Breaking News by Fern Michaels Page A

that’s why all your husbands kicked the bucket too soon.”
    Toots looked in the mirror and saw Sophie behind her. She grinned. “Is that what you think?”
    Sophie came to stand beside her. They viewed the sheer blouse and black skirt together. “It was just a passing thought,” Sophie stated. “Before you ask, no, it was not a gut-instinct thought.” Sophie’s gut instinct was always right on the money.
    â€œThat’s good to hear. At least we can agree that Dr. Becker isn’t doomed to die after one measly dinner.”
    â€œI didn’t say that,” Sophie said firmly. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
    â€œTrust me, I don’t have to. You have plenty spewing out on your own. Now, seriously, which one of these outfits should I wear? Pretend you’re going out with Goebel. Which would you choose?”
    â€œI’d probably just go naked. Save a lot of time and trouble.”
    Toots tossed the blouse on the bed with the rest of the clothes. “You are no help at all. I’m going to ask Mavis. She has much more of a sense of style than you do. I don’t know why I invited you into my room in the first place.”
    â€œBecause you love me? You couldn’t live without me?” Sophie suggested, an evil grin pasted on her face.
    Toots couldn’t keep herself from laughing in spite of Sophie’s lack of help. “That’s a given, and you should know that by now.”
    â€œI do, but I just like yanking your chain. And if it were me, I’d wear the cream skirt and the black blouse. Wear those cream and black heels.”
    Toots grabbed the cream skirt and black blouse. “Find those shoes, will you?”
    Sophie entered the closet and came out with a sleek pair of black heels with a narrow cream-colored stripe along the side of the shoe. “Remember these? You bought them right after Mavis started sewing clothes for dead people.”
    Toots eyed the shoes. “Hmm, I don’t recall buying them, but they’re sort of nice. Let me try this ensemble on, see what it looks like.” She took the black skirt off, dropping it on the floor, then slid into the cream skirt, grabbed a black camisole out of her chest of drawers, pulled the see-through blouse on, then slid her feet into the shoes. She looked in the mirror, then at Sophie. Part of her wanted to scream, and another part of her wanted to cackle with laughter.
    She chose to cackle. “Why, you mean old woman. If I wore this, Dr. Becker would think I was a damned penguin!”
    Sophie plopped back on the bed, laughing so hard that tears ran down her face. “And you fell for it!”
    Toots removed one of her heels and tossed it in Sophie’s direction. It hit the wall, knocking down the one and only wedding picture featuring her and Leland. When she saw what she’d hit, she looked at Sophie, then back at the blank space on the wall, and started to laugh so hard, she fell onto the bed, giggling like a kid. Blotting her eyes with the cuff on the sheer black blouse, she hiccuped, then spoke. Her words were barely audible. “I think that must be a sign!” She continued to laugh, and Sophie joined in, cackling so loud, it was a wonder the others didn’t come in to see what was going on.
    Again, they were no longer two senior citizens in the twilight of their lives, but two young girls giggling as they talked about Toots’s dreamy date with a real doctor, no less.

Chapter 9
    B ernice didn’t dare tell Toots or any of the other ladies what she had planned. No doubt they would thwart her plans, and she wasn’t going to allow that to happen. She’d been given a second chance at life, and she wasn’t about to do anything that would jeopardize it. No way. No red meat, nothing sweet, and she’d ride that stupid exercise bike and walk on the treadmill until the cows came home if that was what it took. Not many people her