Erin walked briskly down the street. She soon came to a stop outside the gas station she had been looking for, peered inside, and walked in. The girl behind the counter looked up at the jangling of the bell, then grinned.
“ Erin! Hi girl!,” she said and walked around the counter to give her a hug.
“ Hey Shell,” Erin smiled, returning the embrace. “ When did you start working here? When I talked to Derek he said I would probably find you here.”
“ About a month ago. I got so sick of Pizza Hut. You won’t believe what jerks those managers can be.”
“ Oh yes I can,” Erin chuckled, knowing how frustrating work could be.
“So how have you been? I ran into Derek last week and he said something about you being in a foster home?”
“ Ugh, don’t remind me. It’s a long story and I’ll tell you about it some other time. But I need a favor right now.”
“ Okay, shoot.”
“ When do you get off work?”
“ I’ve got the night shift. I’m going to be here until three in the morning.”
“ Fun,” Erin said sympathetically, then getting straight to the point, “ Look, do you think I could borrow your car for a few hours? I'll bring it back before you get off work.”
Shelly frowned. “ Are you sure? Last time I loaned you my car, I didn’t get it back for five hours when you said it would only be two.”
“ That wasn’t my fault though. The tire blew out and changing tires isn’t my spelcialty. Come on, Shelly,” Erin pleaded, “ I haven’t seen Derek or Caleb for weeks. There’s this party at Greg’s tonight and I told Derek I would try to meet him there. You have no idea how hard it is to sneak out of that house.”
“ How did you do it tonight?”
Erin smirked. “ I walked out from behind the baby-sitters backs.”
“ Sneaky. Fine, but be careful, and give me a call if anything happens to the car.”
“ Thanks, I owe you one.”
“ You’re right.”
***************************************************
Erin pulled up against the curb a block away from the party. The street was crowded with cars belonging to other guests, though Erin suspected that half of them were uninvited, something that wasn’t uncommon with the parties she was familiar with.
As she neared the house she could hear the music blaring. She made her way past dancing couples and groups of kids playing drinking games and looked around for Derek. She was startled as a heavy arm was slung around her shoulders.
“ Erin. Hi babe,” a loud voice drawled.
Erin didn’t even have to look to know who it was. “ Hi Bailey,” she sighed and shoved his arm off.
He took no notice. “Haven’t seen you around lately.”
“ I’ve been busy.”
“ Ah. I see. You’re looking really good.”
“ Thanks, now you wanna get off me? I’m waiting for Derek.”
“ What? I just wanna talk to you. I haven’t seen you in a while. So, you wanna go get a beer? I know a great bar,” he grinned and eyed her appreciatively.
“ Not since the last dozen times you asked,” she said in disgust, “ Now get out of here.”
She didn’t feel too bad about the way she was acting towards him. She never had liked Bailey, though it was clear that he certainly like her. She had been hard working ever since her son was born, going from one job to another, spending long hours at work to earn enough money to support her child. She would then go home, tired and sore, only to have to pick Caleb up from a baby-sitter and have to feed him and play with him and change him when she would have preferred to sleep. She had since forgotten what it was like to be able to do whatever one pleased, go wherever one pleased, without a care in the world. She and Derek both had heavy responsibility that Bailey never knew and had always managed to avoid. But Erin knew that he was perfectly able to at least get a job if he tried.
She was, for the most part, an honest person, who earned an honest living. Bailey, on the other hand, earned his money selling drugs and “borrowing” money from friends. He often broke into cars and pawned any valuable he found inside. Or he would sell it on the street at a far higher price than the stolen property was worth. He spent most of his time getting drunk or high. Although Erin liked an occasional drink and had even tried a few things such as coke, Bailey’s dependence on alcohol sickened her. In a word, she didn’t like him because he was so selfish. She hardly ever had a chance to even relax, yet Bailey managed to live well and happy off the hard work of others, when he wasn’t in jail for drug dealing or stealing, that is. But all in all, she knew he was trouble.
“ Aww, come on. Give me a chance,” he slurred, “ You would have a good time, I promise.” He lunged forward and tried to put his arm around her again.
“ Ugh, get away from me!,” she snapped and pushed him away again. She wrinkled her nose as she smelled the beer on his breath. “ You’re fucking drunk again.”
“ I’ve had a few beers,” he shrugged. He stood there, swaying for a moment when he suddenly clapped his hand to his mouth and ran out of the room. Erin shook her head at him. She knew he was going to be sick for a while. Yeah, I’m really supposed to be attracted to that, she thought.
“ Erin!”
She turned and grinned happily. “ Derek! Hi!,” she cried. She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck, while he held her tightly. Then she looked up and pressed her mouth to his..
“ I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered to her.
“ I missed you too,” she said.
“ Come on. Let’s get out of here. I left Caleb with Kara so I could get you. He’s really looking forward to seeing you,” Derek said as he guided her out of the noisy house and in the direction of the car.
“ Fine by me, but I think we should drive separately. I borrowed Shelly’s car to get here and she would kill me if I left it.”
“ Oh come on. It will be fine for a few hours if we leave it,” Derek coaxed.
“ Are you sure? That means that you’ll have to drive me back here so I can take the car back to Shelly.”
Derek put his arm around her waist and grinned. “ I know. It will buy us more time together.”
***************************************************
“ Hey baby. Looks who’s here,” Erin grinned.
“ Mommy!,” Caleb shrieked with delight and ran into her outstretched arms. Erin held him tightly, happy to be home again. Caleb seemed to read her thoughts.
“ Are you going to stay home now, Mama?,” he asked.
“ I’m sorry, sweetie, but I can only stay for a couple of hours,” Erin told him with regret. She turned to Kara before he could pout. “ Thanks for taking care of him.”
“ No problem. I take it you’ll want me to watch him some more when Derek drives you back?”
“ You’re good,” Derek told her.
“ Derek, I have been this kids regular sitter pretty much ever since he was born. I think I know how your mind works by now,” Kara laughed. She picked up her coat, gave Caleb a quick kiss and Erin and Derek a hug, then walked out the door. “ See you guys later.”
“ Mama, will you read me a story now?,” Caleb asked. He didn’t give her a chance to answer. He took her hand in both of his and led her to his pile of books. Erin spent the next hour reading Green Eggs and Ham, Curious George goes to the Hospital, and Winnie-the-Pooh’s Great Adventure. By the time Caleb fell asleep in her lap an hour later, her throat was parched from reading so much. She smiled gently at him, absentmindedly running her fingers though his dark hair, and kissed him on the forehead.
“ I can’t believe he fell asleep so easily,” Derek shook his head. “ He keeps me up half the night most of the time.”
“ Yeah, well, it’s amazing what reading three books to him can do,” Erin replied with an amused smirk. She knew that Derek liked to do anything but read, even to his own son.
“ Well, now that he’s asleep, he’s had his time with you. When is it my turn?,” Derek said, putting his arms around her and kissing her neck.
“ Derek! Let me lay him down in his room at least,” Erin squealed, swatting at his hands.
She gently laid her son on his bed, kissed his forehead again, and quietly shut the door. She found Derek waiting for her outside. Instantly his arms were around her.
“ Did you know you’re a great mom?,” he said.
“ Come on. You’re really good with him too,” Erin giggled.
“ Yeah, but look how much he loves you.”
“ He loves you just as much. He just hasn’t seen me in a while.”
“ I know. He missed you.” Derek pulled her closer. “ I really missed you to.”
Erin placed her arms around his neck and lightly kissed his lips. She started to pull back, but Derek held her close, kissing her hungrily and touched her eagerly. He kissed her mouth and her forehead and nibbled on her neck, sending chills down her spine. With hardly a break in the kisses, he led her to the couch and sat down, pulling her onto his lap.
Erin leaned in close and returned his kisses. She had missed this as much as she had missed him and had no desire to stop. She had longed for his gentle touch for a long time. She was disappointed as well as perplexed when he stopped. She slid off his lap and looked at him questioningly.
Come on,” Derek said. He stood up and held out his hand. She returned his smile, took his hand, and followed him into the bedroom.
***************************************************
“ Call me when you can?,” Derek asked as Erin climbed out of the car.
“ It’s hard to get the phone, but I’ll try,” she replied. She walked around to the other side of the car and leaned into the open window. She lightly brushed the hair from his eyes as she said, “ I wish I could just stay home with you.”
He took hold of her hand and held it. “ Me too. But at least they can’t keep you there once you’re eighteen.”
“ Yeah, that can’t come soon enough.,” Erin smiled bitterly. She leaned over and gave him a gentle kiss. Derek went to put his hand behind her neck, to prolong the kiss a moment longer, but she pulled away with regret. “ I better get back before anyone notices that I’m gone.”
“ Yeah, I understand. Call me when you can.” He kissed her forehead, then started the car. Erin stepped back to allow him to drive by. She stood where she was for moment, willing back tears, then turned and walked to where she left Shelly’s car. The music had died down at Greg’s house, indicating that the party had ended. A few people were lingering in their cars, which Erin ignored as she passed.
Jingling the keys in her hand, she went to open the door to the drivers side when she saw a prostrate figure right in front of the car. Warily, she peered closer, then straightened up with a snort of disgust.
“ Bailey, get up! What are you doing?” She examined the car, affirming that he had done no damage to it. “ There better not be anything missing from this.”
“ I didn’t take anything from it. I was waiting for you ‘cause I wanted to talk and I got sick,” he mumbled.
“ Well we talked and now you can get. Do you mind? You’re in the way and I gotta get out of here.” Shaking her head, she unlocked the door and slid in behind the wheel. He stood up and stumbled to the window and tapped on it. She sighed and rolled it down.
“ Come on. Hang around. I’ve got some stuff,” he said and dropped a paper bag in her lap.
“ What is it?,” she said, leafing through it. She picked out three unopened syringes and five vials of liquid.
“ It really gives you a buzz,” he grinned.
“ Bailey, you know that I don’t do that stuff and I’m certainly not going to do heroin,” Erin said. She stuffed the items into the bag and tried to give it to him.
He waved it away. “ You can have it.”
“ I don’t want it.”
“Just try it. You’ll love it. I gotta go.”
“ Bailey-,” she said, but he was already running. She looked at the bag in her hands, then set it on the passenger seat. As she started the car, she thought, I guess I better take it with me and give it back to him later. But if Shelly sees this in her car, she’ll kill me.
