Letters From Al by Pieper, Kathleen (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

are very, very good friends from college. Well, except for Larry. He came later. Skippy and Buffy and Marie and I grew up together, and stayed together. They're not any odder than your being friends with Terry, Bubba and Tim. And as for Larry, it's none of your business. And how dare you insult my friends without even knowing them." Her face felt as red as her hair.

"Okay, I see I stepped on your toes with that one. I meant to be funny. I'm sorry. But you have to admit it sounds a bit strange, I mean is this Skippy a guy or a girl? There's a peanut butter named Skippy."

"Alec McKay. It's a guy, a man. Skippy is just an old family nickname. His real name is Trevor Benson the Fourth and his parents gave him that name when he was a baby. Just who named Bubba, Bubba? The football team?" At his sudden startled look Maddy had to laugh, "There. I rest my case."

"Okay, okay, truce. Just like we can't pick our relatives, we can't change our friends' names to suit us. But really, Skippy?" Shaking his head in his effort to get the last word in, Alec chuckled and Maddy folded her arms stubbornly stifling a laugh. It was irritating how he made her laugh when she really didn't want to.

When he suggested they stop at a local bar called the "Watering Hole" she hesitated. It looked crowded, probably with all his friends.

"Come on. Let's see if you're as accepting of my friends as you say I should be with yours. They're all nice, really, you might even know some of them."

The place was in full swing. Maddy let Alec lead the way through the rollicking crowd. The smell of barbecue drifted lazily and the music was country and western, which she liked, all to the tune of clinking glasses and laughter. Everyone greeted her and her popular escort warmly. Begrudgingly she had to admit she felt more at ease than she'd thought she would.

Suddenly a loud bellow directed them to a corner table where the same bunch of guys sat that had stopped in front of her house this afternoon. Thirsty, Maddy took a big drink of the beer that someone had handed her, these were the guys who had seen Alec kiss her, only now they were accompanied by their wives and girlfriends. She took another drink. She was going to need it.

A pretty Blonde stood beside the table talking to Bubba, her face lit up when she saw Alec, but in the next instant she saw Maddy and her expression changed. Alec saw her about the same time and grinned, taking Maddy's hand and leading her through the boisterous crowd.

"Ah, Becky Snider's here, you, remember Becky, from school?"

"Becky, Becky Snider? No, I don't think so." Maddy was jostled into Alec by the unruly crowd.

"Yeah, well, it's Becky Roberts now. She's divorced. We've dated a little." Maddy stiffened and looked over at Becky who was laughing and visiting with the group while casting an eye in their direction.

"What exactly does 'kinda' dating someone, mean?" She asked, trying to stop and talk in the bustling crowd. Finally she stopped short. "Alec, I know how this works when you're 'kinda' dating, how could you do this? Get me out of here now, please."

"Maddy, listen, Becky and I are not going together, honest. If she was waiting for me tonight, it was her idea, not mine. The guys probably didn't tell her I had a date tonight, which I do sometimes. We all just meet up here some nights for a drink. Who's here is who's here. No formal invitations or dates. I swear. Besides, she was supposed to work tonight."

"Well, that certainly makes it okay. She must feel awful, and I feel like a definite third wheel." They were pushed together by the crowd and finally made their way over to the table.

"It's not like that, I tell you. Aw, come on. I want you to meet my friends." He whispered in her ear. "Even more, I wanted my friends to see what a classy woman, I fell for. Lady, if you can't tell, I really like you by now. I care, Maddy." He looked from his friends to her, his big, blue eyes as sure as each morning's sunrise. Once again, Maddy gave in.

"Thanks, Maddy. You won't be sorry."

"I hope not. Who do you think Becky will hit first, you or me?" Maddy said loud enough for him to hear. Alec just shook his head, finally finding a couple of open seats at the table.

"Hi, everyone, some of you already know Maddy, Madeline Morris, except for the girls. Well, maybe you did go to school with her. Anyway, everyone, this is Maddy."

"And you remember Becky Snider, Becky Roberts now?"

Alec nodded toward the Blonde watching them both intensely. Becky nodded and smiled, but said nothing. Maddy thought she looked a bit familiar.

The music started and some of the couples got up to dance. Becky chatted with Tim at the end of the table, still giving an occasional glance their way. Maddy couldn't tell if she was upset or not, just cool. Finally, she nudged Alec's leg under the table until he looked at her.

"You could ask Becky to dance, she looks as if she'd like to. It would be a nice gesture." Maddy whispered in Alec's ear.

"Are you going to be in Nielsen long, Maddy?" One of the girls asked the tired question innocently. Maddy wanted to answer honestly, took a deep breath and smiled.

"I really don't know yet. My great aunt left me her house, it's the big, two-story on Main." Slowly, easily they all began to get acquainted and Alec was right, they were really nice and she liked them, even Bubba.

When the song ended, Alec came back to the table and Becky began to dance with Tim. Alec squeezed in beside Maddy and reached for her hand under the table.

"That's was a nice thing