Free Love's Someday by Robin Alexander

while swatting at one of the balloons. “She’s not running a fever anymore. She plans to be back at the store tomorrow.”
    Ashleigh pointed at what could be loosely termed an arrangement. “Who put this together then?”
    Tim smiled and backed toward the door. “The customer made it in the store, then asked me to deliver it. It’s a custom design,” Tim called over his shoulder as he made a hasty departure.
    “Whoa, somebody’s been really bad.”
    “Yes, somebody has.” Ashleigh turned to look at Carol as she walked into the workstation. “I’m not sure I can get this back to my office alone.”
    “Well, I just ate lunch, but if you leave it up here with me for a while, I can eat it down to a manageable size.” Carol plucked a Baby Ruth from the arrangement.
    Carol helped Ashleigh move it to the floor so that it no longer blocked the entire reception desk. “Tell anybody who comes up here to help themselves to the candy,” Ashleigh said as she stuffed the unopened card into her back pocket. “I’m going to take my lunch break now.”
    Ashleigh slipped out the back door of the clinic and found a shady spot at the picnic table reserved for employee breaks. Like the arrangement, the card was large. As Ashleigh tugged it from the envelope, she couldn’t help but smile at the penitent-looking dog surrounded by shredded lingerie and socks.
    Beat me with a skillet, I deserve it, but please talk to me.
    Drew
    Ashleigh sighed and flipped open her cell phone. Drew answered on the first ring. “I’m still so mad at you, Drew.”
    “I thought I was helping.”
    “You were being nosy.”
    “Okay, yes, I was being nosy, too. My heart was in the right place.”
    “I know.” Ashleigh tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
    “I know Erica’s working late tonight. Could you come by and see me when you get off? Ash, please,” Drew said when Ashleigh didn’t answer immediately.
    “I’ll see you at five, but have the skillet ready,” Ashleigh said before hanging up.

    The day flew by, much to Ashleigh’s annoyance. In truth, she’d missed her time with Drew, and she would never admit to another soul that she was relatively curious about her meeting with the band. Still she was angry that Drew had made contact with them and no doubt discussed her with them.
    “I have the skillet ready,” Drew said as she threw open the door and waited for Ashleigh to step inside. Though she was smiling, Ashleigh could see the tears that threatened to fall. All of her anger melted, and when Drew pulled her into a hug, she returned the embrace.
    They kept the conversation light as they ate the chicken salad that Drew had made for dinner, another of Ashleigh’s favorites. They stuck to mundane chat like the local gossip and saved headier topics for later. When they settled in the den, Ashleigh was the first to break the ice.
    “How did you get in contact with Vicki?”
    “I found their Web site. They had an e-mail address.” Drew had the decency to blush. “I got a little bit carried away.”
    “And then?” Ashleigh cocked her head, unwilling to let Drew off too easily.
    “Chantal wrote me back. We exchanged a few e-mails, and I gave her my number.”
    “Are she and Vicki still together as a couple?”
    Drew nodded. “So are Jaclyn and Lindsay.”
    “You’re kidding me,” Ashleigh said with a smile despite herself. “I’d have thought they would’ve killed each other a long time ago.” Ashleigh chewed her lip for a moment. “Vicki’s doing okay then?”
    “She seems happy enough. She got a little weepy when we showed her your picture.” Drew winced when Ashleigh frowned. “She asked to see it.”
    Ashleigh kicked her shoes off and pulled a leg beneath her. “I don’t think I’m ready to face her yet.”
    “Does that mean you’ll eventually agree to see her?” Drew felt adrenaline coursing through her veins. She had to bite her tongue to keep from blurting out that she’d talked to Vicki earlier that