"Nice change from Oregon's six month rainy season…or is it longer than that?" asked Heather, the only non-native Oregonian. "I think I'm beginning to grow webbed feet." She ran a hand through her short layered brown hair to ruffle it just like she liked it, and readjusted her wire-framed sunglasses over her dark brown eyes. Originally from Pennsylvania, Heather had only been in Oregon since July doing the specialty residency Kristy had just completed. When she and Kristy had first met during her on-site interview last year, both girls knew they would become good friends. When Heather was looking for a place to live, their boss had suggested she rent from Kristy who was in the process of buying a house. Now the two acted more like sisters than co-workers.
"At least you don't have to worry about blizzards, which is more than I can say for Boston." Jess grumbled. "I never thought I'd say this, but I actually miss rain."
"Well, I'm enjoying the sun as much as I can while we're here. I just hope I don't end up with a farmer's tan." Mike added, glancing at his short-sleeved cotton polo.
"Now there's nothing wrong with a farmer's tan," Kristy piped in, defending her family's profession cheerfully. She loved her life as a clinical pharmacist and thrived in Portland, but she also loved driving down to her parents and spending an occasional weekend away from the traffic and noise of the city. She'd worked on her family's large farm during high school, "building character" as her mom said. It was hard work and she respected and admired her parents for the work ethic they had and that they'd instilled in her.
"Be careful there, Mikey boy," Chris warned jokingly. "You don't want to get the country princess all riled up."
"Hey, what's wrong with being a princess?" Jessica and Heather both asked. Although the two had just met on this trip, they'd started acting like old friends within moments. All three girls had a running joke about being princesses. Not that they were truly spoiled, but they joked about wanting to be… at least a little bit. They even planned on buying little princess crowns at one of the Disney gift shops.
"I give, I give!" Mike threw up his hands in mock surrender. "I know when I'm outnumbered."
"Wuss." Chris's grin soon turned to a comical grimace, as the three girls turned from Mike to Chris. "Just kidding! So, now what?"
"Star Tours again, anyone?" Mike asked to the cringing group.
"I know that's your favorite, being the Star Wars fanatic you are… but I told you before, once is my limit," Kristy groaned. "I can handle all sorts of roller-coasters and thrill rides, but something about warping into light-speed and dodging asteroids makes me nauseated."
"Ditto!" seconded Heather, with Chris and Jessica nodding in agreement. "OK, Miss Social Director, where to next?"
"How 'bout a drink?" Kristy suggested. "I'm parched."
"I could go for a cool beverage." Jessica smiled in anticipation of what Kristy had in mind.
"There's a refreshment stand." Chris pointed across the street.
"I was thinking more along the lines of a gin and tonic, or maybe a margarita. The Brown Derby is pretty cool, and just down the street." Kristy looked around at her smiling friends.
"Always thinking, Kristy. Always thinking." Heather laughed. "Glad to know you use your smarts for something besides work!"
"You know what they say about 'all work and no play…'" Jess defended.
"That's one thing I have to give ya, Kris. You work and play harder than anyone I know." Chris smiled fondly at his friend.
"I do what can," Kristy replied modestly. They all knew there was more to it than that. While Kristy had always been a good student, her real devotion came when patients were involved. That was just one of the things that made people like Kristy. She really cared about people. "So… drinks and some piano music anyone?"
Kevin continued to stand in his closet, looking at his clothes without really seeing them. Was Brian right? Was he looking for something that didn't exist? "Kinda like Rosie O'Donnell's character told Meg Ryan's character in 'Sleepless in Seattle'… 'You don't want to be in love, you want to be in love in a movie.'" Kevin thought to himself. "Oh great! Now I'm quoting movies…gotta tell Rosie next time we're on her show."
Kevin grabbed a pair of black slacks and slipped them on. What was it that he told those teen magazines he was looking for in a woman? "Well for one thing, I'm looking for a woman. Teenagers are great fans, but I want someone who remembers the '80s, not someone who was born in the '80s." What else had he said? Probably what everyone wants… Intelligence. Humor. Kindness. "Yes. Yes. Yes." He thought about what Brian said again, about women getting jobs. "I want a woman who has a job. Not just a job, but a career. Someone who is goal oriented and driven like me. Professional. And classy. But knows how to have fun, someone who can make me laugh…but not too outrageous. The right balance of conservative and outgoing." He pulled a light weight royal blue sweater off one of the shelves and pulled it over his head. He was on a roll now. "But not so career driven that she wouldn't want to have kids." He loved kids; adored his niece. "Yeah, kids are a must…someday. Family. She has to value family. Family comes first, except for God. So, she has to have a strong faith. Must be Christian… denomination can be flexible." See, he wasn't too picky! "Music! She has to love music. Man, it would be great if she could sing! And dance. Bonuses, but not necessities." He added a leather belt and shoes. Looks? "A great smile. Nice eyes. Those things last forever. Attractive would be good. Someone who takes care of herself. Active. Self-confident. And really pretty eyes!"
He slipped on his leather jacket and grabbed his car keys. "Someone who could feel just as comfortable in a four star hotel and restaurant as she could in a log cabin or at a family get-together." "See. I just know what I want. That doesn't mean I'm picky. I'm just looking for…" Kevin paused as he shut the front door of his house behind him and sighed, "Princess Charming."