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

I realize that I’m shivering and grab a fleece blanketnear my feet, wrapping it around my shoulders and tucking my hands safelyunderneath. I must have used this same blanket last night, because it smellsfaintly of my vomit.

At least, I hope it’s my vomit.

I try to warm up, but the blanket is wet with dew. I’msuddenly filled with this jetlagged, homesick feeling reminiscent of summersspent camping in Maine.

I’ve always hated camping.

My gaze finally rests on Jodi, who looks completely pissedoff. “Why so bitchy this morning, Jo?”

“Because of this call!” She shakes the phone in the airover her head. “I’m here to rest, goddammit, to sleep late. At home, my kidswake me up at this exact time every day. I needed to skip sunrise thismorning, thank you very much!”

Just as she completes her tirade, her phone rings again.“Jesus!” she exclaims into the microphone.

“I don’t think it’s him,” I joke. My head feels like it’sfloating above me somewhere, slightly disconnected from the rest of me, and Iwonder if perhaps I am still a little bit drunk. It’s certainly possible. Icould use some Visine, a cup or four of coffee, and a toothbrush.

My body stings and I remember the tattoo. My head stingsand I remember the Botox. My eyeballs sting and I remember the Jägermeister.

When this trip is done, I’m going to have to plan a realvacation.

I begin making elaborate plans for the day. First order ofbusiness: go back to the hotel and take a long, steamy shower; then call downfor an extravagant feast from room service and, lastly, indulge in a niceafternoon siesta on the beach. I don’t think we’ll go out tonight; maybe justhead to Nobu or something for a sophisticated meal and then rent a movie andhang out in bed. Like an old-fashioned, girls-only sleepover. No drinking forme tonight, thank you very much, and no MC anybodies or famous movie stars toderail the status quo.

I’m thinking about trying to stand up.

I’m thinking about trying to stand up and go over to Jodi,who is now crying into the phone.

“But, that can’t be! It’s…impossible! This wasn’t supposedto happen!” she’s yelling amidst her sobs. “I am calm! I’m fucking calm,Mom!”

Jodi is anything but calm. “Yes. No. Of course! Anythingyou need, Ma. Anything at all. I’ll take care of all the arrangements. Youdon’t have to come down from New York. That’s why I’m here,” she concludes,giving a quick, furtive glance my way.

Then Jodi is listening again to her mother’s words, tearsrolling quietly down her cheeks, the remnants of her mascara bleeding inblue-black lines. “Mom, I know,” she sobs. “I know I was her favoritegrandchild.”

I head down to the beach to wake Kat, Lenny, and Tim withthe news.

“She really died?” Kat asks, scratching her headand sending her curls flying. “No fucking joke?”

“Who died?” Lenny mumbles, eyes still closed.

“Jodi’s grandmother,” Kat answers.

“Ironic!” he coughs out. “Like rain on your wedding day.”

Kat laughs from her hammock and I’m glad. She doesn’t seemto hate Lenny that much this morning.

“Poor Jodi,” Tim yawns, swinging in a hammock nearby andfinishing a text to someone.

“You’re still here?” I ask, turning to face him. The commentcomes out with more bite than I intended, and it hangs unanswered in the airbetween us. I try to backtrack, but now that the thought is there, I can’t stopwondering about it. “Not to be rude, I mean, we’ve loved your company…but…why,again?”

Tim seems momentarily at a loss for words, adjusting hishat and looking left, right and over his shoulder like he did when we first metyesterday on this same beach. “Does every encounter have to have a purpose?” Hesmiles. “Can’t it just…be?”

“Is that Scientology?” I ask.

“I don’t know about you, Lauren, but I truly believe he’shere because I’m such awesome company.” Kat tries for her usual sarcasm,only this time it falls flat.

I look at Kat, who looks back at me. Then we both studyLenny, who crosses his arms in front of his chest like he, too, is waiting foran answer.

Because here’s the truth of the matter. Under scrutiny, inthe critical, morning-after light, it’s apparent: We’re cool. But we’re not RubixCube cool.

“It’s like I told you yesterday. I needed a break from myso-called reality,” Tim offers.

“And we’re your choice of vacation destinations?Seriously?” Kat pushes.

For the first time since I’ve met him, Tim looksuncomfortable. “It’s complicated, okay?”

“Complicated how?” Lenny probes.

Tim motions for Lenny to follow him. “Guy to guy?”

Lenny stretches and locates his and Kat’s shoes under anearby daybed. “Um, okay,” he agrees, giving a backward glance our way as heheads toward the surf behind Tim Cubix, slipping on his classic white Adidassneakers as he goes.

“Those Superstars?” Tim asks conversationally.

“Yeah,” Lenny says. “I’m a collector.”

“Me, too!” I hear Tim say before their voices disappearwith them around a corner.

Kat and I make our way back up the winding path. “What doyou think that was about?” Kat asks.

“I dunno…maybe Tim and Ruby are having some problems afterall?”

“That might explain the ‘guy to guy’ thing,” Kat agrees.“But, still, I don’t think he’d confide about something personal like that to arelative stranger, even if he does like Lenny’s performance art. Tim had thisfemale stalker once, I remember. Needed to go to court, get a restrainingorder, everything. He’s really not like us. Something isn’t adding up.”

“Yeah, only, yesterday we were too drunk to notice orcare.” Yesterday, anything was possible. We left our jobs, families, andresponsibilities in the dust and flew down to Florida without much planning,and without remorse. Yesterday it was possible to bump into one of the mostfamous actors of all time and party with him. Today, we find ourselves with adead grandmother, several hangovers, and an elusive celebrity with unclearmotives.

At the back entrance to A Place I Know, we find andimmediately begin to console Jodi, who is crying on the phone again. “Lee,” shemouths, rolling her eyes skyward. She turns back to her husband’s call.

“Of course I saw her yesterday,” Jodi insists whilesobbing into the phone. “She seemed perfectly fine. I mean, fine for someoneninety-three years old and basically unconscious.” She listens to Lee’sresponse as we sit on either