down. Take some time for yourself. You’re working day and night.”
If it was my mother on the phone, she’d be nagging about marriage and grandchildren. At least with Dad, I knew he only wanted to see Jack.
“Why don’t you have Jack over, Dad? I’m sure you two have a lot to catch up on,” I said, trying to keep bitterness from creeping into my voice.
“I’ll call him. But I’m sure he’d rather have you join us. He asked a lot about you.”
I had a hard time believing that. “That’s nice. I’m sure with him working here, he’ll have time to ask me himself.” That sounded a bit rude, but I didn’t appreciate anyone talking about me, good or bad. “Sorry Dad, but I have to go. Someone is waiting for me.”
“Okay, Deidre. I love you. Come by soon,” he said.
“I love you too, Dad. I’ll try.” As I ended the call, I felt like shit. He still had no clue what Jack had meant to me back then, and how, whether I liked it or not, it still hurt. Jack had been my first crush and under different circumstances, might have become my first love.
I had totally forgotten that Allison was still standing there until she said, “Bet you’re glad you’re working Beatrice’s party now.”
I looked at her and nodded. “More than you know. Now either go find something to do or I’m putting you to work.”
Allison chuckled. “I’m out!” As she headed down the hall she said, “I’ll call you tomorrow to see how your first meeting with Jack went. And don’t do anything you normally would do. Have some fun for once.”
I rolled my eyes. If hiring Jack wasn’t bad enough, my best friend would surely make it impossible to be around him. I wish everyone could just treat him like any other employee. I had no idea why every conversation had to revolve around him. But really, why shouldn’t it? It always had before. It had been wishful thinking that ten years would’ve changed anything.
As I loaded my van with everything I needed for the demonstration at Beatrice’s house, my cell phone rang again. If it’s Dad again, I’m going to change my number. He had called three times today. You’d think this was Jack’s first job the way Dad was so anxious about it. Not sure you worry this much about me.
I opted to let it go to voicemail. I wasn’t worried. I’m sure he’d be calling me first thing tomorrow morning. Right now, I needed to get my game face on.
Pulling into Beatrice’s driveway I noticed the lack of other vehicles. Not too concerning, since I like to arrive early and set up before the guests arrive. In early and out first, leaving the women to party the rest of the night.
I parked my van, and loaded all my boxes on the dolly to wheel them to the house. Before I even got to the door, the neighbor rushed over, shouting, “She’s not there. They’re at the hospital.”
My heart skipped a beat. Beatrice wasn’t old, but she’d reached an age where health issues were creeping in. “What happened?” I asked, holding my breath in fear of dire news.
“I’m not sure. I heard her husband say something about a swing breaking. I can see their backyard from my deck and they don’t have a swing,” she stated.
They did, but not one you’d use where others could see. I bit back the chuckle that threatened to escape my lips. I could only imagine the look on the emergency room staff’s faces when they had to write “sustained injuries on a sex swing” on the forms.
I smiled at the neighbor and said, “Thank you for letting me know.”
Once I had the van packed up again, I grabbed my purse and threw it on the front seat and headed back to the office. I had the free night I’d been hoping for after all.
I got what I asked for, just not exactly what I wanted.
If I thought Allison could keep her mouth shut, I could give her a call and we could laugh about this over drinks tonight. Instead, it looked like my usual - another night home alone, watching some home remodeling show.
Guess everything in my life right now is “do it yourself.”
I sighed as I pulled out the Magic Wand, edible panties, and nipple clips from my purse and placed them into the glove box. I didn’t need to be carrying them around when I stopped to