Unwanted Company - Barbara Seranella Read Online Free

asked, missing the
ball.
    " No."
    " Yippee."
    Munch went inside the school building and sifted
through a pile of coats until she found Asia's wrinkled down-filled
jacket. The front was damp. She shook it out and called for Asia once
more.
    "Four minutes," Asia implored.
    " Now."
    Asia slumped her little shoulders and reluctantly
left the playground. Munch threw Asia's lunch box in the backseat and
strapped the little girl into her seat.
    The first-graders were learning how to read. On the
drive home, Asia recited every word she could think of that began
with sl and sh. Munch was glad she didn't know them all.
 
 
    CHAPTER 2
    At twenty after five, Munch realized that the driver
wasn't going to show. That was the trouble with part-time help:
anybody who really had their shit together would have a full-time
job. She only had a short list of drivers to call on and none that
were any good at responding on short notice. She never dreamed it
would be so difficult to find a person with a clean driving record,
some semblance of a suit, and a desire to earn some extra cash on
mostly weekend nights. Yet the reality was that the limo business
brought out all varieties of flakes—drivers and customers included.
She'd hoped this latest guy, a wanna-be actor, would be a keeper.
Obviously not, especially when he didn't even have the decency to
call and offer some feeble excuse.
    Now she was left to the all-too-familiar last-minute
panic that seemed to be an integral part of the livery business and
no time to dwell on Mr. I'm-going-to-be-a-star's lack of a work
ethic. All she knew was that if the car wasn't rolling out the
driveway in the next five minutes, it wasn't going to make it to the
pickup in time. She left Asia in the kitchen eating her McDonald's
Happy Meal and called, regrettably, the one person she knew would
come right over, her ex-lover, Derek.
    " Hi, it's me," Munch said as she laid out
her chauffeur costume: black slacks and heels, a white blouse, and
thin driving gloves to cover the stains on her hands. She heard the
volume of his television being lowered.
    " What's up?" he asked.
    " I'm in a jam. My driver didn't show up. Could
you come over and watch Asia?"
    " Tonight?"
    " Right now. She's had dinner. I just need you to
watch TV with her until bedtime."
    " All right."
    "Thanks, you're a lifesaver." Now all she
had to do was explain to Asia. She clasped a wide red belt around her
waist, found Asia planted in front of the television, and explained
the situation.
    "But why can't Derek drive the run?" Asia
asked, watching her mother fit a red-enamel hoop into each ear.
    " Don't whine. I told you before. I couldn't put
Derek on the insurance because of his driving record. You know I'd
rather stay home with you. This is an emergency."
    " It's always an emergency. "
    "No, it's not. I tell you what. After dance
class tomorrow, we'll go do something special together. just you and
me."
    "Couldn't I just go with you?"
    "You'd be bored to death, believe me." She
bent down and kissed her. "Be good tonight."
    "You, too," Asia said, her large brown eyes
solemn. "Remember, let's be careful out there."
    Munch laughed. "Silly
goose. What could happen?"
    * * *

    Raleigh Ward bolted from his cramped studio
apartment, leaving dishes in the sink and dirty clothes on the
bathroom floor. Usually he made some attempt to tidy up before going
out. Not that he'd be entertaining later. The only female that came
around was a marmalade tabby who loved him for his tuna fish. He
named her Cassandra and vowed unconvincingly that if she got knocked
up, he was putting her out on her ass. He locked the door before the
phone could ring again and foul his mood even further. Although that
last call would be tough to match for sheer ball-busting.
    As soon as he'd heard the voice of his first ex-wife,
he should have known the evening was shot. He should have prepped
himself—asked what she wanted now. She only called when she wanted
something. Never just to see