Free Dying for a Date by Cindy Sample

of the week. “Where's Hank?"
    Nadine tittered as she tottered on four-inch gold stilettos. Every time I encountered the woman I expected her to topple over, her super-sized manmade breasts at odds with her size double zero body. At least I had a decent sized frame to haul my excess soft tissue around.
    "Honey, I kicked him out a few weeks ago. This is Dr. Hugo Black. Plastic surgeon extraordinaire, aren't you sweetie?” Her breasts tilted up in homage to the man who must have been responsible for their design and construction.
    A plastic surgeon far surpassed Hank financially. Hank could barely keep up with my child support payments since the bottom fell out of the construction industry. Had Nadine grown tired of supporting him?
    The plastic couple sauntered to the back of the store as I paid for my dress. Stan and I were both quiet as we drove up Highway 50 toward Placerville. Nadine's revelation had stunned me. Were Hank's recent overtures due to a realization that our children had suffered when he'd moved out of the house? Or were there financial considerations involved?
    Stan dropped me off at the bank parking lot. I thanked him for his help, climbed in my car and headed home to a house ablaze with lights. I couldn't wait for the day when my kids received their very first utility bill.
    I parked in the garage and removed my dress from the back seat. Despite the high wattage emanating from every room, neither of the children was downstairs. I walked into the kitchen, the dress in its navy plastic Serendipity bag, draped over my arm.
    A note lay on the table. Jenna had scrawled the words a mother never wants to read.
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    NINE
    I read the note a second time. DON'T FORGET—SNACK FOR SCHOOL.
    The two most dreaded words in a mother's vocabulary. Snack Mom.
    Ben's teacher had decided that every Friday one student should bring a treat for the entire class. It would give the kids something to look forward to at the end of the week. An excellent concept assuming the mother of the designated student remembered her snack mom detail.
    I'd totally spaced out and forgotten it was Ben's week. A quick check on the kids then I'd head out to the supermarket. I climbed the stairs and entered Ben's room. He was sound asleep with a contented smile on his face. Probably dreaming of a soccer goal. I tucked his covers in then crossed the hall to Jenna's room. I knocked on her door and she gave me permission to enter.
    She glanced at my garment bag. “Did you find what you were looking for?"
    "Uh huh. I bought this amazing dress. I was going to try it on for you but then I saw Ben's note. I have to drive to the store and buy a snack for his class."
    "Nah, you're good. We made brownies and they're stacked in the Tupperware carrier. I wrote the note so he wouldn't forget to take them in the morning. We figured you had enough on your mind and could use a little help. We didn't want you to screw up this date, too."
    In my opinion, I wasn't the one who screwed up my last date, but I was thrilled by Jenna's helpful attitude. I plunked down on her apricot embroidered bedspread. “Guess who I ran into tonight?"
    She gave me the look that only a sixteen-year old daughter can give. Okay, maybe she is too old for guessing games. “Nadine. According to her, she and your dad split up."
    Jenna's eyes lit up and her smile was the widest I'd seen since our divorce. “Now you and Dad can get together again.” She catapulted from her chair and twirled around the room. Her mattress whooshed as she landed in a happy sprawl on the bed.
    My heart plummeted. Why hadn't I realized what her reaction would be? With Nadine out of the picture, Jenna assumed Hank and I would reconcile. My garment bag dropped to the floor as I embraced my daughter. She might be four inches taller, but I was still her mother.
    "Honey, your dad and I aren't getting back together. It just means he's no longer living with Nadine.” I frowned when I realized