Page 39 of Legal

“You’re leaving too? Why?” But as soon as I said it, I knew very well why. She wanted me and Chase to have this time. “Where’s Tony and Val?”

“Oh, they left a while ago. They said good-bye.” Ugh. I felt bad for not spending much time with them. “No big deal,” she said.

I fumbled for my stuff. “I’ll walk back with you guys.”

“Absolutely not.” Perry put her hands on her hips. “Stay for the fireworks. It’s not your fault that your brother has so many issues. Chase, can you make sure Jills gets home okay?”

What? I didn’t need a damned keeper. This was my neighborhood, it was a mere ten-minute walk, and I only had a couple blankets and bug spray to carry. “That won’t be necessary. Chase isn’t here to babysit me.” That actually made me chuckle a bit.Irony, anyone?

“No problem at all,” he said. “I’d be happy to.”

I squeezed my fists, then released. I didn’t have time to argue, not when I had a full bladder screaming at me. That took precedence. I stood up and swooned a little, and Perry steadied me. I didn’t think it was too noticeable, but still… Maybe it wouldn’t be the worst idea to have a little help. I didn’t want to miss the show but leaving now made the most sense.

I hugged Perry and said into her ear, “I’m coming with you guys, but I really need to pee first.”

“You know those lines, Jills. Stephen can’t wait that long. There’s only so much he can do on the phone; he needs to be in front of his laptop.”

I squeezed my thighs together and sucked in my abdomen. “There’s no way I can wait either. I’ll never be able to walk home like this.” I started to hop a bit. This was ridiculous. “I gotta go now.”

“I can drive all of you back,” Chase said, and I brightened. That sounded like a great idea.

“Thanks, but by the time we get to your car and get home, it’ll be that much time anyway. And you’ll never get back into the parking lot at this hour. They start blocking off the streets.” She kissed my cheek. “No, just go to the damn bathroom, Jills. We’re leaving. Talk to you tomorrow.” I’d already started to hobble away. I wasn’t going to stay and hash this out anymore. I heard her say, “Take care of her, Chase.”

I ground my teeth. Like I wasn’t plenty old enough to take care of myself. Chase came up beside me and handed me my purse. “Here, I didn’t think you’d want to leave this behind.”

Ugh. “Thanks,” I said. Okay, taking care of myself obviously didn’t extend to my personal items.

“While you’re in line, I’m just going to check in with Con and Trav.”

I waved, fine. My only concern was emptying my bladder. My eyeballs were starting to drown.

Chase left when I took my place in the line; it wrapped around the side of the building and made up the stuff of nightmares. How could this park only have one public restroom? I knew I wasn’t the only one in pain here, but it sure felt like it.

I spotted the porta-potties down a way to my right. The amount of people waiting there were much more manageable, and for good reason. I tried avoiding them like the plague, but desperate times….

I darted out and half-ran, half-twisted over, ending up getting in pretty quickly. I stepped inside, wishing I had a stuffed-up nose, and slid the lock to ‘occupied.’ God, it was disgusting. A faint light shined in through the grate on top and illuminated just enough to turn my stomach, but not enough to make me puke and add to the rest of the bodily fluids coating the seat and floor.

At that moment, I knew I wasn’t completely sloshed, and God help anyone who was, coming into that urine and shit box. I shuddered to think of someone falling in there. I was able to squat and keep myself steady without touching the walls or anything else. I reached into my purse for a tissue to use as toilet paper, then got myself the hell out of there feeling five pounds lighter.

As I used the mobile hand-washing station, a familiar voice forced me to turn my head. “Mrs. Hudson?”

“Ben?” I blinked hard a few times. Nothing like seeing your son’s friend to give you a big ole shot of sober. I finished up, then gave him a huge hug. The kid had probably spent more time at our house over the years than his own, and I hadn’t seen him since graduation. “How are you?”

“Doing good.” He shrugged. “Home for the summer, you know.”

I scanned my brain. “You’re going to Whitewater, right?” Ben nodded. “How’re your classes going?”

“Pretty good. Still deciding on a major. Dan around? Haven’t talked to him in a while.”

“No, he’s staying in Milan, doing a summer internship. Hoping to have him home for Christmas.”

“Well, tell him I say hi next time you talk to him.”

“Will do, Ben. It was nice seeing you again.”

“You too. Take it easy, Mrs. Hudson.”

I gave him another hug, spotting Chase coming up behind. Ben walked off, and Chase watched him leave but didn’t say anything.

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