Page 27 of Through the Snow Globe
“About what?” Rochelle’s voice was now tinged with dread.
“Well, happy birthday for one,” Diana said, forcing a cheerful voice. “That should have been the first thing out of my mouth.”
“You normally text me as soon as you wake up, but you didn’t this morning. I’m trying not to take it personally. I understand you have a life, and while I wake up alone most days, you do not.”
“Most days?” Diana asked.
Rochelle chuckled. “Well, Shadow is sometimes curled on top of my head when I awake. She counts as a bed fellow.”
Shadow was Rochelle’s black cat.
Diana gave a small laugh. It was more nerves than humor. “So, I need to bring Linus to your birthday bash tonight.”
“What?” Rochelle said.
“I know we have that wholechicks before Nicks, or Li-nuses, but this is kind of necessary.” Diana hoped Rochelle would understand. It was the only way that Diana could think to save Linus and not disappoint her best friend on her birthday. Pleasing everyone wasn’t easy.
“It’s necessary for you to bring your fiancé to a ladies-only birthday for me because . . . ?” Rochelle trailed off. She was perpetually single, and Diana knew she didn’t like being a third wheel. That’s why Diana always left Linus at home.
“It’s complicated.”
“Everyone’s life is complicated, Diana.” Rochelle didn’t bother to hide the irritation in her voice. “I’m a counselor. I know that firsthand. But just because it is doesn’t mean you can bail on your relationships. Plural because I suspect it’s not just me you’ve been bailing on.”
Diana drew back from her phone for a moment. Then she returned it to her ear. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that it’s my birthday and we have a rule.”
“Linus can sit there and not say anything,” Diana promised. “Or I can make him sit on the opposite side of the bar.”
“Then what’s the point of him even being there?” Rochelle asked. “Other than to ruin my birthday. You know I love Linus to death, but I never get to spend any real time with you anymore. Call me possessive or jealous or whatever, but I miss you.”
“I’ll make it up to you,” Diana promised. “We can have one-on-one drinks next week. Or tomorrow, even.” After Diana had saved Linus from being hit by a delivery truck. After she’d adjusted fate.
“You know what? Just forget it,” Rochelle huffed into the phone’s receiver.
“What? No. I want to see you. We always have a drink on your birthday.”
“Not tonight. Spend time with your fiancé.” Rochelle’s words were tense, lined with frustration and maybe a hint of anger. She wasn’t shy about telling people how she felt. Being a clinical counselor, Rochelle was of the mind that emotions should never be stuffed down in the places where Diana locked hers away. “I’ll find someone else to celebrate with.”
Diana clutched the phone to her ear. She was about to apologize, but the line went dead and a soft buzz hummed quietly in her ear. She lowered her cell phone and looked at the screen. The connection was gone.
Rochelle was pissed and history had just repeated itself. At least she’d kept Maria from breaking her ankle. That was proof that there was hope for Linus.
Diana checked the time on her dash. Half the day was already gone, and the small slice of it that Linus had agreed to spend with her was within her grasp. Time to get back to Linus’s toy store. She wanted to stare into his eyes and tell him all the things she hadn’t been able to over these last three weeks. And come hell or high water, or sleet, she needed to convince him to avoid riding his bike home tonight.
Chapter 9
On the way to Linus’s toy store, Diana stopped at Buddy’s Best Sandwiches for lunch. She purchased two bacon–cheddar cheeses on rye with a pickle on the side. It was Linus’s weakness and she knew all the tension from last night would melt away as soon as he saw this peace offering.
She and Linus hadn’t had lunch on the first go-round of December 4th. Instead, she’d gone home and freshened up prior to her meeting with Mr. Powell. She’d assumed that she and Linus would have time together that night, but, of course, she’d been wrong.
Forever is a myth. All we have is this moment.Linus hadn’t known how right his grandfather was.
The bell above the toy store’s entrance jingled as Diana pushed her way inside, bumping into a little boy as he left in a hurry.
“Sorry,” he said, clutching a lump under his coat. For a moment, Diana wondered if he was stealing something, but he was just a child. He struck her as looking familiar. Where had she seen him? Before she could figure it out, he was gone. She let the door close behind her and turned to look around the store. Christmas music filled the air but it wasn’t the classic, soothing-to-the ears kind. No. Alvin and the Chipmunks were obnoxiously crooning through the speakers. Did kids these days even know who the Chipmunks were?
Diana spotted Linus helping a young child beatPac-Manon an old arcade game in the back of the store. The Toy Peddler had belonged to Linus’s father before Linus had taken it over earlier this year. Diana wouldn’t guess that running a toy store was stressful but earlier this year Mr. Grant had had a heart attack. That’s when he’d retired and Linus had become the store’s official owner.
