Going For Broke by Nina Howard Page A

was sure her breath was close to toxic. 
                  Barbara answered with a whisper.  “I went out with Carol Allands after work today and we had a glass of wine,” she lied.  “I shouldn’t have even driven home.”
                  That got Victoria’s attention.  Her mother had a buzz on!  Lord knows, one glass of sherry would probably have Barbara knockered.
                  She reluctantly stood up.  “Fine, I’ll go.  I swear to God, if I see anyone I know, I’ll kill you.”
                                                                                        ###
                  Victoria pulled Bud’s Buick into the parking space directly in front of the pharmacy.  There was one plus to suburban living - parking was a foregone conclusion.  She stood outside of the pharmacy and was instantly transported back to high school.  Victoria had worked at Solomon-Cooper Pharmacy for two years while she was at New Trier.  They loved her because she was always available to work.  Nights, weekends, nothing conflicted with Vicky Patterson’s schedule. 
                  She pushed open the heavy glass door and took a deep breath.  The place even smelled the same.  She walked back to the pharmacy counter and saw Conney, the pharmacist who had hired her so many years earlier.  He looked up with a smile, and slowly walked up to the counter.
                  “Hello young lady, can I help you?” he asked.
                  “I’m here to pick up a prescription for Barbara Brewster,” she said as she prayed that Conney wouldn’t recognize her.  In her current state, she wouldn’t recognize herself. 
                  “Vicky?  Is that you?  Your mother didn’t tell me you were coming home,” Conney hollered.  “Come back here and give me a hug.”
                  I hate you mother, she thought.  “Conney!  Great to see you,” she managed to get out.  She allowed herself to be wrapped in another bear hug.  Is that the only way that old men in this town can greet you? 
                  “Vicky Patterson.  Well, I’ll be,” Conney said as he looked her over.  He just kept looking at her, rocking back and forth on his heels. 
                  “Um, is the prescription ready?” Victoria couldn’t get out of here fast enough.
                  “One sec. I’m almost done.  Take a look around - so much has changed,” Conney told her.
                  Victoria did look around.  Absolutely nothing had changed since 1972 in that pharmacy.  Except for now they were selling long distance calling cards and the morning-after pill.  She swore that the aisle with the cosmetics had the actual compacts that were behind the counter 25 years ago.  Who wore pressed powder anymore?  There was a large, yellowing display for Charlie Perfume.  “Kind of young, kind of now -- Charlie!  Kind of free, kind of Wow - Charlie!”  The song forced its way into her head and she couldn’t get it out.
                  “Vicky Patterson,” Conney called across the store.  “Your prescription is ready, honey.”
                  As she turned from the cosmetics counter and rounded the impressively large display of foot care products, she ran smack into a man.  An impossibly good-looking man.   Victoria knew the name of that man the instant she saw him.  Twenty-five years later and he looked better than ever.  The gods had always been kind to Scott Simons.
                  Scott Simons was the guy everyone knew in high school.  He was gorgeous, and he was also nice.  Smart, athletic, your basic nightmare, if you’re not the captain of the cheerleading squad.  Which Victoria definitely was not.  He dated the most beautiful girl in school,