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Fresh Start 2 By Julie O, Amelia R and Bob Arnold Edited by Amelia R Synopsis: Josh Reid was a typical teenage boy before he was transformed physically into a young woman. She became Jirra Reid and struggled to accept her new female persona. This is the continuation of her journey to find balance in her life. This tale also contains cameos of characters from many of Julie's other stories, including Ambition, Celestial Awakenings, and the Turbulence series. It also features a major guest star, Jennifer Stevens, from Bob Arnold's wonderful series "Zapped." Chapter 1 It was almost 3 AM on a cold Wednesday in January when Jirra sat down in the corner of the mud bath room. She was sitting on a thick Navajo blanket with her legs crossed. She had specifically picked the spot because she knew she wouldn't be interrupted; a vision quest needed privacy. Cari, the woman who ran the baths, had given Jirra permission to use the room. Jirra's mom, Liz, also knew where she was. Jirra wasn't about to repeat the grief she had given her mom and friends the last time she had gone out to seek her spirit guide. While it was a successful quest, she had neglected to tell anyone where she was, and a massive search had been launched. Jirra had much on her mind, and she needed the advice of her spirit guide, Killara, a kangaroo rat. Jirra smiled at the idea that seeking advice from Killara wasn't the strangest thing that had happened to her. It was now just seven months since she had been struck by lightning while sitting in one of the copper kettle baths enjoying a warm mud bath. She looked at the kettles and could picture the June afternoon when her life had been changed. There had been a bolt of lightning, and it had somehow combined with the chemicals in the mud to transform her into a girl. Unfortunately, the transformation was only physical, and while Jirra begrudgingly accepted that she was female, mentally she was still Josh. Jirra turned away from the kettles, took off her hiking boots, and made herself comfortable. The last time she had sought her guide, it had been up in the hills above the spa, but being it was in the mid-twenties and there was three inches of fresh snow on the ground, Jirra decided that the mud bath room would have to do. She was wearing a pair of jeans, a turtleneck top and a sweater. She took the sweater off and stared down at her chest. Thanks to a recent growth spurt, her breasts now stretched out the top. It was just one of many things that she hadn't gotten used to. Jirra closed her eyes and began to clear her mind, which wasn't easy. While she had been totally accepted by her mom and friends at the spa, she was carrying a lot of mental stress about her transformation. The recent holidays hadn't helped. It was agreed that for the most part the truth about Jirra's transformation would only be shared with the most trusted of people. The agreed story was that Jirra was transgendered and had decided to live as a girl. Jirra understood that they needed a cover story even though it would cause all sorts of waves. Liz and Jirra had told their immediately family, and while they accepted the story, many pulled away. Oh, there were a few relatives that still accepted her, but it hurt Jirra's feelings that many did not. Her dad's sister was totally cool about it. Aunt Gail even talked about coming out for a visit. Unfortunately, her dad's parents were less than understanding and didn't even send a Christmas card. This rejection particularly hurt, as her dad had been killed the previous year. It was bad enough going through the holidays without him, but the added rejection only made it worse. While she tried to be upbeat, it was the most depressing holidays she had ever experienced. Jirra was also worried about what her life would be like once she left the spa. While it was wonderful that she was so accepted at The Caldera de Gaia Spa, it was also a concern for her. She was about to finish her high school education and head off to college, and the idea of being off in the real world troubled her. Then there was the issue of her relationship with Alexis Eden. In spite of her best efforts to just consider the actress as a "good" friend, Jirra was still deeply in love with her. There were numerous reasons why their relationship shouldn't happen, but Jirra didn't care. Even the great distance between them did nothing to diminish her feelings for Alexis, who had spent the last few months in Crete filming a movie. Another issue on Jirra's mind was the simmering homophobia in the local town. Thanks to an idiotic ex-employee of a spa contractor, Jirra had been outed as a lesbian, and some of the local high school students had attacked her for this. What bothered Jirra most about it was that the harassment was anonymous and petty. She knew that Randy and some of his friends were behind it, but she had no proof. Just the other day, someone had hacked into the spa's website and slipped in an anti-gay tirade. Thankfully, it had also crashed the page, so no one saw it, but it was still disturbing. Several of the employees at the spa were gay or lesbian, and so were many of the guests. The owner, Judy, didn't care, but apparently there was a growing backlash in town. The combination of all these things only increased the urgency of seeing Killara. Jirra sat and cleared her mind and began to focus on seeing her guide. "Well, Roo, I've been wondering when you'd seek me again." Jirra opened her eyes and, instead of the mud bath building, she was sitting on a rock overlooking a small stream. The warm sun felt good on her face. "Killara?" "Of course, who were you expecting, Yoda?" replied the kangaroo rat, as he hopped into view. Jirra smiled back. She decided not to waste her time asking how her spirit guide knew about a movie character. "It's wonderful to see you again." Killara moved next to her. "Likewise, Roo." "This is beautiful," she stated as she looked around. "It looks familiar." "This is what it looked like here 1,500 years ago at the time of the people you call the Anasazi." Jirra looked around and while she didn't see any people, there were signs that someone else had been there. There were footprints in the mud by the stream. "Who made those," she asked, pointing to the prints. "The Anasazi, who else?" "But, from what I've read, they were never around here," replied Jirra, looking around. Killara cocked his head and using his rear leg, scratched his head. "Who are you going to believe, your spirit guide or some dusty book?" Jirra giggled. "Okay, you got me there." "You have a lovely laugh, too bad you've stifled it so much lately," he replied. "I'm still seeking balance, and am failing." "I wouldn't say that," he replied. "I caused a split in my family," stated Jirra. "They can't accept that I'm now a girl." "It's their loss," he replied. "In time the true ones will come around. Give them time and don't give up so easily." Jirra nodded. "Okay, but what about what will happen when I leave here? Killara, I'm terrified about how others will treat me." "You're surrounded now by wonderful and caring people; you'll add others to this circle. Soon, you'll meet a person who'll have a great influence in your life." "Really? Who is it?" "Roo, you're not the type to skip to the end of a mystery are you?" Jirra laughed again. "Okay, that would be too easy wouldn't it?" "I will tell you that there will soon be more conflict in your life, and this won't just affect you, but the entire spa," continued Killara. "What do you mean?" "I can't tell you, but the old will save the new." Jirra sat back. "What does that mean?" "The old will save the new, it's pretty obvious if you ask me," he replied as he scratched his ear with his foot. Jirra repeated the words a few times. "You're doing fine, Roo. Life is full of challenges, and you've taken them on. I'm very proud of you." "I wouldn't have made it this far without my mom and friends," stated Jirra. "A strong person relies on their friends for strength, only a fool goes it alone," replied Killara. "It's so difficult. I'm just not a very good female. I hate putting on makeup, I hate wearing dresses, and you don't want to get me started on having my period!" "I'd say you've done pretty well; it's only been a few months. You're adapting better than you're giving yourself credit for. I think you protest too much sometimes, just to remind others and yourself that you were once male." Jirra absorbed his words silently. "To find balance, you can't hide your feelings or repress new sensations. I think you know what I'm talking about." Jirra bit her lower lip and nodded. "Jirra, you have a long and exciting life ahead of you; remember the past, but don't dwell on it. Now, it's time for you to go," stated Killara. "But I just got here; I have so many more things I want to talk to you about. Please don't send me away!" pleaded Jirra. "It's time, Roo," he replied firmly. "You can come back in a few months." In a flash Jirra was back in the empty dark room. She looked at her watch and saw that it was now 6:30. She put on her boots, sweater, and jacket and stepped outside into the frosty morning air. She looked to the east and could see the predawn glow in the distance. It would be a clear day. Jirra turned and looked up into the hills and wondered if the Anasazi really had been this far east into New Mexico. . She walked briskly back towards her house, the sound of the snow crunching under her boots; she wanted to record her observations as quickly as possible. Chapter 2 Jirra was still typing away when Liz entered the kitchen. "I take it you were successful," greeted Liz as she leaned down and kissed her daughter on the cheek. "Good morning, Mom," replied Jirra. "Yes, I met Killara. I'll let you read this once I'm done." "I find it all fascinating," stated Liz. "I'm heading up to the dining room for breakfast; I have an early morning, as it's time for the staff physicals. You want to join me?" "Sure, I'm just about done." As they walked up to the dining room, their conversation centered on Jirra's vision quest. "Aren't you curious about what your spirit guide looks like?" asked Jirra. "I may try it some time in the future, but for now I'll leave the mystical trips to you, Roo," replied Liz. Jirra giggled. "Okay." "By the way, just to remind you, your physical is tomorrow morning at ten," stated Liz. "Is it really necessary?" asked Jirra. "It's required for all spa employees. I even have to get a physical." "Are you doing it locally or are you going to Santa Fe?" asked Jirra. "Santa Fe, why?" asked Liz. "Can I please tag along? There's a bookstore I want to check out. It's for my history project," replied Jirra. "Sure, just as long as it doesn't interfere with your job." "The newsletter is almost done for the week," Jirra replied immediately. "Okay, I'll be going there Thursday." They walked up to the counter and were immediately greeted by Hannah, the head chef. "Good morning, Liz, and good morning, Jirra. What would you like this morning?" asked Hannah. "Just some oatmeal, please," asked Liz. "Regular or cinnamon-raisin?" asked Hannah. "I'll take the cinnamon-raisin," replied Liz, as she filled a mug with coffee. "What about you, Jirra?" asked Hannah. "Are you making pancakes this morning?" she asked hopefully. Hannah nodded. "Lindsey's back in the kitchen making up a fresh batch. I also got a new supply of real maple syrup in from Vermont." "That sounds great," replied Jirra. "Oh, Liz, Judy was in a few minutes ago; she wanted to me tell everyone that there'll be an emergency staff meeting this morning in her office at ten," stated Hannah. "Did she say why?" asked Liz. "No, but she seemed upset." "Thanks, Hannah, I'll see you at ten," replied Liz. 'Oh, Jirra, you need to be there too," added Hannah. Liz and Jirra sat down next to Cari and Tara. "How did it go this morning, Jirra?" asked Cari. "As usual, I was left with more questions than answers," replied Jirra as she poured some orange juice from a pitcher into her glass. "I know the feeling. I think my spirit guide takes special pleasure in confusing me," added Tara. "He cut me off before I could ask him half the questions I had," continued Jirra. She then looked down and sighed. "Like if my breasts were ever going to stop growing! I mean, is it normal for them to jump a whole cup in just a few weeks?" "Ahhh, the breast growth spurt, I remember how mine popped up a cup just before school started," mused Cari. "You mean it happened to you too?" asked Jirra. Cari nodded, as did Tara. "Mine happened when I was younger than you, but considering everything you've been through, this just might be part of the normal maturing process," stated Tara. Jirra looked down at her chest. "Normal or not, I just hope they don't get any bigger. It's a pain enough as it is sleeping with them." Cari, Tara and Liz laughed. "We're laughing with you, not at you, Roo," stated Liz. "On the plus side, you'll need to do some shopping," stated Cari. "Did someone say shopping?" asked Lindsey as she walked up with a tray of food. "Yes, Jirra needs to 'expand' her wardrobe," joked Cari. Jirra shook her head in mock disgust. "That's not funny." "Oh, I see what you mean," stated Lindsey. "No worries, we can go into Carsonville this week. They just opened a new boutique near the coffee house. Don't worry, Jirra, it's not ultra-fem sort of stuff, it's more outdoorsy." "Okay," replied Jirra, as she began to pour syrup on her pancakes. "I do appreciate the fact that you all care about me, even if it means that I'm providing you with entertainment." "So I wonder what the big meeting is all about," stated Tara. "I have no idea, but Judy seemed upset this morning," added Cari. Chapter 3 Judy's office was crowded with the spa staff by nine fifty-five. Judy walked in and sat down at her desk. "I'm sorry to interrupt your busy schedules, but I have some important news that I want you to hear before it reaches the local grapevine," stated Judy. "As you know, the land along the road that leads up here is owned by the government; however, it looks like a large tract of land that borders the entrance of the spa will be sold to a major hotel chain. Right now the sale is being contested, but if it goes through we'll have a competitor right outside our gate." There was immediately a lot of murmuring among the gathered staff. "Please hear me out," interrupted Judy. "The company that wants to build there has contacted me and has made me a very generous offer to buy the Caldera de Gaia. If I sell out, they will leave the land adjacent to the spa undeveloped. Just so you know, I have no intention of selling. I am also trying to raise the capital to make a bid on the land, should it be sold." "Do you think the land will be sold?" asked Cody, Hannah's husband and the spa entertainment director. "My lawyer says that it's 50-50 right now, although he also thinks that the land sale might just be a bluff to get me to sell. I expect that the hotel chain will turn up the heat on us. Actually, I take this as a sign that we're doing a great job if we've attracted the attention of the corporate suits." "How can we help?" asked Liz. "Just do your jobs. I promise to keep you updated on anything that happens. This is my land. It's been in my family for generations, and I have no intention of selling it just as it's becoming successful," stated Judy defiantly. There was a round of applause. "I've also been in contact with the town. They've offered their support," continued Judy. "Why? Wouldn't they profit by another resort being here?" asked Gregory, the head groundskeeper. "No, they're afraid of being priced out of here, as has happened in other towns. They like the fact that the spa is bringing new life into the town, but they don't want to change completely." "What about those who don't like us?" asked Cari, referring to several anti-gay incidents involving local townspeople. Judy nodded. "I've talked to the town leaders. They acknowledge that there are some people in town who feel that we're bringing in an 'unsavory' element. I told them that I treat all my employees and guests the same and have no intention of giving in to ignorance." "So what happens next?" asked Liz. "The initial hearing on the land sale won't happen until spring. There needs to be an environmental statement on the land; there're also concerns about water usage. Nothing is going to happen overnight, but I promise to stay on top of it," replied Judy. They talked for a few more minutes before the staff began to disperse. "Jirra, I need you to stick around please," stated Judy. Chapter 4 Jirra sat across from Judy, who was now sitting on the edge of her desk. "I have another assignment for you," stated Judy. "We have another VIP arriving here next week." Jirra looked up. "Actually, she requested you. Apparently, your friend Alexis told her about the spa and you." "Who is it?" asked Jirra, her eyes lighting up at the mention of Alexis' name. "Jennifer Stevens," replied Judy. Jirra stared back. "Isn't she the one who used to be a guy?" "Yes, according to her biography on IMDB, she was transformed over a three week period. Now if this hits too close to home, I'll assign her to someone else," replied Judy. Jirra stared down at the ground in deep thought. It would be nice to be able to talk to someone who had gone through a similar experience, she thought. She also knew that Alexis would never have told Jennifer about her own transformation without telling her. "You don't have to make up your mind immediately; you can give me your answer later," stated Judy. "No, it's okay. I don't mind," answered Jirra. "From what I've read, she seems like a nice person." "When is she arriving here?" asked Jirra. "Monday. Thanks to the storms in the Midwest and back east, we're not going to be all that busy. I've already gotten three cancellations this morning. Thankfully, all three rescheduled for later in the month," replied Judy. "How serious is the threat of the big hotel moving in next to us?" asked Jirra. "If everyone plays honestly, I wouldn't be worried, but these big chains often play dirty," replied Judy. "I've told the town that if the land goes on the market, and if I get it, I'll keep it as is and declare it a nature preserve. I should get local support for this." Jirra wondered if this was what Killara was talking about, but decided not to share this with Judy. "Back to Jennifer, will she be using a pseudonym?" asked Jirra. "No, she's too well known for that. She's coming here to relax and to enjoy our mud baths. It shouldn't be too stressful for you," replied Judy. "Not like last time." Jirra cocked her head. Judy smiled back. "Yes, my dear, I know about you and Alexis." "Was it that obvious?" asked Jirra. A slightly horrified look was forming on her face. "No, but then again I got to observe you two together more than most people. I also want to let you know that I'll support you in whatever happens." "Right now we're just friends, and I'm okay with that," replied Jirra, her voice drifting off. "That's probably best for now, considering how far away she is," replied Judy. "Is she still in Crete?" Jirra shook her head. "She flew back last week, but she's in New York this week. She's doing some re-recordings for the movie." "Tell me again what the movie is about?" asked Judy. "It's a big screen telling of the story of the Minotaur. Alexis is playing Ariadne, daughter of King Minos. She falls in love with the Greek hero, Theseus, and helps him defeat the Minotaur," replied Jirra. "Is that why the movie was filmed in Crete?" asked Judy. Jirra nodded. "That and the producer's daughter is on an archeology dig there." "Must be nice to combine business and pleasure," replied Judy. "Alexis says that the hardest part of the movie was pretending to be afraid of something that wasn't there. The Minotaur will be CG." "I wonder if she's worried about when they make the actors all CG," replied Judy with a laugh. Jirra laughed. "Well, Alexis says that she's also contracted for the computer game. She'll provide the voice for her character." "Will there be action figures too?" asked Judy. "Yes, along with fast-food tie-ins." "Sounds like this could make Alexis very wealthy." "That will make her happy, if only because it will allow her to retire soon. She wants to give up acting as soon as her contract expires. She'll have four more movies to make after this one. She only went into acting to pay off her tuition and create a nest-egg." "I hope she can walk away from it all, as long as it makes her happy." "I can relate in some ways to what she's going through, keeping a secret that is. She's seen as a leading lady in movies and TV directed at males 18-24. If word got out that she's a lesbian, her career would be over. I don't think Alexis would care, but she feels obligated to the people who got her to where she is." "I'm not surprised. She seems like a woman of honor." "She's very special." Judy smiled. "You're still very attracted to her, aren't you?" Jirra's eyes began to well up with tears. Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke. "Yes." "It's okay, Jirra," replied Judy, as she handed her a box of tissues. "Does she know how you feel?" "I think so. We've mostly communicated via e-mail since she left the spa. It's hard to express true emotions in e-mail." "I hope it works out for you, Jirra." "Thanks, Judy. I appreciate that." Chapter 5 Jirra spent the rest of the morning in her small office searching the Internet for information on Jennifer Stevens. She had read an article on her a year earlier, but had thought it was all nonsense, which was of course before her own transformation. She found it interesting that lighting had been responsible for both transformations, although Jennifer's took place over a three week period. Jirra wondered if there was a connection. Maybe the mud acted as an accelerant, she thought. As she read Jennifer's biography, she discovered that Jen had also experienced a reduction in age. Jirra let out a sigh of relief that she hadn't gotten any younger, the last thing she wanted was to be a little kid again. It did make her think though, what if my aging process has changed? She would mention this to her mom when she had her physical. As it was, Jirra was already getting a medical checkup every few weeks. Liz wanted to have a running database of Jirra's health and, in addition to height, weight, blood pressure and things like that, she drew a sample of Jirra's blood to be analyzed by a friend back east. Jirra printed out one of the more reputable articles to show her mom. Then she checked her e-mail and was very excited to see one from Alexis. Dear Roo, I guess you know by now that Jen Stevens is coming to the spa. I've known her for a while and she's very cool. You can trust her completely. I wish I could find the time to swing by the spa, but it's crazy nuts around here. Between re-recording audio tracks and doing voices for the computer game, I'm exhausted. We might even have to fly back to Crete for some additional scenes, although the studio is trying to shoot them on a sound stage. Anyway, stay in touch and have fun with Jen. She knows that I like girls, so don't feel the need to hold back. Love, Alexis Jirra smiled and let out a sigh. She then typed out a reply. Dear Alexis, Great to hear from you. Judy just told me about Jennifer Stevens coming to the spa. I do plan on talking to her, when the time is right. She'll be the first person that I've met who has experienced what I have. Any idea of when you'll be free? Love, Jirra. Jirra reviewed the mail and then hit send. Chapter 6 "This is very interesting. I wonder if Ms. Stevens would be willing to let me see her medical records to see if there are any similarities, especially in your blood samples," stated Liz, as she read the article that Jirra had printed out. She was sitting at her desk in her medical office, taking a break from the physicals. Jirra had brought over some vegetable soup for lunch. "I don't know. Alexis says that she's pretty cool, but many of the articles say that she doesn't like talking about what happened. I suppose she's found her balance and sees what's done is done," stated Jirra. "I wish I could do that." "It'll take time, Roo. As for her talking about it, I think she might, considering you've had a similar experience," replied Liz. She then took a sip of the soup. "Oh, this is really good." Jirra nodded. "I just get worried thinking about what could happen. I mean, my recent breast growth has freaked me." "Like we said this morning, it's normal," stated Liz. "Your latest hormonal readings are normal for a woman your age." Jirra nodded as she drank some of the soup. They finished lunch and Jirra departed. She immediately headed over to see Tara. Chapter 7 "I'm sorry to bug you, but I have some questions that need your expertise," stated Jirra as she sat down across from Tara. "I'm no expert on the spirit world," replied Tara. "But I'm still a good listener." Jirra smiled and took her laptop out of her backpack. "I typed it all down as soon as I got back to the house. I wanted to record every detail." "That's better than I've ever done. Then again, I didn't have a laptop with me when I had my last vision quest," she stated as she read Jirra's text. "Where were you?" asked Jirra. "Sitting naked in a small canyon twenty miles from here," replied Tara. "I'm not up to doing it naked." "You should try it sometime. I did it after spending time in a sweat lodge. It makes the vision more detailed." "I'll take your word for it." "Jirra, you have a lovely body. You should be proud of it." Jirra began to blush. "Thanks." Tara smiled back. "Would you have done it naked when you were male?" Jirra cocked her head to the side. "I don't know. I don't know if I'd had even gone on a vision quest when I was male." "See, in some ways you're more adventurous than before," noted Tara. "Maybe you're right... but I'm not ready to sit in a canyon naked!" Tara laughed. "By the way, your writing is very detailed. I'm very impressed." "So do you think that this rival company coming in is what Killara referred to?" asked Jirra. "It could be. I just wonder what the salvation will be," replied Tara. "I have no idea." Tara handed Jirra back the laptop. "Anything else on your mind?" Jirra smiled back. Tara had become like an older sister to her. "Well, I'm still in love with Alexis. I have no idea of what to do about it." "Long distance romances are difficult." Jirra nodded slowly. "Can I ask you something personal?" "Sure," replied Jirra. "Do you only have feelings for girls? Now, think about your answer first." Jirra stared back. "I haven't felt anything towards a guy. I mean I like Barrett, the guy who works at the coffeehouse in town, but not in a sexual way. Why?" "You're still changing and adapting. I know as Josh you were hetero, but you're not Josh anymore. You won't find balance if you repress your true feelings. I'm not saying that your feelings for Alexis aren't real, but you need to be honest with yourself. Does that make sense?" "Yes... yes, it does. Thanks for the advice, Tara." Jirra then got up and hugged Tara. Tara smiled and then looked at her watch. "Well, I have two guests arriving in twenty minutes. I need to get going." "Thanks for listening," replied Jirra. "Anytime, Roo, anytime." Chapter 8 "So? When do you want to go shopping?" asked Lindsey as she stepped into Jirra's office. "I don't know, it's not like it's an emergency," replied Jirra without looking up from her computer. "Bull. Judging by the way you've been twitching around in your seat lately, I imagine that your bra is killing you," stated Lindsey as she sat down across from her friend. Jirra looked up. "Is it that obvious?" Lindsey nodded. "It's not like it's the end of the world, Jirra. Big deal, your boobs grew." Jirra laughed in spite of herself. "I just feel funny going in to get some new bras." "Look, you need comfortable clothes. A tight bra is awful." "I guess it just makes sense to get some." "You might as well get some new tops while you're at it. Your t-shirts and sweaters should be okay, but you've been stressing out the threads holding your buttons on your blouses lately." "Anything else?" asked Jirra in a tone of mock annoyance. "No, that should be enough for now. Come on, we can get to town and be back before dinner if we leave now." She held out the keys to her parent's Jeep. "I need to let Mom know that I'm going," stated Jirra. Lindsey picked up the phone and dialed the number to the medical office. "I talked her into it. We'll see you tonight." She then hung up the phone. "Bitch," whispered Jirra. Lindsey laughed. "Okay, this was a conspiracy, but in a good way." The drive to Carsonville was uneventful. They parked right in front of the new boutique. It was next to the coffee shop and Jirra wondered if Barrett was still working there. He had been working in the family owned business during his winter break from college, and she wasn't sure when he was heading back. "Clothes first, coffee later," stated Lindsey, as if she was reading Jirra's mind. The shop was filled with mid-ranged to expensive casual clothes. The type of things people with money wore to look as if they weren't rich, but without actually wearing everyday clothes. "Thankfully we get a twenty-five percent discount in here. I love their stuff, but there's no way I could justify buying things in here at full price," whispered Lindsey as they walked in. A blonde woman in her late twenties walked over to greet them. She flashed a bright smile. "Lindsey, it's great to see you again. Oh, please tell your mom that I tried that recipe she gave me for beef Stroganoff. My husband loved it!" "I'm glad to hear that, Grace. Oh, this is my friend Jirra; she's also from the spa," replied Lindsey. "My mom is the spa doctor, and I work part-time for Judy," stated Jirra as she extended her hand. "I've heard all about you, Jirra, from some of the other businessmen and businesswomen in town. We really appreciate the business your newsletter has sent us," replied Grace. "So are you two girls just looking, or do you have something specific in mind?" "Jirra needs some help," said Lindsey before Jirra could say a word. She then leaned over to Grace and whispered. "She's had a little growth spurt." "Well, we can take care of that. Jirra, please follow me. I want to get your measurements," stated Grace as she headed back to the fitting rooms. Jirra glanced over at Lindsey who stuck the tip of her tongue out. Back in the fitting room, Grace asked Jirra to take off her sweater and bra. As Jirra undressed Grace nodded knowingly. "Looks like you're long overdue for this. I'd say that your bra is at least a cup too small. Have you ever been sized for a bra?" Jirra shook her head. "No, why?" Grace began to measure Jirra. "A poorly sized bra can cause all kinds of problems, ranging from just discomfort to bad posture. Now, I'm going to measure your chest and breasts. Then I'll give you a few bras to try on." After a few minutes, Grace was done measuring and made a few quick calculations. "Okay, try this one on," she stated as she handed Jirra a plain white bra. "Don't worry about the style, we're just going for comfort and fit now." Jirra tried it on. Thankfully, she didn't struggle anymore with the back hooks as she had for the first three months after her transformation. "Well?" asked Grace. "It feels good," replied Jirra. Grace made a few adjustments to the straps. "I'd say it's a good fit." "What size is that?" asked Jirra. "36-DD," replied Grace. "I know you were wearing a 36-C, but it's not that unusual for a girl to just up a cup or higher." "I didn't realize that they were that big," replied Jirra as she stared down at her chest. "For your size they look good. Now, I have a few bras that you might like, but between you and me, I think for your everyday bras and sports bras you can go to the Target down the road. That way you can save money for the real nice things." Jirra giggled in spite of herself. "Okay. I do need a few tops while I'm here." "I think we can help you," replied Grace. "Look, having big breasts can be a pain, but you'll get used to them. I did." Jirra hadn't noticed until now that Grace was rather large breasted herself. "I'm 38-DD myself, and trust me that you'll be much happier with properly sized bras," replied Grace. An hour later Jirra and Lindsey walked out with several bags of clothes. "You still want to get some coffee?" asked Lindsey. Jirra nodded vigorously. "I really need some caffeine now!" After putting their clothes in the back of the Jeep, they walked into the coffee shop. Jirra was pleased to see that Barrett was behind the counter. He saw them walk in and he waved. "I thought you were heading back to college?" asked Jirra. "I leave this weekend, although I'm trying to convince my advisor to allow me to do some studying back here in the spring," he replied. "Cool. So what do you suggest today?" asked Jirra. "Ahhh, I want you to try this, it's my new mocha recipe. If you drink it, you'll see things that no one else can see and do things no one else can do," replied Barrett with a wink. Lindsey turned to Jirra with a confused look on her face. "What is he talking about?" Jirra just laughed and took the cup. "Are you calling it the Jack Burton?" "Who?" asked Lindsey. "Damn! I thought I could slip that one past you," replied Barrett. "Obviously, Lindsey has never seen Big Trouble in Little China." "I love that movie," stated Jirra. "The mocha is pretty good by the way." "The mocha is good, but I've never heard of the movie you're talking about," interjected Lindsey. "I have it on DVD. My dad loved that movie. We can watch it tonight," stated Jirra. "What is it, some Kung Fu movie?" she asked. Jirra looked at Barrett who began to laugh. "It's sort of hard to explain. Just watch it." "Well, I hope you get your way, Barrett. Good luck," stated Jirra. "I'll keep in touch," he replied. Jirra and Lindsey paid for the drinks and headed back to the jeep. "Is this movie really good?" asked Lindsey. Jirra nodded. "Trust me." Chapter 9 On the way back to the spa, Jirra kept looking down at her chest. "What's wrong now?" asked Lindsey. "My breasts look huge!" replied Jirra. "And?" asked Lindsey. "This isn't funny. I mean I'm trying to blend in, and then 'they' decide to grow!" "Barrett didn't seem to notice," replied Lindsey. "He's cool. He knows that I only like girls," stated Jirra. "I know this is normal, but I don't need something like this to attract attention... especially from boys!" "I see, well I suppose the only alternative is to bind your chest." "Very funny!" replied Jirra. "Seriously, we can strap those babies down every morning, squishing them against your chest. How does that sound?" asked Lindsey with a laugh. "Stop it! I don't want to start laughing!" replied Jirra. "Oh, wait, there's always duct tape!" Jirra started to laugh. "That's better," replied Lindsey. "Look, at least you have a nice body. Grace's right, they look good on you. I wouldn't worry about the boys, most just look anyway. Don't tell me that you didn't stare at the girls with big boobs in school." Jirra shrugged her shoulders. "That was different." "How?" asked Lindsey. "Guys have no idea what a pain it is to have them always staring at our chests. Look on the bright side; at least you're not in a real high school setting." "Oh yeah, that would go over great. It's bad enough that the local cliques know that I'm a lesbian, then to throw in these... ugh, I don't even want to think about it." "Yeah, it's a good thing that college boys don't care about big breasts," added Lindsey. Jirra laughed again. "Speaking of college boys, how's Dave." "He emailed me this morning. He said that he misses me," replied Lindsey. "I'm sure he does. He spent most of his break with you." "Speaking of long distance romances, how's Alexis?" "Busy. Apparently, this movie is going to be a big deal. The studio is trying to get it ready for release later this year, most likely for around the Christmas vacation period." "Why not this summer?" asked Lindsey. "Too many special effects to finish before summer. Alexis said that they're going to be spectacular." "Cool. I can't wait to see it." "Do you think that it's dumb for me to be in love with Alexis?" "No more dumb that me being in love with Dave. Love is like that, it's never convenient." Chapter 10 Liz thought that the movie idea was excellent and invited over Lindsey's parents, along with Tara and Cari. Jirra helped her make several big bowls of popcorn. "I'd forgotten how funny this movie is," commented Cody, as he munched on some popcorn. He was sitting on the couch next to Hannah and Liz. "Kurt Russell is still pretty sexy," stated Liz. "Kim Cattrall is pretty hot too," added Tara with a wink; she was sitting on the carpet next to Cari. "I can't believe how corny the dialog is," commented Lindsey. "It's supposed to be corny," interjected Jirra. "That's what makes it so good." "You know, we ought to do this more often, have a movie night," commented Hannah. "It's way too far to drive to a movie theater." "I agree," stated Cari as she motioned for one of the bowls of popcorn. "We can host it next time," stated Tara as she reached into the bowl. "I have the perfect movie too, The Princess Bride." Jirra just smiled and soaked in the warmth of having so many good friends around her. Still, her mind drifted to Killara's words and she wondered what they meant. Chapter 11 On Thursday, Jirra and Liz drove down to Santa Fe. "I should be done by lunch time," stated Liz. "Okay. The bookstore I want to go to is only a few blocks away from the medical center. There's supposed to be a good pizza place next door; why don't we eat there?" "I could go for some good pizza. I don't like the place in town; they don't know how to make thin crust pizza, but then again very few pizza places do, away from the Northeast," replied Liz. Liz dropped Jirra off at the bookstore. It was a store that Barrett had mentioned several times; he claimed it had a great section on local history. He was right, as it had a huge section on New Mexico's history. Jirra was soon browsing away, finding several books on the Anasazi. As soon as she picked up a book, she skimmed the index. None of the books mentioned any evidence of settlements in the area around the spa; still she knew what she had seen in her vision quest. "May I help you, Miss?" asked an older man's voice. Jirra turned around to see a small elderly man. He still had a full head of hair, although it was completely white. The nametag on his sweater identified him as Abe. He had a friendly smile, and there was a tinkle in his gray-blue eyes. Jirra immediately knew she could trust him. "Yes. Do you know of any books concerning Anasazi settlements in the northeast part of the state? Say in the area north of Santa Fe?" asked Jirra hopefully. He put his hand to his chin and began to rub it, as he appeared to be contemplating her question. "That's the second time in the past few weeks that someone has asked me that question. The first was by some grad student. He claimed that he had found some evidence of them being much further east that earlier suspected," replied Abe. "Did he have a goatee?" asked Jirra. Abe nodded. "Yes, he did. He also suggested that I put a coffee stand in my store." "Was he named Barrett?" she asked. "Yes, do you know him?" asked Abe. Jirra nodded. "His family runs a coffee house in the town near where I live." Abe shook his head in disgust. "Coffee stand in a book store? Whatever happened to just buying a book?" Jirra laughed. "So, were you able to help him?" "There's one book we have in stock. It was written by an archeologist, back in the 1930's. He claimed that he found sites in the hills north of Santa Fe that he dated back to the Anasazi. The trouble is, he never bothered to document these finds. The book is an interesting read, but I don't know how much you'll learn from it. He refused to note the exact location of the sites, something about not wanting to disturb them until the time was right," stated Abe as he led Jirra to the book. Jirra noted that the shelves were filled with books on local history ranging from Billy the Kid to Roswell. "Ah, here it is. Technically, this could be considered a rare book, as it was published in 1939, but since no one, other than your friend, has looked at it in all those years, I'll sell it to you for five dollars." He handed the book to Jirra. Jirra held the book and opened it up carefully. It was covered in cheap leather. The title was The Anasazi of Santa Fe by Dr. Randolph Margate III. "The book was a failure, and everyone with a college degree laughed at his findings. He claimed that he was planning an expedition to the sites to prove his theories, unfortunately he disappeared," stated Abe. "Disappeared?" asked Jirra. Abe nodded. "Yep. I found an article in the newspaper's archives stating that he was going up into the hills in the spring of 1940. No one ever heard of him again. Not that unusual, people come and go all the time. Still, it would have been nice to have known what happened to him." "He was a doctor, didn't anyone look for him?" "No. His biography says that he earned his PhD from Oxford. I wrote to them and they have no record of a Randolph Margate III. So, he was either using a fake name or he was lying." "Sounds like you have more than a passing interest in him," stated Jirra. Abe laughed. "You could say that. This shop has been in my family for three generations. I suspect that will all end when I pass on; none of my kids want to run it. Anyway, it's hard to compete with the big chains, and I'm not willing to put in a coffee stand. My father bought one hundred copies of that book. I was working as a stock boy back then, and I read everything new that came in. I must have read that book twenty times. I bought a topographical map and tried to figure out where he had gone. I suppose it became a hobby or maybe an obsession. Now, there is one catch to me selling you this book; if you find out anything, you must promise me that you'll share it with me. Is that a deal?" Jirra nodded and extended her hand. "It's a deal, Abe." Abe took her hand and shook it. "And what's your name, young lady?" "It's Jirra," she replied with a smile. He began to chuckle. "Your parents named you kangaroo?" She joined him in the laughter. "It's a long story, but it has something to do with a vacation they took before I was born." Abe laughed. "Well, Jirra, in addition to the book, I think you'll need some maps. Maybe you can figure out where old Randolph was hiking about. Just so you know, his descriptions are vague enough to describe almost any canyon in the state." An hour later Jirra had added three topographical maps and two additional books on the Anasazi to her pile. "I'm sorry to hear that you can't get your family to continue the store," stated Jirra. "All may not be lost. My granddaughter is expressing an interest in running it," he stated. "Do you have an e-mail address?" asked Jirra, "just in case I find out something on Randolph." "Of course. I may be old, but I'm no fuddy-duddy," he stated as he handed her his business card. "But I'm not going to put a coffee shop in here!" "Thanks. I promise that I'll let you know if I find out anything at all about Randolph or the site." "I know you will, Jirra." Chapter 12 A short time later Jirra was sitting across from Liz in the pizza place. She told her all about Abe and the book. "I wonder if Judy knows about Randolph," stated Liz as she ate her salad. "Or Abe," added Jirra. "When will that pizza get here? I'm starved!" Liz laughed. "I'm going to e-mail Barrett and tell him that he made quite an impression on Abe," continued Jirra. "That reminds me, no exploring up in the hills without telling someone where you're going. Also I don't want you going up there alone," ordered Liz. "Promise me." "I promise," replied Jirra. Just then the pizza arrived. The waiter's eyes were locked on Jirra's chest. She noticed and nervously crossed her arms. The waiter winked and walked away. "What a jerk," she muttered as she crossed her arms over her chest. "I know it's hard, but try to ignore it. Just remember you can use those to your advantage," stated Liz, as she put a slice of pizza on her plate. Jirra's eyes opened up. "Mom!" Liz smiled back. "I'm just saying that there will be times when you're glad you're well developed. Men turn into idiots around them. I got out of a speeding ticket once, just for having my top three buttons on my blouse undone. They don't call them boobs for nothing." Jirra broke up laughing, so hard in fact that she was soon crying. "Now eat your pizza before it gets cold; it's not too bad, but the crust is still too thick," noted Liz. "True, not like what we used to get back in Philly," replied Jirra. "Do you ever miss it?" Liz shook her head. "I've lived so many places, so home is where you make it. Your father loved Pennsylvania." Jirra let out a soft sigh. "I really miss him." "Me too, Roo." "I dreamed about him the other night," continued Jirra. "Nothing special happened; it was just nice to see him again." "I dream about him all the time." "I can't believe that it's almost been a year." "I know." "Did he really have to go to Afghanistan?" asked Jirra. Liz cracked a small smile. "Your father loved both of us, but he also had his honor. He was a soldier, like his father and his father's father. I joined the service on a lark, to help pay my college and to piss off my family. But with Travis, it was his family business. He once told me that Reids had always been soldiers; he joked about the fact that they weren't good at anything else." Jirra knew the family history well. Her grandfather had served in Viet Nam and her great-grandfather had been killed at Normandy. Her father had traced their family's service all the way back to the Civil War, when the first Reid had enlisted in the Union Army just ten days after stepping off the boat in New York City. Sgt. Ephraim Thaddeus Reid had survived the war, minus an arm he lost outside of Richmond in 1865. "Still he never pressured me to join," interrupted Jirra. "Why?" Liz nodded. "That's true he didn't. He wanted you to pick your own path. I think he was hoping that you wouldn't join up." "Why?" "He loved his job, but he also hated war. He treated the loss of every one of his men as if they were his children. I don't think he could stand losing you." Jirra stared back in silence. "You were so young when he was in the first Gulf War. His unit lost three men. When he got home, your father went and personally visited the families of those men. It was the only thing that seemed to bother him about the war. I think that's part of the reason he insisted on going along with his unit to Afghanistan; he didn't want to be away from them if they were in harm's way." Jirra felt a tear run down her cheek. She wiped it way. "He never talked much about the war with me." "No, he didn't want to burden you with it." "I know I've asked this before, but how do you think he would react to what happened to me?" Liz smiled. "It wouldn't have made any difference. He loved you dearly and would have loved you just the same, if not more. Although, I think he would have been slightly overprotective of you." "What do you mean?" "Let's just say that the he probably would have had a talk with the waiter," replied Liz. Jirra laughed. "Are you serious?" Liz nodded. "Now, let's finish lunch so we can get back to the spa." "Thank you for telling me this, Mom." "You're welcome, Roo." Jirra stayed up to nearly one reading the book. While it wasn't the best written book she had ever read, it was incredibly interesting. Dr. Margate stated that he had found proof that there were Anasazi sites in eastern New Mexico and proposed that they might have gone even further east. While he described several small sites where he had found evidence of the Anasazi, he didn't give any specific details on the locations of the sites. He described an area that covered much of the land north of Santa Fe. What really excited Jirra was that he described one site that could be near the spa. Granted, she may have been reading in between the lines, but he did mention the local town, stating that he stayed there overnight before heading north again. She wondered if Barrett had also picked up on this. Chapter 13 Friday arrived bright and clear. The temperature had dipped into the low twenties overnight leaving a fine layer of frost covering everything. The sun was out in full force, melting the frost off the darker colored walkways around the spa. Almost everything else looked like it was covered in a blanket of glistening diamonds. Judy was already in her office when Jirra arrived, and she decided to ask her about Dr. Randolph Margate. Judy examined the book. "I wish I knew you were so interested in this; I could have saved you ten dollars." Jirra was about to ask Judy what she meant, as Judy opened the door of a bookcase. She pulled out a much nicer copy of the same book. "Does this mean that he was around here?" asked Jirra excitedly. "My grandparents told me about him. They said he was a very eccentric man. He claimed to be English, yet they said he had more of a Midwestern accent. He spent a summer here searching the hills. He asked for permission to search the canyons on many of the private lands around here." "Didn't anyone ask him what he was looking for?" "Jirra, back then this land was mainly used for cattle ranching. My grandfather thought he was looking for gold or silver. He would head up into the hills for weeks before coming back for supplies. My grandfather offered to help him, but he refused all assistance. He did send us this copy of the book. He came back a few years later before he disappeared." "Didn't anyone look for him?" asked Jirra. "By the time anyone noticed he was missing, it was fall. They searched the hills, but didn't find a thing. Almost anything could have happened to him. It was foolish of him to be alone up there. Nature is very unforgiving." "As you've reminded me several times since my vision quest last summer," interjected Jirra. "Exactly! Oh, just so you know, I'm starting a new rule for hikers once the weather improves; they'll have to log out before heading up in the hills. That rule will also apply to staff. I'm thinking of calling it the Jirra Rule," stated Judy. "You wouldn't!" Judy laughed. "There will be a log, but I'm not naming it after you." "Thank you." "I got an update on our latest VIP; she's coming in early and will be here on Saturday. I'd like you here at ten to meet her," stated Judy. "Okay. Actually, I'm looking forward to meeting her." Chapter 14 Saturday's weather was a repeat of Friday's. The frost was quite a bit heavier though and everything, even the walkways, glistened in the reddish glow of the rising sun. Jirra slipped on a skirt, even though she wasn't fond of them especially with the colder temperatures of winter. It was an important day, and she figured that she had to make a good impression as a representative of the spa. She picked out a matching sweater and then slipped on the black leather knee-high boots that her mom had given her for Christmas. Jirra even put on some makeup. It wasn't much, but she wanted to look professional. Thankfully, Liz had shown her the art of minimal makeup. As she stepped into the kitchen, Liz nodded approvingly. "You look very nice, Roo." "Thanks," replied Jirra, as she ran her hands down along her skirt. "I figured that this is a big deal for the spa and the least I can do for Judy is wear girl clothes." Liz smiled. "Well, you look lovely, very professional. So what time does Ms. Stevens arrive?" "Sometime after ten," replied Jirra. "I'm sure you'll do fine," said Liz, as she washed out her coffee mug. "I'm off to work. I'll see you later." They gave each other a quick hug. Jirra made herself a mug of tea and watched some TV. She was slightly nervous about meeting Jennifer Stevens, not because she was a celebrity, but rather it was her background. The more Jirra thought about it, the more anxious she became. She had so much she wanted to ask her, but at the same time didn't want to bother her. Jirra looked at her watch and saw that it was nearly nine-thirty; she sighed and headed up to the spa office. Chapter 15 "Jirra, you look lovely," stated Judy. "And I thought you hated wearing skirts!" "I do," replied Jirra, "but this is business, and you've taught me to look professional." Judy nodded and smiled knowingly. "I'm glad you've remembered that." "So where is she staying?" asked Jirra. "In the same cottage that Alexis used; in fact, she requested it specifically, something about the view," replied Judy. "It does have a nice view of the sunrise from the deck, not that she'll be using that in winter," replied Jirra with a laugh. "Well, we'll find out soon enough, as it looks like she's arriving," stated Judy looking out the window of her office. A dark green Ford Expedition pulled up in front of the main office of the spa. A young woman with a blonde ponytail stepped out of the passenger side and stretched. She was wearing jeans, boots, and a black leather jacket that was open to show her red turtleneck sweater. She was also wearing a Syracuse University ball cap with a pair of sunglasses propped on top of the cap. In many ways, she looked like a college coed instead of a famous movie star. Judy walked over to the main door and waved her in. "Ms. Stevens, I'm Judy Ramone, and I want to welcome you to Caldera de Gaia Spa." The woman smiled. "Please, call me Jen, Judy." Judy smiled back. "As you wish, Jen, this is Jirra Reid; she'll be your guide around the spa." Jen's eyes opened up as she turned to Jirra. "Well, I've wanted to meet you for a while, Jirra. Alexis raved about you." Jirra felt her face getting warm as she greeted Jen. "And please don't tell me you got dressed up for me," continued Jen. Jirra was at a loss of words. "Please, in the future, Jirra, dress as you normally would. I don't want you to go out of your way for me. Still, I'm very impressed; it's nice to see a young woman who knows how to make a good first impression," continued Jen with a smile. "Okay, I will. Now would you like to see your cottage?" asked Jirra. "That sounds wonderful, Jirra," replied Jen. "Your bags are being delivered as we speak, Jen," interjected Judy. "Thank you. What I said to Jirra applies to everyone. The last thing I want is anyone going out of their way for me. I just finished a movie, and all I want to do is relax," answered Jen. "Oh, how do you want us to handle your privacy? We don't have a lot of guests this week, but I want to make sure that you're not bothered," continued Judy. "I'm not into fake names or anything like that. Just as long as no one barges into my room or is snapping photos for the tabloids, I'll be okay. I've sort of gotten used to the publicity," she replied. "I'll get the word out to the staff and quests," replied Judy. "I want all our guests to enjoy their stay here." "If it's half as good as Alexis told me, then I'll be pleased," replied Jen. "Okay, Jirra, lead away." Jirra slipped on her coat and led Jen down the path to the cottage. She still felt funny about the cottage, as it was the place where she had been with Alexis. "It's so beautiful here," exclaimed Jen as they walked through the cool morning air. "Now, you're not originally from around here are you?" Jirra shook her head. "No, I was an army brat. We lived all over the place before moving here. My mom is the staff doctor." "And your father?" asked Jen. Jirra took a breath. "He was killed last year in Afghanistan." "Oh, I'm sorry. Damn, Alexis told me that. I'm sorry." Jirra turned to Jen and smiled softly. "It's okay. Well, this is it." She then opened the door to the cottage. They walked inside and Jen nodded. "It's perfect. It even has a fireplace." "It's gas, cleaner than wood," noted Jirra. Jen walked around the room and noticed her bags were in her bedroom. "Very nice indeed. Now, I've been warned about the wonderful food here, still I like to cook for myself." "The basics are already stocked in the kitchen. For anything else, just fill out the form on the fridge door and drop it off at the main office; it'll be filled as best as possible the same day." Jen smiled. "Judy knows what she's doing." "You can say that again." "Well, hang around here while I unpack, then you can start the grand tour," stated Jen. Jen unpacked and made small talk with Jirra, who was finding that she was fast learning to like the young actress. "Oh, Jirra, can you hand me that bag? It has something very valuable in it," stated Jen. Jirra handed her a black leather duffle bag. "What's inside?" Jen opened it up and pulled out a box of Tastykake chocolate cupcakes. "These are one of my guilty pleasures. Have you ever tried them?" Jirra laughed. "Tried them? Before we moved here, we lived outside Philly. I lived on these things!" "Have you had any since you left?" asked Jen as she opened up the box. Jirra shook her head. Jen smiled and handed her a package of the cupcakes. "Thank you," replied Jirra, who after opening it up, peeled the frosting off the cupcake and ate it separately. Jen laughed. "Now I know you're from Philly; no one else would know to do that!" "You wouldn't have any of Amoroso's rolls in there too?" asked Jirra hopefully. Jen laughed and shook her head. "I know how good those are, but I'm not from Philly." "Still, thanks for the Tastykakes." "You're welcome. By the way, I only share them with people who appreciate them!" Chapter 16 Thirty minutes later Jirra led Jen out of her cottage for her orientation tour. The temperature had warmed up to thirty-four. Jirra noticed Jen shivering slightly as they walked down to the mud bath building but didn't say anything about it. She didn't think it was that cold and she didn't know Jen well enough yet to comment on it. Jen was very impressed with the mud baths and signed up for her first one for later that afternoon. As they walked up to the dining hall, Jen commented how much Alexis loved the mud baths. "It's one of the main reasons I picked this place," remarked Jen as they walked inside. "How long have you known Alexis?" asked Jirra, as she hung up her coat. "You can hang yours here." Jen shook her head. "No thanks, I'll keep it on for now. I first met Alexis in the green room of a late night TV show. We immediately hit it off, and while I wouldn't consider us best friends, we do see each other around. What I like about her is that she's very genuine, even if she has to hide her private life." "Oh, you know about that too?" asked Jirra softly. Jen smiled. "I was the one who set her up with her last fake boyfriend. I really feel for her and others like her. It's amazing that they have to keep their sexuality a secret, especially when they live and work in Hollywood!" Jirra nodded as they approached the counter. "Okay, we usually have several choices for lunch, in addition to salads and soups. Hannah, our head chef, makes the best soups!" "Also if you don't see anything you like, I can try to fill any special orders, assuming I have the ingredients," interjected Hannah. She extended her hand across to Jen. "I'm Hannah, and I'm pleased to meet you, Jen." Jen smiled. "I've heard wonderful things about your cooking from Alexis. She still raves about the barbecue you prepared. I'm also pleased that you called me Jen." Hannah smiled back. "We're a small spa. Judy got the word out pretty quick. Let me know if you need anything." Jen nodded. "Yes, I do. I'm sorry to say that I have a deficiency problem." "Deficiency problem? What are you lacking?" asked Jirra. "A good cheesesteak!" Jirra's jaw dropped open. Jen reached over and gently lifted Jirra's chin. "Hey, just because I'm not a Philly girl doesn't mean that I'm not hooked on 'em. Hannah, I ordered everything we need, even Amoroso rolls, fresh from Philadelphia. With a bit of luck, we'll be having Philly style cheesesteaks for lunch or supper tomorrow. I ordered enough for the entire staff and all the guests. And, yes, I DID get the Cheez Whiz!" "If you don't mind, I'll have some other types of cheese available for those who'd prefer something a little healthier," interjected Hannah with a grin. Jen shrugged her shoulders. "That's fine, but the best place in South Philly uses Cheez Whiz! Besides, you shouldn't worry about healthy if you're eating a cheesesteak." "How did you get hooked on cheesesteaks anyway?" asked Jirra. "I used to make a lot of public appearances for a national chain of computer stores. I've been to Philly several times to visit the stores there." "Ordering all that stuff must have cost a small fortune. Are you sure you want to do this?" asked Hannah. "I have more money that I can possibly spend. My money just sitting there in the bank is only good for the bank. Besides, I enjoy sharing my good luck with the people around me. I just figured it would be a nice way to introduce myself to the spa," replied Jen. "It's a lovely gesture, and I'll alert my staff to watch for the arrival of the food," stated Hannah. Jen selected a bowl of rich-looking beef barley soup and a grilled ham and cheddar sandwich on rye. Jirra had the soup with a small chef's salad. Chapter 17 After lunch, Jirra left Jen with Cari. "I'll see you at dinner," stated Jen. Jirra nodded and walked back to the main office. Judy waved her into her office as soon as she arrived. "How's everything going?" asked Judy. "Great," replied Jirra. "Jen is very nice. Did you hear that she's throwing a cheesesteak lunch for everyone tomorrow?" Judy nodded. "Sounds interesting, although I'm not really into that sort of food." "You've just never had the real thing!" replied Jirra with a grin. "I'm glad to see that you're in a good mood again." "I guess you're right about that," replied Jirra. "Well, I'm going to work on the newsletter if you need me." Jirra retreated into her office and turned on her work computer. Jirra had a system down for the newsletter and it usually only took her a few hours each week. The hardest part of the job was ensuring that her contributors turned in their articles. Jirra usually sent out an email the week before the newsletter as a reminder. This week there was a recipe from Hannah for venison chili, and an article on cold weather hiking from Cody. There were also listings of spa events and the week's discounts in town. The last thing she had to do was type in the names of the week's guests. Jirra glanced over her shoulder and saw that the US map now had pins in 39 of the fifty states. The world map had pins in twenty-four countries. This was her way of keeping track of who was visiting the spa. A set of duplicate maps was now hanging in the dining room. After running the text through an editing