Free Manhattan Miracle by Dee Dawning Page A

lunch."
    " Thank you."
    Back at my desk, fifteen minutes later, a fter a score of men and a half dozen women had checked me out, it was lunch time. I knew Amber would be waiting so I grabbed my handbag and went into Brad's office.
    Brad was talking on the phone and when he saw me, he held up a finger. "Yes sir, I'll get right on it and get right back to you."
    After hanging up the phone, he leaned forward on his desk and smiled. "Yes, baby?"
    " It's five after twelve and Amber is meeting us for lunch."
    He glanced at his wristwatch. "So it is. I have something to wrap up first. Why don't you go ahead? I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
    I nodded. "Try not to be too long."
     
    When I arrived, Amber was already in a booth, nursing an iced tea. She waved. "So tell me, how's the new job going?"
    I slid in and opened one of the menus left by the hostess. "It's going great. Brad will be few minutes late. What did you order?"
    " Greek Salad."
    " That's right, women always get salads."
    She chuckled. "Correction, women who care about their figures tend to eat salads, but still have to go easy on the dressing. I get the dressing on the side. You can eat other things besides salads though."
    " Like what?"
    She cocked her head and smiled. "I like salmon or trout. I also like chicken and lean beef. They have great burgers here. Get a burger without the bun and fresh fruit or cottage cheese, instead of fries."
    I closed my menu. "That'll work." 
    " Before Brad get's here, can I ask a couple questions?"
    I glanced around. "I guess. What do you want to know?"
    " You said you love being Ginger. Do you really love being a woman?"
    The waitress stepped up and set a large bowl in front of Amber. "Here's your Greek salad. Can I get you anything else?"
    " More iced tea."
    " Coming right up." She picked up my menu. "Did you decide?"
    " I did. I'll have the 'Half Pound Station Burger' with lettuce leaves instead of a bun and fruit instead of fries."
    " Half pounder with lettuce leaves and fruit. Anything to drink?"
    " Iced tea."
    After the waitress left, I answered Amber 's question. "It's not just being a woman. I love being a glamorous woman. I adore being Ginger. I love being gorgeous and dressing up. Men are forced to conform to a standard, but women are free to be themselves, to let their personality show in their clothes, makeup, hair, even shoes. If given the option, I would never change back."
    ~ * * ~
    Carpenter turned to Soriano. "Did you hear that?"
    She nodded. "Yes, but I'm not convinced. We don't have to make a decision for several more weeks, so let's wait and see."
    " Okay, but I can tell you right now Brad isn't going to change his mind."
    " Hold on, I want to hear what Amber has to say"
    ~ * * ~
    "I never thought about it, but you're right. Women have more freedom in style and clothes to be themselves."
    " Exactly."
    Amber placed her hand on Ginger 's. "You know when Brad first convinced me your switch was real, I was crushed. I felt as if I lost my best friend. But now, instead, I feel as if I've gained a new friend."
    " You have. Any friend of Ginger is a friend of mine. Now, what was your second question?"
    " Despite the fact that your mind is Brad's—"
    " Wrong."
    " Your mind isn't Brad's?"
    " Yes, but that's only part of it. I'm Brad in every way in Ginger's shell. Being, spirit, soul, core, essence—whatever you want to call it, all of me, including my mind is in Ginger's body. And so it is with Ginger, in my shell."
    " I think I get it. Anyway, you and Brad/Ginger seem so comfortable together. I know it's only been five days, but are you falling in love with Brad?"
    " I don't know. If feeling like my life began when I woke up and found out I was Ginger, then yes, I could be. But truly, with so much happening, it's impossible to tell."
    ~ * * ~
    "See she loves him. Venus says she does, too. And she thinks Brad loves her."
    " You brought Venus into this?"
    " She's the 'Advocate of Love'."
    " Yes, but I didn't want to bring