"Could I use your phone to call Jeremy?" Rachel asked. "He's likely to forget that I'm here and that he's supposed to keep Caleb an extra night." I mentally choked on the diatribe that sprang to the back of my throat full blown. He left three years ago and you're still taking care of him! Don't encourage him to depend on you any more! I waved her to the phone, understanding that Caleb's welfare was more important than feminist rhetoric. That didn't make it easy to see someone who had been laughing and vibrant mere moments before suddenly look so pinched and anxious.

"Hello, Jeremy?" Suddenly, Rachel's voice was tentative. I paused on my way out to the deck to check the grill. Damn, damn, damn. I tried not to listen as she continued to speak in that suddenly fragile tone. "You remember you're keeping Caleb an extra day, don't you? Yeah, I'm in Washington with Alice."

"Hi, Jeremy," I said out loud, trying for normal. "Waste of skin," I muttered softly.

She was hunched over with the phone, an arm curled around her middle as she continued. "Yeah. No, tomorrow afternoon. Yes, I can get him after school. No, don't remind him that I'm not there - just tell him I love him when you tuck him in." Low tones, almost inaudible. I knew she wasn't speaking that way so that I wouldn't listen. I was surprised that Jeremy could hear her at all. It didn't matter. He probably wasn't listening.