Page 50 of Imperfections Forbidden
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving?Are you having dinner with your family?”
“I’m not looking forward to it, but yes, I am.”
“Don’t sound so down, your family loves you a lot.I’m sure Thanksgiving dinner at your house is going to be like a Walton holiday movie compared to mine.”
“I hope so.My lunch break’s over.I have to get back inside and get my kids from the lunchroom.”
“I’m going to call you, and we’re going to hang out.If you need to talk, call me, okay?”
“Okay, thanks again, Matt, for understanding, bye.”
Nick
Can she ever be ontime?I have less than fifteen minutes before I have to get back to the office.If it wasn’t for Cat, I would have left already.I need to hear how she’s doing; it’s been almost two weeks since I told her about the paternity test results.She refuses to answer any of my calls or my texts.The only reason I haven’t gone to see her myself is because of Ava.She sends me a text message every other day telling me she’s fine or not doing so good, but she won’t go into anything specifics.She doesn’t want to betray Cat’s confidence in her.
Here she comes now, sashaying into the glass doors of the restaurant dressed to the nines: white scarf artfully draped around her neck, designer bag that probably cost as much as her rent, and long, cobalt blue wool trench.Like she owns the place, like she has all day.She better not tell me she was getting her nails done and that’s why she’s late.I watch her work her southern magic on the maître d’—I can practically hear the southern accent from where I’m sitting with the body language and all.She scans the room and tilts her head toward me.She turns back to the maître d’ and whispers something to him that makes him laugh, and he kisses the back of her hand before she walks over to the table.
“What was that about?”I ask, primed to bite her head off.
“I was making a new friend.You can’t have too many of those, especially when they look that good.”She unbuttons her coat and sits down.
“You’re late, as usual; I was about to leave.”
“No, you weren’t.I know you weren’t going anywhere until you found out what you wanted to know about Cat.Did you order yet?”
I would be out of here if it wasn’t for Cat.“I have been sitting here waiting on you for forty minutes.The only thing I’ve had is this glass of wine and enough of waiting for you.”
“Good, I think I’ll have a nice juicy steak, how about you?”She looks over the menu and puts it down.
“Ava…I’m barely holding on to my patience with you.”
“I think you need more red meat in your diet, you’re looking sort of pale.”
“I’m about to get up from the table, Ava.”
She holds her hands in the air.“Okay, okay, okay.What do you want to know about our girl?”
I sit back in my seat, one hand on the table, the other palm down on my leg.“How’s she doing?I don’t want the generic version.I want the truth.”
She lets out a big breath.“She’s not doing well.I mean, she’s doing better this week.Starting work has been good for her; it helps to take her mind off this hot mess.”
I nod my head and take a drink from my wine glass.“Is she still crying?”I play with the stem of the glass in my hand.
“One word.”She tilts her head to the side and looks at me.
I raise an eyebrow.“Well?”
“Sade.I never knew she was such a big fan of Sade.”
I look at her for a minute.Then I remember the song I played for her on the roof in the garden.“Sade.”
“Sade.”
I watch her name off the songs on her fingers one at a time.I feel like she’s poking me in the center of my chest with the name of each song.“By Your Side,” “The Moon and The Sky,” “Love is Stronger Than Pride,” “Jezebel,” and “Baby Father”; those five songs are on heavy rotation.I’m mad at you, I feel like you did me wrong.Next time, keep your draws up around your ass and think before you slide on in to home.”
I feel like shit.“Ava, I need to see her.”She puts her hand on the table over mine and gives me a sympathetic look.
“Now, don’t be mad at me, this is the concerned best friend speaking, not the lovable sweet southern sisterly cousin.If I need to protect my girl from an asshole jerk when her heart is crazy bruised and shattered, I will—don’t think I won’t!”
