Free Maybe Baby Lite by Andrea Smith

I
asked.
    “ Ah yes, I’m sorry. This
really isn't a good time to discuss the details of your schedule.
I’ve made myself clear from the company's standpoint, and I believe
that you're clear on what's to take place on Monday,
correct?”
    Huh? Why's he talking like
that to me?
    Just then, I heard a
female voice speaking to Trey. His attempt to cover the mouthpiece
was less than perfect. The voice sounded like Charlotte’s, though
it was a bit muffled so I couldn’t be sure. It sounded as if she
was saying something to him about dinner being served, did she say
“Don’t keep me waiting, baby”?
    Holy shit! He wants her to
think I'm one of his fucking clients!
    Trey shifted his voice
back to me, “Are you there?”
    “ I am,” I replied coolly.
“Are you with your non-girlfriend?”
    “ Never mind that,” he
replied brusquely. “As to the matter we were discussing, I want to
make sure that you're clear on what I expect and that you'll adhere
to your schedule on Monday.”
    “ Right. Monday,” I
repeated. “Yep, I'm clear about Monday, Trey. No
worries.”
    “ Okay, then,” he said.
“Please rest up until then?”
    “ Sure thing Trey,” I said
succinctly.
    Tomorrow was Friday and I
had no plans to “take it easy.” I needed to busy myself with the
horses. Since I wasn't officially assigned to the Belle until
Monday, I was still technically following the rules. I'd get a good
night's rest and be back in action tomorrow.
    Unfortunately, a restful
sleep wasn't going to happen for me tonight. My earlier reflections
of my former best friend Laurie, her mother, Mona, and my mom would
come back to haunt me complete with details that I'd long since
forgotten. I'd not be forgetting those details anytime
soon.

CHAPTER 8
    The phone call with Trey
left me with a cluttered mind, so I spent the rest of the evening
scrubbing the kitchen, bathroom, and dusting every piece of
furniture in my cottage. I vacuumed the carpet, shook out all of
the area rugs, and Windexed every possible surface. I liked keeping
myself busy. I still had a stack of mail piled neatly on the
counter. It would have to wait. Finally, exhaustion had won out. I
was determined to sleep.
    Tossing and turning in my
bed, my dream was familiar. It spawned from a memory of when I was
13 years old.
    It's a particular
Saturday. Mona and Laurie have picked me up from my house to spend
the usual Saturday night with Laurie. I've just turned 13 the month
before. Laurie is older than me by about six months, but it might
as well be six years on this weekend.
    We've been hanging out at
a video arcade about a block from her house the past few Saturday
evenings. Mona lets us walk down there and then she picks us up
promptly at 9 p.m. Laurie and I are both interested in boys, but
the problem is, we both like the same boy. His name is Kyle; he is
fifteen years old and to us, he seems practically all grown up. He
lives in the same neighborhood as Laurie, which I feel gives her an
unfair advantage over me. I'm okay with competition, but it has to
be fair.
    Laurie goes into the
kitchen after we eat and gives her mom a hug, and then innocently
asks if Mona minds if we go to the Video Palace to meet another one
of her friends from school, Vanessa. She tells her mom that Vanessa
is having her birthday party at Video Palace, and that she wants
both of us to be there. The only problem is that Vanessa’s birthday
party won’t be over until about 11 p.m. Laurie's good, she even
digs into the pocket of her shorts and produces a birthday party
invitation that confirms a birthday party is being held this
evening, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. for Vanessa Goldman at the Video
Palace.
    “ Well, Jesus Christ,” Mona
admonishes, “Why didn’t you let me know before now?”
    “ I’m sorry, Mom.” Laurie
says, looking contrite. “I just wasn’t sure that Tylar would want
to go, but she does. We both do, please?”
    “ Honey, we haven’t bought
Vanessa a gift or card or anything? I