Free Fridays by Pat Tucker Page A

and he had only been home for about thirty minutes.
    â€œDinner with Samantha was interesting this evening,” she said, once Riley walked into their room and closed the door.
    â€œOh, yeah? How so?” he asked.
    From his tone, Leela could tell he wasn’t really that interested in a conversation about her best friend, but she wanted to make conversation.
    â€œShe looked really good. I mean, like I’ve never seen her look so put together,” Leela said.
    Her husband’s broad shoulders hunched. “Well, she is back on the market now,” he said. “Guess it makes sense.”
    â€œYeah. I guess so. She seems so different now.”
    â€œBabe.” Riley turned to face his wife. “They’re both two different people now. To be honest with you, I don’t know what’s going on with Bill. He had me meet him at a place where I think he knew Kelly was gonna be.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYeah. The shit was kind of foul. She shows up to meet some dude and the dude was not her husband. It seems like when shetold Bill she was gonna stay with her husband, she only meant that she didn’t want to be with him. It was bad. We barely got out of there without a major scene jumping off,” Riley said.
    â€œWait. So he thought Kelly was gonna leave her husband because he and Samantha got a divorce?”
    â€œI guess so. But from what I saw tonight, ol’ girl ain’t thinking about Bill. She was there with her new man all out in public like she was single.”
    â€œHow’d you get Bill to leave?”
    â€œI told him I wasn’t about to get caught up in any kind of drama. He didn’t want to leave, but I told him, we needed to bounce and I was leaving without him if he wanted to stay.”
    â€œSo if you guys left, why’d you get home so late?”
    â€œThe only way he’d agree to leave was if I promised to swing by Sugar Hill for a drink with him,” Riley said.
    â€œOh. I see. Well, you know how I feel about you doing all that drinking, then getting behind the wheel and driving all the way out here to Katy,” Leela said.
    â€œI was good. You know I’m not getting behind the wheel if I think I’ve had too much,” Riley said.
    â€œBut that’s the thing, Ry. You won’t know when you’ve had too much. All I know is, you’ve been going out a lot more now that Bill is single again. I don’t want his new status to become a DWI charge for you; that’s all I’m saying, Babe.”
    Riley whipped around and roared at his wife. “Do I say anything when you run off and go hang out with Samantha’s bitter ass?”
    â€œWhoa, Ry!” Leela threw her hands up in mock defense.
    â€œWhoa, my ass! Don’t come for me. It’s not necessary. I just told you dude needed some time. You somehow turn this into something about me. I don’t need you to warn me about the dangers of drinking and driving.” Riley slapped his chest. “I’m a man!”
    â€œWhat am I missing here?” Leela asked.
    â€œYou know what, I don’t need this shit.” Riley snatched a pillow and stormed out of their bedroom.
    Leela sat dumbfounded and alone. The last thing she wanted was alone time. Being alone had quickly become her enemy. It didn’t take long for thoughts of her grandfather’s betrayal to seep into her mind. It was so long ago, Leela couldn’t remember how old she and her sister were, but they were arriving at their grandparents’ house when their neighbor, Rhonda’s mother, had called with an emergency.
    â€œBig Mama, what are Miss Sadie’s grandkids doing over here? I told you I needed you to watch Leela and Leslie,” Linda had said as she dropped Leela and her older sister off.
    â€œI know, but Sadie just called and asked if I could keep ’em overnight. Your father went out to try and help find Rhonda.”
    â€œNot again.”