Page 3 of While You Were Trending

Swear she caught me looking at her during the wedding.

“One day, Caro will have ababy, and her third nipple might leakmilk,” Freida says.

“Do you know what kind of milk is good?” Ginny says. “Whole milk is good. It’s great in tea. Or hot chocolate. Or for dipping cookies. Which we can have when you sober up.”

“Eh? Who’s stripping bookies?” Pip says. “I dated a bookie once. Or was that a rookie? What are words?”

“I always have hot chocolate withCaro,” Freida says. “Myfirsthot chocolate of theyear. But now Caro and her boobful aregooooooone.”

Ginny sucks an audible breath through her nose. “Caro’s not gone, Mom.”

Freida stares up at her, then bursts into a wail. “My only daughter is leaving me.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ginny mutters.

“You know what I mean,” she cries. “The pretty one.”

I bristle and twitch, but I stay half hidden behind a support beam.

Fuck. When did I get deeper in the barn?

Ginny’s a bug zapper light and I’m the moth, drawing closer and closer without conscious thought or the will to resist.

“Again, thanks, Mom,” Ginny says.

“Who’s a gritty one?” the older woman asks.

“Undoubtedly me,” Ginny replies.

Pip flops her head to one side and squints at Ginny. “Ted Leemee? Who’s that? Is he cute? Can he get it up like my bookie?”

“I’m all aloooooone,” Freida wails.

She pushes herself to sitting, bends her knees, then pitches forward as she tries to stand.

Ginny grabs her while I go tense.

“How about you sit back down?” Ginny murmurs while her mother continues to try to climb her.

“Noooooo. I have to go see mybaaaabbbyyyyyy.”

“I’m your baby, Mom.”

“No, you’re the other one. I want mybaby.”

“Who’s having gravy?” Pip says. “I covered my bookie in gravy. My rookie. My nookie? Haha. My nookie has gravy.”

She cackles.

Freida makes it to her feet, but instantly sways into Ginny.

Ginnyurps as she catches her mom.

I tense, wanting to shove Ginny out of the way and let Freida fall to the floor.

Who calls their daughterthe other one?

Fought guys for a lot less in my pro hockey days.