Page 68 of Falling Again
“Nat, please. We need to talk about this,” Anthony urged, all pretense of their normalcy gone.
“Apparently not. Apparently we’re keeping secrets now,” Natalie spat as she turned on her heels and strode toward the door. The only thing that broke her heart more than the secrets was the fact that Anthony didn’t follow her out of the diner.
*
Anthony leaned backin the booth and waited for the pounding of his heart to subside. Never had he and Natalie acted like that—fought like that—in public. She had been livid, her eyes burning straight to his soul. He felt lower than low lying to her, but it was all for their anniversary party.
Before he could gather his things and slink away, Max was back at the booth wearing a matching sour expression. “I’m so sorry. I never should have asked you here to talk about the party. How pissed is she?”
“Nuclear. Like Chernobyl level,” Anthony sighed. “She thinks I’m keeping secrets, and I couldn’t defend myself.”
Max ran his hand over a scratch on the table. “I mean, technically you are. But it’s in the name of love.”
Anthony scowled. “How can I fix this? I don’t want to tell her the truth. The whole point is to surprise her, to make her see how much I love her.”
“I’m no expert on Natalie, but I don’t think letting her be this angry for over a week is a good idea.”
Anthony wanted to disagree, but he knew it was useless. Natalie loved holding grudges, and if he didn’t play this right it would blow up in his face. “We made such progress on vacation,” he lamented. “And things have been good since we got home, but ever since she caught me on the phone with you it’s like she doesn’t believe a word I say.”
“You need to tell her the truth. No surprise party is worth it. Take it from me, your marriage is more important than a fight over miscommunication.”
Feeling both better and worse at Max’s words, Anthony knew he was right. Natalie would understand in the end, but he didn’t want to leave her twisting in the wind like this. The look on her face when he refused to show her the party plans cut deep. No wife should ever have to look at her husband that way.
Pulling out his cell phone, Anthony saw he was already late getting back to town hall. “And now I’m late.” He pulled the napkin off his lap and wrapped the rest of his forgotten sandwich. He wasn’t hungry now, but that didn’t mean he would let a perfectly delicious sandwich go to waste. “Do you and CeCe have what you need for the menus?”
Max nodded. “It’s taken care of. You worry about mending fences, and I’ll worry about ordering enough lobster for the bisque.”
“Thanks man. I owe you one.” Anthony stood and cuffed Max on the shoulder before heading out. Despite his recent screw ups, getting back on good terms with Max wasn’t one of them. There’s was a friendship that shouldn’t have fallen apart, but Anthony wasn’t going there. No point dwelling on the past when the present was working out.
When he walked back into town hall, Anthony’s stomach rumbled at the promise of his sandwich. But his lunch plans evaporated when he opened his office door to find an irate Trudy pacing in front of his desk. “There you are. I was about to call the sheriff.”
Falling right into crisis mode, Anthony tossed the sandwich on his desk and pulled off his jacket. “What happened?”
Trudy put her hands on her hips and let out the longest sigh ever recorded in Buckeye Falls’ history. “What happened? You tell me,” she spat. “One minute you’re back from vacation looking like the happiest man in the world, and now I’m getting calls that you and Natalie are fighting in the diner.”
“You’re getting calls?” Anthony was incredulous.
“Yes. Helen called as soon as Natalie stormed out of the diner. Poor thing tripped on the stairs and hobbled off to her car.”
Anthony froze, thinking of Natalie’s ankle that still didn’t look quite right. Just that morning he’d begged her not to wear her beloved heels, but it had been no use. “I have to go see her.”
Trudy shook her head. “You both need to cool down.”
“But she could be hurt,” Anthony protested.
Shaking her head, Trudy pointed to his chair and took the seat opposite. “Sit. I already called her office, and Ginny said she’s fine. Mad as a hatter, but fine.”
Anthony deflated, but his heart still pounded. “That’s good.” Easing back into his chair he finally caught on to what Trudy was saying. “Wait a minute,” he said, his jaw popping. “Does the whole damned town know we had an argument at the diner?”
“The only place more public would have been right here in front of town hall. Why in heaven’s name would you two argue at the most popular restaurant in town during lunch hour?”
Throwing his hands up in the air, Anthony wanted to scream. “I have no idea. I didn’t go there with the intention of fighting with my wife.”
Trudy balled her fists in her lap and looked like she was warring with herself. Anthony hadn’t seen Trudy like that in quite some time, and it did nothing to ease his mind—or his pounding heart. Maybe at this rate it would explode in his chest and save him the misery and embarrassment of the town knowing his marriage was in trouble.
“I wasn’t going to go here with you,” she started carefully, “but it seems you’ve left me no choice.”
Anthony raised an eyebrow. “Why do I have a feeling I won’t like anything you’re about to say?” He asked, what little lunch he ate turning to cement in his stomach. Was it poor form to puke all over his desk in front of his assistant?
