Jennifer became barely conscious as Richard took off the armbinder, shoes, and helmet. By the time he had put her down in bed, she was asleep again.

She woke up to the feeling of a warm body next to hers. Richard's arm went around her still corsetted waist.

That night, they did not make love, or if they did, Jennifer did not remember it. Instead, she stayed close to Richard, and just enjoyed his presence there as she dreamed.

Richard was up first, and she woke to the smells of breakfast. "You are only temporarily relived of the kitchen duties," he said, putting a tray of food on the bed, "while we attend to other matters."

Jennifer just smiled and started to munch upon what he had prepared. "What today?" asked Jennifer. "Or shouldn't I ask?"

"You've learned your lesson well enough for now," said Richard. "We have an appointment this morning at the dressmakers," he said. "I also thought that it might be a good day for you to get ahold of your sister, Laura, and see if you can get her over here sometime to talk about the details, as well as setting up an appointment for her at the dressmakers."

Jennifer thought about that for a moment. "I'm trying to think of a way not to talk to my mother," she said. "My sister's through with high school... I know! Laura has a job at a video rental place down on seventh," she said. "I'll just call and talk to her there."

Richard left and returned with a phone book. "Is this the place?" he asked, pointing out an entry in the book.

"Looks like it," she said.

"The nearest phone is in the den," he said. "You can call from there."

Jennifer tried to get to her feet, but the aches in the backs of her legs were even worse now. "Those heels are doing something to my legs," she said, sitting back down. "Everything's tight now -- I'm having trouble flattening out my foot."

"You were able to walk in the heels last night," he said.

"Maybe that's what I need."

"I'll get a pair from your room," he said.

Richard returned with her black patent six inch heels. They required a lock to stay in place. "This is what I could find on short notice," he said. She presented her feet, and he locked the shoes in place.

Walking in the six inch heels was a relief compared to what she had been wearing. This is the most comfortable way I've walked in days, she thought to herself.

Richard brought the phone book with them to his den. She sat down in a chair before placing the call.

"Seventh street video," came a familiar voice.

"Is Laura there?" asked Jennifer, being cautious.

"Jennifer?!" said her sister. "Where have you been?"

"It's a long story. Can you talk?" she asked.

"For a little bit," Laura said. "No one is in yet this early. Why did you call?"

"Well... I'm getting married."

"Married?! Is this a joke?"

"No joke, Laura. Two weeks from last Saturday is the date."

"Oh my god!" she said. "Are you pregnant?"

This brought Jennifer up short. She sure had been having enough unprotected sex lately. It should be time for her period any time now. "No, I'm not getting married because I'm pregnant," she hedged. She made a mental note to ask Richard a few hard questions about that.

"Where is it going to be?" Laura asked.

"I'm not quite sure yet," she said. "Richard is making the arrangements."

"Richard? Who's Richard?"

"The man that I'm going to be marrying," said Jennifer.

"Mom's gonna go ballistic," said Laura.

"That's kind of what I want to talk to you about," said Jennifer. "I don't want you to tell her."

"You're gonna do this without her?"

"I hope so. But... I'd like you to be there. As my maid of honor."

There was a moment of silence from Laura. "I'd like that," she said.

"Do you have a car yet?" asked Jennifer.

"Yea. It's looks beat up, but it runs."

"When could you come over, so that we could talk about this, and get you set up with a dress?" she asked.

"There's not much time, is there? I think that mom's going out drinking tonight, as usual. I could probably leave by eight. Where are you now? His place?"

Jennifer looked at Richard. "Directions here?" she asked.

Between the two of them, they were able to convey the location. "That the ritziest subdivision within three hundred miles!" Laura said. "Who the heck is this guy, anyway?"

"You'll get to meet him soon."

"I've got to go. Customer," she said.

"Remember, don't tell mom!" Jennifer said as her sister hung up.

"How did it go?" asked Richard.

"She'll be here tonight, sometime after eight," she said.

"That will be fine," said Richard. "Come on. We need to make it to the dressmakers.

The dressmaker turned out to be a woman named Mary who worked at Fantasy Supreme.

Jennifer was just wearing the corset and heels. Richard had found her a long coat to wear for the ride.

It felt very odd, for the dressmaker to be making her measurements while she was essentially naked. But she was very professional, and took only ten minutes or so for what she needed to do.

"You need to come back friday for a fitting," the woman said. Mary was in her mid thirties, with long black hair. She was wearing a black vinyl cat suit and heels. "I have you penciled in for ten. That's it for today."

Jennifer put the coat back on and thanked the woman for her time. "How did it go?" asked Richard as she emerged from the dressing room.

"Fitting friday," she said. "At ten."

They went to the car, and Richard drove off with her. "Where are we going?" she asked as he took an unfamiliar route.

"I thought that we'd stop for lunch," he said.

"Like this?" she asked.

"It's cloudy and threatening outside," he said. "We'll eat at an outdoor cafe. Just don't take your coat off.

Jennifer was rather nervous as Richard parked the car. He exited and opened the door for her.

Jennifer gingerly stepped out and walked next to Richard. She hugged the coat tightly, but it only came down to mid-ankle. Tbe extreme height of her shoes was visible to all of the several dozen people that were also walking down the sidewalk.

They took an unoccupied table. A waiter came over to them, and was obviously very distracted by what was showing of Jennifer's legs. "What can I get you?" he asked, tearing his eyes off of Jennifer.

Richard ordered for both of them. The lunch seemed to take forever for Jennifer. Everywhere she looked, the patrons seemed to be staring at her. They would look away quickly, as she met their gaze, but not quickly enough to escape notice.

"You seem to be the center of attention," said Richard. There was a smile on his face as he held her hands. She felt him slip something on her finger. "I thought you'd like to have this," he said. "You won't always be able to wear it."

It was the engagement ring that Richard had given her earlier. Her embarassment at the whole situation faded, replaced with a warm glow. "I love you," she said staring into his eyes.

"I love you too," he said. "I hope that you can say that to me in two weeks," he replied.