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about 5:30?”
    “Thanks, I’ll see you there.” A wave of
relief flooded over me. Not that I thought Elisa could change the
situation, but just having someone to share it with was major.
     
     
    When the St. Julien Hotel opened in 2004 it
was the first new hotel in downtown Boulder in nearly fifty years.
I love its big-city air of classy sophistication combined with a
smidge of Colorado casualness. The red and buff-colored sandstone
building almost melts into the surrounding mountain landscape, and
it’s situated to take the best advantage of the stunning views of
the Flatirons rock formations. But my favorite part is the intimate
T-Zero martini bar’s daily happy hour with reduced-price wine, beer
and drinks, and half-price bar food menu. It’s quickly become a
favorite after-work spot to see and be seen, catch up with old
friends, and meet new ones, so it’s always crowded. The crowd
spills out into the spacious lobby furnished with stylishly
comfortable chairs and couches that mirror the reds and browns of
the outside of the building.
    Elisa had already snagged a good spot with
two comfy oversized chairs and a round glass-topped cocktail table
facing the glass wall on the south side of the room with the best
view of the mountains. I noticed a guy by himself at the table next
to her checking her out. No surprise there. She looked sensational
as always. Elisa is a woman you notice because of her natural good
looks—tall and thin with thick blonde hair—and because she dresses
in a casually elegant way. Today she wore a soft cotton patchwork
jacket of muted greens, blues and browns over a simple black tee
and flared skirt. What totally made the outfit was a low-slung
metal belt with glass stones that echoed the colors in her
jacket.
    As usual, I felt a little plain in
comparison. I’m only 5’4,” with medium-length brown hair and green
eyes—my only distinctive feature. I had on my favorite jean skirt
and a long-sleeved lavender ribbed cotton sweater. Adequate, but
nothing special.
    Elisa jumped up as soon as she saw me and
enveloped me in a huge hug. “Life sure sucks some days, and today
is one of those days,” she said. “It’s so unfair. Just when
everything was going smoothly for you, this has to happen.”
    “Well, my Grampa always told me that no one
ever said life was supposed to be fair,” I said, as I positioned my
backpack under my chair and sat down. “But pushing all those old
people out of their home seems beyond unfair to me.”
    “I talked to Jack to see what he knows about
it,” she said, referring to her husband who is a Boulder
real-estate developer. “He said Hugh Symes has wanted that land for
years and saw his opportunity recently when the corporation that
owns Shady Terrace was having some financial problems. Symes made a
good offer and the corporation went for the money. It doesn’t sound
like there’s much chance of stopping the sale. Especially if you
know Symes. When he makes up his mind to move on something, there’s
no stopping him.”
    “Evil money-grubber. How does he sleep at
night?”
    “He’s a strange bird,” Elisa said. “Doesn’t
fit the Boulder liberal image at all. A political conservative who
thinks Boulderites tend to be whiny do-gooders who don’t understand
the real world.” She stopped short, shrugged her shoulders, then
moved on to more immediate business. “But enough about Symes. Let’s
get a drink.”
    We looked around for a server to take our
drink orders. The room was filling up quickly, and there were way
more people looking to order drinks than the three young waitresses
could keep up with. Elisa caught the eye of a perky dark-haired
girl with a wide smile and huge silver hoop earrings. We each
ordered one of the T-Zero signature Kettle One martinis that come
with three giant olives. And a mozzarella melt to share. My mouth
watered in anticipation.
    Elisa and I have been friends for about
fifteen years and we know each other inside and