Cause For Alarm Read Online Free PDF Page A

making an ugly face in her direction. She ignored them and kept her attention fixed on her tasks so she could finish up and go home.
    Finally, all the preparations for the next morning had been made, and she’d punched out. As Julianna reached for the door, Lorena stepped in front of it, blocking Julianna’s way. The other three waitresses came up beside Lorena, flanking her, their expressions tight and angry. “Not so fast, Miss Priss. We’ve got a bone to pick with you.”
    Julianna stopped, glancing nervously from one to the other of the women. “Is something wrong?”
    Lorena, obviously having been voted the leader of the pack, took a step toward her. “You could say that. We’re sick and tired of your attitude. Of you thinking you’re better than the rest of us. And we’re sick and tired of having to cover for your lazy butt.”
    At the animosity in the older woman’s tone and expression, Julianna inched backward, glancing over her shoulder, looking for Buster. He was nowhere to be seen.
    â€œWhere do you get off, thinkin’ you’re so much better than us?” Lorena took another step; the others followed. “Just ’cause you went and got yourself knocked up, you think you don’t have to work? You think a bun in the oven makes you special or somethin’?”
    Another one of the girls, Suzi, pointed a long, bloodred fingernail at her. “When you show up late, we’ve gotta cover your tables. That means we’re working our tails off and getting crappy tips all around.”
    â€œAnd we’re sick of it,” Jane said.
    â€œI overslept,” Julianna said stiffly. “I didn’t do it on purpose, for Pete’s sake.”
    That, obviously, wasn’t the response they wanted, because angry color flooded Lorena’s round face. She looked like a bleached blond balloon about to pop. “I’ve got a question for you, princess. One we’ve all wondered about. If you’re so frickin’ high and mighty, why’re you working in a dive like this? And if yours is so special it don’t stink, where’s your old man? Why’d he go and dump you the moment you got knocked up?”
    â€œYeah,” Suzi added. “Or do you even know who the baby’s father is?”
    â€œBet she doesn’t,” Jane taunted, before Julianna could jump to her own defense. “She’s just a little slut who likes to put on airs.”
    Lorena laughed. “You’re pathetic, you know that? I feel sorry for you. We all do.” She leaned closer, smelling of Juicy Fruit gum and drugstore perfume. “You’re not going to make it, you know that? You or your little bastard. Come on, girls.”
    With that, the three turned and flounced out of the restaurant.
    Julianna watched them go, tears welling in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Is that what they thought of her? What everyone thought of her? She brought her hands to her belly, self-conscious, humiliated. That she was pathetic? A woman rejected and without options? Lower, worse off than they were?
    It had never occurred to her that others would look at her that way. That they would feel sorry for her.
    Nobody had ever felt sorry for her before. She caught her breath and dropped her hands from her belly. She had never felt sorry for herself before. Not this way, not to the very core of her being.
    She closed her eyes and thought of Washington, of the fine restaurants where she had dined on a daily basis, of the day spa where she’d had massages and facials and manicures, of her pretty apartment and closet overflowing with expensive dresses.
    But mostly, she thought of John. She brought a trembling hand to her mouth.
    Could he really be the monster her mother said he was?
    From the kitchen, she heard Buster and the cook finishing up, preparing to lock up for the day. Not wanting them to catch her near tears, she hurried out of the