Retta smiled and examined the photo again. “On Monday I’ll bring some over.”
He froze. They hadn’t discussed anything about how they would interact after their “relationship” ended. It was expected that they’d remain friendly. But as he changed out of his suit in the bathroom, panic wanted to claw its way through him as the truth became clear. He’d grown attached.
Their bargain had technically been fulfilled regardless of the disastrous wedding. Right now he should be doing everything in his power to get back to his real life where he was single, but hewantedto stay.
Leaving the bathroom, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do until he started packing his bags and reorganizing the living room. It was necessary for him to leave now.
Retta walked into the room then with a glass of water. “Do you want to watch a movie? I have—”
She looked at the duffle bag slung across his chest.
“Where’re you going?” she asked.
He coughed to clear his throat. “I think I should go.”
“I thought we’d decided to leave tomorrow.”
“Yeah, then I realized I could make it back before sunset and actually sleep in a bed tonight.”
Something compressed in his chest as he watched her eyes dim a little.
Her features straightened as she said, “You’re right. There’s no reason for you to stay.”
The conversation was operating on two levels, and he had the impression this was their breakup. When he spoke next it was a wonder his voice didn’t falter. “Thank your grandmother for me.”
He refused to look at Retta as he left the house. While walking to his parked car across the street, he spotted Ms. Edie round the bend with Levi.
Changing his destination, he approached the old lady who’d stopped to study him.
“I’m leaving.”
You mean running.
She looked at his jacket and bag. “I see that.”
“I want to thank you for your hospitality and—”
“Better get going then. Don’t want to hit traffic.”
It was a weekend; there’d be no traffic.
Though he thought he was making the right move, the farther away he drove from Ms. Edie’s home, the harder it was to shake off the dull ache in the middle of his chest.
Retta stood looking at the front door that Duncan had left through. She felt heat, so much heat on her face and her body. She wanted to step out of her skin, leaving it behind to crawl into a corner.
Retreating upstairs, she peeled the silly dress from her body and scrubbed her face of the suddenly garish makeup. She found herself here, embarrassed and pining, because she hadn’t made a big enough effort to distinguish the fake from the real. In the back of her mind, she’d foolishly hoped they’d continue like this.
Armed with a 1000-piece puzzle she’d found on a shelf in the bedroom, Retta walked downstairs ready to distract herself all evening. She was surprised to find her grandmother in front of the stove.
“I thought we were ordering pizza,” Retta said, coming over to stand beside the older woman and look into the pot where she was browning onions and garlic.
“I don’t know. I felt beef stew would be more appropriate today.”
It was then that Retta’s tears had no other choice but to fall.
ChapterNineteen
There’sa moment in the middle of an activity you’re doing for the first time when you realize it is harder than you expected.
