No Man Allowed

Cady and Vic ran into each other at the Kum and Go convenience store. Both were searching for alcohol and both were more than a little irked at the respective men in their lives, for different reasons, but irked just the same. As they scanned the various liquors available they briefly compared notes on the reasons for them each ending up alone on a Saturday night and why each was so irritated. They decided to order a pizza, to be delivered to Cady's, and headed out with their booze and foul moods to commiserate in private.

Once at Cady's they started on their liquor; well before the pizza arrived. Vic took her phone out of her pocket to turn the ringer off but in doing so she inadvertently dialed the last number she called without realizing it. A few minutes later she grabbed the phone off the table, the sight of it increasing her irritation, and she stuffed it into her jacket pocket. Again she caused the phone to redial in her less than graceful attempt to put the phone inside the jacket pocket. Her thumb ended the call once more as she jabbed at the phone as though that would make it stay in her pocket. She was completely unaware of the fabric of her jacket pocket catching on her shirt sleeve when she pulled her hand out. Additionally, she missed the phone slipping out and falling on the rug under the coat rack. The phone landed face up and the bounce on the floor caused the phone to redial yet again.

Walt entered his cabin and saw he had four messages on his answering machine.

Message one was Vic, "Hey Walt, …, uhm, …, Shit! You know what, never mind. I'll see you at work tomorrow." She sounded less than happy and the fact she could not put her agitation into words did not bode well for the next day.

The second message began and he could make out what sounded like Vic's voice but it was distant and a bit muffled. Then he heard Cady's voice, hers was not as distant but was distinctly slurred. He could not clearly make out anything they said. The message ended and Walt wondered where they were. A mechanical voice announced the next call as number three and then a click introduced the start of the message. Vic was cursing but he heard a few other words that led him to believe she was angry about something specific. After several curse words jammed into one another the call ended. Again the mechanical voice, the click, and then call four began.

"Vic, you want zome chips or zomething with'r pizza?"

"Yah heps the disguise the taste of thistuff."

Cady's, they were at Cady's. Thank God, they weren't in a public place. There was some mumbled exchange between two women that he couldn't make out then Vic's voice boomed through the machine, "Men suck!"

Followed by Cady's fading, "Amen!"

More mumbling and the call cut off. The time stamp voice told him the last three calls had been made a little less than an hour before. Walt debated whether he should go over to Cady's or not. Both women sounded mad and drunk; either one in that condition could be a handful. The thought of dealing with both at the same time was not something he wanted to consider for long. He took a shower and contended with the mental battle that played out in his brain without reprieve. Walt knew as he stepped from the shower that he was going to deal with both mad drunk women at the same time because he was not going to rest until he was sure they were both okay. Dressing quickly, he made his way back out to the bronco and headed to his daughter's house.

"No man allowed."

"I am your boss and her father."

"You are also the most man I know and the rulesis no man allowed."

"I just want to check on Cady and you and make sure you're both alright."

"We're olright and will continue a be as fine as long as men leave usalone."

"Who made you mad Vic?"

"Hmm let me see. That. Would. Be. You. But 'curse you wouldn't knowd that 'cause you never notice when you do."

"That's not true."

"Nota good way to getting me to let you in here."

"Good point. What did I do?"

"More like what did you didn't you do."

"Okay, what didn't I do?"

"Same thing you never do."

"Is this supposed to make sense?"

"It would if you knewd what I was taulking about."

"Right." He stared at her.

"Wanna come in?"

"Yes."

"M'k' but ya gotta promisea do what ya never do."

"Vic I don't know if I can do that. You're drunk and I don't know what it is that you think I never do."

"I don't think. Know."

"Alright but still..."

"Promiser go home. Er set out there all night. I don' care."

"Vic just let me check on Cady. I wanna make sure she's okay."

"Cady's fine."

He heard his daughter repeat the same sentence, "Ca'y sfine," which told him immediately Cady was not fine.

His concern for his daughter outweighed his misgivings about Vic's demand.

"Okay, fine, I promise. Now open the door."

"To promise what."

"I promise to do what it is you say I never do. I promise Vic. You have my word." He had to get inside and check on Cady.

"Okay."

She opened the door and stepped back to allow him access but as soon as he stepped in she pushed the door shut and bolted it.

When he turned to look at her, at the sound of the door being bolted, she stared back and said, "You promised."

"Yes, I promised. Just let me check on Cady first."

He glanced around the front room and saw Cady half on half off her sofa with her eyes closed. She had one foot almost straight up in the air, the other was up across the back of the couch and her head and one arm were lopped over the seat cushion. Walt made his way over to where she was and gently eased her into a seated position, careful not to let her roll further onto the floor.

As soon as she was in an upright position her eyes got huge and she looked as though she was half wild with panic, "I think…"

Walt jumped up quickly; pushed Cady around in front of him with his hands on both of her shoulders and marched her to the bathroom. They reached the small room just in time; Cady lunged for the toilet, flipping the seat and the ring up in one motion. Her father patiently pulled her hair out of the way and firmly embraced her midsection with one arm as she emptied everything in her stomach; before suffering a half a dozen dry heaves. When she quit convulsing he stepped over to grab the washcloth, wet it down, and then handed it to her. Cady wiped her forehead, neck, and face, and then spit one last time before rising up to look at herself in the mirror. Grabbing a cup from the counter Walt ran some water into it and handed her that too. Cady swished the water around in her mouth and spit in the sink.

She repeated the process a couple of times with the water and then once with mouthwash before she turned very sad pained eyes to her father, "Sorry dad."

"It's alright, you think your gonna be alright for a while?"

Cady started to nod and then held her head and stared at him "'S'long as I don't move."

He walked Cady into her bedroom and helped her into bed. Her eyes drifted shut as he pulled the covers up to her shoulders. He kissed her forehead, wished his punk daughter a good night, and heard her incoherent mumble as she drifted off to sleep.

Walt returned to the living room to find Vic sitting in the middle of the sofa with her arms folded across her chest and a death stare in her eyes.

He approached with extreme caution, "I put Cady to bed. She pretty well emptied her stomach, so she'll probably sleep the rest of the night away."

Vic glanced at him and away; her face etched with a decided look of distain; leaving him to wonder if the look was for him or Cady, "You okay?"

She nodded shortly and brought her eyes back to his, "Yeah." She swallowed hard and froze him with her stare, "You staying?"

He shrugged, "Thought I would for a while to be sure you are both going to be alright."

Vic nodded again, "Don't forget your promise." The words seemed to wrench themselves from her lips while her expression looked as if Vic were upset and confused at the same time.

Walt walked nearer to her, stopping a couple of feet from her; uncertain whether he should stand or sit and if he sat where he should sit.

He started for the recliner at the end of the couch but Vic jumped up and bolted to the bathroom. Walt reversed his direction and followed her. When Vic left the door open and he realized she was about to repeat Cady's earlier visit to the little room, he stepped in and provided the same support. Vic slammed the seat and lid up out of her way. Walt stepped behind her and wrapped an arm around her. She tensed and tried to pull away from him.

"Vic relax. Let me help you. I learned a long time ago this reduces the strain and the residual ache of your stomach muscles." He held her waist firmly as the first wave hit her. He didn't have to worry about her hair because she still had it pulled into a ponytail.

As the next wave hit he tightened his hold slightly, to provide more support to her abdominal muscles but was surprised that as her mid-section repeatedly contracted it was significantly easier each time and she was not dealing with dry heaves either. Walt wasn't sure what to make of that but he didn't spend time pondering it. He figured she was probably embarrassed and would want him gone as soon as possible.

"You okay now?"

She didn't answer a side from a nod.

"You sure Vic?"

Without looking at him she said, "I'm sure."

"Okay. I'm gonna step out and give you some privacy. Holler if you need me. I won't be far."

She nodded again, " 'kay, thanks."

"Yep." Walt slipped out and headed for the kitchen.