Josie

by Beth Gildersleeve

  “What’s so funny?” she asked as Duncan gave her a peck on the cheek.

  “Your husband’s a loser,” Gabe chuckled but Danielle’s eyes narrowed. “Please send a bottle of champagne to their table and put it on my account,” Gabe said to the hostess.

  “What are we celebrating?” she asked Duncan through a tight smile.

  “A big win for us and a tiny loss for me. I’ll tell you all about it over dinner,” Duncan promised her. “See you tomorrow, Gabe,” Duncan said to him.

  “Not if I see you first,” Gabe said, using Duncan’s words from the night before as before he turned toward the coat check. He’d heard the hesitation before Duncan had called him Gabe. But he didn’t care. Old habits and beliefs died hard. The important thing was Duncan was on his side. Now he needed to figure out how to get his wife back.

  He’d text her one more time today. Too much more and he’d be in stalker territory.

  Thursday, 8:05 PM

  Gabe: Just had drinks with Duncan. He might need help buying cowboy boots. I can’t wait to tell you about it.

  He hit “send” and mentally crossed his fingers. His eyes rarely left the screen as he waited for the valet to fetch his Range Rover. He checked his phone one more time before sliding into the driver’s seat. Nothing.

  16

  “Stop texting me!” Josie shouted at her phone. “How can I stay mad at you if you keep texting me?” Josie turned the phone face down and returned her attention to the staffing schedule. She was short-staffed at the Haven store and the Oakdale store, which wasn’t unusual this close to Christmas. But a respiratory virus was running rampant in the area and several of her staff had called in sick today. Difficult had turned ugly real fast.

  Today Josh had gone between the two stores, and Josie had stayed in Haven. Jamie had already been scheduled for a full day in Oakdale. The Haven Woodworks was always slow at this time of the year so Jamie had planned to use his vacation days to fill in the known gaps in her staffing schedule. Josie hadn’t argued with him over this. She’d wanted to, but the argument had died on her tongue. She figured he owed her. If she hadn’t married Gabe, he’d be unemployed. The stores had survived today, but Josie was worried about tomorrow and the weekend.

  Desperate times called for desperate measures. Elle would have to work behind the counter as a barista. God help us all, Josie muttered before she bit her lip to keep from crying.

  She was so tired. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. All she’d wanted was a good night’s sleep and she wouldn’t even get that. Cam had just called and it sounded like he was on death’s doorstep, too.

  Now she’d need to get up and roast the damn beans and then hurry over to the Haven store for the morning rush. Holiday weekends were her most profitable. And no matter how tired she was, she wasn’t going to let a virus ruin her bottom line. She’d worked eighteen-hour days before, she could do it again. But working like a crazy person struggling to survive had lost its appeal. Josie didn’t know if she was older and wiser or she just didn’t care as much. Regardless, she needed to put on her big girl panties and deal with it.

  And keeping her mad on drained what little energy she had left. Staying mad isn’t serving you, Josephine Dorothy Wright Kane, so knock it off! she scolded herself as she poured the hot water over her chamomile tea bag. For her sake, she needed to move to neutral but she wasn’t at forgiveness. Gabe had to work for that. Maybe grovel even. She couldn’t be the only one making an effort to make their marriage work.

  She’d give him just enough information not to worry but she wouldn’t be chatty. She reasoned a little bit of squirming would do him good.

  Thursday, 8:25 PM

  Josie: Crazy here. Short-staffed. Virus. All-hands on deck. Goodnight.

  Friday had been worse than Josie had feared and it was all her own doing. Like an idiot, her phone was on silent, a nasty habit left over from her teen years and college days. And, like a distracted idiot, she hadn’t paid attention to where she’d set it down. Elle had not been amused.

  The only benefit of being phone-less was it had allowed Josie to concentrate on making drinks and on customer service. Despite the busy atmosphere, most everyone had been blessed with holiday cheer and a few of her favorite patrons had stopped in.

  Parker Thorpe had picked up a canteen of coffee to bring out to a work site. His crew was hard at work finishing the interior of Jackson and Emily Wyatt’s house. Josie added a few cookies to Parker’s coffee order and wished him good luck in finishing the job. She knew Emily wanted to bring their firstborn home to their new house.

  Emily’s marital bliss was a sharp contrast to her own. Josie wished she’d called Gabe instead of texting him that she couldn’t do this anymore, but she was so tired of driving back and forth. So tired of being the only one trying. She knew he was scared, but so was she!

  Jackson Wyatt’s grandmother, Rosemarie Hart, had also stopped in for a pound of freshly roasted coffee beans. She’d said a cup of Josie’s coffee would help get her early Christmas morning started and be the perfect accompaniment to her freshly baked caramel rolls and cinnamon rolls.. Mrs. Hart promised that once January set in, she’d come down and they could have a proper gossip. Josie had forgotten how much she enjoyed the people part of the business. If only she didn’t have to deal with the business part, too.

  But there was hope for that. Maybe. As busy as they’d been Friday morning, they’d hit a lull in the early afternoon and she’d snuck away to her appointment with Miller. Josie was still shocked by the bombshell he’d dropped on her. He had a client who was interested in buying Jo’s Joe if Josie would remain as a consultant. His mystery client had no experience but she had a lot of questions. And the most important one was, was Josie interested?

  Hell yes, had been her heart’s response. Being free from the day-to-day of the business would solve so many of her problems. Josie felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders just thinking about it. Thinking of the future without the weight of the business gave her a jolt of energy. Hope. Freedom. Love.

  But she didn’t want to appear too eager, even to Miller, so she’d asked if she could think about it over the holidays. Miller had said they’d expected that, and in the meantime, his client would like several years of financial reports to review. His mystery client had signed a confidentiality agreement and Miller had said he trusted her, so Josie had agreed to print the reports over the weekend and deliver them to Fortress Advisers first thing Monday morning.

  Josie found her phone on Friday evening. In the freezer. Next to the pint of ice cream she’d started the night before. She grabbed the pint and her phone and collapsed onto the nearest chair.

  “Dead,” Josie said when the phone didn’t react. She stuck the cold device between her thighs, hoping their warmth would bring it back to life. She stared at the opposite wall and ate the ice cream on automatic pilot. The noise of the spoon scraping the bottom of the carton interrupted her zombie-like state. She rescued her phone from her thighs. “Nope. Still dead.”

  Josie heaved herself off of the chair, tossed the carton in the garbage can, and plugged in her phone. It was nine o’clock. She had six hours before she needed to get up and do it all over again. A bath would be nice but what if she fell asleep in the tub? The last thing she wanted was for one of her brothers to find her naked and dead in the morning when she didn’t show up for work. She’d either be bloated from all the water or shriveled up like a raisin from it. Neither was a good look. Especially since she’d be naked.

  She debated bloated versus shriveled as she dragged herself up the stairs. Bed. Bed is the safest solution for everyone, she thought as she pulled the covers back and then shucked off her clothes. She set her alarm, tucked the pillow under her head, and pulled the goose down comforter on top of her. She missed Gabe’s warm and solid body tucked into her own. She brushed a tear from her cheek as she remembered all the other things she missed about Gabe.

  “Here. Take this and go sit
down for a few minutes. The last thing we need is for you to get sick, too,” Elle said as she shoved the plate into Josie’s hand and turned her toward the back room. Josie didn’t argue.

  She’d planned on taking a break during the Saturday late morning lull but the lull hadn’t happened. It was now two o’clock in the afternoon and she’d been on her feet for ten hours. She plopped down on an unopened box of cardboard cup sleeves and devoured the miniature ham and swiss quiche. She was halfway through the fruitcake slice before she came up for air. She took a deep breath and reached for her phone, which had recovered after its unexpected exile in the freezer.

  Friday, 9:13 AM

  Gabe: Are you feeling better?

  No, Josie thought after she read his text from the day before.

  Friday, 12:30 PM

  Gabe: Did you eat lunch?

  Maybe? Josie couldn’t remember.

  Friday, 4:00 PM

  Gabe: Do you need anything at the mall? We’re finishing early tonight so I can go if you want me to.

  He’s volunteering to go to the mall on Christmas weekend? He’s squirming, Josie thought as she smiled. She should feel guilty about his squirming but she didn’t. He was making an effort. For her.

  Friday, 8:30 PM

  Gabe: Last chance. I’m leaving the mall now. Santa says hi.

  Josie smiled at the image of Gabriel Kane perched on Santa’s knee. She wondered what the man who had everything would wish for.

  Friday, 11:11 PM

  Gabe: Goodnight. I miss you.

  I miss you, too, she thought as she broke the last bit of her fruitcake in two.

  Saturday, 11:00 AM

  Gabe: OK, I’ll admit it. I’m tired of Christmas music. You?

  Not quite, but I’m getting there.

  Saturday, 1:15 PM

  Gabe: I can meet you for dinner. Or come to Haven.

  Wow! King Gabriel will leave his kingdom for me? Josie savored the last piece of fruitcake as she digested his message. He missed her. He really, really did. She should text him back and take him out of his misery, but she wasn’t yet ready to forgive. Close. She could see forgiveness from where she sat but she wasn’t ready to make the final move. Maybe in a few hours.

  Who was she kidding? She’d already forgiven him. Josie was buying time before she told him the truth and risked it all. She didn’t know what would happen once she told him she loved him, and it scared her to death. But she couldn’t keep her secret any longer. My deadline is tonight, she promised herself. Tonight, I’ll tell Gabe I love him.

  Saturday, 2:00 PM

  Josie: I’ll have to get back to you on that. Things are crazy here and I still feel icky. I don’t want you sick for your big meeting.

  She pocketed her phone and stood up slowly and stiffly. She stretched her arms overhead and then bent forward. Her toes were a lot farther away than they normally were. She hung like a rag doll for a few minutes. The stretch on her lower back felt like heaven. She stood up and twisted from side-to-side. Full belly. Loose muscles. Josie took a fortifying breath and left the sanctuary of the storage room. Duty called.

  And it kept calling until well after dinnertime. “What the heck is going on this year?” Elle asked Josie as she closed out the cash register. They’d sent the other barista home an hour ago so it was just the two of them closing. “Sales have been phenomenal, and we’re not seeing the usual dips during the day. It’s been constant.”

  “Constant and never-ending,” Josie agreed as she wiped down a table. Her face hurt from smiling so much. Like yesterday, most of today’s customers had been in a good mood. It had buoyed her spirits. She pulled out her phone. It had vibrated several hours ago but she’d been shaving chocolate on top of a mocha’s whipped cream, so she hadn’t looked and then in the busyness she’d forgotten.

  Saturday, 4:45 PM

  Gabe: Josie? Dinner? I’ll take my chances on getting sick.

  That would have been nice, she thought as she set her phone down on the clean table. She’d finish here, hurry home, and then call him. She was in the love-confession zone. Her phone vibrated on the table. She read the message.

  Saturday, 8:15 PM

  Gabe: How about a late-night snack? Please?

  Yeah, I’d like that. A lot, she thought as she picked up her phone.

  Saturday, 8:16 PM

  Josie: We need to talk.

  “Hey, Josie,” Elle said as she scrubbed a sticky spot on the floor. “You look dead on your feet and I’m thinking tomorrow will be just as bad. Why don’t you go home and I’ll finish up here?” For once Josie didn’t argue.

  “Okay, but be sure to lock up after me,” she warned as she turned and started to text her next message.

  Saturday, 8:17 PM

  Josie: I miss you. A snack sounds

  “I will,” Elle said as she popped up in front of Josie. Her head connected with Josie’s cell phone and both women watched in horror as it landed in the wash bucket. Her last text unsent. Josie was not amused.

  17

  They’d been short staffed again on Sunday. Josie had watched for a lull in the action so she could slip out and buy a new phone. But it had never happened. Which is why she was the first in line at the store on Monday morning. She’d risen an hour earlier to do the roasting to make it happen. Cam was still sick. Josie didn’t know who she felt sorrier for, herself or Cam. She was exhausted but at least she wasn’t sick. Hopefully she’d get a good night’s sleep tonight cuddled with Gabe and she’d be able to fully enjoy Christmas Day whereas Cam wouldn’t. Poor guy. With all his sneezing and coughing, he could only cuddle with a box of tissues.

  Josie wished she hadn’t kept Gabe squirming, especially since he was headed into what he’d said was the biggest deal ever for Witz Holdings. She’d been immature and selfish. The heat had crept up Josie’s neck when she’d asked Elle for Gabe’s number Sunday morning. She wasn’t embarrassed about not knowing Gabe’s number—Elle would have understood that because no one memorized phone numbers anymore —but she was afraid Elle would see past Josie’s brave smile and discover that her marriage to Gabriel Kane wasn’t all rainbows, unicorns, and glitter.

  It was real and it was hard and if they didn’t get their act together soon, it would be over before it had even begun.

  And if Elle knew the truth, she’d feel duty bound to tell Josh, who would then do something stupid, like take a swing at Gabe on Christmas morning. He’d lose the fight and then Elle would be mad at her because Josh’s pretty face wouldn’t look so pretty. Plus, Gabe got along really well with Josh and Jamie and she didn’t want to ruin their bromance. No, to maintain the peace, she’d need to suffer in silence.

  Luckily, Elle hadn’t noticed Josie’s embarrassment. She’d been too busy apologizing because she only had the main number for Witz Holdings. She didn’t have Gabe’s direct number. Josie had dialed anyway and she’d been greeted by the company’s voice mail requesting her to leave a message. There wasn’t a company directory. She’d hung up and had spent Sunday sad at the state of her marriage, and mad at her best friend for drowning her phone. But mostly, she’d been mad at herself.

  Yesterday’s mad had hatched a set of butterflies in Josie’s stomach. Today she was nervous and excited to see Gabe. She still hadn’t decided how to tell him she loved him. In the few quiet moments she’d had over the last few days, she’d rehearsed tidy little speeches but none of them seemed right. She’d made such a mess of things. He was more important than her business. But she was a coward and he was prepping for the Howm Industries meeting. She knew how important that was to him. She didn’t want to distract him.

  Instead, Josie distracted herself by pretending everything would be okay after her confession. She hoped she wasn’t alone in her feelings. Josie needed her husband. She needed his magical fingers and melting kisses to bring her spirit and body back to life. To shatter over the edge and then softly come back together. To be more whole than when they’d started.

  A young woman h
elped Josie select a waterproof case for her new cell phone but she was taken aback when Josie asked her if they had any coordinating sweaters for it. Josie was about to explain her phone’s exile in the freezer but she thought better of it. More talk would slow her down. The tech expert snapped the phone into its new case and handed it over to Josie. Her heart sank at the number of unread text messages and guilt washed over her as she handed the young woman her credit card.

  She should have stayed at the estate on Wednesday and yelled and then talked to Gabe instead of driving away and basically ignoring him. Yes, Jo’s Joe had been insanely busy but she could have called him or responded to his texts better. I kind of ghosted my husband, she realized with a sick feeling.

  The woman nudged the credit card back into Josie’s hand. “Hopefully, by the time you finish your shopping, the plows will be done and the roads will be clear.”

  “I’m done and I’m sticking to the freeway, so I should be good.” Josie smiled at her before she hurried back to her Jeep. She slid into her seat, started the engine, and pulled out her phone, anxious to see Gabe’s response. If he even responded, she muttered.