Chapter 21 -- Soccer Mom
It was good to be home. Las Vegas was one exhausting week of work or whatever you want to classify it as. I crashed to my bed the minute I hit the house. I lay there, not wanting to move or unpack or think about anything. That lasted all of 10 seconds.
As I was lying there, trying to clear my mind, Vivian ran into my room, jumped onto my bed and curled up next to me tightly. I wrapped my arm around her and tried not to move. We stayed like that for a while until we got up to have something to eat. When Penny finally made her way home from the office, she didn't say much and went to her room quickly under the excuse of "having to unpack."
I used the weekend to recuperate which was smart because the next week was a bear at the office. After all the meetings, proposed upgrades to the office, possible clients and other miscellaneous crap, I was beat by the time Friday arrived. I had also spent segments of the week checking-in on Penny and Leslie, who both were not themselves after the Vegas trip. I was desperate for them both to recover from the issues that they were dealing with internally.
By week's end I decided that I needed a fresh perspective on things. As the day wound down on Friday, I was sitting in my office thinking. I shut my office door and picked up the phone. I dialed the number quickly, hoping not to get voicemail.
"Hey kid, I thought I might here from you," Bill answered his cell phone.
"Hello, Bill," I greeted him. "I hope all is well with you and Bonnie."
"Things are great, kid," Bill replied. "I am living a charmed life. Bonnie is wonderful, she asks about you all the time. She keeps asking when you are going to get up to Seattle for a visit."
"That is a terrific invitation," I admitted. "I am going to take you up on it as soon as humanly possible. Right now, though, I could really use some advice."
"Yeah, I figured that," Bill acknowledged. "I heard Las Vegas had its ups and downs."
"That's putting it mildly," I agreed. "I am worried about some of our players."
"Who's got you worried," Bill inquired.
"Penny, Leslie and myself," I disclosed.
"Ok, well, let's take them one at a time," Bill suggested. "Let's start with Penny. She's upset about this other woman I heard about."
"Yeah, this woman was really tough and motivated," I informed him. "She really pushed all the ladies to the brink. It was concerning to me in a lot of ways."
"Is this woman tempting you to stray from the game," Bill asked bluntly.
"Actually, no, it's not that at all," I answered. "I don't think her intentions towards all of us are as simply as getting laid or taking me to bed. My instincts say that she is motivated to hurt us. I am not sure why, but she gives off an evil vibe."
"That's saying a lot, kid," Bill stated. "I think I have should have some of my contacts find out some more intimate details about this gal if she has you feeling that strongly about her. What's her name?"
"Kylie Samson," I told him. "At least that's the name she gave us. You never know. She said she used to work for Weinstein and Weinstein in New York."
"Samson, right," Bill repeated. "I will have some of my very best people see what they can find out about Miss Samson. Meanwhile, if you aren't tempted by this woman then you will have no problem figuring out how to handle Penny. Everyone says that you are the best at dealing with each of the ladies on an individual basis. I was nowhere near as good as you are, I can tell you that and these women swear by you."
"Thanks, but I am sure you were a hell of a player in your game," I countered. "Speaking of which, can I ask you how your game ended?"
"You can ask, but that's not a story for now," Bill responded. "I had a feeling you might ask me that at some point. I will tell you, I promise you that, just not today. I know you are asking because you are worried about the end of your own game, but I don't see an end to your game coming in the near term. Hang in there kid, you will get through this awkward period. They come and go."
I needed to hear that. I needed to hear it more than I would admit even to myself.
"So that leaves Leslie," I reminded him.
"Yes it does," he acknowledged. "Her pride is wounded and she is scared that she let you down. But you know that. Remind her that you are in this together and she will snap back to being herself. Leslie is one very tough woman, but even the toughest women hate to feel alone."
"I honestly don't know what I would do without your guidance, Bill," I said to him. "Thank you so much."
"No thanks needed, kid," he said humbly. "You hang in there. I hope to see you soon."
As we ended our call, I was relieved beyond words. I shut my computer off and headed home. I burst through the door and found Penny and Vivian sitting on the couch in the living room. They were reading magazines and both looked up at my entrance. I stared at them and smiled.
"I'm home," I announced boisterously.
"I think we were aware of that," Vivian giggled.
"No, I mean, I like our home," I continued, tripping over my words and thoughts. "As in, better than any other home."
Penny stared at me like I was a lost dog with no collar. Vivian covered her mouth with her hand as she continued to giggle at me.
"I WANT TO BE HERE," I shouted, now completely frustrated.
"Ok, you're here," Penny pointed out softly before returning to her magazine.
I almost stared a hole through her but she never looked up. I turned around and left the house. I drove the diner near our house and sat myself in a booth in the corner. I had a burger, watched the Dodgers game and did some thinking. Why couldn't I get my words right? I never have a problem expressing myself, what the hell happened? And why did Penny just shrug me off? I was so confused.
I spent some real time collecting my thoughts before paying my bill and leaving. By the time I got back home it was after 10pm. The house was quiet when I arrived. I proceeded directly to my room and did not run into either of my housemates along the way. I began undressing when I heard a light tapping on my door.
"Come in," I allowed for whichever of the two of them it was.
The door slid open slowly and Penny appeared behind it. I continued undressing, not looking at her on purpose.