Page 10 of Last Call (Open Tab #5)

Andi shrugged. She wouldn’t classify her thoughts as worry.

She shared a close relationship with Fallon and Riley, but her bond with each was different.

Andi could anticipate Fallon’s reactions to life’s changes.

Fallon loved deeply and without reservation.

She wanted the best for everyone she cared about and was excited about the prospect of building a life with Riley.

Sometimes, Fallon’s enthusiasm caused her to get ahead of herself, and Andi worried about the inevitable tumble.

“I’m not worried ,” Andi said. “Fallon is making plans in her head, and we both know she doesn’t always take the time to consider how other people might feel about those plans. ”

“Okay? Are you talking about the house?”

“That applies. I’m talking about the reason she’s building that house.”

“You mean for Owen?” Billie asked.

“I mean for her kids—yes.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Billie, Fallon has resigned herself to the idea that Dean will be the donor for their children.”

“Seriously?” Billie asked.

“She hasn’t told you that?”

“No. Lately, all my conversations with Fallon have been about the house and the pub unless she’s telling me a story about Owen. Did she say something to you?”

“Not specifically. It’s the comments she makes. I know her.”

“Let me guess; Riley isn’t okay with that idea,” Billie said.

“No. She isn’t.”

“I don’t blame her.”

Andi’s head tilted.

“Why do you look surprised?” Billie wondered.

“I don’t know. I admit, I am a bit surprised at your reaction.”

“Fallon hasn’t said anything to me, but I can imagine she grabbed onto that idea because it makes the most sense.”

“To her ,” Andi said.

“Yes. To her. I doubt she thought much about the drama it would cause.”

Andi lifted her glass. “Drama might be an understatement.”

“So? Are you worried Fallon will react badly if Riley tells her she doesn’t want to use Dean as their donor?”

“Fallon will react. Badly? I don’t know about that. She’ll bristle. And she’ll take it personally.”

Billie contemplated the situation silently.

“What are you thinking?” Andi asked.

“Maybe Fallon should carry their kid.”

Andi laughed.

“You don’t think she would?” Billie asked.

“If that’s what needed to happen,” Andi said. “Yes, I think she would. But Fallon has never desired to be pregnant, Billie. That much I know.”

“Maybe they’ll take Pete up on his offer.” Billie snickered.

“I’m sure the offer stands, but I think Pete might become part of their family another way.”

“No way! Do you think he’s interested in Beth?”

“Don’t you?” Andi asked.

“Yeah. But…”

“He’s good for Beth,” Andi said.

“Pete?”

“What is it with you and Fallon?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why is it so difficult to imagine someone could love Pete?” Andi asked. “Why wouldn't he be a good candidate as Fallon and Riley’s donor?

Billie sighed. “He’s Pete, Andi. I mean, come on. Beth was married to Dean. Pete is not Dean Foster.”

“Clearly.”

“I’m not putting Pete down.”

“No?” Andi challenged Billie. “You and Fallon both like to make fun—sometimes, I think your teasing leads you off course.”

“What does that mean?”

“Pete and Dale aren’t stupid, Billie.”

“I don’t think they’re stupid.”

Andi stared at Billie.

“I don’t!”

“Just simple,” Andi said.

“Well—no. They just never looked beyond this town.”

Andi nodded. “You mean they didn’t go to college.”

“No. I don’t know. They’re just…”

Andi finished Billie’s thought. “Good men.”

“Andi?” Billie asked. “Did I say something to offend you?”

“I wonder what you think of me.”

“What are you talking about?” Billie asked.

“I know you and Fallon like to tease the boys. Pete and Dale aren’t stupid, Billie.”

“Where is this coming from? I don’t think they’re stupid.”

“No. Like I said, they’re just simple. A bit like me.”

All the air in Billie’s lungs vanished. She had witnessed Andi’s frustration and even felt the heat of Andi’s anger on a few occasions.

There was a distinct undercurrent of hurt in Andi’s voice.

It was true. Billie and Fallon enjoyed poking fun at Pete and Dale.

But Pete and Dale could give as good as they received.

They liked to tease Fallon about her exploits with coeds and never missed a chance to mention Billie’s clumsiness.

The tone in Andi’s voice indicated that some of the teasing might have struck a nerve with her.

“Andi,” Billie began softly. “What is this about?”

Andi teetered between tears and rage. If she had time to reflect on her reaction, she would have reconciled Billie’s words with their meaning.

This subject felt raw. It was hardly the first time she had heard Billie or Fallon comment about someone in town, making them sound simple or, as Andi thought, inferior.

Maybe it was intended as harmless teasing—all in good fun.

She had noticed the tension in Pete’s jaw on more than one occasion when the banter went off course.

“Andi?” Billie called again.

“Not everyone wants to leave home, Billie, and not every person pursues college. That doesn’t mean they’re less interesting or intelligent.”

Andi’s reaction surprised Billie: it was clear she needed to proceed cautiously with the conversation.

“I don’t think that at all,” Billie said.

Andi shook her head.

“Andi, I don’t.”

“You also don’t hear yourself.”

“If you mean the way we like to poke fun at Pete and Dale, it’s just…”

“Good fun?” Andi asked.

“Yes.”

“Except not everyone finds it funny ,” Andi said.

“Hey, they like to pick on us, too.”

“I have never heard anyone tease you in a way that demeans you, Billie. Not once.”

“How do we demean the boys?”

“You really don’t hear yourselves, do you?” Andi sighed.

“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Billie confessed.

“Nothing.”

“Do you honestly believe I think less of you ?”

“I think that you and Fallon believe those of us who chose to stay here, who didn’t achieve degrees and settled into the familiar life we’d always known, are less,” Andi paused to search for the right word. “Worldly?”

“That's not true.”

“Maybe it isn’t. It is the way you tease . You do it to Carol, too.”

Billie absentmindedly scratched her eyebrow as she contemplated Andi’s observation. She would like to deny it, but she and Fallon often commented on the “townies, lifers, and barnacles” of Whiskey Springs. She never meant it as a derogatory remark; she understood how it could be perceived that way.

“Shit,” Billie muttered. “That’s not it at all,” she told Andi.

“Before you say anything, I can see how it might feel like a put-down. Andi, almost everyone here has stayed here . Most of the transplants have been recent additions. You think our teasing is because we believe we’re better for leaving to go to college or living away from here, even if it was only for a few years, even if it was only a few miles away.

That isn’t it. Sometimes, people judge us for wanting a life beyond Whiskey Springs—for pursuing our education away from Vermont.

That’s how it feels to us—like we became outsiders because we didn’t stay the course.

Coming back isn’t easy. You know better than almost anyone why Fallon keeps her wealth quiet.

Leaving home was hard. Going away for school, settling somewhere new—that wasn’t easy.

Coming back? Sometimes, it feels a bit like we should apologize for leaving at all. ”

“I know what it’s like to leave home and return,” Andi said. “I hear what you’re saying. But it’s more than that. It’s also about your education. You don’t poke fun at Marge like you do Carol. Just like you don’t make fun of Dick Bath the way you do Charlie.”

“Everyone makes fun of Dick Bath.”

Andi wasn’t taking the bait. “Of his name,” she said. “But when he stops into Murphy’s or you’re talking about him, there’s never any insinuation that he’s simple or stupid. Do you think that might be because he has a law degree?”

“I think it’s because he’s our parents’ age—if you want to know the truth,” Billie said.

“Look, Pete and Dale, even Carol, they’ve never been interested in talking about much outside the town, except maybe sports.

It’s local gossip, happenings, and drinking to celebrate or commiserate over the Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots. ”

Andi nodded.

“It’s true, Andi.”

Andi took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “They don’t like to engage in your political and cultural debates at the bar,” Andi said. “Neither do I—in case you hadn’t noticed. That doesn’t mean they’re uninterested or lack opinions.”

“If they’re interested, they should engage.”

“Given how you tease them, do you think they feel inclined to offer their opinions, particularly if they differ from yours?”

“Well…”

“And, Billie? They all have businesses to consider. Fallon may pay the bills at Murphy’s Law, but Carol is the face of it.

She’s the person people come to see. This town is full of opinions about everything.

Some people talk about theirs in private, not at a bar.

You think everyone is laughing with you.

Sometimes, you don’t pay attention to who isn’t laughing. ”

“And you think Fallon doesn’t want Pete or Dale to be her kids' biological father because she’s afraid they’ll be like Pete and Dale?”

“No, I don’t,” Andi said. “But I think if Pete or Dale heard how you reacted to the idea, that’s how they would feel. I think it would hurt Pete’s feelings that you’re so surprised by Beth’s interest in him.”

“Did they say something to you about me and Fallon?”

“No one needs to tell me how they feel,” Andi said. “I’ve felt it myself plenty of times over the years.”

“Andi.”

“Deep down, I know you don’t feel that way. I know Fallon doesn’t. I also know you both felt like outsiders long before you left Whiskey Springs.”

“Did you ever feel that way?” Billie wondered.