Read Unwanted Company - Barbara Seranella for Free Online Page B

kind of a joke?"
Ellen asked.
    " Yeah. The thing that makes it funny is how true
it is."
    " Any other words of wisdom?"
    "We'll have lots of time to talk later. If we're
not here, the key is under the mat."
    "Thank you."
    " Don't worry about it. We've got plenty of ways
for you to earn your keep."
    After she hung up, Munch pulled on a pair of jeans
and a hot pink T-shirt she'd bought at a flea market. She'd paid
extra for the black lettering across the front that read, LIFE'S TOO
SHORT TO DANCE WITH UGLY MEN. She walked out to the kitchen, poured
herself a bowl of cereal, and joined Asia in the living room. The two
of them watched cartoons until it was time to leave for the little
girl's ballet lesson.
    Derek was still asleep on the couch, making little
popping noises as he exhaled. Munch didn't bother to wake him. If
there was one thing Derek knew, it was his own way out. She did write
him a short note saying that she was expecting a friend named Ellen,
and to make her welcome if she arrived before he left. She propped
the note against the coffeepot and ushered Asia out the door.
    " An old friend came by my work yesterday,"
she said as she loaded Asia into the car and waited while the girl
fastened her seat belt.
    " Man or lady?"
    " Lady. Her name's Ellen."
    " How old?"
    " My age. She's going to drive the limo for us."
    " You should have had her drive last night."
    " She's not on the policy yet. I invited her to
come stay with us for a while."
    Asia was quiet as she processed this bit of
information. "Does this mean I'll have two mommies?"
    Munch felt her throat go dry. "What makes you
say that?"
    "Some kids have two mommies. One that grows them
in their tummy, and one that takes care of them."
    Munch wasn't ready for this conversation yet.
"Ellen's neither, okay? She's just a friend. If anybody asks
you, you tell them you have one mommy, okay?"
    " And we're always going to live together."
    " You say that now, but later on you'll change
your mind."
    " No, never."
    "What if you want to get married and have your
own kids? Won't you want your own home?"
    " I'm not getting married."
    " You're sure about that?"
    "Me? Live with a boy?" Asia rolled her eyes
theatrically. "I don't think so."
    " Never say never. Things change."
    "Not that much," Asia said with the
certainty of the old soul Munch was convinced she was.
    Miss Kim's Dance Studio was located in the corner of
a single-level minimall on Sepulveda Boulevard. Munch had to park in
front of a florist two stores down. As they were getting out of the
car, she noticed that Asia's leotard was on inside out. In remedying
that situation, Munch discovered a run in Asia's tights. "Great,"
she said, twisting the tights around so that the run was along the
bottom of Asia's foot. "Let's go. I hear the music 
starting." They trotted to the entrance of the studio. Asia
skipped onto the wooden floor while Munch waited with the other
mothers by the door.
    Not all the mothers stayed for the class. Munch liked
to watch the little girls prance around and was always amazed at the
depth of Miss Kim's patience. This morning all the girls were
instructed to take a colored scarf from a large cardboard box. That
alone took forever, with the little girls arguing over what color
they wanted and telling stories about their dogs or their grandpa's
car or some other damn thing. Miss Kim took it all in stride. She had
to be on something—Munch had decided long ago. Nobody was that
mellow, were they? Asia scratched her knee, and her stocking twisted
to reveal the run creeping up her ankle. She appeared not to notice,
thank God. Munch sneaked a look at the mothers crowded with her in
the small anteroom. She always felt like such an impostor in their
company, with her short, black-lined finger-nails, lack of stretch
marks, and no wedding ring. Look for the similarities, not the
differences, she told herself.
    She was standing next to a tall woman with short hair
who she'd noticed drove a diesel Mercedes.