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"Tomorrow night is homecoming. Thats why Lauren was hanging around in the kitchen. She wanted to remind me that she needed tomorrow night off. "
"Then why did she say shed work?"
"I dont know. " Angie fished her car keys out of her pocket and grabbed her coat off the hook by the door. "Bye, Mama. See you tomorrow. "
Angie hurried from the restaurant. Outside, a light rain was falling.
She looked up and down the street.
No Lauren.
She ran to the parking lot and got in her car, heading north on Driftwood. There wasnt another car on the road. She was about to turn onto the highway when she noticed the bus stop.
Light from a nearby streetlamp spilled down, giving everything a soft, amber glow. Even from this distance, she could see Laurens copper-red hair.
She pulled up in front of her.
Lauren looked up slowly. Her eyes were red and swollen.
"Oh," she said, snapping upright when she saw Angie.
Angie hit the window button. The glass slid downward. Cold air immediately whooshed into the car. She leaned toward the passenger side. "Get in. "
Lauren pointed behind her. "My bus is here. But thanks. "
"Tomorrow is the dance, right?" Angie said. "Thats what you were trying to tell me in the kitchen. "
"Dont worry about it. Im not going. "
"Why not?"
Lauren looked away. "I dont feel like it. "
Angie glanced down at the girls old, too-worn shoes. "I offered to loan you a dress, remember?"
Lauren nodded.
"Do you need one?"
"Yes. " The answer was barely audible.
"Okay. You be at the restaurant at three oclock. Have you made arrangements to get dressed at a friends house?"
Lauren shook her head.
"Would you like to get ready at my house? It might be fun. "
"Really? Id love that. "
"Okay. Call David and tell him to pick you up at my house, 7998 Miracle Mile Road. Its the first dr
iveway after the bridge. "
The bus pulled up behind them and honked.
It wasnt until much later, when Angie walked into her dark, empty house, that she wondered whether shed made a mistake.
Getting a girl ready for a dance was a mothers job.
