Where Would I Be Without You - By CJ Hawk Page 0,88

over the comfortable reading circle. We picked up books, movies and the girls made me get my own library card.

Back in the minivan two hours later, it was past lunch, and I was accustomed to forgoing food for the sake of my waistline but the two little girls arguing in the backseat were not. "Where to for lunch?" I shouted over the music to the backseat.

May spoke up first. "I want a hamburger." Then Lil chimed in. "Well I want a cheeseburger." Then May argued. "You don't like cheeseburgers. You're just saying that because I said hamburger." "Nut uh." "Are too." "Am not." "Are too."

"Girls. Please. Aunt Julie doesn't do this very well." I pulled into the first fast-food place I could find and grabbed a twenty out of my wallet. "Here girls. You run on in and get what you want. I need to make a phone call, and then I'll be in."

Lil grabbed my hand. "Aunt Julie. You can't send us in alone. Stranger danger."

Oh gosh. What was I thinking? I had a million things on my mind. "Right."

One very sticky table later in the play area of the fast food and two well fed girls; we decided that maybe saving the movie for another day would be best. May suggested we clean out their mom's minivan at the colored carwash. And for once, Lil agreed. I had no idea what a colored carwash was, but I knew I was about to find out.

From a window inside, we watched several young adults wash the car with multicolored magical soap bubbles. Then when they rinsed with a pink colored water, I was fascinated. They finally rinsed with clear water, and then we got to watch them dry the van off. I had ordered the multi deluxe package and asked that they bagged up all the trash and leave it inside in the back, seeing as my sister was notorious for tossing receipts on her car floor and then would go looking for them later. I didn't want to be held responsible for a tossed receipt.

Being home less than twenty-four hours brought back a world of memories. Good and bad. Bubba was the first. He was both, good and bad memories. However, the more I thought of the way he looked, tan, muscular, rugged and a bit older looking than the high school boy I left behind. I got all soft inside with warm fuzzy feelings about Bubba. Then I remembered Bubba represented the fact that I would never have had the chance at stardom if I stayed with him. Thinking back, I probably caused a ruckus with him just to keep my options open for LA. At the time, it seemed reasonable, but not after seeing him at the Stop-N-Go that I had internal doubts about if I made the wrong choice and should have stood by the man I loved.

Being here with my twin nieces made me realize that I was aunt material with a possibility for mom but did I want to go it alone? Thinking about Colton's offer to my sister made me smile. I wasn't in love with Colton like Bubba, but he was easy on the eyes. I hadn't been in love with Crispin or Mr. Hollywood, but that hadn't kept me from sleeping with them. Although in the two minutes, Mr. Hollywood and I were together, we didn't sleep. We just inserted slot A into slot B, grunted, adjusted with the toilet seat stall and held on to the metal walls more than each other. I could still remember the way he checked himself in the mirror before he left, like he had scored another one.

I wasn't exactly excited about my options at the moment, but I knew I had enough cash to get by for a few months, but selling my condo was just going to have to happen. Even if I did go back, I doubted I would have the type of paycheck I had before.

As for my parents, I was sure that having a sweet tea with Mrs. Champ, Bubba's mom, was just her way of preparing me for what my momma was about to bring to the table. They were due home in a few days, and Claire's planned welcome back BBQ was on the same day. I figured the sooner I had that sweet tea with Mrs. Champ, the better off I was.

Mrs. Coralline Champ was a retired beauty queen and my momma's best friend, as long as