Page 68 of Storm in a D Cup

‘It’s this project Genie Stacie has been working on for years,’ Julian explained to me. I made an ‘Oh,’ face and nodded as I cleaned up the mess she’d made. It seemed to me that was all I’d done since we met, while she ignored me as if were her housekeeper.

‘I’m producing it!’ She beamed.

‘Genie Stacie, that’s absolutely brilliant! Congratulations, old girl!’

‘Yeah, congrats,’ I added. ‘How long are you staying away?’

‘Oh, at least six months! Joey is dying to see Africa, aren’t you, sweetie?’

Joey, who was busy surreptitiously stuffing her face, blinked at her mother, then at me. And fainted.

‘Oh, my God! Joey, wakeup!’ Genie Stacie screamed as Julian bolted out of his seat and scooped the girl up in his arms. He laid her on the sofa as I made a dash for my salts.

‘Here, put this under her nose,’ I said and Julian waved the tiny bottle in front of Joey’s face.

‘Joey?’ I called softly. ‘Joey…’

She turned her head, opened her eyes, yawned and looked straight at me in wonder. I swear it was like watching her being born.

‘What happened?’ Genie Stacie wanted to know. ‘You’re not pregnant, are you?’

Julian glanced at me and I rolled my eyes.

‘Of course not, Mom,’ she murmured. ‘I’m just… hungry.’

As if you needed a degree in medicine to see that.

I had Julian put Joey in the blue guest bedroom upstairs and Maddy stay with her and Genie Stacie lest the idiot do or say something she’d be sorry for. The banging of my crockery downstairs spoke books on my opinion as I quickly nuked a beef consommé I kept for when the kids had colds. Forget chicken soup, in this house we ate heartily. Even Maddy, despite her protests.

Josephine turned my way as I tiptoed in with a tray and tried a smile. The poor kid looked at the bowl with lust as I shooed everyone out so I could put some nutrients into her. She must have been at least twenty pounds underweight. How can a mothernot see?

‘Drink this slowly,’ I whispered as she tried to prop herself up and I recognized a faint whiff from my pregnant days.

‘Did you throw up?’ I asked as I patted the pillows down.

She looked up at me miserably and whispered, ‘I tried to keep it down because I’mhungry, but I guess my stomach isn’t used to eating real food anymore.’

I swear I had to fight to stop the tears from gushing. Tears of compassion, tears of fury. Tears of fear for this girl trapped in her irresponsible mother’s lifestyle.

‘I know, Joey. It’s only normal. You need to get back to eating gradually.’

She nodded and sipped the consommé to the very last drop, raising her eyes at me in gratitude, and I wanted to cry all over again.

‘What do you normally eat at home?’ I asked, although I pretty much had an idea. ‘Does your mom always keep you on a strict diet?’

‘I’m on a vegan non-dairy diet,’ she explained with a wince.

I rolled my eyes.

‘I know, right? She only lets me eat vegetable smoothies and protein shakes. And a protein bar every now and then. But when I’m out with my friends I’ll eat a burger or something.’

Jesus, no wonder the kid was in terrible shape. She needed an intervention pronto. Good thing I’d come prepared.

‘Here,’ I said, slipping her a tiny chocolate bar. ‘Small bites. Let it melt in your mouth.’

Her eyes widened momentarily in joy, then she grinned mischievously. ‘My mom would kill me if she found out.’

‘You let me worry about your mother, Joey. And we’ll get you eating like a normal girl again.’