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Message-ID: <48800asstr$1092222603@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: "Gina Marie Wylie" <gmwylie98260@hotmail.com>
Subject: {ASSM} Laura Alban Hunt Ch 15{Gina Marie Wylie} (Ff, cons)
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Date: Wed, 11 Aug 2004 07:10:03 -0400
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<1st attachment, "Laura Ch 15.doc" begin>


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

	The following is fiction of an adult nature.  If I believed in
setting age limits for things, you'd have to be eighteen to read
this and I'd never have bothered to write it.  IMHO, if you can
read and enjoy, then you're old enough to read and enjoy.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

	All persons here depicted are figments of my imagination and any
resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly a blunder on my
part.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

	Official stuff:  Story codes: Ff, con.

	If stories like this offend you, you will offend ME if you read
further and complain. Copyright 2004, by Gina Marie Wylie.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

	I can be reached at gmwylie98260@hothothotmail.com, at least if
you remove some of the hots.  All comments and reasoned
discussion welcome.

Below is my site on ASSTR:
http://www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Gina_Marie_Wylie/www/

My stories are also posted on StoriesOnline:
http://Storiesonline.net/

And on Electronic Wilderness Publishing:
http://www.ewpub.org/

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Chapter 15   June Arrives in April

Eight-thirty was indeed a surprise.  Sanchez was back, this time
with a younger Hispanic male in tow.

"Mrs. Hunt, this is Raul Asnar.  He's been in our intern program
for several weeks, and he's been assigned to work on your file,
under my supervision."

"How do you do?" I said, shaking his hand.  "Laura Alban Hunt."

"Lydia says that you and I share something, Mrs. Hunt."

I looked him in the eye as he continued.

"My brother lost his right leg four days after 9/11, when rubble
shifted while he was searching for survivors.  He's NYFD."

"Give him my respects and my thanks.  My daughter's too," I told
him.

I could see it in his eyes.

"I would have been a fireman, but he's my big brother; he thought
I'd be pretty stupid to waste a master's degree in social work
doing what he did.  So here I am."

And you would, I thought, have given your own leg, if you could
have been there.  I was going to really, really thank Marybeth!

"I just wanted to introduce your new case worker," Sanchez said.
"He'll be your contact after this."

"Thank you," I said mildly.  And if I never see you again, it
won't be too soon!  But it would have been very unprofessional to
jump up and down and clap with glee at the thought I might never
see her again.

They drove off and I went inside to have my first glass of tea of
the day.  I'd just gotten it poured when someone knocked on the
front door.  I was hoping it was Raul; I wanted to talk to him
again.  Instead it was a trio of girls Susan's age, none of whom
I recognized.

The one in the lead was implausibly thin.  I mean, I didn't see
how a human being could be that thin.  I think I could have put
my fingers around her waist; I surely could have done it around
her thighs.  She looked to be thirteen or fourteen; so did the
rest of them.

The other two girls were taller, not heavy but a little heavier
than average for their weights.  A little buff, I thought, they
reminded me of Nancy.

"Hello," the skinny rail said.  "I'm June Wheeler."

"Hello, June Wheeler.  What can I do for you this morning?"  Why
aren't you in school?  I was tolerably sure I was about to be hit
up for candy or magazines.

"Were those social workers that were just here?" June asked.

Okay, the change of subject was confusing; I wasn't thinking when
I answered her.  "Yeah.  Nothing better in the morning, let me
tell you.  I won't feel like eating until noon."

One of the other girls said, "Right on!"

"You have a daughter, someone told me," June said.  "Is she in
trouble?"

"I'm helping out at Scottsdale High with the cheerleaders.  One
of the girls there is having problems.  I will fix them."  I said
that with the same confidence I would have had if someone were to
ask if I was going to get out of bed in the morning.  You bet!

June nodded.  "What we wanted to ask is if we can swim in your
pool."  She went on quickly, "Only when you're here, we'll knock
and ask.  You can set any rules you want."

"There are a dozen pools on the block," I pointed out, curious.

The two girls in back traded glances.  June just met my eyes. 
"You had a party Friday, another Sunday, a while ago."

"And another this coming Saturday," I told her, nodding.  I saw
June's eyes widen, saw the other two trade glances again.  I got
the distinct impression that this was not just a little unusual,
but extremely unusual.  What was unusual about pool parties?

"Girls, I have a little proposition for you.  Come in, sit down;
I've got tea, soda, just about anything you want to drink. 
Accept my hospitality... then tell me why you are surprised at
the idea of pool parties."

"You're new," June said.

"Please, come and sit, relax.  I promise to listen, and since I'm
a homebody, I will at least consider saying yes to your request
to swim.  So, please."

It took a minute to get them all settled.  June wanted ice tea,
so did the older looking of the other pair.  "What's your name?"
I asked as I handed it to her.

"Sylvia Courdes."

I turned to the last girl.  "What would you like?"

"A Seven-up.  I'm Toni Courdes."

"Ah, you must be Mormon!" I joked.

All three of them laughed, and Toni shook her head, looking
confused.  "I'm Presbyterian."

"Are you and Sylvia sisters?"  I asked.

"Sort of," Sylvia said as we all sat down on the deck table. 
"We're both adopted."  I decided that was a hint to change the
subject.

"So, June.  What's so unusual about being new and having so many
parties?"

She looked away, not meeting my eyes.  "You don't know.  I was
hoping we could just ask and not tell you."

"Know what, June?" I asked, patiently.

"Why nobody with a pool ever lets someone else swim in it.  If
someone does something stupid, if they run, slip and fall... you
get sued.  If someone falls off the diving board, you get sued. 
Some kid from China burrows up, falls in and drowns... you go to
jail."

Memo to self.  Call my father-in-law; make sure the money goes
offshore yesterday.

"That bites," I told her.

"Thanks for the drinks," June said, starting to get up.

"Sit, please."  She looked at me, and then sat back down.

"First off, I haven't given you my answer; second, it's impolite
to eat and run."

The two, sort of sisters, laughed, June shrugged.

"Tell me, June, are you and your friends responsible and willing
to follow my rules?"

"Yes," June replied, hope again in her eyes.  A more honest hope,
I thought.

"Just you three, okay?  Not any of your friends you decide to
invite over.  I am not an ogre; ask me first if you want to do
that.  I am, you will find, not unreasonable."

"Next, you will invite your parents over before you swim the
first time.  I will shake their hands and tell them you are
responsible girls and if they don't have a problem with your
coming here, then I don't either."

"Yes, ma'am."

"It's Laura Alban Hunt, people call me Laura."

"Thanks, Laura."

"Common sense rules," I told them.  "Rule one: like I said, I
don't like surprises.  I will know when you are here; you will
tell me to my face -- telling my daughter or my boarder doesn't
count as telling me.  No guests unless I know and approve in
advance.  I reserve the right to ask you to leave.  The future
will largely depend on yourselves.  I'll work up other rules; I'd
appreciate it if you have suggestions of comments, if I've
overlooked something."

June nodded.  "We are home schooled, Laura.  Mom tried a private
school but..."  She shook her head.  "You'd think, looking at
mom, they'd understand."

"I'm not sure I understand."

June got up, waved down at her thin frame.  "Mom's small, my
grandmothers are small, and so forth and so on.  At least once a
year someone sics social workers on us saying I'm abused, that
I'm anorexic, that I have eating disorders.  They say I'm
something I'm not.  I'm just skinny, that's all.  And let's face
it, when you weigh 75 pounds you just don't go down to McDonalds
and chow down on two big Macs, a super-sized fries and giant
coke.  I just don't eat as much as some of the porkers in
school."

I laughed.  "Have you ever been to the South?"

June shook her head.  

I went on, "I went a couple of times with my husband to Atlanta.
They have a chain of restaurants called 'White Castles' down
there.  They make itty-bitty hamburgers."  I held up my fingers,
a couple of inches apart.  

"Oh cool!"  June said with a laugh.

"Can we swim now?"  Sylvia asked.

I looked at her and raised an eyebrow.  "One of two things wrong
with that, Sylvia.  Either you forgot one of the conditions
already or you're already trying to fudge on them.  I'm not a
baseball umpire; I'm a mom with a swimming pool.  I will decide
how many strikes it takes before you are out."

"Can we run home and get our moms?" Toni asked.  "Right now they
are sitting around planning how much homework they're going to
give us this afternoon."

"Fathers?"

"Working!" all three said at once.  Their voices harmonized, it
was kind of cool... and equally obvious it was no surprise to
them.

"Get your moms.  Remember the rules better next time, Sylvia. 
Tomorrow is another day and I will have met both parents before
you can come back."

They were off, like rockets.  I smiled; it's just not sex, the
energy and general outlook on life of kids was jazz, all by
itself.

The phone rang and I picked up.  "Laura."  It was my
father-in-law.

"Gosh, Dad.  It's hardly nine here.  How did you know I wanted to
talk to you?"

He chuckled.  "I'm going to Boston later, so it was now or much
later.  I've sent you a great wad of stuff on offshore.  Look it
over and get back to me.  I hope you're free this afternoon.  I
took the liberty of making an appointment with you at the law
firm of London, Hirsch and Carter in downtown Phoenix for one
this afternoon."  He gave me an address and phone number.

"I have changed my mind about the offshore, Dad."

"Oh foo!" he said with a laugh, "Women!"

"No, you don't understand.  I want it done now.  I mean, start
today if you can, Boston or not.  I want four percent left in
accounts here, the rest scattered in a variety of safe places. 
I'll study it later.  Until then, do what you think is best. 
You're not exactly an amateur when it comes to investments."

"No, I'm not that."  He paused and asked the obvious question. 
"You're sure you're not in trouble?"

"I just learned that a swimming pool is a lawsuit magnet.  A
local urchin was boggling at the idea of three pool parties in
three weeks.  I understand that most people only let their
immediately family swim."

"That's what it's like there, too?  I was thinking that since so
many houses had pools in Phoenix, they had some sort of special
rules."

"Yeah, lawyers get rich, the rest of us get screwed."  There was
a knock on the door.  "I have to run, Dad.  Thanks for
everything.  Let me know what's going on."

I went to the door; the three girls were back and the two
mothers.  I stuck out my hand to the short skinny one.  "Let me
guess, you're June's mom?" I told her with a laugh, "I'm Laura
Alban Hunt."

She laughed and shook my hand.  "Karen Wheeler.  Now, how on
earth could you have guessed I'm June's mother?"

Because she was about four-ten and weighed maybe 90 pounds.

"And I'm Gus Courdes."  The other woman was tall, rather blonde,
also thin, but more along my lines.

I smiled at her too.  "I help out with the cheerleaders at
Scottsdale High.  A girl last weekend said her name was 'Fred.' 
As in Winifred on Angel.  If your name is from another TV show,
I'll have to admit being a complete TV illiterate."

"The girls like Buffy more," Karen said.

I could see three girls champing at the bit.  "It's Augustina,
Gus works for me," the other woman chimed in.

"That's pretty much what Fred said, too."

I looked at the three teenagers.  "You may walk, not run.  Splash
some, but not all, of the water out of the pool...  I would like
it if the neighbors don't complain about the noise."

They did a very lady like, albeit rapid exit towards the pool. 
"How about you come and sit with me pool side?  I have all the
usual potables," I told the two mothers.

We went out and sat, chatting idly in the early morning sun.

"It's nice you letting them swim."  Karen said.  "I was surprised
they worked up the courage to ask, more surprised you agreed."

"We moved here from New York right after the first of the year. 
I plead ignorance.  However June was kind enough to explain the
issues... before, I might add, I made my decision."

"I understand you are a widow?" Karen asked.

"Yes.  I have a thirteen-year-old daughter, Susan, who will be
starting at Scottsdale next year.  I'm already working as a
volunteer with the cheerleaders.  I'm surprised she hasn't met
your three daughters, she met Jamie Kellogg fast enough."

I saw them glance at each other; no expressions, just an exchange
of looks.  "Probably because they're in the same class at
school," I finished lamely, curious why they had issues with
Jamie.

"Linda Kellogg is a big volunteer too," Karen murmured.  "A
little stuck up."

"And I'm not," I told her.  "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot;
I realize cheer carries baggage with some people.  I blew it when
I was Susan's age.  I never made it.  I have never, ever, pushed
my daughter.  I told her the options, what I thought would be
good for her.  That was when she was little.  She's getting
pretty good at figuring out options, less interested in listening
to advice as she's gotten older."

"Not like we don't know about that!" Gus said with a chuckle.

"A couple of weeks ago, June saw a girl at the mall, with a stud
in her navel, and a 'cute' dragon tattoo that curled around it. 
She just had to have one just like it," Karen spoke, shaking her
head.

"I have already planned what I'll do if Susan gets the urge: I'm
going to make her watch someone get a tattoo first."

"Work's like a charm!" Karen said.  We all laughed.

But, you've changed the subject, haven't you?  Is it you don't
like cheer, don't like Linda or don't like Jamie?  Or some
combination of all the above?

"Going back a bit, I kind of lost my train of thought."  Neither
of them looked concerned.  "I'm having a party here Saturday
afternoon.  1:00 PM."  I waved at the pool, "They are invited."

I kept looking at the pool, not at my guests.  "I've invited
Jamie; Linda will probably be here too.  Some of the other adults
involved with cheer will be here, along with a lot of the
girls."

I could sense the hesitation.  I turned to look at Karen.  "Look,
I'm new, and I'm not interested in taking sides.  I've only
worked with the cheer people a short time; they've asked me to
handle, ah, let's be polite and call it conflict resolution. 
Discipline.  They did not ask me to do that because I take sides
and play favorites.  It's because I don't."

"Last year," Karen said quietly.  "Jamie started ragging June
about her size.  It went on a couple of days; June's usually
pretty immune to it, but she had just started her first period. 
It was pretty rough on her.  Yes, June lost her temper, but she
just called Jamie an asshole and turned around and started to
walk away.  Jamie knocked her down from behind -- that's when
June got up and punched her."

Karen shook her head.  "Laura, my dad was a Pennsylvania coal
miner, as were his dad and granddad, so forth and so on for the
last two hundred years.  Don't let Susan arm-wrestle June.  We
are... wiry strong.  Way strong.  Jamie started it, June finished
it.  She broke Jamie's nose, loosened some of her teeth.  Linda
is suing us.  That's when we opted for home school.  Who needs
that?"

"I promise there will be no problems at the party.  These
girls... cheer is something a lot of them have dreamed about,
worked hard to achieve.  I know that's true for Jamie and Susan
and some of the others.  I can't excuse past behavior, I won't. 
But it won't happen here."

Again they passed looks.  "It'll be up to the girls," Karen said.
 "I won't be there."

"That's your choice.  I'll talk to Linda."  I'm willing to bet
that if Marybeth knew about that lawsuit, she'd step on it like a
bug.  Probably Linda would get stepped on too, while she was at
it.

I looked Karen in the eye again.  "I appreciate it that you left
it up to the girls."

Karen shrugged.

I got up, stepped over to the poolside.  "I know you're having a
good time, but I'd like to talk to you.  If you could get out for
a second."

The three girls dutifully got out.

"I mentioned earlier, I was having a party Saturday afternoon. 
I'd like to invite you all to it."  I paused a second then added,
"Jamie Kellogg will be there, so will a couple of dozen others."

They traded looks, before June looked back at me.  "I guess."

"Yes," Sylvia and Toni replied, the harmony not quite so good.

"Okay, yes," June laughed, shaking her head.

I went back and sat down, we talked a bit more, then, my phone
rang.  They politely excused themselves, saying they could find
the front door and I went and picked up.

"Laura, this is Gail."

"Hello, Gail."

"Coach called and asked if I'd talked to you yet.  Can I come
over for a while to talk?"

I contemplated the three girls in my pool.  Even if Gail and I
limited ourselves to just talking, the topic wasn't one that I'd
be comfortable sharing.

Gail spoke, "I mean, this afternoon after school.  Like around
four?"

"Sure Gail, I have an appointment at one, but I'll be back by
then."

She hung up, and I spent a second watching the girls in the pool.
 My eyes kept coming back to June, the now familiar surge of
emotions running through my body.

Down girl, I thought to myself.  These aren't "cool"
cheerleaders.  Someone I met off the street would be a really,
really bad idea.  Besides, it was about time I learned to control
my libido.  That brought a small smile to my face.  It really was
about time!

I went into the family room, sat down at the computer and worked
for a bit, getting my thoughts in order, putting my to-do list in
Excel.  I spent about an hour doing that, finally reached a point
where the need to get rid of my first glass of tea exceeded my
desire to continue to work; I did that and headed back.  I
glanced out the family room window at the pool; it had gotten
steadily quieter as the morning had progressed.

The three of them were standing in the pool.  June was kissing
Toni, quite passionately.  Sylvia was standing next to them, as
if trying to block the view, but she was at the wrong angle from
where I was standing.  I faded back a bit from the window, saw
June turn to Sylvia and kiss her too.  A minute later Sylvia and
Toni kissed, and then glanced at the house.  I smiled softly; in
a minute they got out and started using the board to dive.

I went and sat back down at the keyboard, a smile on my face. 
What were the odds that two groups of horny gay teenagers at a
pool party would walk away after the party, unaware of their
mutual tastes?  Pretty low, I thought.  Pretty low.

I went back to work.  A half hour later, I heard voices coming in
from the pool, so I stood up.  Should I mention I'd seen them?  I
decided that it was a decision best postponed -- and given much
more thought.

They told me they were leaving and then asked about tomorrow
morning.  I let them know that I had no plans at the moment, but
plans are subject to change.  I didn't mention meeting their
fathers, interested in finding out if it was simple eagerness
this morning that had caused the mistake or if it really would be
a problem.

I fixed a tuna fish sandwich for lunch; no more soup, I thought,
until October.  Then I got ready and hit the pavement, to visit
the lawyers.

I spent two hours with the lawyer, explaining what I wanted.  He
did a lot of listening, asked intelligent questions.  At the end,
Jessie Gamble had shaken my hand.  "We're still working on the
fee structure, Phillip Hunt is a valued client."  We'd already
set up another appointment for the following week.

I was back a little before Susan got home, Jamie in tow.  "Can we
take Jamie home around six?" Susan asked and I nodded.

"And your plans between now and then?" I asked her.

"Homework," Susan said, "I have an English paper due in a week."

"How about you, Jamie?"

Jamie looked at me, a smile on her face.  "I wouldn't mind
talking again for a while.  I'm almost done with my English
paper."

I smiled, thinking how surprised Jamie was going to be when we do
actually sit down and talk!

"That sounds nice," I reached out and took her hand and led her
to my bedroom.

Jamie lifted her lips for a kiss; I in turn reached up and put my
finger across them.  "Please, let's sit down."  Jamie looked at
me, shrugged and sat down.  I sat down next to her, reached out
and took her hand.

She squeezed mine, smiling.

"I met June Wheeler this morning," I said straight out.  Jamie
rolled her eyes.

"Jamie!  Look at me!" I demanded and she did.

"The other day you and I talked.  I very much liked that; I very
much like you.  We really have talked and you seem like a very
nice girl.  I just have a little trouble matching that impression
with what I heard about what happened between the two of you."

"I was being stupid.  I can't believe how stupid I was!"  Jamie
said with heat.  "And I can't apologize, Mom would have a cow." 
She looked at me.  "I would, if I could.  I'm really sorry about
what I did."

"You can; June and her friends Sylvia and Toni will be at the
party Saturday."  I squeezed her fingers again.  "I know I'm
prying, and you can tell me it's none of my business and I will
understand.  But as one friend to another, I'd like to know what
happened."

"I got so screwed up!" Jamie said, angry, I thought, at herself.
"I was just so full of myself..."  She shook her head, if
anything angrier.  "I won a dance competition, I was voted the
favorite Pop Warner Cheerleader; I thought I was the big Queen of
Junior High!  A stupid seventh grader!

"Laura, I was looking down my nose at everyone, even my friends.
It took almost a year before some of them would talk to me again.
 June and the two not-twins didn't care about cheer or dance.  I
thought June was talking about me behind my back.  I was so
screwed up I thought a girl who didn't have any friends except
for Sylvia and Toni was social competition!

"Before I woke up, she had more friends than I did.  I just got
so twisted up inside; I can't explain it.  I called her names; I
said bad things about her.  She just shrugged, turned and walked
away.  I looked around and realized all those girls thought I was
smaller than she is.  So I pushed her, I knocked her down."

Jamie rubbed her nose.  "She didn't wait a second, she stood up
and turned.  She was fast!  So fast!"  Jamie sighed again. 
"Mom's kind of obsessed about it; she says June is violent, a
ticking time bomb.  I've tried to explain that I started it, that
I hit her first.  Mom just can't stand the thought that someone
popped her precious daughter in the nose."

I reached out and hugged Jamie, tight.  She responded, and I
kissed her for a few seconds.  "Now that sounds like the Jamie I
thought I knew!" I said, pleased.  I planted another kiss on her
forehead.  "Now, I'm going to be a rat and run over and talk to
your mom."  I laughed.  "Talk, talk."

Jamie had her arms around me; she pulled a little further back. 
"Mom's... pretty set on doing this."

"Trust me," I told her.  You just think your mom is set on doing
it.

Jamie smiled.  "I really would like to apologize to June."

"You will," I said under my breath as I gathered up my purse and
keys.  "You will."

I knocked on Linda's door and she opened it and ushered me in. 
"Just doing my nails," she said, waving at a table with bottles
of this and that on it.

"We need to talk, Linda."

She looked at me.  "Sounds serious."

I waved at the table and we walked over and sat down.  "When we
started talking about things," I started, "you said you doubted
if you and I would ever get together."

"I make no apologies for my preferences; like I said though, you
and me, one day.  It could happen."

"I understand preferences; I was surely in no position to comment
at the time.  I've been with both Marybeth and Nancy, since. 
Nancy is very nice; Marybeth is in a class by herself.  I
understand now about tongue-sisters."

"Like I said the other day, I really appreciate you not ratting
me out."

"And like a good cheerleader, you did it yourself."

"Nancy said it was okay, she understood," Linda said, a small
smile on her face.

Yeah, I thought, you waited until the coast was clear, then you
did it.  It makes me wonder; several things make me wonder about
you.

"Then today, I met June Wheeler, her friends and their mothers. 
The girls wanted to know if they could swim in my pool."

Linda eyed me.  "I don't want to talk out of school, Laura, but
June isn't normal."  She tapped her head, "99 cents short of a
dollar, if you get my drift.  She has a violent temper; Susan
would be in jeopardy if you let June into your house.  You and
Sherrie could be, too."

I sat still for a second, contemplating where to go next.  "And
you're suing them."

"Yes, one of the girls who was there when June broke Jamie's
nose, her father is an attorney.  He came to me and explained our
options.  Not only can we maybe get that poor girl some
psychiatric help, but I can make some serious money as well."

I wanted to retch; instead, I sat still for a second.  Maybe
Jamie was right; it's too easy to start having a temper.

"Linda, did your lawyer explain anything about what it would be
like if this went to trial?  Anything at all?"

"It's another year or eighteen months before it goes to trial. 
He says there is a good chance of a settlement, long before
that."

"You'd have a better chance buying a lottery ticket, or jumping
into the Grand Canyon," I told her flatly.

"What?"  Linda was obviously nearly as angry as I was.

"I have an MBA, Linda.  You need a lot of law, especially tort
law, to get one.  You have a shyster lawyer who's shining you on.
 It's called discovery; obviously you haven't seen the papers."

"He said there were a few questions from the other lawyers.  I
answered them over the phone; it was no big deal."

"Do you understand that if there is 'serious money' involved," I
made air quotes, "that the other side will do what's called due
diligence?  That's discovery on steroids.  They will take a long
hard look at Jamie's personal life; the idea being if they can
show Jamie started the fight, which she told me she did, if they
can show that it's really Jamie who is unstable, why they win and
you lose.  And do you know what they or a jury would take as
evidence of instability?  Why, the nature and scope of Jamie's
sex life."

Linda shook her head.  "Like we're going to tell!"

"It's called investigation; they talk to all sorts of people. 
It's all official with signed and witnessed affidavits.  A lot of
people find the threats of legal action if they are found lying
very scary.  So they tell the truth.

"Linda, let me put this as bluntly as I can.  I like you; I like
Jamie a lot.  Susan likes you both.  But if you continue the
suit, neither you nor Jamie are welcome in my house again.  I
will not have you risking my daughter or even me, so you can have
a shot at 'serious money'."  I punctuated my words with more air
quotes.

Linda recoiled.  "I'm sorry you feel that way..."

"If you are sorry about how I feel, consider what Nancy and
Marybeth are going to feel."

"It's none of their business."

I held up my cell phone.  "Why don't I call Nancy and ask her? 
Or Marybeth?"

Linda paled and shook her head.  "This is just a personal
thing."

"A personal thing that risks everyone."  I paused, still not sure
if I wanted to fire my last atom bomb.  I decided to leave it for
another day.  But I really wanted to find out at some point why
Linda hadn't mentioned the legal risks with pool parties to me.

"We can be friends, Linda.  It would devastate Susan and Jamie
both if we weren't.  Call another attorney, ask about what it
will be like if this looks at all like it's coming to trial."

"The lawyer says he thinks a settlement is near."

"I talked to Karen Wheeler about this today," I tried to be
patient with Linda.  "She was... dismissive of the suit."  Well,
I thought, a small atom bomb might do the trick.  "As if she knew
something."  Karen had been dismissive, and knowledge about
Jamie's sexual orientation was certainly one possibility of why.
That or an indifference to gnats -- that had been my first
impression.

"I know this sits badly with you, Linda.  If I wasn't your
friend, I'd have started with Nancy.  There's a reason Nancy
doesn't know about this and you know what it is.  Think, Linda. 
Think."

I stood up.  "Today's Wednesday, Linda.  If I don't hear the
suit's been dropped by Friday, close of business, don't bother to
come to the party.  Jamie would still be welcome, though."

"Don't threaten me!"

"Linda, as a person who wants to remain your friend, I'm telling
you that you need to put some thought into this."  I waved at the
door.  "I'm leaving, I'll bring Jamie home by six."

I turned and walked away, uncertain what she was going to do. 
Roger had said it several times, plus they'd made it quite clear
in just about every business law class I'd taken.  Ten percent of
the people file 95% of the law suits.  They really do think of it
as the lottery.

"If I drop it," Linda said to my back, spitting in anger, "it
will cost me thousands of dollars."

I turned and looked back at her for a second.  I shrugged.  "The
cost of doing business, Linda."

"The only way I could get that kind of money is raid Jamie's
college fund."

I didn't say anything further, just stood looking at her.

"You don't care, do you?" she said with resignation.

"I told you my personal concerns; I'm sure you can extrapolate to
the concerns others might have.  I'm sorry about that, but
there's not much I can do.  Linda, I mean it; I want to be your
friend.  Nancy and Marybeth consider you a friend.  Friends,
Linda, if you need help, if you ask them for advice, will give
it.  I wasn't here when this happened, but either of them would
have been glad to talk to you about this."

"Help talk me out of it."

I nodded, "That's right, because this is very dangerous to
everyone.  And you are far more likely to lose than win."

My cell phone went off and I picked it up.

"Mom, this is Susan.  There's a man at the door, Raul, something.
 He wants to come in, he says he's a social worker."

"I'm at Linda's, tell him I'll be there in five minutes."

"Gail's here too," Susan said. 

"Tell her the same thing; I'll understand if she doesn't want to
hang around."

I hung up. I smiled at Linda who hadn't moved.  "I have a social
worker at the house.  I have to run."

"Isn't that the same thing?  They come and look at you, Susan."

"Sherrie too," I added.  "But it's very different, Linda.  They
are not motivated by money; in fact I don't think most of them
are motivated at all.  They have forms and rote questions, a
touching faith in their rulebook.  Please, Linda, I do want to
stay friends.  But you have to think about this."

I drove home and got out.  Raul was standing outside the front
door and I apologized to him.

He laughed and shook his head.  "I think your daughter would have
let me in; the other two, Sherrie?"  I nodded, "and a friend
asked me to wait outside.  Politely.  They're right, it's not a
good idea for four young girls home alone to let in an adult male
stranger."

"Well, come in."

"We have to make these unannounced visits," he said as I waved
him through the door.  "Morning, afternoon, early and late
evening; weekdays and weekends."  He glanced at me.  "One of
each."

"It's not a problem," I told him.

"We try not to be pests, but..."  He smiled again.

I smiled back, while thinking to myself.  I was wondering if
anyone had ever told him he had a really cute smile.

"You understand that Lydia's visit yesterday counted, this
morning's visit and this one.  You're nearly halfway done!"

"Stay for dinner," I said smiling back.  Raul had a really cute
smile.

He shook his head.  "We're not permitted."

We chatted for a few more minutes and then he left.

Odd; at least it was for me.  I watched him go, doing something
I'd never done before in my life, except with Roger: I was
wondering what it would be like to be in bed with him.  Maybe
there was hope for me after all!

<1st attachment end>


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