Page 58 of A Fowl Match

I bring a stack of dishes back to the sink and pile them in the spray station. Mason comes whipping through the door behind me carrying another stack. Once he places his dishes in the sink too, we enter the bar to finish cleaning off tables and mopping the floor. Mason looks at me and sighs. “She’s going to come around eventually; hang in there.”

“Do you think so?” I’m starting to feel skeptical that she really is anymore. It’s been three days without so much as a word or text. I’m trying to give her the space she needs right now. But it’s so difficult to know that she’s suffering.

“Yeah, Olive thinks she will. So I would bet on it. They have a close-knit relationship.”

“Thanks Mason.”

“Anytime brother.”

I really hope he’s right. Right now, I’m starting to doubt she will ever come around again.

Chapter 42

Violet

Knock.Knock.Knock.Thepounding on the front shop door is insistent and won’t stop. I’ve been hearing it for the past five days. In the morning it starts and stops. In the evening it starts and stops. My phone flashes with a call from Olive. It habitually rings every morning around this time.

“You can’t keep ignoring me!” she calls from the front door like a banshee. Although her voice is muffled, I can make out the words.

It’s time for me to let her in.

I slump out of bed and pad my sock-covered feet into crocs. I slowly walk down the stairs to the front door, unlocking it and relocking it once she enters. I walk back up to my living room. The whole trek up the stairs I hear Olive huffing and puffing behind me. She is not happy with me. And I can’t blame her one bit. I’ve been ignoring everyone the past five days, not even caring enough to open the shop for the day. I’ve been living in my bed reading romance novels to torture myself. Why does everyone else get a happy ending but me?

You did this to yourself, Violet.

Thank you, subconscious.

I plop back on the couch and make eye contact with Olive.

“You look like hell.”

“Yeah,” I mumble. I can’t imagine what I look like to her right now. My hair hasn’t been washed in days and it's sticking all over the place. There are books scattered on the counter and floor. Meanwhile, Fiona prances from book to book as if she's playing the floor is lava. At least she’s having a good time.

“When’s the last time you had a shower?”

“I don’t know.”

“Go take a shower. I’ll make you something to eat.” I shake my head left to right. I don’t want to get in the shower because it will make me realize how badly I messed up. “Go, now!” Her aggressive voice comes out, and I begrudgingly head to the shower, sulking.

As I massage shampoo in my rat’s nest of brown locks, I think about all the ways I messed up. The steam of warmth and fresh fragrances clear my head enough to really know that I screwed up.

I miss Dustin. I miss everything we were together. I miss his smile and warmth. His laughter. I miss Sardine. If I could come up with a way to get him to forgive me that would be great. That’s the problem—everything that comes to mind is not good enough. I can’t think of any way to tell him I love him that will make up for what I’ve done. Saying it isn’t enough. I need to show him how I truly feel.

If he will even forgive me.

I could send him flowers with a note saying sorry.

No. That’s too corny. But men don’t normally receive flowers so it might work. Nope. Not good enough.

Think.

Maybe I’ll see what Olive thinks.

Once I got out of the shower and dressed into another one of Dustin’s shirts, I made my way to the living room to find it completely sparkling clean. The aroma of frozen chicken tenders and boxed macaroni and cheese fills my nostrils. My stomach grumbles at the prospect of my favorite food. I’ve been a horrible friend too.

“Thank you.” I smile shyly in her direction. “You made me one of my favorite foods.”

“I did, because I know you need something to make you feel better. Mac and cheese is just what the doctor ordered.” She places a steaming plate in front of me. “And you’re welcome. Now let’s eat so we can come up with a plan on how you’re going to get Dustin back.”

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