Page 30 of Road Queens
“Oooooh,” Amanda teased. “And before we know it, we’ll reach the pinnacle of utter adulthood and be allowed to rent a car.”
“A cherished dream, and pass the ketchup.”
“I will never understand that combo,” Amanda commented as Sidney squirted ketchup on her scrambled eggs. “You don’t even like ketchup.”
“I don’t like plain scrambled eggs either. But something about combining two things I hate turns it into something I love. Don’t read into it, and don’t you dare pontificate.”
“I can’t promise I won’t do either of those things,” Amanda admitted.
Cass waved at the waitress for more horseradish. “We’ve got Dr.Bimmerman to thank for the Johnson referral. I knew she’d be an asset.”
“As long as she can help us without getting into trouble herself, I’m on board in every way,” Amanda replied. While Bimmerman couldn’t come to any of them and discuss a patient’s medical history, she could recommend OpStar to patients she knew or suspected were being battered. “Are you visiting your mom this week? She’d love to hear about what you’re up to.” Cass made no reply. “Oh. Like that, huh?”
“You haven’t told Iris about Starfishing? Why the fuck not?”
“Because it’sours. It’sourthing that we started for our own reasons.”
“Sure, sure.” Amanda looked at Sidney for help, but the cowardly wretch just shrugged. “So, um, your mother’s been locked up for a few years now. Maybe it’s time to forgive her and let her know what you’ve been up to? Or maybe just one of those things, and you can ... work your way up to the other?”
Cassandra simply sat as the silence got heavier.
“Or I could mind my own business.”
“Just for a change of pace.” Sidney smirked. “Just to see if you like it.”
“One day, I will,” Cassandra said. “Forgive her, I mean. And I like it when you mind my business, Amanda. It shows you care ...”
“I hear a ‘but’ coming,” Amanda warned.
“... in a nosy and obtrusive way.”
“Dammit, Cass!”
“All I know is, I’m not ready to do either of those things just now.” Cass leaned back and crossed her long legs at the ankles. “And it’s not like my mother’s going anywhere.”
“True dat,” Sidney said, and dodged a clump of scrambled eggs.
“I warned you never to say that again,” Amanda said. “It’s dated, and you’re too Midwestern to pull it off.”
“Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.”
“You stop that right now, Sidney Derecho.”
“For God’s sake, Amanda,” Cass said. “You might as well be flapping a red cape in her face. All you’re missing is the double-dog dare. I’m gonna change the subject now because this is getting louder and even stupider. Are your folks still going to Tuscany together? Next spring, I think?”
Sidney nodded. “Burning their passports didn’t work. The trip is still on, I’m sorry to say.”
“Please tell me you’re kidding about the passports.”
Sidney ignored Amanda’s horrified query. “It’s soweirdthat your mom and dad and my mom and dad are still friends.”
“By ‘weird,’ do you mean a natural occurrence? What with all their chauffeuring while we were still in school, they all got to know each other. Plus, Cass lived with you guys for a while once her mom went to prison.”
“Don’t remind me,” Sidney grumped. “She kept stealing my toothpaste—”
“Sid! Borrowed. I borrowed your delicious Tom’s of Maine because Crest is vile.”
“—and I couldn’t go a week without finding a long blue hair in something.”
