Read Online Maybe Baby Lite by Andrea Smith - Free Book Online Page B

and let us stay up until
midnight.
    On Saturday, Mona would
come by and pick Laurie up at noon. That's when my chores began.
I'd put clean sheets on the beds then start cleaning the rest of
the house. Mom left right at 1 p.m. for her weekly appointment at
the spa. She'd get a facial, pedicure, manicure, and her hair
styled. She'd stop at the grocery to get stuff for
dinner.
    Saturday was Mom’s date
night so that's when I would stay overnight at Laurie's. Mona would
come by with Laurie around 5:30 to pick me up, just as Mom was
starting dinner for her date, always a fancy candlelight meal.
Laurie said her mom was the same way on her Friday date nights. I
guess that’s why Laurie slept over at my house on her mom’s date
nights. It was more romantic without kids around. Laurie said that
she didn’t remember her dad either; he'd died before she was born.
She said that except for her mom, she had no other family. We had a
lot in common. My mom’s parents had died before I was born; my
dad’s parents didn’t want anything to do with me she told
me.
    I was startled from my
sleepy memories by the sound of my cell phone ringing. I jumped up
to answer it. “Hello?”
    “ I trust you got home and
settled okay.”
    It was Trey’s “business”
voice and my stomach did a flip-flop. I wanted his smooth and silky
voice back.
    “ Yes,” I answered softly.
“Everything went fine. I feel fine. I'm ready to go back to work
and dig in.”
    I was curious as to
whether he was going to divulge my new assignment, or leave the
dirty work to Ray when he came by later.
    “ Tylar, Ray was supposed
to stop by this evening after his shift to discuss the schedule we
worked out for you for the next couple of weeks. Unfortunately,
when I just now called him, he has been delayed by an early
delivery of a foal over at the Belle. He's staying there waiting
for the vet. Since he hasn’t had the opportunity to discuss the
specifics with you, I wanted to give you a call to let you know to
just take it easy tomorrow until Ray can get with you about next
week’s schedule.”
    “ I see,” I replied. My
voice was sharp now. “Why don’t you go ahead and fill me in, Trey.
I already know I’m scheduled to work over at the Belle. Are you
punishing me for some reason?”
    Tylar,” his voice was
quiet yet stern, “I don't appreciate your tone with me. Not that I
owe you an explanation but to answer your question, you're not
being punished. I simply must make appropriate decisions in the
best interest of the business and minimize any risk of re-injury to
you.”
    "I’m sorry I was snippy
with you, Trey. You're right, I was out of line. Do you accept my
apology?”
    “ I suppose,” he replied
guardedly.
    I smiled into the phone.
“It’s just that I know that with the races starting this weekend
and all, the rest of the group can probably use all of the help
they can get prepping the horses. I can be of more assistance at
the stables than anywhere else. I can make sure that I don’t
over-do it, Trey.” My voice was soft and sweet. “Please,
Trey?”
    “ I know what you're trying
to do, Tylar,” he said, firmly. “It isn’t working. You'll start
your assignment over at the Le Vie Belle on Monday. Ray will fill
you in on the details sometime before then. This is non-
negotiable, understood?"
    I mentally flipped him
off.
    “ I’m waiting,” he breathed
into the phone, his voice stern and expectant.
    “ Yeah, yeah,” I replied
rolling my eyes and not bothering to hide my irritation. “What
about Derringer?”
    “ What about
him?”
    “ Can I at least take care
of him when I’m off the clock?”
    “ No,” he answered, “I want
you to distance yourself from the horses until your follow-up
appointment with the doctor.”
    “ Trey the discharge papers
don’t say anything about my not being allowed around horses.” There
was silence on the other end. I heard soft music in the
background.
    Where is he?
    “ Hello? Are you there?”