Page 53 of Falling Again
“Hey Nat,” Ginny said in greeting.
Forgetting that not everyone would be up early, Natalie checked the time and grimaced. “Hey Ginny. Sorry to call so early. We were up and I thought I’d check in.” With shaking hands, she poured water into the coffee maker and turned on the machine.
“You’re fine. I was about to leave for the office in a sec. You haven’t missed much. I’ve got Lynn all set for the library fundraiser, and it sounds like the town council spot is secured. Anthony’s on the phone with Max now.”
“He is?” Natalie instantly hated the shrill tone of her voice.
“Oops. Was I not supposed to say anything?” Ginny sounded truly forlorn. “He called him right when you called me. I figured it was the Snyder double-header.”
Natalie chuckled at her friend’s joke and flopped down onto the nearest chair. Her ankle throbbed as much as her growing headache. “I’m being silly. Go and enjoy your morning. I’m going to make breakfast and get back into vacation mode.”
“So you’re having a nice time?” Ginny asked hopefully.
Natalie looked around at the house that hadn’t been packed and reached a hand up to her swollen lips. Even now, she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t having a good time. “Yes. We’re having fun.”
Ginny huffed. “Wow, that was almost convincing.”
“We are,” Natalie whined, feeling foolish. “Well, we were,” she corrected.
In the background, she heard a door close, and Ginny’s voice grew stern. “Okay, I have about two minutes to scold you, but then I need to get to work.”
Natalie was incredulous. “Scold me?”
“Yep,” Ginny answered, letting the ‘P’ pop. “I can tell from your tone that you’re in a snit, and I won’t let you spiral. What is going on?”
“Anthony is on the phone working on vacation!” Natalie nearly shouted. “He’s breaking our vacation rules.”
“Isn’t that what you’re doing?”
“No,” Natalie answered a little too quickly. “No, this is totally different. I only called you because Anthony was on his phone.”
Ginny snorted. “You sound like we’re back in high school. Why don’t you hang up with me and go talk to your husband? I can hear Max, so they’re obviously done. Go salvage this day before you drive each other insane. Business partner’s orders.”
Natalie exhaled, feeling her muscles relax at her friend’s tough love. “You’re probably right.”
“No ‘probably’ about it.”
Against her will, Natalie’s lips curved in a smirk. “You’re hanging out with CeCe too much. I think her sass is rubbing off on you.”
“Pfft. Says the Sassy Queen of Buckeye Falls.”
Natalie poured herself a cup of coffee and tiptoed to the sofa. After propping her leg on the coffee table, she sighed. “Am I the asshole here?”
Ginny’s tone softened. “I don’t think either of you are. You’re just workaholics.”
“Oh, is that all?” Natalie scoffed.
“Go talk to your husband, but cool off first.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Before she disconnected the call she added, “You’re going to be a great Momma someday.”
For a moment she feared Ginny didn’t hear her, but then she heard a sniffle through the line. “Thanks, Nat. Go spend some more time in the sun with your man. He’s all yours.”
Natalie could only hope that statement was true in more ways than one.
*
“This must be bad ifyou’re calling me from your vacation,” Max said. Anthony was still wrapped up in their post-coital sheets, and talking to Max was about the last thing he wanted to do.
