Free Double Play by Nikki Duvall Page B

salary
I can afford a nanny. This may be my only shot at parenthood.”
    “Artificial
insemination,” said Rita. “That’s the answer. That way you don’t have to ask
anybody for permission, including the father. It’s your kid. You get to do
whatever you want.”
    “You’re
missing the point. I’m supposed to provide a home for a needy child, not create
more children.”
    “Admit
it. You want to be pregnant. That’s what this is all about.”
    “I
do not!”
    “That
would get J.D.’s attention,” said Rita with a wicked grin. “Damsel in distress,
unwed mother, father M.I.A. He could play the hero. Guys like J.D. live for
that kind of thing.”
    “We’re
not having this conversation,” said Halee.
    “You’re
going to need support, raising a kid by yourself. Emergency babysitters when
you have the flu or the kid gets sick and you have to be at work. Someone to
commiserate when the kid talks back and wrecks your car and you wonder what
drug you were on when you decided to take in the little darling. You need an
enforcer like Uncle Gus. You need me, Aunt Rita, baker of chocolate cookies and
diaper changer extraordinaire.”
    “I
need a fat paycheck.”
    “That,
too. I guess it’s New York.”
    “I
don’t know.” Halee dropped her fork. “Whatever works better for the baby.”
    “Ok.
When is your site visit scheduled?”
    “It’s
over.”
    “And?”
    “I
should know by Friday.”
    “Perfect.
If you pass, you stay in Chicago, if you fail, you tell the social worker about
your plan to move to New York, and how your salary will triple, and how the Federals
will set you up in deluxe accommodations in Manhattan with a live in caregiver,
and it’s all set. Either way, you win.”
    Halee
sat a little taller. “That’s true.”
    “Yup.”
    “What
if he doesn’t believe me about New York?”
    “Ask
Victoria what’s- her- name to call social services. If she really wants you to
take the job, she’ll call.”
    “Good
idea.”
    “So
now you have to think about how you’re going to avoid J.D. when you’re both
working for the Federals.”
    “I
don’t suppose I will avoid him.”
    “Then
how are you going to handle running into him all the time?”
    “Not
a problem,” said Halee with a tilt of the chin. “Whatever J.D. and I once had
is long gone. Old news.”
    Rita
nodded, playing along. “What about the wife?”
    “Same.”
Halee didn’t like the way her heart beat in her throat at the mention of J.D.’s
wife.
    “Same,
like you won’t be bothered running into her, or same bimbo you caught him with
when he was supposed to be with you?”
    Halee’s
eyes filled with tears. “I guess he loved her, after all,” she said. “So they
should be together. J.D. gets the woman he loves and I get my baby.” She dabbed
her eyes with her napkin.
    “Sounds
fair to me,” said Rita in a sarcastic tone. “You get to pick up the bitch’s dry
cleaning in exchange for living in the most expensive city in America and
changing dirty diapers.”
    “Must
you always be so crude?”
     “Maybe
I’m just good at telling it like it is.”
    “I’ll
tell you how it is. I finally get a shot at the life I’ve always wanted. And
I’m not picking up anyone’s dry cleaning. This is a professional job.”
    “You’re
both crazy, you know that? Neither you nor J.D. were meant to live in a city
like New York. Heck, J.D. can barely stand Chicago. He belongs on the open
range. And you? That city will swallow you whole!”
    “Thanks
for the vote of confidence.”
    “I
just want to see you fight for yourself once in a while.”
    “That’s
what I’m doing. I’m moving so I can make more money and adopt a child.”
    “I’m
talking about J.D.”
    “This
has nothing to do…”
    “When
did you start looking into adoptions?”
    “I
don’t know. Last summer?”
    “Exactly
two days after you caught J.D. in bed with someone else.”
    “I’d
been considering it for a long time.”
    “You
never said