Free Spinning by Michael Baron Page B

with Mom yet?”
    “Were you doing shots before work again? I just told you that we didn’t sleep together. She’s a pre-fab.”
    “But you like her.”
    “Yeah, I do, kinda. I mean, I always did.” I leaned back. “She has a different type of thing going. A sincerity… a genuine nature… an honesty… some shit like that.”
    “D-Man, she’s a pre-fab. Be careful or you’ll be Mr. Pre-Fab. Okay?”
    “Got it covered. Don’t worry. It was just refreshing to have a little change. Like going to Colonial Williamsburg for the weekend or something.”
    Billie looked at the picture. “What’s the kid’s name?”
    “Her name is Spring. Everybody loves her.”
    “Even Mr. Jimmy?”
    “Especially Mr. Jimmy.”
    “So is this a charity thing or what?”
    I took my feet off my desk. Charity? No. I really like them …Diane and the kid. “I don’t think so.”
    “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
    “Hey, speaking of seeing and/or believing,” I said, “I had din-din with Waverly Saturday.”
    “Yeah?”
    Billie sat back in the chair. I knew she had as much interest in the Waverly gig as I did especially after talking about him Friday.
    “Yep. Him and the little missus.”
    “Chicken-pot-pie for three?”
    “Angelo’s.”
    “Yummy. Ouch, but yummy.”

    “He confirmed Mr. Toady’s wild ride for sometime next year. So you can’t have my office just yet.”
    “Don’t want it. The windows are too small.” She made a flitting motion with her hand. “Double-dutch?”
    “Yeah, right.”
    “Eighteen-year-old Macallan?”
    “Only one. Had to keep my wits about me and there was the ‘97 Barolo to go with the meal. It was interesting especially their going out of their way to make sure I understood how much they valued family.”
    “Did you tell him that you’d taken out a lease on a family just the night before?”
    “I left that part out. But it’s good to know more about the culture at Waverly. And if it doesn’t work out for me, maybe you can start working on your romantic endurance.”
    She cringed. “I’m not sure any job is that important. Maybe I can hire someone to play my husband at the family picnic. You’re always looking to make a couple of extra bucks, right, D-Man?”
    “You couldn’t afford me. ”
    “Yeah, you’re probably right. Happy Hour tomorrow? The Bud Team is in town and I hear they have an Anti-DUI contract coming up for renewal…?”
    “Better not.”
    “Corner table at Chuck E. Cheese?”
    “Nah, Mr. Jimmy’s coming over to teach me how to cook hot dogs.”
    Billie laughed, blew me a kiss, and headed back to her office.
    I looked at the picture of Diane, Spring and Mr. Jimmy. A pre-fab? Not for me. No way.

    I pulled a freebie frame from my gratuity drawer and removed the default happy beach couple. Mr. Jimmy would look better in the frame, and so would Diane’s smile. I put the picture in the drawer. This was just a little temporary fun. In the meantime, Laurel would have to wait a few more days. At least I hoped she would. I closed the drawer.

    For the rest of the day, I tried to work while considering what everyone had said. I had those plates spinning this time: Waverly and Mason, Laurel and Diane, and even Mr. Jimmy. I have always prided myself on having a sharp memory, able to recall names and numbers without writing them down. I can remember where people stand in arguments, or who was the last one to pick up the bar tab. But with so many plates spinning at once, it looked like a few were beginning to wobble.
    Not used to starting my day so early, by the time three o’clock came around, I headed out. It wasn’t my style showing your face late in the office was pretty much a prerequisite but I needed to pick up some essentials for the good of my apartment.
    When I got back, Diane and Spring were on the floor playing with an imaginary something. Spring took a swig of juice from her sippy cup and pointed at the tube under my arm.
    “What?” I said,