He wiped his mouth and tossed the crumpled napkin in the empty box. “Sorry I was all anti-woman. I’m a dick. But I did really like her.”
Daphne nodded. “I figured.” She paused then added, “Sounds like it’s worth another conversation with her. You should give it a shot.”
Staring straight ahead, he nodded. “Maybe I will.”
“Cool.” She nodded, too, then motioned toward the building. “Ready to get back in there?”
“Not at all,” he said, getting out of the car.
“Great. Me either,” she replied, and they slowly marched into the lobby as if to the beat of a funeral dirge only they could hear.
Chapter Fifteen
It had been a week since the now-infamous kiss, and Nina was finally feeling better about how she’d chosen to handle it: a hearty regime of silent, torturous penitence. Things were going well with Lacey, and Noah was enjoying having her around again, but she was missing her daily communications with Daphne. Early on, they’d fallen into a routine of pithy texts and funny memes and lunchtime FaceTime that Nina hadn’t realized had become a welcome respite from the mental rigors of her day as an executive and mom. It didn’t make sense to allow that one little glitch between them to taint an otherwise healthy friendship.
Sitting in front of her work laptop in her home office, she kept glancing at her phone in anticipation of Daphne’s call. She’d texted her that morning, telling her to call when she was on her lunch break. Nina wanted to hear her voice and tone, not just pass typed words between them.
“Hey, stranger,” Nina said when the call finally came in. “How’s it going? Sophie home yet?”
“She’s in a rehab facility trying to learn how to talk again.” Daphne’s voice sounded laden with sadness.
“What? Why didn’t you tell me that?” Her skin prickled with the feeling of being slighted.
“I don’t know,” Daphne said after a lengthy pause. “I wasn’t sure what to do. Things have felt a little weird since…you know.”
Nina wavered between agreeing with her and feeling furious that she hadn’t shared such a critical update with her. “Can we just file that in the past now? It happened. And yes, it was awkward and surprising, but it really wasn’t that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.”
“Valid. I hated not talking to you about what’s happening with Sophie. Whatever’s going on, you always manage to make me feel better about it.”
“Yeah, well, I can do that only if you let me know what’s going on.”
Daphne sighed. “I’m glad we straightened this out, Nina. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” Nina paused, noticing that they both sounded a little like long-distance lovers yearning for a reunion. Or was that just her imagination? Whatever. “Listen. I texted because I heard about a small commercial space available in North Haven. Wanna take a look at it with me?”
“Uh, when did you have in mind?”
“Whatever day or night works for you, but it should be this week. It’s in a great location and probably won’t be available long.”
After a long silence, Daphne said, “I don’t know if I’m ready for that step.”
“How come? Because of Sophie?”
“No. Because of me. I’m feeling sort of overwhelmed.”
“With what?”
“The website traffic. I’ve been so busy filling all the orders and watching my inventory level. I don’t even know how I’m getting so many all of a sudden.”
“I’ve been promoting your site for you, in antique-collector forums on social media. I’m so glad it’s working.”
“It sure is.”
“Daph, is something wrong, other than Sophie? You don’t seem like yourself.”
A pit of dead silence, then finally, “To be honest, I’m feeling too much like my old self, neurotic and insecure.”
“Okay, well, I certainly don’t want you to feel that way, especially about something that’s supposed to make you happy. We can pass on the retail space for now. There’s no rush.”
“Are you horribly disappointed in me?”
“What? No. Why would I be?”
“C’mon, Nina. You’re this hugely successful businesswoman who’s practically set me up in my own business with everything from the website, to the promotion of it, and now to finding me retail-space. And here I am doing everything I can to sabotage it. Classic Daphne being Daphne.”
“Whoa. What’s with this defeatist attitude? That’s not classic you, not the you I know.”
“My ‘fake it till you make it’ strategy must be failing.”
“You need to come over for dinner tonight so I can slap some sense into you. And don’t tell me you have plans.”
Daphne chuckled. “I could tell you I do, but you wouldn’t believe me. What time and what should I bring?”
“Seven o’clock. Just bring yourself. Lacey’s marinating shrimp and chicken for a taco bar.”
“What’s the alcohol you put in margaritas?”
“Tequila?”
“I’ll bring that.”
“Perfect.” Nina ended the call, and despite securing Daphne as a dinner guest that night, she felt a lingering sadness at the way she’d sounded on the phone. Had that kiss taken them beyond the point of no return? Maybe it was a mistake calling her. Whatever. If it was, she’d be able to assess how big of one it was later that night.
* * *
After Nina ended the call, Daphne’s appetite deserted her. She returned to the break room only to clean up and toss out the soggy salad she’d left unattended. For once, a conversation with Nina hadn’t lifted her spirits. Waiting each day for a positive word on Sophie was wearing her down. She looked forward to taking the edge off later with a margarita or two. But something else was bugging her—the way Nina just casually threw in at the end of the call that Lacey was joining them.
“Why’d you rush out of the break room? Lunch wasn’t even over yet,” Pascale said from the edge of her cubicle.
She pulled off her headset. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Everything’s terrible.”
“What’s going on? Have you worked it out with Nina yet?”
Daphne nodded. “She insisted I come for dinner tonight for tacos.”
“If that doesn’t solve everything, you may need professional help.”
“Her girlfriend’s going to be there, too.”
“So what? Doesn’t she have a kid, too?”
“The one has nothing to do with the other.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “From my experience, a kid is a way bigger cock block than the friend that hangs around. At least you can get rid of her.”
“Pascale, what in the hell are you saying? I’m the friend, not Lacey. If there was a cock-block issue, it’s me. I’m the cock block.”
“Oh. Well, if you weren’t hoping to get laid, then chill out. It doesn’t matter who’s there.”
Daphne dropped her forehead into her palm, then looked up at him. “Then you wonder why I say I can only talk to my female friends about adult things. You’re a complete ass.”
“I just like to keep things simple, Daph. You’re constantly with Nina…”
“Not constantly.”
“You made out.”
“Kissed, not made out.”
“And now you’re jealous the girlfriend’s coming to dinner because you’re catching feelings for her.”
“Not catching—” Daphne narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you mean, catching feelings? I don’t have feelings for her. I just want to spend some quality time with my friend without having to watch her Alpha female girlfriend make googly eyes at her the whole time.”
He stared at her for a moment. “Why do women always do that?”
“Do what?”
“You try to have an honest conversation with them, and all the while they’re denying their feelings until months later, when they’re finally hit over the head with them like a meteor. Life wou
ld be so much easier if you could just acknowledge what others see from the start.”
Daphne jumped up from her chair. “First of all, your sweeping generalizations about women are offensive.” She pushed him out of her cubicle and down the hall toward his. “Second, if I had anything like that to admit to you, I would, because everyone knows men listen only about thirty percent of the time you’re actually talking to them anyway.” She then shoved him down into his office chair. “Third, I’ll thank you to spend your afternoon coffee break anywhere but in my cubicle.”
As she marched back to her desk, she laughed when she heard Pascale apologizing from the edge of his cubicle. “I forgive you, but you’re still banished,” she replied over her shoulder.
Although she loved him, he irked her with his simplistic philosophies and observations about life. If anyone would know she was catching feelings for Nina, it would be Daphne. Nina was extremely attractive and compassionate. Anyone could have a weak moment around her. It didn’t mean they were falling in love.
* * *
After work Daphne stopped in at the rehab facility to visit Sophie. She walked in as Sophie was eating dinner with the help of an occupational therapist.
“Hi, Sophie,” she said, then looked at the therapist. “Should I come back?”
“No, no,” he said. “She’s almost done. I’m Scott, her OT.” He extended his hand. “Besides, I’m sure she’d like the company. She had lots of therapy today, didn’t you, Soph?”
Sophie looked at him and nodded. She then looked at Daphne with a glint of recognition in her eyes.
Daphne dragged a chair next to her bed. “Do you remember who I am? I’m Daphne, your neighbor and bestie.”
“Daphne,” Sophie muttered. “Neighbor.”
“Oh, my God.” Daphne looked at the therapist. “She’s talking. That’s awesome.”
“Only single words, but it’s a big step.”
“She’s responding to therapy then?”
He nodded with just enough optimism to encourage her. “She has physical therapy for the partial paralysis, speech therapy, and occupational therapy with yours truly.” He pointed to himself. “She’s still got fight in her, don’t you, Big Mama?”
Daphne thought she detected the side of Sophie’s mouth rise in a smile.
“She likes it when I call her that,” he said.
Daphne clutched her wrists gently. “You absolutely are a fighter, Soph. And when you get home, we’re going to toast to your speedy recovery, okay?”
Sophie looked as though she was formulating something to say, but all she managed was a barely perceptible nod. Daphne didn’t want her disappointment to show, so she smiled and shook her hand. “And it’s a good thing you’re a lefty, so your pouring hand wasn’t affected.”
The therapist got up and grabbed Sophie’s dinner tray. “She’s all set with therapy for the day, so feel free to sit and chat with her.”
Daphne shook his hand. “Thank you for taking good care of her. I can’t wait till she’s ready to go home.”
He looked as though he was about to say something, but smiled and patted Sophie’s shoulder. “You’re working really hard at getting better. I’m proud of your effort.”
Daphne sighed when he walked out. That was not the response she’d hoped for. She needed to be realistic, given that Sophie was in her early eighties and a full recovery from a stroke was a lot to expect. But what the hell. If any elderly person was capable of a full recovery, it was that old bird sitting next to her.
“So listen, Soph. Since you’re not too talkative these days, you won’t mind listening to me for bit, will you?”
“Daphne. My neighbor,” Sophie said out of nowhere.
“Yes, that’s me. I’m your BFF, too. Don’t forget that. Can you say BFF?”
Slowly Sophie repeated the initials, and Daphne clapped.
“You’re going to be back to your old self, dragging me about my lifestyle choices in no time. I can tell.” She slipped her hand under Sophie’s. “Speaking of which, listen to this. You know my coworker, Pascale? Do you know what he had the nerve to say to me?”
Daphne grabbed a napkin and blotted the corner of Sophie’s mouth still experiencing paralysis.
“He accused me of having feelings for Nina. Remember Nina, my friend who likes antiques, too? He said that I’m jealous that Nina’s girlfriend, Lacey, is going to be at her house tonight when I go over there for tacos. That isn’t even remotely true. What do you think?”
Sophie nodded.
Daphne was confused. “What’s that? You’re nodding. Who are you agreeing with, Pascale or me?”
Sophie looked like she was trying to formulate a “P” sound with her lips.
“Pascale? You’re agreeing with him? He’s an idiot. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” She sat back in her chair and folded her arms. “Is that what you’re doing, agreeing with Pascale that I have feelings for Nina?”
Sophie nodded once.
“I can’t believe this. You suffered a stroke and can barely communicate your basic needs, but somehow you’ve managed to call me out on my alleged feelings for Nina—which, by the way, I do not have.”
Sophie’s eyes flickered with a smile, although she appeared to be growing weary, periodically closing them for several seconds.
“I’m not denying that I love Nina. Of course I do, but only as a friend. I love you, too, as a friend, but I wouldn’t get all bent out of shape if you got a boyfriend or something.”
“Willie,” Sophie whispered.
Daphne turned around, expecting to see Sophie’s son, Will, walking into the room, but nobody was there. “You want your son? Has he been to see you recently?”
Sophie shook her head and repeated, “Willie.”
Daphne felt bad, wondering if her son had basically dumped her here from the hospital and hadn’t bothered with her. “I’m sure he’ll be here to visit you soon.” She thought about texting the jerk and letting him know his mother was asking for him but didn’t.
A nurse walked in pushing a computer cart. “Good evening, Sophie. Can I get a blood-pressure check?”
“Hello,” Daphne said. “Do you know if her son has been to visit her?”
“Um, I’m not sure if it was earlier today or yesterday. She gets a visit every day, whether it’s her son or daughter-in-law.”
“Oh. Okay.” Daphne felt quietly ashamed for assuming the worst about her son, especially since in Sophie’s condition, she might not always be aware of all of the visitors coming and going.
“So anyway, I was telling you about Pascale accusing me of being in love with Nina…”
“Willie,” Sophie repeated, and the expression in her eyes when she said it this time suggested she wasn’t calling for her son.
The look nearly brought Daphne to tears. “Are you talking about your husband, Willie?”
When Sophie raised her hand to her heart, Daphne panicked. Oh, my God. Does she think her husband is still alive and she’s calling for him, or is she just missing him? A third option occurred to her, and she whipped her head around to see if she’d glimpse the ghost of Mr. Gorski floating into the room.
She was asking for her husband. How incredibly, romantically gut-wrenching.
She remembered hearing that you’re not supposed to keep reminding Alzheimer’s patients that their loved ones are dead. Did that apply to stroke victims, too?
She decided to play it safe, and instead of saying anything, she just squeezed Sophie’s hand and nodded.
* * *
As it neared the time of Daphne’s arrival, Nina wished she’d picked a night when Lacey wasn’t coming over. She’d invited her on the spur of the moment because Daphne had sounded so down, but now, as Lacey hugged her and kissed her neck from behind while she scooped sour cream into a bowl, she would’ve liked time alone with Daphne to chat and make sure she was truly okay.
“Your guacamole is delicious, babe,” Lacey said after sticking her pinkie fing
er in the dish and licking it.
Nina smiled. “Thanks. Can you get the bean-and-feta dip out from the fridge? I’m not sure that even goes with Mexican, but it’s so tasty and easy to make.”
“It’s perfect, like you.” Lacey ran ice through the blender in preparation for the first batch of margaritas. “What time is Daphne coming?”
“Any minute,” Nina replied as she sliced limes.
“How about we have a test run?” Lacey poured the drinks into margarita glasses and handed one to Nina. “Let me know how I did.”
Nina sipped the drink and savored the pinch of tequila as it slid down her throat. “Mmm. You did good.”
“Daphne’s here,” Noah called out from the living room.
“Thanks, honey,” Nina replied. “Could you get the door for her?”
Daphne walked into the kitchen, greeted them, and handed Nina a bottle of Cuervo Gold. “I wasn’t sure what brand to choose, so the guy at the package store said this is good in margaritas.”
“Thank you.” Nina took the bottle and placed it in on the counter.
“What flavor do you prefer, Daphne? Regular or mango?” Lacey held the empty glass. “I have regular here.”
“Since I’ve never had any kind of margarita before, I’ll go with whatever you recommend.”
Nina looked at Lacey, then at Daphne. “Have you ever had tequila?”
“Nope.” Daphne pointed both thumbs at herself. “A verified tequila virgin right here.”
“This should be fun,” Lacey muttered and smirked as she poured the drink.
“What does that mean?” Daphne said.
“She’s just kidding.” Nina shot Lacey a glare. “But sometimes tequila affects people in different ways. How do you usually do with vodka?”
“I usually drink wine or beer, but to answer your question, the last time I had vodka was when I crashed my ex’s wedding reception.”
“Now that’s a fun way to spend a Friday night,” Lacey said as she handed Daphne her drink.
Was it Nina’s imagination, or had she detected a small note of sarcasm in Lacey’s tone?
One Woman’s Treasure Page 16