Scattered Ashes by Hooley Maria Rachel

Author:Hooley, Maria Rachel [Hooley, Maria Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2011-12-29T16:00:00+00:00

Three hours later, Nicole lay in a bed, cradling her son against one breast as Sarah lounged in a nearby chair. Although Nicole was all smiles, Sarah looked worn out and half-dazed as her best friend cooed softly to a sleeping infant.

“Isn’t he beautiful?” Nicole asked, glancing up at Sarah.

“Beautiful, yeah,” she repeated, propping on elbow on the arm rest to support her head.

“Are you even listening to me?” Nicole asked, wanting to throw a pillow at Sarah.

“Of course I’m listening. I’m just tired.”

Nicole snorted. “Let me get this straight. I go through the agony of giving birth, and you’re tired? Really?”

Sarah forced herself to sit up straighter and shrugged. “I got tired just watching you.” A shudder ripped through her. “And for the record, I’m not having any kids. Watching you in labor cured me of that desire.”

“It wasn’t that bad,” Nicole argued. “And just look what I got out of the deal.”

Sarah got to her feet. “A mini-me who squirts poo and keeps you up all night.” She patted Nicole’s shoulder. “That’s what you got.” She covered her mouth, trying to stifle a yawn.

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Nicole frowned. “Has Michael called in yet?” It was a long shot, she knew, but she really wanted to talk with him about everything that had happened. It was important, she reasoned. Surely if he had even checked his messages, he would know something had happened because Sarah never called him. Never. The two of them really didn’t get along all that well, so for her to have tried reaching him should have been enough.

“Well, since we’ve both been kind of preoccupied with other things, I don’t know. Let me check.” Sarah flipped open the phone and smiled. “Yep, there’s a missed call and a message.”

“Thank goodness,” Nicole whispered, smiling down at her son, who slept blissfully in her arms.

Sarah punched the button to listen to the voicemail, a smile on her face, too. Strangely enough, however, just a few seconds after she'd punched the button, the smile slowly died.

“Well?” Nicole asked, shifting in bed. “What did he have to say for himself?”

For a moment, Sarah said nothing. She just kind of sat there wearing a stunned expression she couldn’t hide.

“An answer today would be nice,” Nicole snapped. “What is with you?”

“That message wasn’t from Michael. Michael hasn’t even bothered to call.”

Sarah’s smile dwindled to nothing, and she looked down. “So I guess it was my mom who called?”

“No.” Sarah pushed the hair from her face.

“Then who was it?” she asked in a voice louder than she’d intended. It made the little one squirm in her arms, and she kind of rocked him, trying to get him back to sleep.

“Jordan.” Sarah started pushing some buttons.

“Wait--what are you doing?”

“Deleting it—“

“No! You aren’t. Give me the phone.” She held out her hand.

Sarah stood. “Nothing good is going to come from that message, Nic. We both know it.” She handed her the phone.

Nicole nodded at the baby. “Could you take him for a couple of minutes.

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