The B Girls - By Cari Cole Page 0,11

a glacier trek in Alaska."

"How old is she?" Mae asked. "I mean, she must be a pretty young aunt if she went on a trip like that."

"Belle is seventy-two. Two years younger than my mom."

"Holy shit!" Jane said. "Seventy-two and trekking across an Alaskan glacier?"

"Seventy is the new fifty," Mae said.

Lucy nodded. "She's an amazing woman. Married once, young and well. After he died she inherited a big pot of money and started traveling the world. She would write me amazing letters full of adventure, excitement and advice."

She smiled, remembering. "She's the one I called when I was ten and my mom refused to let me take ballet lessons--I was supposed to focus on my mind and not my body-- and when got my heart broken for the first time, and a hundred other times when my parents couldn't or wouldn't understand. I always wanted to be her when I grew up."

"And you wound up with Gary instead," Jane said.

"Let's not go there right now," Lucy said. "We leave in two hours."

"I can't," Mae said. "Not without time to plan, make sure the kids have rides to their activities, put casseroles in the freezer, pick up the dry cleaning."

"Let Chip figure it out," Jane said.

"Do you really think I could? Just pack a bag and go?" Mae said.

"Yes. I really think you can," Lucy said.

Actions And Reactions

"You can't just take off. What about the kid's activities? Dinner? Dry cleaning? You're being selfish."

Mae winced. Was she being selfish? Maybe she should stay home. Lucy would be okay with Jane for company.

But dammit, she didn't want to stay home. She wanted to take some time for herself, do something spontaneous and unscheduled. She could practically hear Jane's voice in her head telling her to grow a backbone.

"You are a very intelligent man and we have two very intelligent kids. They aren't helpless toddlers for heaven's sake and neither are you. I'm sure the three of you will survive without me for a few days."

Chip pulled himself up to his full height like a dog bristling to show dominance. "I shouldn't have to get by and neither should the kids. You're staying home."

Mae sucked in a shocked breath and froze, her mind reeling. How had she spent the past sixteen years ignoring the fact that Chip was a bully?

The answer was obvious--Chip was usually more subtle about his bullying and she was afraid to rock the boat. Afraid of losing her place in the world of respectability.

This time, she wasn't giving in.

Mae put on her best all-purpose polite and happy face. "You have the rest of the day to figure out what has to be done tomorrow and you can take it one day at a time after that. Lucy's been a good friend to me and she's asked for a little support. I'm asking for yours."

"You're putting that red-headed bohemian above your own family?" Chip said.

"No. I'm helping a friend and trusting that you are competent enough to take care of the family," Mae said.

"You might not like what happens if we find out we can get along just fine without you."

Mae dug her fingernails into her palms, using the pain to fend off tears. "I'm going to pretend you aren't acting like a jerk and I hope you do some thinking of your own the next few days. I'll have my phone if you need me."

###

Jane figured there wasn't any point in putting off the inevitable. She called her voice mail as soon as she put her overnight bag on the kitchen table.

"What the hell is wrong with you?"

She sighed at the sound of Norm Bankstone's voice. Her boss Norm. He sounded angry. Big surprise. After asking what was wrong with her, he requested she return his call.

There were three more messages from Norm. In the final message, he gave up on her returning his phone call and said he would see her in the office early Monday morning.

The rest of the messages were routine calls from clients.

No personal calls.

Because--aside from Mae and Lucy--she had no personal life.

She was consumed with her career. With her image of herself as a strong independent woman who didn't need anyone--meaning a man--to make her life complete.

So, why had she endangered her career with that little stunt yesterday?

She scrolled to Norm's number and hit the call button.

"Norman Bankstone."

"Norm--"

"Jane? Please tell me you've had a nervous breakdown or developed an addiction to oxycontin so I can tell the client you're in a mental institution."

"Stress. I think