What a Girl Needs by Kristin Billerbeck Page A

goes into high gear.
    Seth once told me that I didn’t need rescuing. I’m sure I didn’t, but I never forgot him saying that when he started dating Arin. She did need rescuing and Seth needed to be the hero. Together, they provided something for each other and this loved little boy is proof that it worked.
    Seth sets Toby down. “You’re too big to be carried around. You have to get ready to be the big brother.”
    Toby has a train clutched in his chubby fist and he opens his palm to me. “Who’s that?” I ask him.
    “Toby.”
    “Like you?”
    He nods.
    I kneel down and look in his sparkling eyes. “I wish I had a train named after me.”
    The doorbell rings again, and without waiting for Kay to answer, Sam bursts through the door. “Ashley, missed me, huh?” Sam shouts as he slams the door. “Lord almighty, what did you do to your hair?”
    “Good to see you too, Sam.”
    Sam never developed a volume control, and unfortunately, he doesn’t come with a mute button. Sam was never my biggest fan, but he wouldn’t let that keep him from a dinner invite. A free meal is a free meal.
    “How are you?” I ask him.
    “Oh you know, same old stuff, different day.”
    I currently feel completely caught up on my old life. “Would anyone like something to drink?” I ask, as this used to be my job since Kay rarely let me in the kitchen.
    “Sure, you got any Pepsi?” Sam says, as he plops on the couch and kicks his feet onto the coffee table. Kay is used to the boorish behavior, but it hasn’t ceased to annoy me.
    “I’ve got Pepsi,” Kay says. “Arin, you want something?”
    “Ice water with lemon if you have it.”
    “I do,” Kay says. “Seth?”
    “Nothing for me thanks,” Seth points toward the easy chair across from the sofa. “Sit down Ash, I want to hear all about your not working. What are you doing with all that excess time?”
    “No, he doesn’t,” Arin says. “He wants you to tell me how fabulous it is to stay home and not work.”
    Seth looks guilty. One thing about Seth, he can’t lie and get away with it. “You’re working outside the home, Arin?” I ask.
    “She wants to. With another kid on the way. Can you believe it? Tell her how satisfied you are being at home.” Seth’s eyes beg me to do so.
    I stutter over something to say, “I—uh…”
    “Gainnet is still struggling through, but you don’t miss that garbage, do you, Ash? Answering to a boss all the time? Having to dress up for work?”
    I try to compose myself. “Gainnet has some key patents, so I always believed they’d make it, or at least sell their technology and—” I don’t finish my sentence, and I look for something bright to say. “Gainnet’s stock price should have been quite good to you.”
    Seth grins. “Bought a house with it.”
    “We need a bigger one,” Arin says as she rubs her belly.
    There’s an awkward silence. Which is actually preferable to the talking.
    “I’ll just go help Kay in the kitchen,” Arin says. “Seth, why don’t you and Ashley take Toby out to the backyard and let him get some energy out? Let her get a taste of how fun it is to be home with a toddler.”
    “Oh, be careful,” Kay calls from the doorway. “Matt has a lot of equipment out there. I’m not sure if there are any loose nails or the like.”
    “He’s had his tetanus.” Arin grins, and I can’t tell if she’s joking or not.
    Seth and I stare at each other uncomfortably, but like the “reasons” we are, we do as we’re told and head to the backyard—even though neither one of us has anything to say to each other. Or so I think. We go to the backyard, which is a little more than a patch of grass amidst a woodpile and countless tools for the pergola.
    “I’m not sure this is safe for Toby.”
    “I’ll keep my eye on him. I was hoping I’d get a chance to talk to you.”
    I stare back at Sam in the house, who is still stretched out on Kay’s sofa, with his hands clasped behind his head. “Oh?”