Chapters (29)
“My schedule is unpredictable,” said Lucy, her face reddening. “But I’m never very far away. All the girls have to do is call and I can be here in a few minutes. There’s no need for you to put yourself out.”
“I’d rather do it myself than worry that the girls will be left hanging around.”
“It was only for a few minutes,” protested Lucy.
“I know you don’t think you’re irresponsible, Lucy, but sometimes it seems to me you’re awfully casual when it comes to fulfilling your commitments.”
Lucy felt as if she’d been slapped. “I don’t think I’m irresponsible,” she said, “but I’ll certainly make sure I’m on time from now on.”
“It’s so important to set a good example,” continued Willie. “If we want our children to be prompt we can’t very well keep them waiting ourselves, can we?”
“You’re absolutely right,” said Lucy, who was heartily sick of the whole issue. “So to make up for today, I’ll pick them up Monday.”
Willie nodded in agreement but didn’t look convinced as she drove off with Sara in the back seat.
Lucy followed, trying to decide if she really was irresponsible. She did have a somewhat loose approach to time, she admitted to herself. It came from years of juggling her job, a demanding one that involved deadlines, with the needs of her family. Perhaps she’d taken advantage of her family, expecting them to be flexible because deadlines weren’t.
She was mulling this over as she proceeded down Main Street, following Willie’s rather stately pace and fighting the urge to zoom off down a side street because that would probably be proof positive that she was irresponsible, when her cell phone rang again. This time it was Pam.
“Am I irresponsible?” asked Lucy.
“No. Why do you ask?”
“Never mind, it’s not important,” said Lucy. “What’s up?”
“Well, Ted told me about the parent meeting and I was wondering if we ought to set up a table and sell the leftover baked goods. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a good idea.”
“So you’ll help?”
Lucy looked for an out. “If I don’t have to cover the meeting.”
“Ted said he’ll do it.”
Lucy was trapped and she knew it. “Okay, then,” she said. “You can count on me.”