The hostess wasn't aware of Beth's presence until she announced herself.  She turned, nodding for Beth to make herself comfortable.  Vicki wasn't the type of person to demand that every guest take off their shoes when entering the house, but a part of her began to wonder if she didn't rather like the idea.  Not only would it keep the floor cleaner, she herself realized just how much more relaxed she felt without the telegraphic tapping of her heels on the tile.  In fact, it felt pretty good to slip around on stockinged feet, slapping around like kids before bedtime at a slumber party.<br/><br/>Vicki faced the counter as Beth approached, tucking the fruit skewers into their edible pineapple core base.  It had already been professionally arranged, but Vicki preferred the pineapple flowers to be a bit more spread out.  The edible arrangement (http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/f8/c/AAAAAkhFOokAAAAAAPjNTQ.jpg?v=1209264216000) looked vibrant and smelled as crisp and light as its colors.  It was such a happy little thing, nearly a shame to eat.<br/><br/>"Oh, I can handle this," she said.  Then she felt a tender brush against her cheek; Vicki lost her resolve.  Beth was her friend.  Well, at least a good acquaintance with whom she wanted to be friends with.  There really wasn't anything to hide from her.<br/><br/>She sighed, turned her face toward Beth's touch as she closed her eyes.  "I guess I was a bit worried," Vicki confessed vaguely.  She turned, putting her hands lightly on the younger woman's waist.  "Could I have a hug?" she asked, surprising even herself at the sudden vulnerability.