"We were about to send a search party out for you," Jenny said as she approached, a clear beer bottle in hand. "Where's Laura?" "She went into the house to get me a beer and who knows what for herself," Crystal said. "Help me unload this, will ya?"

Setting her beer on the ground, the brown haired woman started helping Crystal move the wood from the wheelbarrow to the pile. "So are you staying tonight or is Laura driving you home?"

"She plans on going home later but she packed her tent in the Jeep just in case," Crystal said. "I guess we'll see how things go." "I'd offer you a ride but I plan on not being able to drive by nightfall," the therapist said. "I rarely make it home from Carmen's fall bashes before the next day."

"What are they doing over there?" Crystal asked, pointing to where several women were huddled together in the middle of a large flat grassy patch. "They're trying to set up the volleyball net," Laura answered, removing the last of the branches from the cart and retrieving her beer. "We still have a couple of hours before Carmen lights up the bonfire and twenty women need something to keep them occupied."

Crystal grinned. "I'm sure Carmen could come up with something else to keep her busy for the next few hours if she could find a willing partner." "You volunteering?"

The blonde snorted and shook her head. "Not my type, you know that," she said, her eyes spotting Laura approaching with two plastic cups full of beer in her hands. "Oh yes." Meeting her roommate halfway, Crystal took one of the cups and took several appreciative swallows. "My hero," she joked.

"I see you managed to find some help getting the wheelbarrow unloaded," Laura said, taking a sip from her beer. "You feel like watching the girls play volleyball?"

"Do you?"

"Sure," the writer said as Jenny reached them. "I might even join in for a game or two."

"You'd better watch her," Jenny said. "She's brutal when it comes to spiking the ball."

"Sounds like someone I'd want on my team," Crystal said as they headed for the volleyball area, unaware of the odd look her therapist gave her.

Within minutes the teams were formed, Laura and Crystal on Carmen's side while Jenny joined Alex's group. The white ball flew over the net and the game was on. If the women played hard on the softball field, they were merciless when it came to volleyball. Every point was hard earned with grunts and curses and not just a few disparaging remarks tossed back and forth. A novice at the game, Crystal found herself at a decided disadvantage when the rotation forced her to the front row. Unable to defend against Alex's hard spikes, she allowed two points before the rotation changed again, putting Laura on her left side.

"Don't be afraid of the ball," the writer said, bouncing her weight back and forth on her feet as she readied for the next serve. "I'll be right here if you need me."

Crystal nodded, praying the ball would not come to her again. To her dismay, the volley back from Carmen sent the volleyball right into Alex's reach. Preparing herself for another spike, Crystal was aware of a presence moving behind her. As the ball came down she reached up, sending the ball softly into the air. It was all Laura needed as she treated Alex to an authoritative spike off the cop's shoulder and to the grass.

"Lucky shot," Alex said, retrieving the ball and lightly tossing it to Carmen.

Laura moved close to her roommate and whispered into her ear. "Next time the ball comes near you, try to send it straight up and I'll take care of it, okay?" She patted Crystal's shoulder before moving back to her own position.

The game improved after that point. Crystal stopped trying to return the volleys, concentrating on setting up the ball for Laura's devastating shots. The strategy worked, allowing their team to decisively win the game. Although they did not fare as well with the rematch, Crystal still enjoyed the game very much and readily participated in a pickup basketball game played in the driveway with a portable hoop while Laura joined Carmen and Jenny with getting the grills heated up for the barbecue.

Crystal faked to the left before going to the right and around a determined Alex to sink the ball neatly into the basket.

"Lucky shot," the cop said.

"Damn right it was," Crystal replied, wiping her hand against her sweaty forehead. "Hang on a sec. I've gotta get something." The cars were parked on the grass on either side of the driveway and it only took a few seconds for her to reach Laura's car. After a check of the front and back seats proved futile, she opened the back and looked around. Squashed between the sleeping bag and the back of the rear seat was Laura's softball gear bag. Crystal opened it and spotted the blue headband. Deciding that Laura would not mind, she grabbed it and put it on, hoping it would keep both the sweat out of her eyes as well as her hair off her face.

"Aw damn," Alex joked when Crystal approached. "We were wondering if you going to take off your shirt again."

Crystal laughed along with the others, remembering the time she had done so at one of the softball games. "Sorry, nothing under this but a bra." "That's okay," the cop said, drawing a chorus of cackles from the women.

"Sure, as soon as you do," Crystal retorted, fully expecting the other woman to back down. To her surprise Alex began freeing her shirt from her shorts. "No no, wait. I was just joking."

Alex grinned smugly. "Psyche."

"Bitch," she countered with a grin as everyone settled into position. The ball was in motion and Crystal smiled with glee as she circled behind Alex to take the pass and send it up to rebound from the backboard into the basket. Relaxed and comfortable with Laura's, and now her own, friends, Crystal took the friendly pats on the back as they waited for Wendy to retrieve the ball which had rolled beneath a nearby car. Some kind person thought to drag a cooler full of beer over and she gratefully took one being offered to her by Alex. The ball was found and the game resumed, the friendly rivalry rising as the lead continued to shift back and forth. By the time it ended with Alex's team just edging the win by three points, everyone was more than ready for the sizzling meat and cool drinks waiting for them near the grills.

Music was blaring from a boom box sitting on one of the makeshift picnic tables. There were six tables, all made by tossing a piece of plywood over two sawhorses while folding chairs mixed with white plastic lawn chairs to provide places for the women to sit. Crystal was pleased to see that Laura had already made up two plates and claimed the end of one of the tables. "Smells great," she said as she approached.

"I figured you'd be hungry after all that running around," Laura said, pulling out the adjoining chair. Crystal picked up a spare rib and bit into it, smearing sauce all over her mouth. "Kinda messy."

Laura laughed. "Hold still," she said, using a napkin to wipe the sauce off. "There, now you don't look like a little kid."

"Is that all you're going to have? Corn on the cob and some potato salad?"

"You know I don't eat red meat," the writer said, picking up the corn and frowning when several drops of butter dripped off to hit her pants. "The chicken is still cooking."

"I'll hop up and get it for you when it's ready," Crystal said, her mouth once again coated by the tangy sauce.

"I can get it."

"That's all right, I'll probably be ready for more by that time. Hey, how is that potato salad anyway?"

"Here, try it." Scooping some onto her fork, Laura held it out for her to taste. Crystal hesitated for only a second before opening her mouth.

"Oh look, now they're feeding each other," Alex, seated at the same table, teased. The other women within earshot laughed, causing Crystal to blush.

"You're just jealous," Laura said, sticking her fork into Crystal's macaroni salad and taking a bite for herself.

"Damn right," Alex replied, causing more laughter. Someone announced the chicken was ready and Crystal jumped up from her seat. "Give me your plate," she said. "How many pieces do you want?"

"One breast would be good," Laura said, holding out her plate. "Some more macaroni and potato salads if there's any left too please."

"Sure, no prob." Crystal disappeared over the grills and returned minutes later with Laura's plate as well as two beers. "Thought you might be thirsty," she said by explanation as she set everything down on the table.

"I never drink this much," Laura said, picking up the can of beer and taking a sip. "I've had three already."

"I've had a few more than that," Crystal admitted, taking a long pull on her drink before sending her fork into the macaroni salad on Laura's plate. "So what do we do once we're done eating? It's too light out still to start the bonfire."

"Probably another volleyball game."

"You up for that?"

Laura shook her head. "Probably not. Why, are you?"

"Not if you're not going to play," Crystal said, earning a snicker from Alex. Feeling the need to explain herself, she added "I'm not very good at it."

"I'll tell you what. If you really want to play, I'll do it too," Laura said, shooting a look at Alex before the cop had a chance to comment on their private conversation again.

As expected, once everyone was replete someone suggested volleyball. Crystal shook her head, citing wanting to let her stomach settle before playing again. Laura took their empty plates to the garbage while she finished her beer. Noticing several women slipping into one of the storage sheds, the blonde smiled and excused herself from the table to join them, knowing full well what they were up to.