The Friends We Keep

“Are you sure?” Andrew asked a few hours later, when Gabby told him what she’d seen. “They couldn’t have been kissing. Boyd isn’t that kind of guy.”


“I know what I saw. He’s sixteen and they’re all that kind. Don’t you remember?”

“Yeah, but that was different. Boyd’s kind of geeky.”

“I’m sure he has a working penis.”

They were in their bedroom. She’d waited until everyone had gone to bed to fill him in on what had happened.

“They were kissing, Andrew. This is serious. Not only did she break the rules, for which she should be punished, but we need to talk to her. Candace isn’t going to. Makayla has no idea what she’s getting into.”

Andrew finished brushing his teeth. He rinsed out his mouth, then straightened. “Gabby, you’re a doll to worry, but trust me. Nothing is going on. Kids these days don’t date. They travel in packs.”

“They still have sex.”

He shook his head. “I’ll talk to her.” She started to speak, but he held up his hand. “And I’ll make sure she’s punished for having a boy in her room. What seems fair? The weekend without her phone?”

Gabby nodded. “That seems okay.”

He moved toward her. “They’re just kids,” he said as he reached for her. “They have no idea what they’re doing. I, on the other hand, know exactly what you like.”

She leaned into him. Even as she kissed him back, a whiny little voice in her head said this was a bigger deal than he was acknowledging and while she was easy to distract, that didn’t mean the problem was going away.

*

The Pacific Ocean Park—otherwise known as the POP—had started life in Santa Monica. The pier, little shops and restaurants had eventually lost favor with residents and tourists. Years ago, the POP had been torn down and discarded. Several citizens in Mischief Bay had gotten together to pick up the pieces and move the whole thing a few miles south. Now it was a bustling tourist attraction and a place for locals to hang out. The very heart of the POP was a beautifully restored carousel.

Nicole stood with Gabby by the wooden horses, watching her son and Gabby’s girls go round and round.

“I think it’s a big deal,” Gabby said, her gaze on her daughters.

“Of course it is.” Nicole grimaced. “Back in high school I knew a girl who got pregnant in the tenth grade. In her senior picture, she was holding a toddler. Talk about a nightmare.”

“There’s a scary thought.” Gabby pressed her lips together. “I really don’t like this. The worry, the lack of control. Makayla needs more structure in her life. More rules. Andrew is still acting like he only has her on weekends, but that’s not the case. We’re full-time parents to her and we need to act like it. Plus, what about the twins? They look up to her and want to be just like her. I do not want them learning to get pregnant while they’re still in high school.”

Nicole heard the worry and frustration in her friend’s voice. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like to have to raise someone else’s kid, yet not be given any authority. Or very little. Talk about having to do it with both hands tied behind your back. Gabby was in an impossible situation.

“Can you talk to her?” she asked.

“Not really. Makayla and I aren’t enemies, but we’re not friends, either. She resents me. Or something. I honestly have no idea what she thinks of me. We rarely talk. I’ve tried, but she shuts me out.”

“You think it’s about her mom?”

“Maybe. If she likes me, she’s being disloyal. She’s good with the twins, which I appreciate. Maybe that’s enough.”

“Not if she’s having sex,” Nicole pointed out.

“Tell me about it.” Gabby shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. It’s too depressing. But I appreciate you listening.”

“Think about going back to work instead,” Nicole said with a smile. “That will make you happy.”

“It does. To be back in the professional world. I can’t wait.” She looked at Nicole. “Was it hard for you to go back to work?”

“A little. Tyler was younger than the twins and in day care for part of the time. I didn’t like that. But it was still good to get out. Of course I had a job waiting for me, so I didn’t have to deal with the transition you’re having.”

Nicole had gone back to work because she and Eric had needed the money. Gabby was working because she wanted to. Nicole had no idea how much Andrew made in a year, but based on their nice cars and the big house, it was plenty.

She couldn’t begin to imagine what it would have been like to grow up with financial security. She’d been the only child of a single mom who’d wanted nothing more than for her to be famous. There had been dance lessons and voice lessons and auditions. Money had been tight and schooling had come second to her dancing and acting.

The irony of her current financial situation didn’t escape her.

“What?” Gabby asked. “You have the strangest expression.”