sam said eating the TUMMIES and she kept the Imodies for later after lunch. She put them into her pocket until later.
"What are you and Naomi going to do for lunch?" Sam asked.
"I shouldn't eat, but I need to run errands. I think Naomi has plans for lunch. Not sure."
"Plans?" Sam asked. "With who?"
"You'll see if she gets a visitor today. I can't really say anything more," Elaine replied.
"What errands do you have to run?" Sam asked Elaine.
"Oh I need to go to Walgreenies and get me some more of that shampoo and conditioner that helps to bring out the highlights of red hair. I'm almost out of it. And then I need to pick up some more 'supplies' as well and I have a massage scheduled for after work, so I will not be going to Walgreenies at night."
"You're going to the mall again for a massage?" Sam asked.
"You bet. It's so awesome and I love it," Elaine replied. "You want to come with me?"
"Sure," Sam replied. "Thanks for the offer."
"You're welcome darlin," Elaine replied.
"Thanks for the medicine too," Sam replied.
"You're welcome," Elaine said smiling.
"Uh, uh, uh," Lila said opening the door.
"Naomi's lunch date is here," Elaine said to Sam. They both walked out to the door and Lila went back to her desk. "Hello ladies," they heard as they walked to Naomi's desk and saw a man figure standing there.
"Peter! When did you get into town?" Sam asked.
"Just last night and I thought I would take this lovely lady to lunch today," Peter said pointing to Naomi who was blushing.
Naomi stood up and said, "Peter please, you're embarrassing me."
Richard stood in the doorway and said, "Holy mackeral, you are not whom you look like?"
"And whom would that be, sir?" Peter asked.
"From the Monkees," Richard said.
"Well, what would you do if I said 'yes?'" Peter asked.
"Then I would have to scream," Richard said.
"Well then 'no,' I am not him and don't even resemble him," Peter said smirking at the girls and taking Naomi's arm.
"Goodbye ladies," Naomi said waving at them as she left in Peter's arms.
Elaine looked at Sam and Louise and smiled. "He emailed her last night. She told me she checked it this morning and he was coming to take her to lunch. The rest of the guys are going to be in town this weekend and they want to take us all out."
"You know the Monkees?" Lila asked shocked.
"Know them?" Elaine asked. "Hmm, well that is a very relative word, Lila. I wouldn't say we 'know' them. I would say we 'date' them on and off when they're in town. Bye ladies!" Elaine screamed grabbing her purse and bolting out the door.
Samantha and Louise were left to take the heat from the other girls. "Um, it's my lunchtime too," Sam said.
"Yeah me three," Louise replied following out after Sam. The rest of the girls all screamed for joy and then went back to typing.
At lunch, Peter told Naomi, "You look more beautiful every time I see you."
"Thanks Peter," Naomi said taking a sip of her pop. "How have you been doing?"
"I've been fine, Naomi. Been really busy writing new songs. I wrote one for you," Peter said.
"Nah, don't tease me like that Peter. It's been three years since we last saw each other," Naomi said.
"I know, but I did write one for you," Peter said taking her hand and kissing it.
"Well, that was sweet of you Peter, however, you certainly did not need to," Naomi said smirking at him.
"Your eyes are very green today. What did you do to them?" Peter asked.
"I put on the eyeshadow that you like me in," Naomi said smiling at him. "Heavens mist it's called."
"Well, I'm in heaven right now Naomi. Just looking at you," Peter said.
"It's been a long time, Peter," Naomi said. "A very long time."
"Yes, it has and I do apologize for not keeping in touch more often. We took a few minor tours to different Countries, but nothing major," Peter said.
"How are you all getting along?" Naomi asked.
"Better than we were," Peter replied. "We have all came to an understanding that we are all different people with different tastes and styles and we are all unique in our own way and that is how God wants us to be."
"And who told you something like that, Peter? That does not sound like something you would come up with."
"Micky actually. He's completely changed, Naomi. I think a lot of Elaine's teachings have really hit home with him. He has found us a beautiful Church to attend on Sundays and between him and Mike, we all attend weekly or at least the two of them do. Mike has really turned over a new leaf as well. He kneels at the livingroom table and prays before bedtime now. And he also has been writing more unique songs that definitely are not your average Monkee songs. They are more romantic and care-free songs. It's definitely a new outlook on the two of them. Davy is still the same. He visits England frequently and he doesn't say much on the new transformation of all three of us. But I think he can see something in our eyes that we aren't ready to admit to each other yet let alone the outside world."
"Really, Peter. What is that?" Naomi asked.
"I really can't say now, Naomi," Peter said. "I will tell you more this weekend. I promise!" Peter took her hand and kissed it.
"I don't remember you being so romantic before, Peter," Naomi said looking at him.
"Like I told you Naomi, we are all different people now than we were three years ago," Peter said taking a bite of his pizza.
"Well, I like this new transformation," Naomi said taking a bite of her pizza as well.
When Naomi arrived back at work, the girls were lined up at the door waiting for her. "What on earth are you all doing?" Naomi asked looking at them.
"We want details," Lila said looking at her.
"Well ladies, a true 'lady' never reveals anything to inquiring minds, so get back to your desks and sit there and do your work," Naomi said walking by them and taking her seat at her desk.
"Since when did you become so Victorian," Lila asked.
Samantha chuckled at that and said, "Ladies, leave her alone. She is not required to tell you anything. None of us are."
"And we thought you were our friends," Lila said scowering her head at them.
"We went to the Pizza place, sat, and had a nice lunch together. That's all that happened," Naomi said. "Now leave me alone to do my work please."
Elaine arrived back and was breathing very hard and her hair was messed up. "What on earth?" Naomi asked looking at Elaine.
"What a terrible wind out there," Elaine said as she punched back in. "I ran from the end parking lot and almost got blown away."
"There is no wind out there today, Elaine," Naomi said looking at her friend.
"Whoosh, it just blew by me again," Elaine replied walking into her office and closing the door. Samantha, Louise, and Naomi went into Elaine's office and closed the door. The other girls gathered around the door to listen.
"What really happened?" Naomi asked sitting down.
"The wind," Elaine replied. "Well the wind and something else."
"You met up with him, didn't you?" Sam asked.
Elaine looked under her door and saw shadows. "Shhh," she whispered putting her hands over her mouth. She walked to the door and opened it right away and all ten office girls fell in the office.
"Eavesdroppers!" Elaine said. "Get back to your desk."
"It's no fair, you all date hunky guys and don't tell us the scoop!" Lila said angrily at them.
Elaine closed the door and put her draft dodger up against it. She walked back to her chair and sat down. "No, I did not meet up with him," Elaine replied. "I went to run my errands and some idiot crazed shopper attacked my hair as I was standing in line to the checkout. She 'claimed' I had a bug in it. Then she knocked me out of position in line and butted her way in front of me."
"How rude!" Naomi said.
"Yes, it was rude. I filed a complaint with the manager, checked my purse to make sure she didn't rob me blind and everything was there fine. It was extremely rude and I did run from the back parking lot and that's why I was breathing hard."
"Why on earth would she mess your hair up like that?" Sam asked.
"Who knows. Probably on freaking drugs," Elaine replied brushing her hair back down checking it in the mirror. "How was your lunch with Peter?"
"Absolutely divine," Naomi replied.
"That's good. Well you all better get back to work before Richard comes back and finds the girls all glued to my office door."
"Yeah," Samantha replied walking to the door and opening it again and the girls flew down on the ground again.
"Get back to your desk and sit down immediately before I write all of you up," Elaine said angrily.
Everyone went back to their desk and laughed.
After lunch, Richard noticed how quiet the girls were. All he heard was the 'click click' on the keys from their fingers. During that time, he also peeked around the corner at Naomi who was smiling as she was typing. He walked up to her desk and looked at her work and asked, "How is everything coming along Ms. Patterson?"
"Fine," Naomi replied smiling.
"You are certainly chipper this afternoon," he said.
"Yes," Naomi replied. "I've been praying to the Lord. He always makes me smile."
Richard went back to his office and sat down. He looked at Elaine who was typing away on the keys. He then started to work on his own inbox. He was shocked at how quiet the office was. That night, after their massages at the mall, Elaine and Sam walked around for a little bit. "I wonder why they're back in town," Sam said.
"Don't know," Elaine replied. "However, from what I could see on Naomi's face tonight when he picked her up and took her to dinner was that something had seriously changed about him."
"I don't know," Sam said as she walked into a cute little boutique with Elaine following after her.
Later that night back at the house, Naomi was sitting on the couch in her pajamas. "Hey you're back early," Elaine said walking in with Samantha.
"Yeah, just went to dinner and then he had to get some sleep," Naomi said.
"Where did you go to dinner?" Elaine asked sitting next to her friend.
"The French Chalet over on Mercury and Lexus," Naomi replied.
"Oooh how was their food? I heard it was very expensive," Samantha said sitting down next to her friends.
"It was medium priced actually and he paid for everything," Naomi replied. "I left the tip."
"So why is he here anyway, Naomi?" Elaine asked.
"Where's Louise?" Sam asked.
"She's in her room asleep. She got really sick I guess because I saw her dirty clothes on her bedroom floor and took them into her bathroom and the smell was awful. I sprayed it down with Lysol and hopefully she'll feel better in the morning."
"I hope so," Elaine replied.
During their fellowship time together, Naomi started to get very sleepy. "I think the food is making me tired now," she said.
"Fight it. Remember you have to fight it," Elaine replied.
"I know but still," Naomi said standing up and jogging in place for a minute.
"Is he coming to work again tomorrow?" Sam asked.
"Nope. Just wanted to visit with me today. He's busy the rest of the week with whatever he's doing here for. Then he did tell me that the guys would be here this weekend and want to take us out."
"I wonder what they want?" Sam asked.
"Don't know," Naomi replied sitting back down again.
"I'm hungry again," Elaine said looking at Sam.
"Not me, help yourself." Sam said cringing at the thought of the pasta again. Elaine walked over to the fridge and made herself a plate of lasagna and put a slice of cheese on top and melted it in the microwave. Then she sat back down next to the girls and ate.
"Ugh, I need to shower and get ready for bed," Sam said.
"Night Sam," Naomi said.
"Night darlin," Sam replied walking in her bedroom and closing the door.
"Mmm, this is good," Elaine said taking another bite of her food.
Naomi wrapped up in her blanket and turned on the TV. There before her was what the guys were doing in town that weekend.
"Elaine am I seeing things?" Naomi asked.
"No," Elaine replied.
"They are all judges at a beauty contest?" Naomi asked shocked.
"That is just sick," Elaine said putting down her food. "They want to see us because they are here judging a beauty contest."
"He never told me anything about that, Elaine," Naomi said looking at her friend.
"They are men, Naomi," Elaine said. "Shut the TV off."
Naomi shut the TV off and went into her room and cried herself to sleep that night.
"Yeah they'll be in trouble this weekend," Elaine replied angrily as she put her food in the fridge and went into her room to take a hot shower and relax. She fumed all during her shower.
~~~~~~
The rest of the week went by and Naomi was very quiet and distant from everyone. When they were all punching out at the timeclock Friday night, Elaine said, "Let's go out to dinner tonight."
"Okay," Naomi said looking at her friend.
They had not told Sam nor Louise what they saw on the TV because they knew it would make them very mad. At the restaurant, Elaine sat down next to Naomi and said, "At least it's Friday finally!"
"Yes," Naomi said smiling. "Praise God."
When they arrived back at the house after going shopping, there was a limo waiting there in the street. "Tell them to get lost," Elaine said angrily.
"Why? What happened?" Sam asked.
"We're tired and want to sleep. That's what happened," Elaine replied getting out of the car with Naomi and walking up to the house. "Ladies, we're here," they heard out the window.
"Get lost!" Elaine said opening the door and slamming it behind her.
Peter looked at the guys and said, "Let me find out what's wrong."
"Please do," Micky said. "I wasn't expecting this kind of welcome."
Peter got out of the limo and walked up to the house and knocked.
"You think they saw us?" Louise asked sitting still in the car.
"Doesn't seem like it," Sam replied. "Let's take the car and drive around."
"We don't have her key," Louise said.
"I have an extra key for all the cars," Sam said looking at Louise.
Elaine opened up the door and yelled, "Chickens get out of the car and get in here."
"Great!" Sam said. "Thank you Elaine miss loudmouth of the year."
Louise laughed as they both got out of the car. Peter walked up to them and asked, "May I see Naomi please?"
"I have no idea what is going on Peter," Samantha said.
"That's okay. I just want to see Naomi," Peter said.
Sam opened the door and Peter walked inside the room.
"Don't let him in here," Elaine said angrily. "They are only here visiting us because they are judging a beauty pageant."
"What?" Sam asked shocked.
"You saw the commercial?" Peter asked.
"Oh you bet we did," Elaine replied. "And you can tell your friends we are not interested in being used just because you're in town judging a beauty pageant."
"That's not the only reason we're here, Elaine," Peter said. "Naomi let me come in please."
"I don't care what other reason you're here. You are trespassing on our property and I want you out or I will call the police. You wish for your careers to be tarnished because of a phone call?"
"Naomi please open up," Peter said.
No one came to the door and Peter looked at Elaine again. "You turn that knob and I will have all of you arrested as God is my witness," she said angrily at him.
Peter released the door knob and left the house peacefully. He didn't want to create any fights. He got back into the limo and said, "Driver leave please."
"Are they coming?" Micky asked.
"No," Peter replied. "Just get us out of here or Elaine will call the police."
Peter looked at the guys and said, "They saw the commercial."
"I knew we shouldn't have agreed to that commercial," Micky said angrily. "I just knew it."
"What's done is done. Now we have to figure out a plan B that's all," Mike said.
"I have never seen Elaine so angry," Peter said. "She was very angry."
"I don't blame her," Micky said. "She probably thinks we're using them as entertainment to keep occupied before the beauty contest."
"I would never treat Naomi that way. Not ever," Peter said angrily.
"I didn't say you would. I'm saying that's how Elaine is viewing things right now," Micky said. Back at the house, Elaine went into Naomi's room and asked, "You okay?"
"Fine," Naomi replied holding her teddybear.
Elaine went back out to the car to make sure they were gone and then brought in all their shopping bags and put them in her roommates rooms. She was so mad at the guys that she went into her bathroom to take a long, hot shower before she exploded. That is what drove them apart to begin with. Them coming into town, sweet-talking all of them, and then something always happened that broke their hearts.
At their hotel, the guys sat on the beds looking at each other. "How on earth do we explain to them that we are 'not' using them?" Micky asked the guys. "Because I am willing to bet you anything that is what is going through Elaine's mind after seeing that commercial."
"After seeing her tonight, Micky, I certainly don't think she nor any one of them will give us the time of day anymore; which is a shame because I really enjoyed my time with Naomi," Peter said.
"I'm sorry they saw that commercial," Micky said. "I told you all we never should have agreed to it."
"It's done and over with. Now what do we do?" Mike asked.
"Nothing you can do gents," Davy said. "Just do the beauty pageant and leave peacefully without making anymore of a ruckus. Remember how they got hurt three years ago. They are still very guarded and Elaine I will not mess with. She is too full of energy at times."
Saturday came and Naomi refused to get out of bed. She held onto her teddybear the entire day. "You want anything to eat?" Elaine asked her friend.
"No," Naomi replied in a soft voice.
"You want a Coca-Cola?" Elaine asked.
"No," Naomi replied.
Elaine closed the bedroom door and sat in the livingroom drinking a Coke.
Sam walked out of her bedroom and Elaine said, "I could absolutely scream at him for coming back into town, getting her hopes up, and then crashing her into oblivion."
"It's not his fault. It's whomever did the commercial," Sam said. "Don't take it all out on them. They are just trying to make amends for what happened three years ago."
"And how on earth do you know that?" Elaine asked.
"This email I got from Mike explains it all," Samantha said. "And they won't come here anymore because they are afraid of you."
"Me? Why me?" Elaine asked.
"Because of your threatening attitude towards them," Samantha said. "It's all right here in the email."
"Let me see then," Elaine said walking over sitting next to her friend. Samantha handed her the email and Elaine sat there reading it while drinking her Coca-Cola.
"I don't like seeing her heart crushed," Elaine said. "She won't even get out of bed today."
"That's because you have instilled it in her that Peter is using her, which might not be the case at all, Elaine. You jump to conclusions way too quickly," Samantha said.
"Why do you all listen to me anyway?" Elaine asked. "I obviously know nothing of importance here. Only that I spent three months of misery when they all up and left and I had to deal with three very emotional roommates along with my own hurt feelings." Elaine grabbed a 12-pack of Coke from the fridge and went into her room slamming the door behind her. Elaine sat on her bed in her room drinking Coke one can after the next until she couldn't stand anymore. She went into her bathroom and took another hot shower to help her calm down. She hated the fact that they were back in town again. Absolutely hated it. After her shower, she climbed into her fuzzy pajamas and went back to bed. She wanted to sleep because she certainly did not want to deal with hurt feelings again. She couldn't go through that again.
Two hours later, there was a knock on the door. Samantha walked to the door and opened it. "Hey! Thanks for your call," she heard as someone put their arms around her.
"You're welcome. Thanks for your email," Samantha said.
"I knew you checked it daily, so I figured I had a good chance of you reading it. I'm very sorry about last night and that you saw the commercial."
"I didn't see it actually. Elaine and Naomi did but they told us about it," Sam said.
"Where are they anyway?" Mike asked.
"Sleeping as far as I know. Naomi won't come out of her room and well Elaine went to sleep because she hasn't came out of her room in two hours."
"I have Peter outside in the car. Do you think he can see Naomi?" Mike asked.
"He can try, but she's not very receptive according to Elaine," Sam said.
Mike went to the door and motioned for Peter to come inside the house. Peter got out of the car with a dozen red roses and two milkshakes. He walked into the house and said hi to Sam. "Hi Peter. Please do not get her upset. I will never hear the end of it from Elaine if you do," Sam said.
"I won't," Peter said carefully holding the shakes in one hand with his flowers and opening the door with his other hand. He walked into Naomi's room and closed the door. Naomi was sitting there holding her teddybear when he met eyes with her. "These are for you," he said in a soft voice.
"Thanks," Naomi said taking the flowers and smelling them.
"Vanilla your favorite," Peter said handing her a shake.
"Thanks," Naomi said taking the shake and tasting it.
Peter sat down on the bed next to her and said, "I am not using you, Naomi. No matter how the commercial looked. I am not using you."
Naomi looked at him and then looked away from him.
"Hey, we had a good time at lunch and dinner the other day, right?" Peter asked.
"Yes," Naomi said wiping the tears from her eyes. "And then I saw the commercial and Elaine said you all were using us again and well, I don't know what to believe."
"We came here to see you ladies," Peter said. "Yes, we are also here to judge that stupid contest. However, our main reason for being here is to see you ladies. And those days are over with of us acting the way we did three years ago, Naomi. I told you we are changed people."
"I know, but what Elaine said made sense too," Naomi replied.
"Elaine was very wrong, Naomi. Very wrong," Peter said kissing Naomi's forehead and drying the tears from her eyes. "May I hold you?" Peter asked.
"Yes," Naomi said starting to tear up again. Peter laid down next to Naomi and wrapped his arms around her and held her in his arms stroking her long beautiful reddish-brown hair.
That night Mike and Peter went back to the hotel to get ready for their judging event. Micky met them at the door and asked, "How did it go?"
"Sam and Naomi understand," Mike said. "Elaine was sleeping the entire time we were there and so was Louise."
"Your email got through then," Micky said.
"Yes," Mike replied. "Praise God that it did and it worked."
"Elaine is going to be a tough cookie," Micky said changing into his black jacket.
"Yes, she will Micky," Mike said. "According to Sam, Elaine hasn't been her old self since everything had happened. She's been partially back to herself, however, she can't look at any old pictures or read anything about the group."
"I need to make her understand that we are not the same people we were three years ago," Micky said.
"Many blessings on that one, Mick," Peter said. "I had a hard enough time with Naomi today. She did, however, enjoy the flowers and milkshake."
"Elaine loves mint chip icecream. I'll bring her a mint chip shake," Micky said massaging his chin as he was thinking of a plan.
"We better go," Mike said walking to the door.
"Wait!" Micky said anxiously. "I have an idea."
"We need to go now, Micky," Mike said.
"Just five more minutes," Micky said picking up the phone and calling Samantha.
At the house, "I'll get it Sam," Elaine said walking out of her bedroom.
"Hello," she said.
"Samantha this is Micky. How are you?"
"First off, this is not Samantha. And second off, why on earth are you calling her cell phone for?" Elaine asked irritated.
"Elaine?" he asked nervously.
"You got it, you rotten little creep! Don't you dare call her private phone number again. I never want to talk to you again." Elaine said hanging up the phone.
Micky looked at the guys and said, "I thought you said she was sleeping?"
"She was. Must have woke up now or something," Mike said. "We really need to go now."
"Who was it?" Sam asked.
"Micky calling your private cell phone number," Elaine said. "I'm going out!" Elaine grabbed her purse, phone, and keys and left the house angrily.
"Okay this anger thing has got to go," Samantha said looking at her cell phone to make sure it was in one piece. She called Micky back and he picked up the phone. "Hello."
"Why on earth would you call my private line?" Sam asked.
"I thought you would answer it," Micky replied. "I was going to tell you to watch the show tonight, however, that plan backfired when Elaine answered your phone."
"Please don't call my number again, Micky. Please. Elaine's left the house in a very bad mood and I worry about her driving that way," Samantha said.
"I won't call it again. I'm sorry she answered it," Micky said.
"Me too," Samantha replied. "I have to go now. Bye."
"Bye," Micky said hanging up the phone.
Samantha deleted the numbers out of her phone and then went to check on Naomi who was sound asleep snoring away. Louise was still asleep as well. Samantha went into her room and closed the door.
Sunday morning came and the girls were getting ready for Church. "Elaine, you coming to Church?" Sam asked through the doorway. When no one answered, Sam opened the door. "Laney, you coming to Church?" Elaine's bed was made and her window was open. "Elaine?" Sam said nervously walking into Elaine's room and peeking out the window.
"Is she coming?" Louise asked.
"She's not here," Sam said. "Her window's open but she's not here."
Sam walked into Elaine's bathroom and it was empty. All her makeup and things were gone. She checked her closets and everything was gone.
"Not again," Sam cried out. "Please God, not again."
"What is it Sam?" Naomi asked walking in the doorway.
"Elaine took off," Sam said. "Everything is gone."
"Oh no," Naomi said. "Why this time?"
"Micky called my phone last night," Samantha said. "You all go to Church and I'll drive around looking for her."
"We'll all go," Louise said looking at Naomi.
"Yes, absolutely," Naomi said concerned for Elaine's safety and well-being. She hated when Elaine got into her flight mode and vanished for days upon end when she was upset.
Naomi's cell phone rang in the car and she picked it up, "Hello."
"Hey!" the voice said.
"I can't talk right now. Elaine took off and we're out looking for her," Naomi said. "Bye."
"Let me know if you find her," the voice said.
"Okay bye." Naomi said hanging up the phone.
Peter walked over to the bed and pressed on Micky's arm. "She's gone. The girls are out looking for her."
"I knew she would bolt. She always does when she's mad," Micky said.
"Do you have any idea where she would be?" Peter asked. "The girls are frantic."
"No, not at all I'm afraid," Micky said.
Naomi put her head back on the seat and asked, "Where would Elaine go when she's down and out?"
"OMGosh!" Louise cried out.
Samantha turned the car around and drove to the hospital. They walked inside nervously and went to the front desk. "Elaine Nelson please," Sam said.
"Room 202," the Nurse said.
"I'm going to be sick," Naomi said falling against Louise.
"Keep it together. We don't know how bad it is," Louise said.
They walked into the room and sat next to their friend who was asleep. Samantha put her purse on the floor and started to pray for her friend.
The door opened and the Nurse asked, "You must be her friends."
"Yes," Samantha said with tears in her eyes.
"Thankfully someone found her outside a restaurant and called the ambulance," the Nurse said.
"Is she okay?" Sam asked.
"Yes, she's fine," the Nurse replied. "She's resting now because we gave her a sedative to calm down."
"What restaurant did they find her at?" Sam asked.
"Leonardi's Restaurant and Pizzaria," the Nurse said.
"Thank you," Sam replied.
"You're welcome," the Nurse said.
"Oh stop your crying, ladies," Elaine said lifting her head. "I fell and hit my head on the outside of the restaurant and went unconscious."
"Oh Elaine," Naomi said throwing her arms around her friend.
"I didn't relapse into a cycle, don't worry," Elaine said. "Get off of me Patterson or I will scream."
"You didn't binge?" Sam asked.
Elaine yawned and said, "Of course I did. But I didn't purge and that's the main thing."
"They are just observing me today and I can go home tonight if I'm feeling better. They gave me a sedative to help me relax because I freaked when I saw the blood," Elaine replied.
"How did you fall?" Louise asked.
"I forgot there was that extra step and I fell into the building and smacked my head up against it and passed out," Elaine replied.
"Did you have to get stitches?" Louise asked.
"No, thankfully not," Elaine replied rolling onto her side and covering up with her blankets.
"But your things are gone," Samantha said.
"They are in my car," Elaine replied. "I was going to stay the night in a hotel, and never made it. My car should still be in the restaurant parking lot."
~~~~~~
At work that following day, Naomi and Elaine arrived early and took their seats. "I'm glad you're feeling better Laney," Naomi said.
"Thanks, me too," Elaine replied.
Elaine sat down in her chair and let out a breath. She took her pain medication and then closed her eyes for a few minutes.
"Morning ladies!" Richard said walking into the office.
"What's so good about it?" Naomi asked.
"How was your weekend?" Richard asked.
"Terrible," Naomi replied. "I don't wish to talk to you nor anyone else today. Leave Elaine alone too, she just got out of the hospital."
"What?" Richard asked.
"I'm fine, Naomi. Just relax," Elaine said opening her eyes.
"Why were you in the hospital?" Richard asked walking into her office.
"I hit my head and fell and needed to be observed overnight. I'm fine," Elaine said. "Just really tired."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Richard asked very concerned.
"Yes, I just need to sit here and be quiet for a while," Elaine said.
"Let me know if you need to go home," Richard said.
"I will," Elaine replied closing her eyes again and covering up with her jacket.
Richard left Elaine's office and went into his. However, he kept his eyes on Elaine throughout the day.
That night, Naomi was checking her email and found one from Peter. "I hope you found Elaine. I'm so sorry our presence caused so much turmoil for you ladies. I will keep in touch more often with you Naomi. We left last night and flew back. Micky didn't feel up to staying any longer. I will keep in touch. Promise. Love always, Peter." Naomi saved the email and then went to check on Elaine, who was already snoring away. "She asleep?" Sam asked.
"Yes, she's exhausted," Naomi said.
"She needs to sleep. Don't wake her tomorrow either. If she doesn't get up to her alarm, we're letting her stay home and rest," Sam said. "I don't play with head injuries."
"Me neither," Naomi said. "Goodnight ladies."
"Night," Louise said.
"Night Nay Nay," Sam said.
Naomi crawled under her covers and went to sleep. She, too, was tired and exhausted.
That next day at work, Naomi kept staring at her flowers on her desk. "Why is he wanting to talk to me Lord?" she asked herself. "I don't understand. It's been three years and why, all of a sudden, is he wanting to talk to me again?"
Naomi sat at her desk continuing to stare at her flowers and then she started crying. "OMGosh, I am just as bad as Satan!" Naomi said grabbing her purse and flying out of the office.
"What?" Samantha said following after her friend.
Samantha walked outside and found Naomi leaning against the office wall. "What's going on?"
"We are being just as bad as Satan is by not letting the guys come and see us or explain why they were here," Naomi said angrily. "We are preventing them to cleanse their souls to us and that is not right, Sam. It's not."
"What made you think of this now, Naomi?" Samantha asked in a gentle voice.
"The flowers that Peter brought to me showing me his love and adoration and I blew him off just because of Elaine's misguided thoughts," Naomi said.
"Okay. Well, you can take care of that stuff when we're back at home tonight, Naomi. We should get back inside."
"For what, Sam?" Naomi asked. "What is so desperate inside that we cannot have a few moments to get spiritual clarification?" "I mean God is our boss, not Richard. And I have been forsaking God by not allowing Peter to express himself to me. So have you with Mike; Louise with Davy; and certainly Elaine with Micky."
Sam stared at her friend trying to figure out what was going on inside her mind.
"Ladies, is there a problem?" Richard asked. "The phones are ringing off the hook."
"Then why are you out here yelling at us and not answering the phones?" Naomi snapped back. "I will come inside when I am good and ready to."
Richard closed the door and walked back to his desk answering the phones.
Sam stood there staring at the sky with her friend quietly asking God if Naomi was right in her thinking.
That night at home, Naomi looked at Elaine and said, "You are misguided and Satan has infected your mind."
"What?" Elaine asked looking at her friend.
"You have forsaken God by not allowing Micky to cleanse his soul with you and to apologize. You are no better than Satan," Naomi said looking at her. "You need to go to that chapel of yours and get down on your hands and knees and pray for forgiveness because what you did to those guys this past weekend is unforgiveable. I, for one, will never listen to you again."
"What on earth are you rambling about?" Elaine asked confused.
"I had an epiphany at work today about those guys and I will not let you, Satan, or anyone else deter me from them wanting to cleanse their souls to us and show us love and forgiveness," Naomi said angrily.
Samantha looked at Elaine and said, "She's right. We forsake God by preventing those guys from coming here and expressing whatever they needed to us. I prayed about it all afternoon after talking with Naomi and she's right."
Louise just sat there looking at her two friends and seeing their light in their eyes. "I need to make a phone call," Louise said anxiously walking to her bedroom and closing the door.
"I'm taking the rest of the week off," Naomi said. "I'm going to California and I'm going to find out what Peter wanted to tell me. And none of you are going to stand in my way." Naomi walked to her bedroom and sat down at her computer and checked her email again. "Hey Naomi, it's Peter again. Just wanted to let you know that we got another tour lined up and will be leaving by the end of the week. I will miss you greatly, but please know you're in my thoughts and prayers. Love always, Peter."
Naomi picked up her cell phone and called Peter. "Hello," she heard into the phone.
"Peter please, this is Naomi Patterson," Naomi said quietly into the phone.
"Hey Pete, it's Naomi," she heard someone yelling.
"Hey you got my email?" he asked coming to the phone.
"Yes, I did. Congratulations on another tour," Naomi replied.
"Thanks. It just all happened so quickly, as we just got back. But we're all really excited to go through with it," Peter said.
"That's wonderful. I was wondering something. What day are you leaving?" Naomi asked.
"Saturday morning. Why?" Peter asked.
"I wanted to fly out to visit with you for a while this week. I took the rest of the week off and was wondering if you would want me to do that," Naomi said.
"That's sweet, Naomi. However, we'll be getting everything ready and practicing that I'm afraid I won't be home much," Peter said.
"Oh," Naomi said shocked. "Well nevermind I guess. It can wait for another time instead."
"What can wait, Naomi?" Peter asked.
"Nevermind. It's not important now," Naomi said. "I have to go now."
"Naomi wait," Peter said. "What's not important? I have time and you can tell me over the phone, can't you?"
"No Peter I can't," Naomi said. "It's not important and I must go take my shower now and get to bed early. Forget that I called. Goodnight, God Bless, and have a safe tour."
"Thanks. You take care okay?" Peter asked.
"I will," Naomi replied. "Goodnight."
"Night," Peter said not wanting to hang up the phone with her.
Naomi hung up the phone and sat at the computer again. She wrote him an email instead and then logged off the computer and went to take her shower.
~~~~~~
Later that night, after doing some packing, Peter sat down at his computer and checked his email. He had two from Naomi Luvs Jesus. He took a sip of his pop and opened one of them. "Peter, it's Naomi. Since I can't come and visit you now, I thought I would email you instead. You have just forsaken God by not letting me come and see you to find out about what you had to tell me, just as I had forsaken God by not allowing you to come and talk to me when you were here. I stared at your beautiful flowers you gave me at work today and I had an epiphany. It's a shame that you have to do this tour and will be so busy that you cannot make time for me to come out and share my feelings with you. And it's an even worse shame that I have to tell you these things on the internet (which is Satan's paradise you know). However, I will do what I must do so that I can cleanse myself and be free again.
Thank you for attempting to contact me after three years of silence. I am sorry that my judgements and thoughts were clouded by Elaine's misguided thoughts when we saw that commercial of you all judging that beauty contest. Thank you for the flowers and the lunch and dinner. I did have a good time with you in fellowship about the Lord. You do not realize this, but after our excruciating breakup three years ago, I ended up in counseling to help me deal with everything. I was so in love with you Peter. You were the first man I had ever truly loved. And then with the breakup and everything, I shut down for months. I lost my one job because of it, Peter. Thankfully, through lots and lots of prayer, Elaine found us all great jobs at her new company she had been working at and we have been there ever since. Seeing you again, Peter, brought back all those feelings I have had about you. And to learn that you and the guys had given your lives over to the Lord was just ecstatic for me. I felt as if all my hurt and angry feelings had dissipated out of my body that night. I do, honestly, hope that you will have a good tour, Peter. Remember though, just because you're touring again does not mean you can slip back into your old habits either. You must remain 'true' to 'God' in that tour and that means no partying, women, or anything else along those lines of un-Christianlike behavior. I need to go and take my shower now as I am feeling really kind of angry and hurt at this moment and showering helps me to relax. I get that part from Elaine who showers to help her calm down at nights, especially after a rough day at work. God Bless You Peter. Love always, Naomi." Peter clicked open number 2 email from Naomi Luvs Jesus and it read. "P.S. I forgot to tell you something. That is what I was going to express to you in person, had you not forsaken me and God by telling me you were 'too' busy. Remember something, Peter. You are never 'too' busy for God. The moment that you say you are, Satan has won. I am repenting this evening for forsaking God when you were here. I suggest you do the same thing. Pass it on to the other guys as well. Love always, Naomi."
"Micky! Come in here now please," Peter called out.
"What is it Pete?" Micky said drying his hair with the towel.
"Sit here and read these two emails I just got from Naomi. I need some air," Peter said looking at his friend.
"You okay Pete?" Micky asked.
"Read the emails. I'll be back," Peter said opening up his bedroom door and walking out on the beach. Micky sat down in the computer chair and read the emails from Naomi. His heart started to bleed inside at what the words were speaking to him.
Out on the beach, Peter took a long walk and stared at the waves that were rustling in the background. He found a huge rock and sat on it staring at the sunset. Naomi was very knowledgeable in the Lord and she knew how to speak in a manner that was non-threatening. Her words set very still in Peter's heart that night.
Back at the pad, Micky had all the guys read the emails from Naomi. "Oh dear," Mike said as he read halfway into one. "Where is Peter?"
"He's outside taking a breather," Micky said. "I can understand why."
"Me too, shotgun. Me too," Mike said.
Back at the house, Naomi was in the shower crying out in her prayer language. Elaine walked to the bedroom door and listened. "Something happened," Elaine said to Samantha.
"Yes, it did," Samantha replied. "She's repenting for forsaking the guys when they were here because when she forsake them, she also forsake God."
"Really?" Elaine asked tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes. That's what she was trying to express to you earlier," Samantha said.
"Oh," Elaine replied starting to cry as she walked back to her bedroom and closed the door. She grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom to shower and cry out to the Lord as well. "Abba, Abba," she kept crying out with her arms in the air as the water came down over her body.
~~~~~~
The rest of the week at work, Naomi did not take the time off to go to California, however, she was very quiet and remained to herself, as did Elaine. Richard noticed quite a difference in the girls, however, he did not interfere in their lives. Back in California, Peter, Mike, and Micky were packing up for the tour, however, their hearts were completely full of loneliness without the girls. Davy had been checking his email when he found one from Louise. Curiously he opened it and read it. "Hi Davy, it's Louise. As you probably already know the girls have had this epiphany in what happened while you all were visiting. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry I didn't get to see you while you were here. However, please let me know when you're all back from the tour, as I've got some vacation time to use and I would really like to fly out to see you. Have a safe tour my friend and remember God is always watching even when we don't think he is. Love always, Louise." During his sixth time reading the email, Davy felt an overwhelming urge to cancel the tour at the last minute. He stood in his doorway looking at his friends and said, "Fellas."
"Yeah?" Micky asked breathing hard from moving his drums.
"Let's cancel the tour," Davy said.
"What for?" Micky asked.
"Because I think it would be the right thing to do," Davy said.
"We already agreed to do it and we cannot go back on our word," Mike said. "I know the girls have got to us this week, but we made a promise and we must stand true to that promise."
"Just a thought," Davy said going back into his room and closing the door.
"Come on and let's finish packing everything up," Mike gasped. "I forgot how tiring this actually was."
After work that night, the girls went to a quiet dinner down in Boston. Elaine sat in the booth and stretched out her arms and legs. "What a week," she said.
"Definitely," Naomi replied. "I feel so emotionally drained and charged at the same time."
"Me too," Elaine replied. "Me too."
"Well, the guys are leaving at 5 am tomorrow morning according to Mike's message he left me on my phone," Samantha said.
"They will have a good tour," Louise said. "I really think they will."
"Me too," Naomi replied.
"What are we going to eat tonight ladies?" Samantha asked.
"Anything but pasta that we need to be finishing sometime in the near future," Elaine replied.
"Oh that will all end tomorrow night," Samantha said. "I forgot to mention, I invited Richard, his wife, and the girls from the office over for a slumber party to help finish the food."
"You did what?" Elaine asked.
"You heard me," Samantha replied. "They are all coming too, including Lila."
"Great the house is filthy and we're having houseguests," Elaine replied.
"The house is not filthy and yes we are having houseguests," Samantha said.
"AYE," Elaine mumbled to herself angrily.
After their dinner of pizza and garlic bread, the girls took a stroll down to some cute little shops near the restaurant and did a little shopping to help them walk off their dinner. When they arrived back at their house that night, there was a message on the answering machine.
"Hi ladies, it's Micky. We just wanted to call and say have a great weekend! We leave at 5 am tomorrow morning on our tour, but we will be back in two weeks. Naomi, thanks for your emails to Peter. They have definitely gave all of us clarity on a lot of issues. We love you all. Elaine, you have email. Love, the guys."
"What email did you send them, Naomi?" Elaine asked looking at her friend.
"Just something from my heart to theirs," Naomi replied. "I need a shower, I'm still sweating from the walking we did. Goodnight ladies."
"Night Naomi," Samantha replied sitting down on the couch and stretching out her arms and legs.
Elaine walked into her room and sat down at her computer. She checked her email and saw she had one from Micky.
"I know we've had a rocky past, Elaine. I know our last visit was not the best and I know you've been mad at me about how things ended up. But please know that I still have our picture together on my nightstand and I love to look at it and remember all the 'fun' times we did have with each other. There were more 'fun' than 'bad' times, Elaine. Please open up your heart like Naomi has opened ours and realize that life is too short to hold grudges against us for what happened between all four of us. We are so very much wanting another chance with you ladies and we will wait as long as it takes, however, please know that we go to a beautiful Lutheran Church down here that I found one day on a long walk. Peter, Mike, and I have all gave our hearts and souls over to the Lord. Naomi said it so perfectly in her email to Peter that he shared with all of us, "If we forsake God then we have given into Satan or something along those lines. But that really hit home with us, Elaine. We all love you and the girls. You mean the world to each one of us. Remember that. We will not forsake God anymore, and we hope that you will not forsake us anymore either. Love always, Micky."
Elaine saved the email and walked to Naomi's door and knocked. "Naomi Patterson open up that door."
"What's wrong Elaine?" Naomi asked putting on her pajama bottoms.
"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to look at you for a moment," Elaine said.
"Um okay," Naomi replied confused.
Elaine looked at Naomi and said, "I wish I had your knowledge in the Lord my friend. I feel like a failure at times compared to you."
"You are not a failure and we are not comparing ourselves, Elaine. We are all our own unique and individual person, just as God created us," Naomi said.
"I love you my friend," Elaine said giving Naomi a hug and kiss. "Thank you for blessing me."
"Um okay," Naomi replied. "Mind telling me how I am blessing you."
"Micky gave his life over to the Lord, as did Peter and Mike. That is the best blessing anyone could ever get," Elaine said wiping the tears from her eyes. "Your email did wonders in them apparently. Thank you for whatever you said to them."
"Thank God, Elaine. God put it in my heart to talk to them the way that I did," Naomi said smiling at her friend.
"Thank you Lord Jesus!" Elaine cried out lifting her arms in the air walking back to her bedroom and closing the door. Naomi looked at Samantha and Louise and just smiled.
"Goodnight ladies," Naomi said.
"Night," Sam and Louise replied. Naomi closed her bedroom door and praised God for most of the night. She loved God with all of her heart and soul.
~The End~
Loved it
to you my friend!
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