Chapter 6

Lori Anne had been sitting around with some of her closest girlfriends one morning several weeks later while Brittany was away at camp, thanks to the generosity of one of Lori Anne's own grown nieces, who had also sent her own son and Lori Anne's great nephew, Logan.

He and Brittany had become good friends, and Loni had figured the two of them would do well at camp, and she had offered to pick up the cost for both kids, insisting to her favorite aunt that it wouldn't be a problem, and consider it a birthday present for Britt anyway.

Frankly, as she looked back on it and discussed it with her friends presently, if it hadn't been for Loni, the state assistance, and Lori Anne herself threatening to turn Paul into Domestic Relations to have Judge Freeman swear out a warrant each time the support was going to be late, she wouldn't be too far ahead at all.

"That's right, girl, stand up for the rights for single parents and spurned women everywhere!" her friend Karen bellowed encouragingly when Lori Anne hung up the phone triumphantly. "Don't take bullshit from any man!"

"Jesus, Karen, pipe down," Grace laughed. "If it were up to you, the guy would have no balls by now."

"Damn straight," Karen replied. "And in my case, my ex knows that's exactly what the hell will happen when he's as much as five minutes late with the palimony check. So what did Domestic Relations say, Lor?"

Lori Anne nodded. "I should have it in my hands by Friday; if not, the matter will be sent over to the court and Judge Freeman will prepare a warrant for non payment. I can't believe of all people that would turn out to be all but a deadbeat."

"Face it, honey, ninety nine percent of men are deadbeats. Take it from someone who's been there and done that," Eileen piped up.

"I'm with Eileen there," Carrie agreed. "And it isn't like the prick doesn't have the money. So much for thinking so well about his kid and wanting to help you. Fucking liar, just like all men. If it hadn't been for Loni paying for it, that little girl of yours wouldn't have been able to go to camp this year."

"And it's not really the money I'm pissed about," Lori Anne continued. "It's that this whole thing is hurting Britt in the long run. Ever since it was established he was her dad, not only had it been a pain in the ass to get the checks for her, there is also the fact he's seen her exactly twice for a grand total of two hours each time despite the fact I've made it clear he can see her any time he wanted, because I know his schedule. But still, there's always some excuse."

"Not to mention I have yet to see anything where he's even mentioned her," Karen pointed out. "It's like he's ashamed of her or something."

"Poor little girl must be crushed," Grace said solemnly. "And to think how she idolized him."

"More than likely he's ashamed of me," Lori Anne spoke up thoughtfully. "I mean, think about it; I'm almost ten years older than the guy, not exactly some teenager or some twenty something hottie whose boobs are larger than their IQ, not some model or celebrity that he can attach his name to, or anything like that. And I have a child besides."

"In other words, he's a shallow piece of shit," Carrie nodded. "Just like every other man. Next."

"And a deadbeat that has to be threatened with jail time to cough up the support for his own kid," Karen added. "Yeah, a real catch there. Girl, you are so better off without that prize."

"His damn loss anyway," Eileen agreed. "Brittany's probably the only good thing that came out of that brief period in your life."

Lori Anne shook her head sadly. "Much as I hate to agree, at this point, I'm beginning to think so."

"Speaking of good things," Grace spoke up, "there are some jobs opening up at my company. That is, if you don't mind the typing pool."

Lori Anne perked up. "I'm not too proud to go for the typing pool. What exactly does all of this entail, Grace?"

"Well, for starters, the benefits are pretty damn good. And you have more than enough office experience that you'd have no problem getting hired. I'm shocked they have openings to begin with, being that the general turnover is so low. It's a real good place to work; it's very casual. You'd love it. So how about it? You want to apply?"

Lori Anne grinned. "Just say where to go and I can be there tomorrow."

"I was thinking more this afternoon but what the hell. I could give you some pull."

"So what are we waiting for? I can get cleaned up and we can go down there around one thirty?"

Grace nodded and smiled. "Sounds like a plan."

"Can you feel the love in this room right now?" Karen smiled, raising her tea glass. "Everything from going after deadbeat men to getting a job for one of our own. I love it."

"Amen to that," the other women agreed, toasting each other.