Next Day

The next day as Vicki walked into her agency Coreen looked up from the computer screen and said, "You're walking funny."

Vicki straightened her shoulders and said, "New jeans. Tight."

Coreen studied her for a moment than said, "Nope. I recognize the small tear in the knee. OMG! You got laid! Which one? When? Details." She got up and followed Vicki to the inner office.

Vicki gritted her teeth and walked stiffly to her desk and sat slowly behind it mumbling, "So not your business." She kept her eyes on her computer as she powered up.

Coreen remained standing in the doorway looking smug. Then said, "Can I have the left overs?"

Not looking up, Vicki said, "What the hell do you mean by that?"

Coreen said, "I want the one you didn't have last night. Either one's fine by me. We girls gotta stick – which one was it? I gotta concentrate on the other."

Vicki slammed both hands down on the desk, "Coreen, if you know what's good for you, you'll turn around go back to your desk and forget the last five minutes. I'm so not in the mood to deal with you."

Coreen flipped her twin pony tails and said, "You should be in a great mood. You've had enough sex in one night to make you walk like, stiff. Bet it was Mike, he's built, but Henry being what he is, should have lots a stamina."

Vicki stood, snarled, "Get me coffee. If you want to live to see another day, you'll shut up and get me some coffee."

Coreen gave her hair another flip, nodded her head and said, "You need a repeat, that's what." Vicki's snarl became a growl as Coreen said over her retreating shoulder, "Coffee coming up."

Vicki sat down and slowly started to pound her head on the keyboard.

Mike appeared in the doorway and said, "I passed Coreen on the way out and she gave me the "Thumbs up" sign. What's that supposed to mean?" He studied her a minute then added, "Why are you pretending to pound the keyboard with your head? You look tired – didn't you sleep well last night?"

Vicki stopped and covered her face with her hands, "Mike, do you believe in divine retribution?"

"Of course."

"Good. Then you'll understand when I say God's having a good laugh."

Mike leaned on the wall crossed his arms and said, "I don't have a clue what you're talking about. I stopped in to see if you were okay because sounded funny when to told me not to come by yesterday."

She shifted in her chair trying to find a more comfortable position, "If memory serves me, I said don't come around for a week." She looked around as if hunting for someone and asked, "Doesn't anyone listen?"

Mike held up his hands, "Okay, I get it. Go away and don't come back until you call." Mike, pushed off from the wall, turned on his heel and left.

Vicki was about to sigh in relief, when her phone started ringing. She let it go to messaging and heard her mother say, "Vicki, I know you said not to call, but if you need to talk I'm here. Did you trap him yet?" Vicki sat looking at the phone and hoped the day would end.

Coreen came back with two large coffees and glanced at the phone as she handed Vicki the mocha, "There's a message – want me to pick it up?"

Vicki swallowed her temper, "No! Don't. I'm ducking that caller and erasing the message." She hit the delete button then said, "Take the rest of the day off. I'll review your notes and we can get an early start in the morning."

Coreen bounced as she said, "Cool! There's a party tonight and I can go shopping. How about an advance?"

Vicki opened the bottom of the desk drawer and pulled out a fifty from her emergency funds and said while holding it out, "Here. Go. Have fun."

Coreen took the bill, smiled, grabbed her bag while still holding the coffee in her other hand and said, "Gee thanks. That was easier than the last time I tried for an advance. See ya."

Vicki gave a half hearted wave as sipped her coffee and tried to reason out just when her life had taken the sharp left turn. Shaking her head, she gave up and started reading the summaries of the cases which kept her busy for two hours then made follow-up calls on some of the questions that had come to mind while reading the reports. She postponed billing until there was nothing else left to do. Hourly estimates and itemizing gave her headaches as she wondered how to bill for hunches and blind luck.

She went back over some of Coreen's documentation and found additional billable hours. Coreen's work was was good and her instinct for research sharp but she wished that Coreen would tone down the peppy. Goths should be dark and somber in their approach to life. Coreen was pure energy. Vicki sat in deep thought and didn't realize the sun had set more than an hour ago.

She looked up to see Henry standing in front of her desk and he smiled when she finally saw him. He reached over the desk and touched her hand, "Did you mean to forget about me already?"

She frowned as she studied his youthful face and style of clothes, "I didn't forget you. Every time I move, I remember."

Henry eased himself down on the corner of her desk, "If it makes you feel better, I'm a little chafed too."

They looked at each other and broke out laughing. Henry stopped laughing first and said, "There's a future for us. You know that don't you?"

Vicki answered, "I know, but it's getting there that has me confused."

Henry stood up and held out his hand to her, "It's corny to say, but I'm going to say it anyway. The first step is the hardest."

She looked at him trying to decide if he meant it as a play on words, or encouragement. Shaking her head and smiling back at his beautiful face, she accepted his hand and together they walked side by side into the night.