Vegas Girls by Heather Skyler

Author:Heather Skyler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2016-08-23T04:00:00+00:00

RAMONA

She was looking forward to dinner at Jane’s house. Ramona had always liked her friend’s parents, and it felt good to leave that new, sterile neighborhood behind and travel back into the overgrown trees and uneven sidewalks of the older section of town, the one that felt more like home. Ivy had stayed behind to rest, still drugged up and sleepy, and Frank was so good at caring for her that Ramona and Jane were practically in the way around his competence.

“I hope your mom makes those spinach crepes with goat cheese,” Ramona said. “I always loved those.”

“Don’t get your hopes up,” Jane advised. “I don’t think they eat cheese anymore. Lactose intolerant.”

“Both of them?”

Jane shrugged. “Not sure, but they’re a united front. If one is lactose intolerant, then they both are.”

“That’s sweet,” Ramona said.

“And a little bit annoying.”

“I feel sort of bad leaving Ivy,” Ramona said.

“She probably wants to be alone to sleep. That was an outrageous cut. I thought she was going to bleed to death for a minute. The shirt I tied to her leg was soaked through.”

“I know,” Ramona said, shaking her head. Recalling the sight of Ivy hobbling toward her across the red rocks, Ramona felt again the dread of that moment. If anything happened to Ivy or Jane, who would she have left to love? She supposed there was Nash, and the possible baby, but would they be enough?

They turned left and headed into Jane’s old neighborhood. This had once been a fairly well-kept area, with tall leafy elms and neat lawns, and Ramona was surprised to see how much it had changed. Cars were parked on grass. Chain-link fences were erected here and there to keep in large, angry looking dogs. Dusty front yards held plastic play sets.

At the end of the block, Ramona saw that Jane’s old home was still a haven of cool green trees. The house was painted a bright, sky blue now—it was gray when she’d last been here—and the cheery color only served to emphasize the decay of the homes around it. “No offense,” Ramona said, “but this house should be airlifted out of here.”

“I know. Sad, isn’t it?” Jane said, parking at the curb and cutting the engine.

“What’s sad?” Rocky asked.

Ramona turned, surprised to hear his voice. She’d completely forgotten the kids were in the backseat. This forgetfulness struck her as a bad omen, a mark against her potential as a future mother.

“It’s sad that the neighborhood where I grew up looks so crappy now,” Jane said, stepping out of the car.

“I like it,” Rocky said, getting out and stepping onto the lawn. “I like the trees.”

“The trees are nice,” Ramona agreed, looking up into the broad arms of the elms.

Fern had fallen asleep, and Jane was trying to carefully lift her out, so Ramona took Rocky’s hand and led him to the front door.

Jane’s mother, Sheila, answered, wearing an apron with the name of a vineyard on it. The green cloth was spotless, as if she hadn’t actually worn it while cooking.

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