“Don’t apologize. You did everything you could, Mags.”
“Yeah …” Brody agrees with Robert’s comforting statement and I think he’s going to say more, but when I glance up at him, tapping the papers on the counter, he’s eyeing Robert.
“I just … whatever you guys decide when you know is fine by me,” I tell them both in earnest, a sense of dread overwhelming me. None of this feels like it’s in my hands or my control. I’m at the mercy of test tubes and heavy decisions most people don’t have to make.
“What do you mean?” Robert asks and I don’t even know where to begin. There has to be a book on how to handle this. I should freaking hide away and read a book rather than go out in public and risk running into these two.
I’m saved by another chime. It’s insane how much relief I feel at expecting Martin, who I could easily use as an excuse to end this little meet and greet … but again, a different someone is standing in the doorway.
Renee smiles like the cat that ate the canary. There’s far too much joy in her eyes at the sight of my predicament.
“Well … hey now,” she says and somehow smiles even wider, “I didn’t know there was a party going on.”
As the two men look at her, I mouth “help me” and give my bestie a pleading look.
“Hey Renee,” Robert greets her, slipping his hands into his pockets. A little bit of life seems drained from him as he takes a step back to form a loose circle among the four of us. His gaze meets mine and the hint of a smile doesn’t reach his eyes. Whatever he came in here for is long gone.
“Where’s Griffin?” Renee asks Brody.
Brody motions over his shoulder with his thumb and says, “He’s just down the street if you want to swing by.” He glances back at me with an asymmetric smile, obviously adding an invitation for me to join as well, “We’re doing a few taste tests today, and I wanted to invite you for lunch if you’re free?”
Robert’s silent and my heart drops when Renee carries on with Brody, both of them excluding Robert. A new kind of tension takes over. It’s just not a good feeling. It’s a heaviness in my heart for him.
“Are you guys looking for bartenders for Saturday and the after-party?” Renee asks Brody. I was wondering if she was going to apply at their bar or not. There’s something going on between her and Griffin so I’m not so sure it’s a good idea, but she hasn’t asked me for my opinion, so I’ve kept my mouth shut.
“Yeah, I think so,” Brody answers and unexpectedly he turns his attention to the other man in the room.
“You coming, Robert?” Brody questions in a friendly way and a hint of hope lights inside of me.
With his brow raised slightly, Robert lets a second pass before responding, “Depends on if I’m invited.”
It’s not until Brody answers “Sure,” that I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
“I came by to see if you wanted to do lunch,” Renee says, breaking up the uneasy moment. “If you gentlemen don’t mind me stealing Magnolia for a bit.”
The chime goes off and I’m nearly scared to look and see who it is that has joined this gathering. Martin’s voice is heard before he comes into view. “You weren’t joking that the front was becoming a warehouse, were you?” The elderly gentleman’s donned his everyday overalls and brown work boots. He barely wears anything else.
“Morning, Martin.” Robert greets him with a smile.
“Nearly noon now. How’s your day going?” Once the question leaves him, Martin steps forward and both Brody and Renee come into view for him, previously obstructed by the stacks of boxes.
The old man can’t hide his shock judging by his raised brow and the tilt of his head that forces the glasses to slip down his nose just slightly. “Well now, I hope you all aren’t here for these boxes.” There’s a slight hint of humor in his tone, but more than that, he sounds concerned as he glances toward me. My cheeks flare with heat at the realization that he’s certainly heard the rumors. I’m sure a handful of those rumors are true too.
“Hi Martin, I’m Brody.” His outstretched hand is met by Martin’s. “Nice to meet you.”
“Same to you.” I don’t know why, but the seemingly innocent interaction makes me nervous. Like there’s a whole lot riding on such a simple thing as an introduction.
“Apparently Mags is a popular lady,” Renee jokes lightheartedly. “We were just gathering her for lunch. Do you want us to bring anything back?”
She doesn’t tell him where we’re headed. No doubt Charlie’s Bar and Grill since it’s only a five-minute walk from here.
“Just ate,” he responds with a shake of his head.
I’m quick to bring back professionalism, offering to help, but Martin cuts me off. Thank goodness. My arms are already sore from the handful of boxes I’ve gathered myself and organized in the back.
“Don’t worry about the boxes, I’ve got them. You want them any certain way?”
“Just in the back for now, please.”
“You need help?” Robert offers. There’s not a smile in sight and that now far too familiar ache comes back. I can’t deny it hurts seeing him like this, and I don’t know if it’s hitting him harder since I denied his proposal or if it’s all in my head.
Martin refuses. “Nope. Don’t take my only workout away from me, son.”
“All right then.” Robert nods and takes his leave. “You guys have a good time. I’m going to head out.”
“Did you need something?” I ask him in front of the audience; I know darn well he didn’t just stop by. There’s always a reason, and he was going to say something before Brody joined us.
He gives me a tight smile that doesn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll talk to you about it another time?”
“Yeah, okay.” My heart sinks slowly but assuredly as he leaves the gallery, the chime bidding him a farewell.
“We’re still on for tonight?” Brody asks the moment Robert is gone and the air is different between us. The heaviness of everything takes its toll on my heart as it skips in my chest, bucking against the reins holding it back.
“Yeah,” I answer him and thankfully Renee takes over, asking about Saturday once again.
Magnolia
There’s a saying about not being able to have your cake and eat it too. It keeps coming to mind when I think about Brody and Robert, but it’s not serious enough. It’s not cake, it’s my best friend. It’s not some delicious treat, it’s the father of my baby girl.
Maybe there’s a different version for more serious affairs but if there is, I haven’t heard it. Perhaps a single sentence is just not good enough for matters that destroy the heart.
The sight of the six chocolate cupcakes I bought from Melissa’s Sweets brings the saying to the forefront of my thoughts once again. But you can have half a dozen cupcakes on the kitchen counter and eat some while still having some left over. Did anyone make a saying about that?
“I think I’ve had too much coffee.” The comment leaves me without my conscious consent at the ridiculous thought as I stare down at my hand that’s shaking gently before grabbing it with the other.