I got sick. It was tragic but I didn't have the energy to talk to him anymore. So I stopped talking to him completely. My career was at its peak and n...thing was stopping me, least of all Jack's 16th century chauvinism.The last straw came after a long day with a bimbo secretary, pissed-off clients and the boss who just could not keep his eyeballs out of my cleavage. All I wanted was to get undressed and hit the bed when Jack launched into another one of his lectures. I shoved him towards the. "Plus you could use thepractice," Blondie whispered into her other ear, before she turned to leave.Fran watched her wiggle away. The days clicked off painfully slow for Fran, as the tension built. She foundherself sitting in her one-room apartment, staring at the ceiling, not believingthat she was only hours away from testing Dr. Winker's potion, in front of "thesuits." (While testing the potion didn't faze her, as she did most of the workon it and was confident that it was safe. She just. Mom said it was okay to take the car, so I hopped in and drove over to Lori's house. Wendy's car was in the street, and another car, presumably Joanie's, was in the driveway. I pulled in next to Joanie's car, ran up the front steps to the door, and rang the bell.Lori opened the door, stepping aside to let me come in. My instinct about her was right. Her eyes were red, and even her artfully applied makeup couldn't completely conceal the dark rings under her eyes. She was dressed in a simple red. I wasn't much of a wine drinker, but it seemed appropriate for a romantic evening.Charlotte had her chin on her hand and was softly stroking her cheek with her fingers. The candle light refracting through her wine was casting a reddish hue onto her face. I don't know why, but I can still see that image in my mind's eye to this day. I wish I'd taken a picture of it."How are you feeling?" I asked."I feel good," she said. "Starving though." Your mom liked my love letter." I was just thinking about.