Page 13 of Strictly Business

“Yep.”

“Am I interrupting something?”

“You could say that.”

I sigh, “Nick, don’t be too mad at her. She just… She didn’t want to worry you.”

“My wife forgets she’s my wife sometimes. Forget there’s another person involved — it’s not just her anymore.”

“She was trying to protect you.”

“And, who’s protecting her?”

“What do you want, Michaela?” Nina’s voice resonates from further inside the house. Nick sighs and finally steps to the side allowing me to enter.

The house is dark sans the light flooding the living area from the kitchen. Nina stands on the other side of the Calcutta marble island, still dressed in her party attire, but her makeup looks worn. She’s been crying. I picked the wrong time to visit, but I leave in the morning and need to make things right with her. I’m starting to think a phone call would’ve been better.

“Before you say anything, I have something to say to both of you,” Nick says before I can start.

“Nick,” Nina pleads, she sounds tired.

“No, Davina.” Oh shit, not the full name. He really is mad. “I’m going to say what I have to say, and you’re both going to listen. How could you keep this from me? Am I not the other half of this relationship? We are a team, Dee. You and me. You’re not alone anymore. And you,” Nick looks at me, “I would’ve thought you’d tell me.”

“I wanted to, but—”

“No buts, Mic. The second you knew, you should’ve said something. Did you at least go to the appointments with her after you found out?”

She wouldn’t let me. I only found out the time before this last trip, I—

“No?” He turns to Nina, “So, you did this alone?”

“We didn’t want to worry you,” I plead.

“What did you think was gonna happen when I found out? You knew I'd find out eventually.”

“I was hoping it wouldn’t come to that,” Nina’s voice is firmer.

“You weren’t gonna tell me?”

She doesn’t respond and that tells him everything he needs to know.

“Nina,” I sigh. Of course, she wasn’t going to tell him, not if the tests came back with positive results. She was hoping for the best, hoping for some kind of miracle so it wouldn’t have to come to this. To avoid this exact moment. By the look on Nick’s face, I know this conversation is far from over — Nina’s admission hurt him far more than he will ever care to admit. I really should leave. “Look, you guys need some time. I can just call you tomorrow, Nin.”

“No, it’s fine.” Nick’s eyes never leave his wife. “I’m gonna go for a drive.” The door slams behind him, echoing around us, but Nina doesn’t flinch.

She takes a breath and closes her eyes. “Michaela, I am not in the mood. Whatever you have to say—”

“I’m sorry, Nina,” I say it anyway because I need to.

Nina sighs, “I need a drink.” She disappears into the pantry returning with a bottle of whiskey. “Wine isn’t going to cut it.”

“No, it’s not,” I laugh as she pours two glasses. “Look, Nin… For years, we have been able to draw a line between business and our friendship; I’m sorry that I crossed it.” I try to finish reciting the speech I practiced my entire drive over, but she stops me.

“Michaela, I know. Okay? I know you’re sorry, and you came to apologize, but I don’t want to hear it.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “What I want… I want you to get your shit together. You are so much better than this. So, if you want to apologize, just get it together because I don’t wanna fire you. But, I will fire you if I have to. This is not personal, it’s business.”

“I know.”

Nina lets her shoulders fall with a deep exhale and downs her whiskey in one gulp.

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