last chances

Finally, Gordy called back. Bella was pretty sure he wouldn't. She was sure he'd blown her off. And he had every right too. Luckily, she picked up at the boutique when he called.

"Sorry, it took so long," he told her.

"That's OK, " Bella told him she was at work.

"Should I call back some other time?"

"No, its fine. I don't have a phone."

"No phone, how can you survive, Bella?" He asked while he was feeding Jane some macroni and cheese in her high chair.

"Freakishly, I'm all right." She was amazed herself.

"Are you coming home?"

"I don't know. Originally, yes, that was the plan, but then something came up." She hated to tell him the whole truth. "I got a job."

"You're working?" He sounded surprised.

"Yeah, its nothing big, but its nice. I like it."

"Like what? Pole dancing or something?" There was the negative. She expected it. She gritted a smile then.

"No, a vintage store. Actually."

"Sounds good, I guess," he said. "Listen, I gave your Mom the phone number. I don't know if she'll call or not or anything. She seems really depressed. Your father left her and Emily...and..and I don't know whats going on with Emily. She seemed really happy with Rosco, I thought-"

"Wait a minute, Rosco?" Bella laughed. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Gordy told her. "But then she went off the deep end, and your parents blamed it all on Rosco. I don't know whats happen to her now. I don't know if its the meds or what, but she's just not herself."

"Great," Bella sighed. "This is just great."

"Man, you really do need a phone," he said. "You want me to get you one of those pay as you go phones? I can set it up, put in everybody's number you might need. If that would help."

"You'd do that for me?"

"If you think it would help, I'll get it to you tomorrow, if you want," Gordy said.

Bella nodded. She gave him the address then.