1. Life of Luxury

Stassi

S tassi Hewitt’s heart rapidly started beating as she stared at the pony before her. He shifted his head and turned to look at her, and she would have sworn that he gave her a wink. “Mine?” she asked.

Her father laughed and nodded. “All yours.”

She rushed over and hugged him. “Thank you, Daddy. I love him!”

“And that’s what matters, my child.” His soothing tone hung close to her ear. “I love you!”

“Love you, too, Daddy.” She broke from the hug and turned to him before throwing her arms around his neck, holding him tight.

“You’re spoiling her, Martin.” Her mother’s scold cut through but then was followed by a light chuckle. “She’s going to think that every birthday will be just like this.”

Stassi turned and saw him shrug. “It’s not every day that your little girl turns five.” Her mom threw her arms around his neck, and they kissed each other. Stassi giggled as she turned and looked at her pony.

“What should I call you?” She rubbed the back of his ear, and he tilted his head into her palm. “How about Applejack?”

He didn’t respond to her, but there was a hint of a smile. Five-year-old Stassi was sure of it. “Are you excited?” her mom asked as she touched Stassi’s shoulder and watched the pony beside them.

“I love it,” Stassi replied exuberantly. “This is the best birthday ever.” Her mother laughed and picked her up, placing her on the back of the pony.

“Hold on tight,” she said. Stassi held on and laughed as her mother helped to lead the pony around the circle. Her father appeared on the other side of her. Stassi’s grin couldn’t have gotten any wider that day. A life that was filled with so much love and happiness.

Stassi stretched out in bed, the smile still playing on her lips as the dream slowly ended. She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She would never have dreamed that just two years later, her life would be shattered when her mother was killed by a drunk driver, leaving her and her father alone. A piece of her died on that fateful day, taking years for her to allow herself to heal. Part of her questioned if she had even gotten through the healing. While her father was her rock and her support, always there to provide help to ease her through all situations, there were times when Stassi just wanted to hear her mother’s voice.

She turned to the nightstand and saw her mother’s picture, the same picture she woke up to every morning, bringing a smile to her face. The dreams often brought smiles after the initial realization once again returned. Her mother was gone at such a vital part of Stassi’s childhood, and while her father did date a time or two, business seemed to continue taking control of his life. After all, how else could one be successful? That was a question her father always asked Stassi. Yet, to her, he was really just asking himself.

Stassi tossed the covers back and slipped out of bed. Another day, another dollar. Another phrase her father often spoke. Although, for Stassi, she didn’t have to fret over that. It wasn’t that Stassi never worked. But she could have the luxury of working out of fun, not a necessity. Stassi could choose her next gig without needing to keep up the daily grind of a nine-to-five job.

After showering, she sat down behind her vanity, a mirror lavishly hugged the wall clear up to the ceiling. She sifted through the makeup and finally settled on something modest. She didn’t have to get to her next modeling job until later in the day, and they would have their own makeup artists there to assist her in getting herself magazine-ready, as the professionals would call it. A framed photo from her first cover page was proudly displayed beside her vanity. She modeled for Cirque, a luxury perfume based out of LA. She was only eighteen but felt proud that she had made it. With a strong passion, it led her to the lifestyle she longed to treasure.

She reached for her perfume and splashed just a hint of it on her neck, then smiled. And since they were her first big break, she would proudly wear it and be certain to tell everyone how it was the best stuff she owned. Besides, they remained one of the biggest companies she modeled for.

Stassi grabbed her change purse with her money and credit cards and slipped it into her pocket, along with her apartment keys and phone, and hurried out the door. It was the same morning routine, but if she was even off one day, she was running behind schedule. She started jogging away from her LA apartment, leaving it in her dust. She took a whiff of the corner bakery and nodded enthusiastically. Sure, there were things about her life she would change, starting with her mother’s death eighteen years earlier, but that was one thing she knew for certain. You couldn’t change the path and had to allow yourself to grow. So, while a person’s past could define them, it shouldn’t break ‘em. Stassi was determined to make the best, and her life was near perfection despite the obstacles.

Stassi rounded the corner and kept her jogging steadily, the bakery scent fading further. She stopped at the corner and leaned against the pole, stretching her legs as she waited for the walk sign to pop up. It was a quiet morning. Just the way she liked it. The walk sign came onto the screen across from her, and she continued her jog. She turned another corner and stopped just outside Roma’s Coffeehouse. She reached into her pocket and felt for her money, then headed towards the door when she heard the muffled whimpering.

She hesitated, glancing up and down the street, then shrugged. Perhaps she only heard things that weren’t there. She approached the door but heard the whimpering again. She frowned and looked up one way and down the other, then her eyes landed on the alleyway where the sound appeared to grow. She moved towards it, and that’s when she spotted the little puppy. He couldn’t have been any more than a year old. His foot was stuck in a wire grate from the ground. She hurried to the puppy and knelt in front of him.

“Are you stuck, boy?” she asked. “Or girl,” she mumbled. She reached in and gave a slight tug until his foot released, and he shook it off and looked up at her. She gave him a pat on his head, then frowned again. “Are you alone?”

She picked him up, and he nuzzled his head against her chin. She snickered, continuing to hold him as she exited the alley. She, again, looked up and down the road. She shrugged and put him down on the sidewalk.

“You should be fine here. I’m sure your owner will come find you.” A car whizzed past them, and she scooped the dog back into her arms. Or perhaps not.

“Maizey, there you are, girl.” Stassi turned to the sound of the voice. A woman came running up to her, and she gave Stassi a sheepish grin. She held the leash up and smirked. “Sometimes, she can flee from her leash. I’m glad you found her.”

“She was stuck in the alley. Maybe next time you’ll better be more careful,” Stassi snapped.

The woman’s eyes widened. “I’ll do that,” she mumbled, taking her dog back from Stassi. Stassi spun on her heel and stomped towards the door. She hesitated and looked over her shoulder. The woman was walking away from her, and Stassi shook her head. Sometimes people didn’t know that caring for a pet was a privilege and stupid neglect was hard to get past.

“I’ll take a lite mocha cappuccino without the whipped cream.” She tossed her money down and thought back to the puppy. He was back with his owner, but she hoped that was a good thing and he wouldn’t be neglected. “Keep the change.” She grabbed her cup and moved to the corner booth. She had just sat down when her phone started ringing. Ariel’s name flashed on the screen. “Hey, Chica.” She sighed as she took a sip.

“What are your plans for the day?”

Ariel wasn’t just Stassi’s best friend. She was an ex. They went way back, all the way to first grade. They didn’t try the dating scene until high school, which was scary. Stassi feared that if they dated and it didn’t work out, then their friendship would end. But they had ultimately been through a lot. Ariel was there when Stassi’s mom died, so nothing would break that bond, even a breakup. Their relationship ended, but their friendship could never waver.

“Have a photoshoot at three. Besides that? Not much. Yours?”

“Not a damn thing. Work has been light.” She groaned. “But hey, what are you gonna do? That’s why God invented shopping, right?” Ariel laughed from the other end of the line. “Wanna meet up with me and splurge on stuff we don’t need?”

If work was light, then Ariel should have been home conserving, but that wasn’t either of their style. “Honestly?” Stassi took another sip. “Couldn’t think of a better way to spend my day.”

“Fantastic!” Ariel’s excitement came through the phone. “Pick you up in ten?”

“Works for me, but I’m at Roma’s. Pick me up there.” She disconnected the call and took another sip, this one longer. She heaved a sigh and leaned back. Her eyes made their way to a table just a few over. A woman had a magazine in her hand, and Stassi smirked. Page twenty-two is a four-page layout where she proudly wears an outfit from a new fashion line. The woman could look up and spot her at any moment, recognizing her from the few pictures. She wouldn’t call herself vain, but she appreciated when people admired her work and wouldn’t have objected if this was one of those times. Before too much time had passed, though, the door swung open, and Ariel entered. The moment had gone. But there’d be other moments.