On Saturday, Shannon packed the diaper bag with plenty of diapers, formula and the baby food Bailey had just started to eat. She added two changes of clothing, just in case. “Okay, sweetie. Let’s go.”
At Dawn’s house, she found Angie’s SUV already parked at the curb. She pulled the Buick into the empty driveway and got out.
Angie came across the small yard. “Hi. Let me help you. If you’re like me, you packed as if she was going to summer camp.”
Shannon laughed. “You got it.” She handed off the diaper bag, then removed Bailey and the car seat-slash-carrier. “I’ll take this inside, too.”
“You can if you want, but I’m sure Mom’s got at least two carriers in there already. This place is Kiddie Central.”
Inside, the TV blared in the living room where two boys and a girl who looked to be between the ages of six and eight, sat on the floor watching a cartoon. An older boy, maybe ten, sat on the sofa playing with an iPad. Dawn came from the kitchen with a toddler in tow. “Hi, Shannon. And there’s that sweet baby.” She reached out and took Bailey from her.
“Thanks for doing this. Let me know how much I owe you when we get back.” Shannon set the carrier down.
Dawn waved a dismissive hand. “You don’t owe me anything. I have the grandkids here anyway. One Saturday a month, I keep all the kids so the girls can have a night out.”
Angie pointed. “That one is Sean and the girl is Amy. And this…” She picked up the toddler. “…is Raymond. They’re mine. The other boys are David and Michael—the one with the iPad. They belong to my sister, Melanie, who’s working tonight at the casino.”
The front door opened and another woman came in herding two twin girls.
“This is Rachel and her two, Annie and Jessie.”
The little girls raced past Shannon and fell to the floor in that boneless way children do, knees bent, legs behind them, joining the TV group.
“Are you sure you want to keep Bailey, too?” Shannon asked Dawn. “Looks like you already have your hands full.”
“I’m sure. This is better than dinner and a movie for me. Now you girls go and have fun.”
Shannon leaned in and kissed Bailey on the cheek. But the baby was already mesmerized by the silver and turquoise necklace Dawn wore. “You’ll call if there’s any problem?” Shannon asked, then added, “Oh, but I don’t have a cell phone.”
“I’ll call Angie if I need you, but I promise we’ll be fine.”
Angie looped an arm through Shannon’s and turned her toward the door. “Come on. It’s time for the big girls to go out and play.”
They piled into Angie’s SUV and made a stop to pick up Lisa, another of Angie’s friends. The women were welcoming and didn’t press her with questions right away. When they reached Seattle, Rachel said, “Why don’t we catch a movie first, then eat?”
Angie groaned. “If we’re going to Quinn’s, we need to get there early or we’ll never get a place to park.”
“We’ll get a place to park. We’re right near the theater,” Rachel argued.
“But I’m hungry,” Angie countered.
“So, get popcorn.” Rachel turned in her seat. “What about you two?”
Lisa shrugged. “Fine with me.”
“I’m fine either way,” Shannon said.
Rachel laughed. “Oh, we have a diplomat in our midst.” She winked at Shannon. “So I’m counting that as a yes. Movie first.”
Angie made a turn, drove a few blocks and pulled into the parking garage near the Majestic.
Shannon had seen previews of the movie they’d selected and knew she’d enjoy it. She needed to laugh. The movie didn’t disappoint and she wiped away tears at some of the scenes.
“That was great,” Angie said as they left the theater. “What did you think, Shannon?”
“I laughed until I cried.”
When they reached the pub, Angie drove around the block twice before suggesting the rest of them get out and go inside to get a table.
“I’ll stay with you,” Shannon said. “That way you won’t have to walk back by yourself.”
They found a parking spot that Angie just squeezed into a couple of blocks from the pub. “I knew this would happen.”
Shannon shrugged. “It’s a nice evening for a walk. For once it’s not raining.”
Angie slid a glance at her. “Do you always see the glass-half-full side of things?”
“Definitely not. But you have to admit, it is a nice night.”
“It is. So, are you having a fun? Rachel can be a bit overwhelming.”
“She’s fine. I like your friends and, yes, I’m having a good time.”
They walked in silence for a block, then Shannon asked, “So, have you heard from Jake?”
“Nope. But I texted him that you were joining us tonight.” Angie glanced over at her. “I hope that’s okay. I should have asked.”
Shannon shook her head. “It’s okay.”
It was Angie’s turn to ask a question. “How did you and Jake meet?”
Unprepared for the question, she slowed her pace. “We just sort of ran into each other. He’s a nice guy.”
“He is. Though he’s being very mysterious about this trip out of town.”
They reached the pub and Angie held the door for Shannon to go ahead of her. They found Lisa seated at a table. Rachel stood at the bar, smiling and talking to a very good looking guy. Shannon stared and Angie leaned in, saying, “She’s divorced since last April.”
“Oh, I wasn’t thinking….” Heat flooded her face. “Okay, I was wondering.”
“We have one rule here. You can meet a guy, but at the end of the evening, we all go home together. No girl left behind.”
“That’s a very good rule,” Shannon said. “But I’m not looking for a guy.”
Angie grinned. “Already got one?”
“No. Had one. And now I have Bailey—and no guy.”
Lisa nodded, then motioned toward Rachel. “Some women just can’t live without them.”
The pub was simple, but held a certain elegance at the same time. The menu offered an eclectic mix of fancy and traditional fare. Shannon settled on fish and chips and a Quinn’s ale.
Rachel returned to the table, all smiles and flush. “That guy I was talking to is an architect. We’re going out next weekend.”
“Does he know about the twins?” Lisa asked.
Rachel glanced down at her rather impressive chest. “I think he noticed.”
Angie laughed. “Good one.”
Shannon liked these women. They had fun without being too obvious. They laughed at one another and themselves and, in the end, had each other’s backs. She was reminded of Brooke and the good times they always had.
“Hey, Shannon? You still with us?” Lisa asked.
“I’m sorry. My mind was wandering.” She stood. “Where is the ladies’ room?”
Angie pointed and Shannon followed the direction. She used the bathroom and was washing her hands when Angie came in. “You okay?”
“Fine. I really like your friends. I was just thinking about a friend of mine I haven’t seen for a while. We used to do things like this. I kind of miss her.”
“Well, you’re welcome to join us any time. We do this once a month, so mark your calendar.”
They returned to the table as the waitress delivered their food. She’d also delivered a refill on Shannon’s beer. “No, please. I can’t have another.” The rich ale had already begun to make her feel loose-jointed.
“Sure you can,” Angie said. “I’m the designated driver tonight. We each take a turn.”
By the end of the evening, Shannon was slightly wobbly from the beer as the women strolled back to the SUV.
Rachel put a hand on Shannon’s shoulder. “I’m so glad you came out with us tonight. I hope you’ll do this again.”
“I will, thank you.”
She had sobered by the time they reached Dawn’s house.
“You sure you don’t want me to drive you two home?” Angie asked.
“No, I’m fine now. And it’s only a few blocks.” Shannon followed Angie and Rachel into the house.
Dawn sat on the sofa looking like the crazy cat lady, except she had children draped everywhere. Bailey slept in her lap. Dawn smiled up at Shannon and whispered. “You want to just stay here tonight? I have room.”
“No, thanks. I have to be up in the morning early to help Helen Swinson.”
Easing her hands under the sleeping baby, Dawn lifted her and stood. “We had a great time tonight. She was an angel.”
“Thank you.” She strapped Bailey into the carrier. “I really appreciate this. I had fun tonight.”
Dawn walked with her to the door. “You bring her by any time.”
Angie followed Shannon to her car. “I’m glad you came with us. You have my phone number if you need anything. And most evenings, I work at Rusty’s. That’s a bar outside of town.” She headed for the SUV.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Shannon asked.
“What? My kids? They’re staying with Grandma overnight. That’s the only way I can sleep late in the morning.” She waved. “Have a good night.”
Her own mother would be just like Dawn, always ready to take her grandbaby for an evening or an overnight. Sadness gnawed at Shannon as she started the car. How would Bailey get to know her grandma if they stayed here in Washington? Maybe it would be best if she moved to Pennsylvania with her mother and aunt.
Shannon slowed as she approached the Swinson house. The streets were deserted except for one vehicle—a dark mid-sized car with tinted windows that sat idling at the curb just before the driveway. She considered continuing to drive, but where would she go? She had to come home sometime. Fumbling with the garage door opener clipped to the visor, she pressed the button. The door groaned open and then closed again behind the car. She sat until the overhead light went out, then got out of the car and stood on tiptoe to peer through one of the small block windows. She could make out the taillights and exhaust coming from the vehicle and she wished there were an inside stair entry to her apartment. She looped her purse over her shoulder, left the diaper bag behind, and hustled out the side door and up the steps with Bailey in her arms. Her heart pounded as she closed the door behind her and flipped on the kitchen light.
Bailey stirred but went back to sleep as soon as Shannon lay her in the crib. After changing and crawling into bed, she stretched and tried to relax.
The women she’d spent the evening with had been pleasant and friendly. None of them had pressed her for information about where she came from or why she was here in Snoqualmie or what kind of work she did or who was Bailey’s father. She’d told them she had a break-up shortly after Bailey was born and decided to find a new place to start over. She had met Jake and he had been very helpful to her in finding a place to live. And that led to a job of sorts. It had all been so easy. Maybe she was worrying too much about being found and about what other people would think of her.
Shannon leaned toward the window and split the blinds with two fingers, looking down at the street. The car was gone. She let out a breath she had not been aware of holding in and burrowed into the soft, cool sheets.