Chapter Three: Girls Night In

"Hey where did Claudia Joy and Denise go?" Pam asked Roxy after a while of not seeing them. "I hope nothing's wrong. We tend to have bad luck at these tea parties now" Pamela chuckled remembering going into labor at the last one. "I'm surprised Claudia Joy even invited me to this one" Roxy laughed.

"Well you aren't pregnant this time so I guess maybe she thinks she has nothing to worry about."

"Shut up. You don't think its just a little weird that the hostess of this party is gone?"

"They probably just went somewhere to talk. I heard Denise was in the hospital last night. Claudia Joy is probably just worried. They are best friends after all."

"Yea I guess. Is that why she had on the brace today?" Roxy nodded. "Poor woman is going to be the talk of the post for days. Finally I'm yesterday's news." Roxy smiled and playfully swatted her arm.

"Hey Denise is our friend. We want either Lenore Baker or Marylyn the talk of the post."

"True. I would love nothing more than to see Marylyn have a taste of her own medicine. We should spread a rumor"

"But then we'd be no better than her"

"Oh yea. Okay so we'll just wait patiently and hope for the best." After a short pause Pam turned serious. "Do you think you and I will be like Claudia Joy and Denise friends for years and years?" Roxy took her hand.

"Plan on sister"

After returning to the party and spending another three hours showing off fake smiles and carrying on polite meaningless conversations with people they barely knew Claudia Joy and Denise finally were alone again. They were standing outside Denise's house laughing at some of the conversations they had to endure at the party. As Denise reached for the door Claudia Joy stopped her.

"Maybe you should stay at our house tonight and tomorrow night or at least let me stay here" Denise smiled at her friends concern.

"I appreciate the offer but Jeremy isn't home until tomorrow afternoon. His friend invited him to spend the night. I'll be fine. But I was thinking of doing a girls night. Maybe we could invite Pamela and Roxy to join us." Claudia Joy smiled at the fact Jeremy wasn't home and that they were going to have a girls night. They hadn't done that in ages.

"I'd like that"

Twenty minutes later the house was filed with laughter as story after story was told. Roxy, Pam, Claudia Joy, and Denise were having a great time. They had popcorn out and had played truth or dare. Claudia Joy and Denise hadn't played that since they were teenagers.

"So Denise you've lived in one post or another your whole live?" Roxy asked astonished. Denise nodded.

"My father was in the army until he retired a little while after Frank and I got married. He was so happy when I told him I was marrying a soldier. In his mind that was the worthiest man for his daughter. That was until he actually met Frank. Now he's living the good life in Florida with my mother."

"He didn't like Frank?" Pam laughed knowing it was common for a father to not like his daughters husband but it was still funny to hear the fathers reasons.

"Frank was a little different back then. We met when he came into the ER with a broken arm and leg. But he was happy as can be. He told me he just won a bet with his buddies that he could jump off a water tower and live." The room erupted with laughter.

"You've got to be kidding me" Roxy said through her laughter.

"I swear it he had his buddies and the prize money to prove it. I told him he was the most foolish man I had ever met. And he looked at me and he said I was the most beautiful woman he had ever met."

"Awe" The girls said in unison. Denise smiled.

All four girls ended up sleeping in Denise's living room that night. Claudia Joy and Denise slept on the couch the foot rests pulled out and the other two girls slept in the two easy chairs. Denise woke first and looked around her living room. It was a mess. She quietly got up and took all the glasses and bowls to the kitchen. She heard someone get up and saw Claudia Joy walk into the kitchen.

"How long have you been up?"

"About five minutes."

"It was really nice having a girls night again. I've missed just hanging out. Not having to worry about anything. We should do it again. The four of us" Denise smiled and nodded.

"I'd really like that. Of course next time I'm going to be prepared and have blow up beds ready." Claudia Joy laughed. The other two woke up about ten minutes later.

"So I think we need to top off this little get together with breakfast at a restaurant. What'd y'all say about getting ready and meeting down at the breakfast joint just outside of the post?" Roxy asked. Everyone agreed and headed home to get changed. Denise took a shower and was just about to leave when Jeremy opened the door.

"Hi sweetie how was the party?"

"Great. And don't worry there was no beer or drugs. Andy's parents are about as strict as you and dad." Denise laughed.

"Good my kind of parents. Well I'm going to breakfast with some friends have you eaten?"

"Yea I'm good. I think I'm going to just watch some TV maybe take a nap. Oh and mom do you know why Mr. Holden wants to see me?" Denise's heart sped up. She tried to keep the fear and nervousness out of her voice but failed miserably.

"No w-why would I know why? Maybe he just wants to talk to you to see how you're doing. He promised your father he would look out for us when he was gone so I'm sure that's all." Jeremy's eyes darkened.

"You told him didn't you?" he asked grabbing her arms hard.

"Ow" Denise yelled out at the sudden pain. "No I didn't tell him"

"Then you told Claudia Joy and she told him. Who do you think you are? Just because I don't want to go to West Point you're going to betray me?"

"No I wasn't-"

"Shut up!" Jeremy yelled covering her mouth with his hand and pushing her against the wall. "I don't want to hurt you but you make me. If you would just stop doing stupid stuff like this then I wouldn't get so angry and loose my temper!" Denise tried to get his hand away form her mouth but he held strong. As Jeremy continued to yell at her Denise's mind raced. He was hurting her and she knew she had to get him away from her. Usually given enough time he would realize what he was doing and stop. But that time in between was getting longer and longer. Panicking she kicked him in the knee. He yelled out and let go of her. Denise tried to run for the safety of outside but he caught her by her fractured wrist. Denise screamed in pain. "Shut up!" Jeremy shouted shoving her. Denise fell and her head hit the corner of her coffee table. She was out cold in an instant. "Oh god mom? Mom!?" Jeremy saw her breathing and went to call for help. He stopped before he reached the phone and realized that Mr. Holden would know it was him. Changing his mind Jeremy ran out the door and drove away.