“I seem to have misplaced my keys,” I said.
“I have them. Here you go.” Teddy tossed them to Gilda.
“Ted, do you need a ride, or have you already had one?” Gilda asked him but looked at me. She probably thought we were doing drugs and having sex in the back seat of my Camry.
“No, I’ll wait till Bob leaves and catch a ride with him. Can you tuck our friend in when you get back? She’s had a difficult evening.”
Gilda smirked. “I’ll bet she has.”
Nothing was said as Gilda pulled out of the parking lot. I was relieved when we passed the restaurant and saw no police. All I wanted to do was close my eyes.
“Are you gonna tell me what’s going on between you and Ted?
“We just went out to get some fresh air,” I said.
“That’s all? Nothing else?” She gave me a sideways glance.
I took Teddy’s advice. “Yup, that’s all, nothing else.”
Yawning, I shut my eyes. We drove on in silence for a bit, and then Gilda said, “You know, if anyone finds out that you were doing coke, you’ll be fired.”
I burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny? Do you think I’m stupid? You leave the bar with Ted, you come back disheveled with white stuff all over you . . .”
“I’m sorry I laughed, but what you said was so ridiculous I couldn’t help myself.”
“So, are you going to tell me what happened?”
“Nah, I don’t think so. Your imagination is much better than the truth.”
Gilda harrumphed and concentrated on the road.
When we pulled into camp, Gilda asked, “Do you want me to drop you off at the infirmary?”
“Why?”
“Cause you’re bleeding.”
“No, I have a first aid kit in my room. Thanks for driving.”
“No problem. If you ever want to talk, I’m here for you.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that.”
I gave Gilda a hug, walked into my little room, looked at the naked windows, and smiled.
22Bad Decision
“Lori, come in for Bethany. Lori, come in for Bethany.”
I jumped when I heard the radio crackling my name. When I grabbed for it, clipped to the pocket of my shorts, I nearly burnt my leg with a cigarette. I tossed it into the fire bucket.
“Lori here.”
“Your location? I know you’re not with the Cubs.”
I grimaced at Lars, who was standing with me and three other women who were taking a smoking break from laundry duty.
