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Nineteen
LAUREN
“Lauren I swear, I didn’t tell her anything like that!”
Noelle’s voice was panicked, maybe even more than usual. Seemed these days she was always on edge. Having an overbearing husband who was always home, always breathing down your neck tended to do that.
“All I did was tell her we came back early,” she said. “I mean, I showed up for work right smack in the middle of my vacation. Lilith’s obviously going to know something’s up.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “But you didn’t have to tell her everyone came back,” I pointed out. “And that I was ‘stranded’ here alone.”
She hesitated, realizing my point. I could tell she was struggling. I felt a little guilty.
“I’m sorry,” she sighed finally. “You’re right of course. I should’ve known with her.”
“Yeah yeah,” I conceded. “It’s all water under the bridge now anyway.”
“So she asked you to come back?”
“She practically sent a cab to take me to the airport.”
Noelle didn’t know whether or not it was okay to chuckle. She decided against it.
“Well things here are hairy without you,” she allowed. “I mean, you handle so much. For example, Harris called, and he demanded only to speak to you. It made Lilith totally flip out.”
The brief vision brought a smile to my face. “I’ll bet it did.”
“And you know the venue fell through on the—”
“Look, it’s okay,” I said. “I was just taken off guard, that’s all. And I’m sorry you had to cut your vacation short. You missed out on…” I paused, halfway to bringing a spoonful of grapefruit to my mouth. “You missed out on a lot of fun.”
I looked out over the elongated, crystal-blue line of water that made up the Bellagio’s swimming pool. Lounge chairs like mine lined both sides, flanked by tall Cypress trees that loomed beautifully.
“I can take care of Harris if you want,” said Noelle.
“Sure,” I shrugged.
“And I’ll see if I can do damage control with Lilith. That’s total bullshit, her asking you to come home. Breathing down your neck like that, while you’re trying to enjoy your vacation.”
I couldn’t ignore the funny parallel to her own life, where Noelle’s husband was doing pretty much the same to her. He’d lost his job nearly two years ago, and in all that time had barely looked for another. Since then his job had become watching over his wife. Trying to control every aspect of her life, including bringing her home early rather than letting her finish out her own vacation.
“So the place is really falling apart without me, eh?” I asked, feeling smugly good about it.
“Yes.”
“I like it.”
“Well I don’t,” said Noelle. “It makes everyone here nervous. You handle a lot of accounts. Almost enough to make Lilith…” She paused, then stopped herself.
“Make Lilith what?”
“Nevermind,” Noelle sighed. “Just rest and relax. Enjoy the last day of your vacation.”
There was something there, no doubt. Something either she didn’t want to, or was afraid to tell me. Probably the latter. I’d pry it out of her over lunch or something, as soon as I returned.
If there was one thing I didn’t need in my life, it was more work-drama.
We said our goodbyes and hung up, as I debated going for another swim. The sun felt too good on my skin. I leaned back in my chair, tipping my elongated hat low, over my face.
