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"Then I’ll phone at nine"

"’Night"

"’Night," he echoed, returning to his apartment

He wasn’t there more than five minutes when his doorbell chimed He certainly wasn’t in the er, he couldn’t very well ignore a visitor

He opened his door to discover Carrie standing on the other side, a covered plastic bowl in her hand "These are for you"

He accepted the container with a puzzled frown

"Mo you so broadly

Five

"Mom, you look fine"

"I don’t look fine…I look wretched," Charlotte insisted, viewing her backside in the hallway mirror Shejeans Fashionably faded jeans, no less Not only had she plunked down ninety bucks for the pair, they looked as if they’d spent the past ten years in so like a little kid," Carrie said, slapping her hands against her sides in disgust "We’re going to a softball gahs are so…round?" Charlotte cried in despair "No wos look like hot dogs I’ anywhere"

Carrie just rolled her eyes

"Call Jason," Charlotte told her daughter "Tell hi Make up some excuse"

"You can’t be serious"

"Please do as I say"

"Mo his family," Charlotte cried "I can’tlike this"

"Change clothes, then, if you’re so self-conscious"

As though she had anything to change into Charlotte’s wardrobe was limited to business suits and sweatpants There was no in-between She couldn’t afford to clothe both of them in expensive jeans But after Jason had invited her out for today, she’d allowed Carrie to talk her into a shopping spree Thank heaven for Visa And thank heaven for Jason’s generosity; he’d refused to accept any pay Jason!" Carrie crossed her arirl had a streak of stubbornness a mile wide, and Charlotte had collided with it more than once

Defeated, Charlotteon the end of her bed Before the shopping trip, she’d ed to put today’s plans out of her a a picnic, involvingher carefully "What’s wrong?"

Charlotte shrugged, not sure how to explain her nervousness "I wish I’d never agreed to this"

"But why?" Carrie wanted to know "I’ve been looking forward to it all week Just think of all the babysitting prospects Jason’s faold oing, aren’t we?"

Charlotte nodded She was overreacting, and she knew it After shelling out ninety bucks she earing those jeans, noexcitedly to her feet "I’ve got the picnic basket packed Honestly, Mo so much food, we could open a concession stand"

"I didn’t want to run short" Charlotte didn’t bother denying that she’d packed enough to feed Jason’s entire family A fruit-and-cheese plate, sandwiches, potato salad, a batch of chocolate chip cookies and a variety of other goodies she’d thrown in at the last minute

Jason had casually one to the hospital to visit Higgins The dog was just beginning to respond to the to Jason, they’d be able to bring hi her new dog was a dual-edged sword Every time she was at the veterinary hospital, she ran into Jason Usually they had a cup of coffee together and talked; once he’d suggested dinner and Charlotte hadn’t been able to dredge up a single excuse not to join him He’d even taken her and Carrie to ahis family, and it terrified her

Tentheir picnic basket to find room for a tablecloth and paper napkins, Jason arrived

Carrie answered the door and directed him to the kitchen

"Jason’s here," she said unnecessarily

"Hi" Charlotte greeted hi around, a tense s to read his expression when he saw her in the tight jeans

"Hi, I was just--" He stopped abruptly, letting whatever he ness He stood before her, hisopen Slowly his eyes widened

With appreciation

At least she thought it was appreciation She prayed that hat it was, and not disgust or shock or any of the e ready" She rubbed her suddenly dahs "Carrie says I’ve packed too much food, but I don’t think so I hope you like cantaloupe, because I just added one" She knew she was chattering aimlessly, but couldn’t seem to stop

"You look…fabulous"

"I do?" Charlotte hated how uncertain she sounded

Jason nodded as though he wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off her long enough to play ball, which had to be the nicest co the jeans," shethe lid as far as it would go