“Yeah, but I really feel like a traitor to Maggie.”
“I don’t feel the best about it either.”
“No, I mean I really don’t feel good about it. Like maybe we need to tell her. She’s a psychiatrist. She’ll see it for what it was. An outreach to share our abandonment with each other.”
“Uh, no, I don’t think that’s such a good idea. I say we spit on our hands, shake, and take it to our graves.”
I took a deep breath. “I don’t know, Michael. I’ll feel awful all the time about it. I can’t sleep now as it is. And when she calls, I feel like I can’t say things to her like I would say if I didn’t just get kissed by you.”
“Sarah.” He grabbed my hand. “Trust me with this one. Maggie would never forgive either one of us.”
“Okay. Fine.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me. I’ve got to call my brother. He got some reports from the doctor today, and I told him I’d call to check on him.”
“Neill? What’s wrong?”
“Hopefully nothing. I’ll be just a sec.”
Michael was dialing his phone as he walked off toward the back of the restaurant. I took a sip of my tea and looked around. The view of the street was a clear shot to where I was seated. I saw a car wedged between two parked ones, a lady pulling something out of the back door, trying to hurry up. There was a string of cars behind her, waiting to move forward. My eyes began to move when I recognized the bag she was carrying on her shoulder. It was one I’d bought as a present for someone—for Maggie! She was the one causing a pileup on Constitution Street. I choked on my water.
Her mother was driving the car and pulled away as Maggie jumped up on the curb, coming toward the front door of the restaurant. I grabbed my chest and looked back to see where Michael had gone. I couldn’t see him anywhere. Just as I was about to take a dip underneath the table, my eyes met Maggie’s. My heart flipped like a fish out of water—first quickly and then slowly, as if it were going to die—when she reached the table and I had nothing but deceit and betrayal to pay her.
“Oh my gosh!” She reached out to hug me. “What the heck are you doing here? And why didn’t you tell me you…hold on…wait one minute. Is that the dress? The one…oh my gosh! Sarah, are you on a date?”
“Uh, no. Not a date. I just…I just came for dinner. Not a date.” My head kept shaking back and forth. NOT A DATE.
“Well, I was so depressed about Michael, ya know. His cologne, the fact he just walked out, and all that crap. So I called Mom and asked her to ride along. I was in no fashion to cook dinner. And I wanted some spaghetti. Do you know that jerk loved the spaghetti they serve here?” She drove her finger into the tablecloth. Her eyes were watery. “And anyway, so here I am. A babbling mess. My mom is circling the block with my son, so I can eat some stupid spaghetti.”
My heart ramped up in speed. No more flat-lining. I was saying ten million prayers per second that Michael would see Maggie and stay hidden. But alas, my prayer connection must’ve been on a busy channel, because out strutted Michael. He was staring down at his phone and nearly tripped on the carpet when at the last minute, he looked up and saw Maggie. As if magnetically joined, she looked over her shoulder and saw him at almost the same time.
“Maggie,” I tried to say.
“What…what…” Her lips parted, as if they had broken after the word “what” was uttered.
“Maggie, what are you doing here? Is Charlie okay?” Michael’s eyes were fixed on her.
She looked back toward me. Our waiter showed up, holding salads. I gave a telepathic look to get lost.
“Sarah?”
At least she’d gotten off “what.” Still, I didn’t have an answer. I wish she was still asking what.
“Maggie, it’s not what you’re thinking.”
People at the next table seemed to be interested. I saw the woman looking at me. I wanted to bolt for the door. Run and hide until I had a reason for what looked like was happening wasn’t really what it was at all.
“I see.” Her jaw crooked as she took in a deep breath. Her head jerked as she stood straight, adjusting the bag I’d given her in love. I still did love her. Like a sister. A stupid sister who just messed up.
“No, you don’t see.” I stood, trying to be more convincing. Trying to get her to see it the way it was. “Michael needed to talk to someone. And this dinner is no different than all the other dinners we’ve eaten together. It’s just at a restaurant.”
“Oh, and you just had to wear the red dress to talk to him?” She looked at him. “And you just had to put on cologne.” Then her eyes darted between both of us. “I’m not stupid. I may be...what did you say, Michael?...‘not trying, unresponsive to your male needs, and always tired,’ but I’m not stupid.”
She rushed out of the restaurant. I watched as she clutched her face and jumped in the backseat of her car. The car waited a few seconds before it pulled back into traffic, and then she was gone. I sat back down and Michael fell into his chair. I refused to look at the people sitting next to us. They had no idea they were getting dinner and a show that evening.
“So that was bad,” I finally said.
The waiter came and placed our salads in front of us. My stomach churned, looking at the red tomatoes and sliced cucumbers.
“Yeah, that was bad.”
I had no idea how to make this right. Maggie not only had a husband who was a thorn in her side, but now her dear friend had a knife in the other one. I needed to do some major damage control and convince her what she saw wasn’t what she thought she saw.
Four weeks…four weeks had passed and not a word was spoken by Maggie. Despite the flowers I had sent, the card I mailed, the numerous texts and phone messages. I kept my distance from Michael, but I popped in his office today to check and make sure she was still alive.
“Maggie’s never gone this long without talking to me. Is it too soon to just show up?”
I plopped down in a seat opposite his desk. I was amazed at his organization. There were hardly any files on his desk, and very little personal effects.
He sighed. “I’d say she’s a bit glacier-like. The past two times I’ve gone over to see Charlie, her mom has been there. Maggie hasn’t even been at home.” He rested his chin on the top of his hand. “Imagine that. I ask her out while we’re still living in the same house and she can’t trust her mom, but I move out, and she’s gone all the time.”
“Oh my. That is crazy.”
“Last weekend, I went over unannounced and she’d just got back from the gym. Her hair was up, and she was wearing something I’d never seen her in. And…” He slapped the table. “Get this. She let the gym watch Charlie. Now go figure that. I was ticked. I could’ve spent the entire day with him and she has some no-name scribbling on paper with him for an hour.”
“Are you sure Maggie hasn’t been abducted? Been replaced by this so-called look-alike?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. She can still throw out the insults. Of course, it’s when Charlie’s out of earshot. But I get some sharp elbows at least three times a week.”
“So, are you doing any more therapy? I know I haven’t been the best of friends to keep up, but seeing as I was in the doghouse with Maggie, I didn’t want to compound the situation and know more from you than I should from her.”
“It’s okay. I figured you were giving your allegiance to her.”
“Hey,” I interrupted. “That’s not fair. I haven’t been talking to either one of you. I’m not the best one to be involved. If you know what I mean. You’re both still in my thoughts all the time. I just don’t know how to fit into things anymore.”
“To be honest, I’ve been focusing on my brother. Since he got his prognosis, I’ve been hanging out with him. I’ve crashed a few nights at his place.”
“It’s not life threatening. I mean, you did say surgery will help.”
“Yeah, I think he’ll pull out of it all right. He’s just a little freaked. The paperwork they give y
ou to sign for surgery will scare you into not having them even put you under, minus any incision they might perform.”
“I’m sure they have to account for everything.”
“Yeah. So I’m going to stay with him for the next month. I’m glad the open house was postponed until the week before school starts. I don’t know whose brain child it was to ever schedule it when most students are beach bound with their parents.”
“If only they’d have told me much sooner. I have no idea what I’ll do this weekend now. Rose is gone, I’ve got a clean house, and after eating freezer-burn ice cream last night, I don’t even want to pig out on junk food.”
“Well, I wish I could help you out, but Neill has us scheduled for skydiving in the morning.”
“Skydiving? I thought he needed back surgery?”
“He thinks he’ll never walk again, so we’re doing bucket list things.”
I stood to leave. “Well, be careful.”
“Will do.”
“I’ll catch you in the funny papers.” I smiled.
“Catch you there.”
I walked out and went in the direction of my office. The halls were empty now that the teachers weren’t working anymore. I squinted to see who was walking in my direction. By the gait, it looked like Carter. A ghost from the past. Seeing as I never saw him much lately. He was always in meetings, on the phone in the parking lot when we went to leave, or locked in his office.
“Hey, stranger,” I called out.
“Howdy. How’s it going?”
“Just fine. I’m in a bit of a quandary now that the the open house has been postponed.”
“How so?”
“Rose is gone. And I have no plans. Wanna do something?”
A small smile snuck up on his face. One that I missed, not realizing until just now.
“I so wish I could. Paige has us scheduled to see houses tomorrow.”
“Houses? I thought that was a passing thought of hers. You just closed on the new one only a few months ago.”
“Yeah, well, she still doesn’t like it.” He rolled his eyes.
“I see.” My eyes roamed to the lockers. I didn’t know what to say. Actually I did, but I refrained. One marriage on skid row at a time. But Carter was divorced. “Well, I guess, have fun.”
“I don’t know. Am I crazy, Sarah? I can hear all of you guys in my head, telling me to get over Paige. That she moved on, that I’m foolish to care. I don’t know. Maybe I am. Maybe I just think this is as good as it gets. You know, living in a two-bedroom house, working my butt off, and scrolling down Facebook at all the guys I went to school with. Looking at their families, and their vacations. And I think, I had it once. Maybe I could again.”
Boy, did I know the feeling. But Carter didn’t deserve what I knew Paige was setting him up for. He deserved someone who would love him for himself. Not sign him up for the country club, and hunt for larger houses. Carter was a funny, incredibly sweet, genuine, and all around nice guy. Who was obviously still hung up on Paige.
“I get that you feel like life is getting away from you. And you want things and status. It’s just I’m not sure you and Paige want the same things. And that’s important. That’s why you didn’t make it the first time, right?”
Or was it that extra boyfriend she had on the side?
“I wasn’t there for her, she says.”
“Hmm…”
“Hey, I’ve meant to ask. Well, I’ve refrained from asking because maybe I didn’t want to know, but how are you and Michael?”
“Me and Michael? What are you talking about? I’m not with Michael.”
His hand flew to his hip. “That’s strange. I saw Liz last week and she mentioned something about you and him, and Maggie finding you all.” He stepped back. “Not that it’s my business.”
“Nothing remotely like that happened. Maybe you weren’t listening.” Liz very well knew the sordid truth. She just never repeated gossip correctly.
“I just think…well, never mind what I think.”
“No, no, I want to hear. Go ahead. Tell me.”
“I just…” He paused, looking at his feet. Thinking about what he was about to say. “Never mind.” He looked at his watch. “Crap, I’m late.”
“Carter!”
“What? I’m late. I’ve got to go.” He was half-jogging backward, at least five feet away from me now.
“Fine. I’ll see you later.” I turned to go down the art hall. It was a shortcut to my office. I turned when I heard him call out my name.
“What would you say…” He paused. “Nah, have a good weekend.”
I shook my head and turned back to the direction I was on before he jerked my chain yet again. My phone was ringing when I got back to my office. It was Liz.
“Hey, girl. Please tell me you just won at the slots, and you’re buying me a villa and a gorgeous manservant to take care of it.”
“I wish. No, I’m calling because Martin is late. He said to meet him at this restaurant, and he’s ten minutes late. I need to look busy when he gets here. Then I’ll ignore him, and he’ll feel bad, and all will be right again.”
“Liz, you’re terrible.”
“I’m training him, Sarah. It’s something you might one day need to do.”
“Whatever. The guy could’ve got stuck somewhere. In an elevator, on the road—give him a break. I think he’s sweet. All of the ten minutes I chatted with him while waiting for you to finish up your files.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I’ve got to keep him sweet. Now what are you doing tonight? Please tell me it involves adults, and not your pajamas and a cold bed.”
“Okay.”
“Oh goody! Then you’re going out. Is it with Tyler and Meg? I heard her mention she was throwing a party soon. Maybe there’ll be a single guy there. I was hoping to go when I came back, but if she’s having it—”
“No, I’m not going to Tyler and Meg’s.”
“Well then, who with? Don’t tell me Michael. On second thought, at least it’s Michael. At the rate you date, if it was left to you to organically find someone, you’ll be single all your life.”
“Organically?”
“Yeah, without a stiff kick in the butt, by yours truly. You know, someone who just floats in your path. Not being dialed by the Internet, set up on a blind date. Organically.”
“Have you ever dated organically?”
“I might right now. There’s a guy checking me out as we speak.”
“Liz! Remember who you’re waiting for. He’s on his way.”
“He’s late.”
“I think you’re trying to find fault with him.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because he’s perfect for you. That’s why.”
“Mind your own business.”
“Fine. But don’t say I didn’t tell you so, when it’s over and you’re depressed.”
“On to you, my dear Sarah. What are your plans?”
“Going home. Making a sandwich, and maybe reading a new book I got last week.”
“Snore zone.”
“What?”
“You do realize you’re turning forty soon.”
“Um, not for a couple of years, thank you very much.”
“Well, it’s not exactly a good thing for you to go home and read. Or look forward to it. You sound like your Aunt Heidi.”
Oh my gosh, I did. She always got excited over new books. But why was that so bad? Maybe because she’d be reading them in bed next to her husband, and I’d be reading them in a large empty bed. On a Friday. Without even plans for the next day.
“Didn’t you say you got invited to some sort of party? Was it an e-vite or something? I remember you mentioning it. I think you should consider going. You know, so you don’t forget what music sounds like, or the tones of other people’s voices, and not the ones in your head that you make up for the characters in your books.”
“The party is in Charleston. And it’s tomorrow night. I alread
y emailed and said I couldn’t make it. I mailed Robena her present.”
“So.”
“So what?”
“So go.”
“What? Now? Did you not hear it was in Charleston? As in not downtown? Here. In our town? It’s in a place where palm trees sway?”
“Even better. And what are you? Like ninety years old and are unable to drive yourself to the airport at night?”
“Are you serious? Leave now? Buy a plane ticket and just get off a plane and search for a hotel? Tonight?”
“Yep.”
“Hmm…”
I searched the office. What did I have stopping me? My daughter was having the time of her life, Maggie was off at a gym forgetting I was her friend, Michael was jumping out of planes, Liz was in Sin City, and I was heading home for grilled cheese and a romance. Heck yeah. I was up for going to Charleston. Who knows? Maybe I’d look up an old husband while I was there. Just to see whether he and Gennifer were gossip-column bliss, you know. It helped settle the image I kept of them in my mind: her in her Gucci pumps and him in that tux we danced in the rain that night. What did I have to lose? I already lost him.
I still couldn’t believe I was in South Carolina. The warm breeze blew across my face and the sun toasted my cheeks. The sound of church bells rang in the distance and a large horse-drawn carriage was making its way up the street—their hooves hitting the pavement echoed in my ears. A few children were peddling straw flowers, two dollars a piece, but they’d take one if you dickered. I missed the city…the life pumping into it, and the bustle of tourists. The only new faces you saw in Calvert was when distant relatives visited the people living there. I liked that, too.
I crossed the street to Tony’s diner, the Silver Diner. It looked as though the wood-trimmed windows had a fresh coat of white, and the red lettering splashed across the plate glass seemed brighter. People were walking out, stroking their stomachs with smiles on their faces. I moved aside until they cleared, grabbed for the handle and heard the jingle of the door. I spotted Tony right away. He was counting change for a customer. When he glanced up, an effortless smile spread across his cheeks. I missed that guy.
Pursuing Sarah (Sarah Series Book 2) Page 13
