Free Looking for Julie by Jackie Calhoun

bed, but only if for some wild reason one of them wanted to go to bed with her. Their coolness toward her had been crushing.
    “Can you stay for the day and let me show you Madison?”
    Could she? Yes. Did she want to? She didn’t know. Besides, she already knew Madison. “Let me call my nephew and see how he is doing.”
    Jamie answered his phone after five rings. “’Lo.”
    “I woke you up, didn’t I? I forget that people your age sleep till noon.”
    “What time is it? Where am I? Ah, some sweet lady put me in this wonderful, little hidey-hole. I love it here and so does Sammy. Are you still in town, Auntie?”
    “I thought I’d check on you before I left.”
    “With whom did you spend the night? I hope she was pretty.”
    Edie glanced at Pam. No, she wasn’t pretty but she was nice—a whole lot nicer than Claire and Janine. “Don’t get smart, kiddo.”
    “Sorry. I’m good, actually. Sam is better. She says hello and thank you.”
    “I’m glad. She’s welcome and so are you. Try to stay out of trouble. Next time it might be your father who has to take care of things.” Edie’s baby brother had little tolerance for his flamboyant son.
    “God forbid, if there is a God.”
    “See you next time.”
    “ Hasta luego ,” he said and made kissing noises.
    She laughed and put the phone away.
    Pam was on her cell. “Today?” she screeched. “Why today?” She glanced at Edie and calmed down. “Okay, okay. I know I said I would. I’ll be there in half.” She snapped her phone shut. “I’m sorry. I promised to help with some stuff.”
    “Hey, that’s okay. I need to get home anyway.”
    “I don’t have time for a personal life anymore.” Her phone buzzed and she looked at the display. “Give me a minute.”
    “Sure.”
    “Hi, Claire. What’s up?” A pause. “Why do you need a ride? Can’t Janine take you back to your place?” Another pause. “I can’t.”
    Edie’s heart leaped and she tapped Pam on the shoulder. “I can do it.”
    “Wait a minute.” Pam put her hand over the mouthpiece. “You can?” When Edie nodded, Pam’s eyes betrayed her disappointment. It had probably been the story of her life, and Edie felt badly for her but not badly enough. “Edie’s here. She says she can take you home. You want to talk to her?” She handed Edie the phone.
    “I’ll need directions,” she said, thinking she was a fool to do this.
    “Pam can give them to you. I’ll be out front, looking for you.” Edie handed the cell back to Pam, who closed it.
    Edie had trouble meeting Pam’s gaze after Pam wrote down directions. She didn’t like herself at the moment, but Pam seemed grateful. Maybe she thought Edie would get Claire out of her system.
    “Thank you for letting me stay over.”
    Pam gave her a hug and said, “Good luck and, by the way, I started reading your book last night and could hardly put it down.”
    Edie paused to say thanks again before going out the door.
    Claire was pacing back and forth on a street a few blocks from Pam’s, which should have taken her only ten minutes to find instead of half an hour. She pulled up to the curb, and Claire slid in. Her hair was tangled and she looked mad. The tip of her nose was bright red.
    “Sorry,” Edie said. “The one-way streets are confusing.”
    “That’s okay. Thanks,” she said curtly. “Damn, I wish I smoked.”
    Edie laughed. “Why?”
    “Doesn’t it calm you down?”
    “I don’t know. I don’t smoke.” She smiled, thinking she must be trying to be funny. One look told her that wasn’t the case. “Why do you need calming down anyway?”
    Claire stared out the passenger window. “I should have known better than to go home with her.”
    “Janine?”
    Claire’s head whipped toward Edie, green eyes blazing. “Yes, Janine. I never learn.”
    “I hate to ask what it is you never learn.”
    “Well, don’t then,” Claire said rudely. “Sorry, I am so angry I don’t know what to do with it.”
    They