Lauren Takes Leave by Gerstenblatt, Julie (ebooks children's books free txt) 📕

didn’t want me to know the truth and to judge you. Youdidn’t want me to be mad at you.”

Doug shakes his head in disagreement. “It’s not anger Iworried about…more like…I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me. AndI couldn’t admit that I was failing. That my company was failing. That Iam a failure.”

“Oh, Doug,” I say again, this time with compassion. “Yourcompany might fail, but that does not mean that you are a failure.” I put myhead against his chest and hear the thrump-thrump of his heart.

“What’s that you just said, Worthing? Repeat after me:nobody’s a failure,” MC Lenny says, emerging from the stretch limo andstretching. “Certainly not a client of mine like your husband here.”

“A what?” I ask, looking from Doug to Lenny and backagain.

“He’s right. A client,” Doug reiterates. “I saw Lenny getout of the limo with Tim Cubix, and, once my initial shock at that passed, andonce my initial interest in busting Lenny’s ball sack passed, too, Iremembered: rapping aside, Lenny is a pretty well-known accountant in thecity.”

“CPA by day, RAP by night, though not for much longer, Ihope,” Lenny says.

“Just long enough to get me out of this jam,” Doug adds.

“And…did I mention how I’m going to do that?” A slysmile creases the corners of Lenny’s mouth.

“With some…magical accounting skills, I’m guessing?” Isay.

“Including some creative restructuring of my company andanother loan from a different bank?” Doug adds.

“Nah, guys. Think out of the box. Think…Hollywood,” Lennysays cryptically.

And just like that, almost as if on cue from an unseendirector, Tim walks over and joins us.

“Interesting threesome,” Tim whispers to me, sendingchills down my spine. I laugh and try to make light of his comment, because thelast thing I need Doug to know is that Tim knows that I kissed Lenny in Miami.That’s like TMI times a million, when a megastar’s got inside info on whereyour wife’s tongue has been before you do. Instead, I make introductions. Timto Doug, Doug to Tim.

“Hey,” Doug coughs out, extending his hand for a manlyshake.

“Hey, dude. It’s great to finally put the face to thename,” Tim says warmly. “Your wife is a great person.”

“Yup,” Doug says. “Although I prefer when she doesn’t flatout lie to me and then bolt, abandoning me and my kids and risking herlivelihood in the process.”

“True, that,” Tim says. “Ruby’s always on the run. Namibiaone day, Cannes the next. It’s annoying.” He shrugs. “You know, women.”

That shuts Doug up pretty quick.

“Hey, Tim,” Lenny says, “did I mention that Doug here is atalented graphic designer with his own boutique shop in the city?”

“Really?” Tim says, studying Doug.

Doug merely nods. I want to kick him into high gear, bringout the salesman smooth talker that Doug can be when he gets excited about hiswork. Instead, his cheeks are flushed and he’s scratching his neck nervously.

Okay, maybe that’s just how I was when I first met Tim,too.

“Totally cutting-edge facility,” Lenny adds, seeing thatDoug might not jump in here. “He used to work with some guys out in LA atImaginary Forces. Doug’s shop can handle lots of specialized motion graphicsfor movie titles and trailers, plus amazing collateral materials in print, likeposters and bus-wrap signage.”

Lenny knows all this stuff because I complained to him forhours on end via Facebook about Doug’s new solo venture and his subsequentworkaholic schedule.

Now, that’s irony put to good use right there.

“You serious?” Tim says, addressing Doug as if he’s theone speaking the lines.

“Uh-huh,” Doug says. He clears his throat, which is a goodsign that he might actually speak intelligible words next. I breathe a sigh ofrelief as he does. “We just got Nickelodeon as a client. We hope they’ll let usdo all the work for the Kid’s Choice Awards, but we’re still up against someother agencies for that particular gig.”

“I’m thinking he’s the right guy for postproduction on theHaiti stuff, since I’ll be doing it all in New York,” Lenny says.

“What are you doing right now?” Tim asks Doug.

I’m thinking that Doug’s possible answers to that questioninclude, but are certainly not limited to: Melting down, Freaking out, Puttingmy cozy Tudor on the market, and/or Trying to unravel a tangle of liesand get my wife to forgive me just as I have forgiven her.

“Not much,” Doug says, which is also a legitimateresponse. “Mourning maybe? Sitting some shivah?”

“Did somebody say shivah?” Jodi says, walking down thehill with Kat and Leslie in tow, the two of them holding the train of Jodi’sdress out behind them like bridesmaids coming down the aisle. “’Cause it’s atmy house and I think I’m running a little late. Plus, I’m freezing! Thanks,ladies,” she says, as Leslie and Kat drop Jodi’s tail. “Glad we could work thatout. Everyone in love again?” she jokes, scanning our faces for signs ofunrest.

“Yes,” Doug says, speaking for the group. “I believe weare.”

“Oh, Tim, would you mind if Leslie had a small photo-opwith you, after she cleans herself up a bit at my house?” Jodi asks. Tim raisesan eyebrow, but nods gamely. “Wonderful,” Jodi continues. “In exchange for theexperience, Leslie wishes to drop any and all charges against Lauren for the‘incident’ on Wednesday night.”

“Really?” I say. “You…don’t mind, Tim?” He shakes hishead, and I turn to Leslie. “And…this is all good with you? No hard feelings?”

“I won’t sue you, Lauren. But I probably won’t ever beyour friend again, either. No more of my parties for you.”

I pretend to find this news disheartening, and shake myhead forlornly. Inside, I’m thinking, Now, that’s what I’d call a win-win!

“So, who’s up for enjoying white fish and herring withRabbi Cantor?”

“Bring it on,” Lenny says. He motions for Doug to join himand Tim in the limo. Doug tosses me the keys to our car and flashes me a huge,childlike grin.

“I know all about it, Doug,” I say, heading back to ourAcura. “Stick with me, my friend. It turns out, life is fun!”

Chapter 39

“I’m going to resign tomorrow,” Kat tells me as we spreadcream cheese on our respective bagels and move from Jodi’s expansive, formaldining room into her supersized living room. Her custom-built duo oftraditionally