I am Baaack! Part 5

Chapter 12: Three Girls Three

As Robbie left Dr. Adkin's office, with Joan's Discover card in her purse and a 3:00pm appointment with Bethany and Elizabeth, she was smiling. Her thoughts, however, were not the happy girlish thoughts that Joan assumed they were. 'I know she's a royal bitch,' she thought, 'but what an actress! Bette Davis must be applauding in her grave!' Robbie KNEW. EVERYTHING. And she, like Rose before her, was PISSED! She thought back to a month ago.

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Her meeting with Stephanie at the Wine Bar was as she had described it to Joan, and over the next two weeks they had become good friends, as also told to Joan. She had told Lou and Ed about her new friend, and Lou and Ed appeared happy for her. They had even invited Stephanie over to "play", but Stephanie had been busy, promising "some other time". Then, one Friday, things had changed.

When Robbie entered the bar, Stephanie had been seated at the bar, not in their usual booth. When she saw Robbie, she got up and intercepted her. "Robbie, do you trust me?" she had asked.

Without even thinking, Robbie answered, "Of course I do, Steph. What's up?"

Stephanie took her arm, and began to lead her out of the bar. "I want you to come with me and meet someone, and I want you to please, please, please keep an open mind as she tells you some truths you're not going to want to hear."

Stephanie was, of course, taking her to Vaingirls to meet with Rose. Robbie had heard of Vaingirls, but not favorably, as his information came from Lou and Ed. When they had parked and started walking up Halsted, and Robbie had realized where they were headed, she started to pull away. "Vaingirls!? What is this, Steph? I've heard of them; a bunch of bitches, that's what I've heard! What's going on?"

Stephanie held on to her arm. The bigger woman pulled her around and looked her in the eyes. "Please, Robbie, trust me. Things are not as you think they are. If, after you've heard the woman I'm bringing you to, you want to leave, you can, and I'll never bother you again. But please, meet her and hear her out. It really is a matter of vital importance to you that you do."