Part 15 (1/2)

”Yes, ma'am.”

Mom sniffed and kissed me on the head. ”I'll be right back.

You stay here, okay?”

That was the very first time Mom and I lay in bed together watching Doris Day. It took me a while to understand what Dad's special friend was and why my mother looked the way she did that night. But when it all dawned on me, I secretly resented my father and worried that one day we wouldn't all be a family anymore. I kept the secret, though, telling no one, not even Kalen.

In adulthood, I realized that Mom had somehow found it in her heart to forgive him. I eventually did, too, in secret.

101.

Chapter 15.

Cat on a hot tin roof.

”You have to take them, Roger.”

We weren't out of the parking lot, and my dad was already b.i.t.c.hing about having to take more pills. I was glad that I was behind the wheel, and I could use the excuse that I needed to concentrate on driving if he tried to get me to take his side.

”Dad, you have to stay healthy,” Kalen said. ”You remember why, don't you?”

That silenced the argument.

”Are you gonna name him after me?” Dad asked.

”It very well could be a girl,” Mom said. ”You need to prepare yourself for that.”

Dad huffed. ”Todd has two brothers. Boys are predominant on his side, so it's gonna be a boy.” When Mom opened her mouth to argue, he piped up. ”Don't get my blood pressure up, Jill, you know what the doctor said, 'easy does it.'”

”And I suppose you're going to play that card every chance you get,” Mom shot back.

Dad laughed. ”Are you kidding me? That's my ace in the hole.”

Mom mumbled off something that sounded to me like she wanted to stuff him into a hole.

When we got to their house, Mom and Dad sat down to discuss the new diet, Kalen took a nap, and I took a walk down to the beach and called Hailey. She was still at the office but took time out to talk to me.

102.

*”I'm glad you called. I was wondering how things were going,” she said cheerfully.

”Dad's being a bit uncooperative about taking his new meds,”

I said.

”Sounds like he had a touch of distemper. Put the pill in the back of his throat and clamp his mouth closed, then rub his neck until he swallows. That's what I do with Fuzzy.”

I laughed at the mental image.

”I referred someone here at work to Marvin today, so I called him and gave a heads-up. You'd have thought I'd given him a million dollars. He invited me out to have a few drinks with his friends tonight.”

My heart nearly stopped. I wondered if those ”friends”

included Alicia. ”Don't you have to work tomorrow? Marvin and his buddies are night birds.”

Something in my tone must have given away my discomfort with the idea. ”Well yeah, I wasn't going to make a late night of it though,” Hailey said uneasily.

I didn't want to come off sounding jealous, but I knew that Alicia would be all over Hailey the minute she caught sight of her.

”One of his friends...she's...she kind of comes on strong. I feel like I should warn you.”

”You know this by experience?” she asked in a playful tone.

”Unfortunately.”

”What's her name?”

”Alicia.”

”I'll keep an eye out for her then.”

”Better keep a bat handy, too. You'll need it.” I wasn't joking.

”Does that mean you think she may find me attractive?”

Hailey asked.

”You're extremely attractive.” I put emphasis on the word attractive. ”But Alicia is the type of woman that would find a tree stump alluring.”

She lowered her voice. ”You find me attractive?”

”Isn't it obvious? I kissed you the other night in case you don't remember.”

10.