Love Without a Home. Shari Mong
this way and die without so much as a tombstone.
He closed his eyes again with the migraine still pounding his head.
*****
Elisa had gotten the meeting moved to that afternoon. She was leaving her office. She was anxious to see the new designs. Anytime there was any new or aspiring designers, Elisa wanted to be the first one on the scene to see them and see if they were good enough for Pose Magazine and worthy of Pose Magazine.
She got outside and the lowly man was nowhere to be seen. She got into the car and told her chauffeur where to go. She rolled up the window as the car pulled away from the curb.
CHAPTER 6
Elisa got to the location. It was a studio building in downtown Manhattan. Elisa walked inside. From the looks of it, it looked like it was not only a makeshift design studio but someone’s home as well. Sissy and the others were already there. Sissy walked up to Elisa. “I hope that I am not wasting my time Sissy.” Elisa said dryly.
“Oh no,” said Sissy. “Marco Shoops is an upcoming and talented designer. I already did the background check on this guy.”
Elisa looked at Sissy with an amazed, but yet reserved expression. Sissy continued. “He graduated from the Art Institute of California and came to New York. His father, Martin Shoops, is a Hollywood producer.”
“So,” Elisa interrupted “what brought him here to New York?”
“Well, he wanted to get away from the Hollywood scene and do his own thing. His father wished that he had become a producer like him, but Marco wanted no part of that.
Instead, he started drawing his own designs in high school. After high school, he left for college and the designs he is going to show today have never been shown to anyone else.” Sissy stopped to catch her breath.
“Why?” asked Elisa.
“That is the mystery I cannot quite solve, but” said Sissy putting her finger up, “if I had to guess, he was saving it for now.
By the way, he is handsome, but there is one thing,” Sissy paused.
“And what is that?” Elisa asked her.
“He’s gay.”
Elisa looked at Sissy like that does not bother me. “One,” Elisa said. “That has no bearing on whether he is a great designer or not and two, how in the hell did you come up with this conclusion about him, did you use to work for the CIA or something?” Elisa was perplexed.
Sissy laughed. “I talked to some people who knew him and went to school with him and got my resources and information from some of his previous lovers.” Elisa had to admit she was impressed with Sissy. “Here, I got you a seat up front.” Elisa followed Sissy to her seat. Elisa sat down and waited.
Marco walked out and Elisa had to admit, he was handsome, but the way he talked and moved his hands, Sissy was right about his sexual orientation, but Elisa was more concerned with his work than anything else. Pose Magazine was always in the business of looking for new designers but not all made it.
“I would like to start with my collection now and share with you my designs.” Marco smiled. The women one by one walked out with Marco’s designs on. Elisa just sat there and Marco was nervous, he saw Elisa looking at the designs. He was not sure how to read her. Sissy looked over at Elisa. She knew Elisa was contemplating.
One by one the models came out. Some with evening gowns on, some with sexy lingerie, some with that rugged but sexy cowgirl look, and some with casual looks. Elisa stood up. Sissy got up as well. After the models left, Elisa walked over to Marco. “Hello I am Elisa Drinnings.”
Marco took Elisa’s hand and said, “I am so honored to meet you, I have heard so much about Pose Magazine. I hope you liked the show,” Marco was not sure how to address her.
“Call me Miss Drinnings,” Elisa said.
“Okay Miss Drinnings.”
“I will say I was quite impressed by your designs Mr. Shoops.” Elisa stood with her hands down holding her hand bag.
“Oh please Miss Drinnings, you can call me Marco.” Marco put his hand up to his chest and laughed.
“Okay Marco, I will be in touch with you soon.” Elisa turned away. Sissy followed. “Thank you for your time Miss Drinnings.”
When they were outside the studio, Elisa’s driver was already waiting. Sissy walked up to her. “Well,” Sissy said.
“Well what Sissy,” Elisa opened the door.
“Are you going to give him a chance? Is he Pose material?”
Elisa took a deep sigh. “I will give you my answer when I get back from the Greek Isles this weekend on Monday morning, okay Sissy.”
“Oh my,” Sissy said excitedly, “the Greek Isles. With who, that nice man you met in London last year? What is his name?” Sissy put her finger to her head.
“Guy Drakes Sissy, and yes, it is him. I will be going now Sissy. See you back at the office.” Elisa got into the car and left.
Sissy was smiling to herself as she headed back to the office.
*****
Kyle was at the restaurant having one of his hamburgers and talking with Mildred. His migraine had subsided. Mildred had given him some painkillers. Mildred was on her lunch break drinking her coffee. She had bought Kyle his lunch and was sitting with him. “Why don’t you go and see a doctor about that migraine Kyle dear?” Mildred was being her kind motherly self to Kyle.
“I would Mildred, but I cannot afford a doctor. I have no insurance. Hell, I cannot even get my disability from the military.” He took a drink of his coffee and finished up the rest of this sandwich. Mildred put her hand on his arm. “I wish there was more I could do Kyle, I could at least pay for the doctor to see you.”
“No Mildred, I will not let you do that.” Kyle said a little too sternly.
“Kyle it will not be a problem. I have some money in a jar I could give you. I have been saving it for a rainy day, and this is one of them.”
Kyle was so touched by Mildred, but knew he could not take the money. She was not making much as a waitress there and many times she had bought him lunch there. She was struggling like the many more out there.
“No really Mildred, I am touched and appreciate it. You have done enough by listening to me and buying me lunch. You have been like a mother to me. And besides, I am sure it is nothing. People get migraines all the time.” Kyle brushed it off with a wave of his hands.
Mildred knew that Kyle had gotten shot in the head while in Afghanistan and knew all about his recovery, his ex-wife leaving him with his best friend, and the fiasco of trying to get the disability. “Tell me Kyle, when did the migraines start and how often?” Mildred asked softly so no one else could hear.
“Well,” Kyle put both hands up to his face. “They started out as headaches over the years. And as time went on, progressed into migraines, you know I got shot in the head over there.”
“Are you sure they removed the entire bullet from your head Kyle?” Mildred asked.
“They said they did.” Kyle never really asked himself that question.
“Do you know for sure Kyle? I mean they could have said they did.” Mildred had a feeling that they didn’t.
“With me not having any health insurance and being able to go to the doctor’s and have tests ran, I am not sure, but they had me at Walter Reed Medical hospital. I was in there for months.” Kyle took another sip of his coffee. “I never questioned it.” Kyle looked