Room to Breathe by Nicole Brightman Page A

over to us. She is pretty and walks with a fierceness about her. She is about as big around as my right thigh but something tells me that she is not someone to mess with.
    She extends her hand in greeting and her face breaks into a warm smile. I reach out and take her hand.
    “I am Miranda Takashi. You must be Cora. It is so nice to meet you,” she says sincerely.
    “Miranda is an old friend of mine and my personal shopper. I genuinely felt bad about your clothes from the other night. I asked Miranda to bring you a few things to try,” he is smiling at me with such a warm expression it could melt the ice caps.
    “Oh, Eric that is so nice. I told you it wasn’t a big deal about the clothing,” I beam back.
    “I know but I really feel that I owe you at least this much.”
    “Cora, if I were you I would just let him indulge you at little,” Miranda persuades, looping her arm through mine and leading me to the chairs in the middle of the room. “Of course if I was you I would have probably beaten him to a pulp for the stunt he pulled.”
    “Thank you for that Miranda,” Eric grimaces, running his hand through his hair. “I am very aware of how awful and stupid I was.”
    “Good, as long as you know,” she winks at him and he smiles back. “So Eric said it was a jumper or coat and jeans that needed to be replaced. Plus maybe a pair of shoes too,” she smiles at me again. It is clear she loves her job. Then again, who wouldn’t?
    Before I can respond the young girl brings about ten sweaters over near a screen that I hadn’t noticed in the corner. I follow Miranda over to the screen where she helps me try on the first sweater.
    “Oh Eric, you had her sizing down perfect!” Miranda exclaims happily as she zips up the first sweater. “What do you think?” she asks me.
    “I like it,” I respond. The sweater is dark grey with a hood and feels thick and warm. It is way nicer than the one that got ruined.
    “Let’s try just a few more and see,” she says reaching for a button-up black one.
    She has me try on three more options before deciding that I need the first one and a black cashmere one. She takes some measurements of my lower half and has me go sit with Eric. He looks up from his iPad as I sit next to him. Someone has brought him a pot of tea and he pours me a cup.
    “Are you sure about all this?” I ask in a hushed tone. “I feel kind of bad.”
    “I am positive I want to do this,” he smiles taking my hand again. “Honey, I consider myself very lucky to have our encounter the other night turn out this well. The least I can do is replace the things you lost due to my error in judgment,” he explains kissing the back of my hand. “And I have known Miranda for a while now. I am quite aware that she is going to sneak a few extra items in. Enjoy yourself, please.”
    “Okay, I will,” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “But just remember you said that when you get the bill.”
    “Cora, if you are ready I have several pairs of jeans that will work well with your body shape,” Miranda calls from next to the screen.
    I try on first pair of jeans and love them. This woman is amazing at her job! Jean shopping usually takes me hours before I find something I even kind of like.
    “Eric said he wasn’t sure if your shoes needed to be replaced or not,” Miranda remarks handing the jeans to her assistant.
    “Oh, I don’t think so. Honestly, I only wear them for work so I don’t really need them in perfect shape,” I shrug as I sit down next to Eric again. I didn’t even look my shoes over so I really have no idea if there is any damage or not. They are the kind of shoes you wear for comfort not style.
    “Well since your ankle was hurt I figured there was a chance they were damaged too,” Eric responds as he puts the tablet away once more.
    “Okay, well then let’s see what you have in a sensible work shoe,” I beam at Miranda remembering Eric asked me to have fun. I am enjoying being spoiled a