Page SIX

     The evening had turned cold as Lauren Meyers drove southward in her open cab Jeep, so she checked the road ahead of her briefly before turning around and rummaging in the back seat for her sweater. Finally digging it out, she refocused on the road, or tried to at least. Most of her attention was on Rich and his apparent inability to look toward the future.

     “That stupid man has me preoccupied far too often,” she grumbled as she pulled into restaurant’s parking lot. Spotting Karen's sedan, Lauren hopped out, checking her hair in the mirror only briefly, and headed inside. Karen was sitting at a booth in the corner when she walked in and seeing a martini already in her friend's grasp, Lauren stopped by the bar and ordered a drink.

     “Hey! It's so good to see you, Lauren. It's been too long,” Karen quipped, getting up to give her friend a hug.

     Lauren smiled and took a seat, “Tell me about it. What's new?”

     “Just got a new job in Green Bay. Paralegal, nothing really exciting.”

     “Oh stop it,” Lauren shot back, waving her hand dismissively, “That's great to hear, Karen!”

      As they both took a sip of their drinks, Lauren glanced at her friend. Karen had always been the center of attention in college, whether at parties where fraternity boys had flocked to her like bees on spilled honey, or in class, where younger professors strained to keep their gazes appropriate. She wasn't aging all that well; however, having gained thirty or so pounds and wrinkles starting to show. Living hard had its drawbacks apparently.

     “So, what about you? I love it up here, it must be great to spend the whole year here,” Karen asked happily.

     Her smile came a bit too slow and Karen jumped back in, “What's wrong? Don't even think about lying to me, girl.”

     Lauren dropped her gaze and smiled hopelessly, “Alright, already. It's nice living up here. My shop makes me a decent enough living, I suppose. It's just....Rich. It's been three years, Karen, and there isn't a proposal in sight. He doesn't even have a ring, I don't think. I know things are harder for him in the commitment department than most men, but still—come on, three years!” She downed her drink and motioned for another round to the waitress who was approaching.

     Karen twirled her glass on the table, watching it intently before speaking, “Why do you think that is?” She was aware they were on a sensitive subject.

     Suppressing a sigh, Lauren answered honestly, “It's a number of things. He took his brother dying very hard and that was only a few years back. That, on top of him losing his job at the DEA,”
she shook her head wearily, “Rich hasn't had the easiest life, and it shows sometimes.”

     Squeezing her hand, Karen spoke softly, “Maybe you guys should see someone.”

     Lauren pulled away, offended but keeping her temper in check, “We are fine, Karen, thank you. It just wears on me sometimes.”

     “He's a man,” Karen laughed, “They all fucking do that!”

     The two of them were still laughing when the waitress came to take their order. As an afterthought, Lauren looked at Karen for confirmation before saying, “We'll take a couple of Long Islands, too. And keep 'em coming, hun.”

     Their waitress showed a friendly, and knowing, smile and replied, “Sure thing. Problems with your man, huh?” When the laughter broke out, the other patrons actually turned and looked to see what the commotion was about. It was going to be that kind of night.

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