what I did, exactly what I let happen to me. I'm glad you're smarter."
"I'm a moron," Julie murmured, very close to tears. "I'm an insensitive
clod. I'm hateful."
"No, you're not." Grace gave a light laugh and picked up a pair of
Aubrey's rompers from the basket. "You didn't hurt my feelings. I'd hate
to think we weren't friends enough for you to be able to say what you
think."
"You're one of my best friends. And I've got a big mouth."
"Well, you do." Grace chuckled at Julie's wince. "But I like it."
"I love you and Aubrey, Grace."
"I know you do. Now stop worrying about it, and tell me where you're
going with Jeff the cute computer guy?"
"Safe date. Movies and pizza." Julie let out a soft sigh of relief.
She'd havea shaved her head and dyed it purple, she decided, before
she'd do anything to hurt Grace. Hoping to make up, just a little, for
her insensitivity, she beamed a smile.
"You know, I'd be happy to keep Aubrey on your next night off if you and
Ethan want to go out."
Grace had finished folding the rompers and started on socks. She
stopped, staring, with a tiny white sock trimmed in yellow in each hand.
"What?"
"You know--catch a movie, go to a restaurant, whatever." She wiggled her
brows on the "whatever," then fought to bite back a grin at Grace's
expression. "You're not going to stand there and tell me you're not
seeing Ethan Quinn."
"Well, he'sa I'ma" She looked helplessly down at Aubrey.
"If it was supposed to be a secret, he should be parking his truck
somewhere other than your driveway on the nights he sleeps over."
"Oh, God."
"What's the problem? It's not like you're having this illicit
affair--like Mr. Wiggins has been having with Mrs. Lowen on Monday
afternoons at the motel on Route 13." At Grace's strangled sound, Julie
just shrugged. "My friend Robin's working there and taking night classes
at the college, and she says how he checks in every Thursday morning at
ten-thirty while she waits in her car. Anyway--"
"What must your mother think?" Grace whispered.
"Mom? About Mr. Wiggins? Well--"
"No, no." Grace didn't want to think about the portly Mr. Wiggins's
weekly motel romp. "Abouta"
"Oh, you and Ethan. I think she said something about 'high time.' Mom's
not an idiot. He's such a hunk," Julie said with feeling. "I mean, the
way he fills out a T-shirt is awesome. And that smile. It takes, like,
ten minutes for it to finish moving over his face, and by then, man, you
are drooling. Robin and I went down to the waterfront every day for a
month last summer just to watch him offload his catch."
"You did?" Grace said weakly.
"We both built a real case on him." She reached into the white stoneware
cookie jar and found two oatmeal raisins. "I flirted with him, big time,
whenever I got the chance."
"Youa flirted with Ethan."