Read Whenever You Call for Free Online Page A

pulled off my running shorts and replaced them with blue jeans, then a white t-shirt and black blazer I loved because it bagged in the elbows. I ran up the stairs to the second floor, grabbed some bagels from the freezer, and made a quick pit stop in the bathroom next to the kitchen. I, therefore, had no reason to descend to the basement where my computer might harbor an e-mail response from Mr. Rabbitfish. I, therefore, tried not to run down there, but in the end, I simply couldn’t help myself.
    My reward for being silly was the boing sound. An e-mail! From him.
    Aren’t you being impetuous?
    I wrote back, in a flash.
    Hope so.
    Then out the door and into my Volvo to battle Saturday morning traffic. All the way to Jenny’s, I also battled euphoria. I was too mature to get sucked into something that smacked of love notes sailing through a third-grade classroom, like little missiles landing on my head and shoulders. Or I thought I was. Or I certainly should be. But I was a surprisingly happy chick given that I didn’t have a date on the Saturday night glaring down at me.
    I decided I needed someone to whip me into a more rational point of view, and it was clear I wouldn’t be able to count on Jenny, under the circumstances. I activated the handsfree cell phone in the car and hit the number 1, which automatically made the phone dial my daughter, Alex’s, apartment. When her phone trilled for the second time, I realized it was only nine o’clock in the morning. As a fourth-year medical student, her schedule was both intense and impossible for me to follow from week to week. I never knew if she might be catching up on sleep or working, but 9:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning suddenly seemed like it could be a ripe time for sleeping. I quickly hit the disconnect button.
    A couple of seconds later, the car’s cell phone rang.
    “Hey, Mom, you called?”
    “I’m sorry—I forgot it was so early.”
    “I just got back from a run—don’t worry about it.”
    The matter-of-fact tone in Alex’s voice abruptly made me change my mind about telling her anything. In fact, it struck me as quite odd that I’d ever imagined doing so. I hoped I wasn’t becoming one of those mothers who treated their kids as pseudo-best friends. Instead, I’d made the more heinous mistake of bothering one of my grown children for absolutely no reason. Also something I’d vowed never to do.
    “So, how was your week?” I said.
    “Exhausting. Plus, I went to a party last night, where I drank too much and I think I met this really nice woman. I wanted to follow up with her, but I can’t even remember her name.”
    “You should post something on the Craigslist Missed Connection board!” I said, undoubtedly with too much enthusiasm.
    “How do you know about the MC board?”
    “I read an article about it and visited the site a couple of times, out of curiosity, you know? For a writer, it’s fascinating.”
    “Maybe I should—”
    “Okay, I’ve arrived at Jenny’s place.” I pulled into the underground garage of her building. “She’s got a blind date tonight, arranged courtesy of her mother, and I think she’s having a panic attack.”
    “It must be hard.”
    We said good-bye quickly, but not before I managed to get in another plug for the Missed Connections board. Alex probably didn’t realize that if she posted something, her dear mother would definitely see it. I hoped she wouldn’t make it sexually suggestive, but it would be my own fault if she did.
    I had a key to Jenny’s apartment so that I could always let myself in without making her come to the door. I found her stretched out on the low white couch in her living room, moaning dramatically.
    “Have you puked yet?” I said.
    “No.” She rolled her eyes towards me.
    I crouched next to the couch, holding out a hand. “Time for some tough love, sweetheart.”
    She ignored my hand. “If I sit up, I’ll definitely spew.”
    “Good word, spew .” I picked up first one of