by K. F. Breene
I commenced my evasion tactics. “It would be silly to move in right before you leave for three weeks.”
“You have plenty of guys to help. You can put your stuff where ever, and however you want. You’ve seen the bronze goat statue—I’m not picky.”
“I know, but… let’s just wait until after you get back.”
“Why? Why wait?”
“Because I’ll be lonely. I’ll be moving into an empty, William-less place. At the cottage I’m at least close to Gladis. I have someone to hang out with.”
William sighed. It was a damn good argument. I knew by the frustration on his face. Which meant I’d won. For now.
“Fine. But when I get back, you move in.”
My turn to sigh. “We’ll talk about it.”
“Jessica, I just don’t understand—“ His phone cut him off, thank God. He looked at the name, debated answering it, then did. “Yeah?”
I used that opportunity to escape to the bathroom. When I got back, William was sitting, staring out the window. He waited for me to sit down before he said, “Adam and Betz are on their way. But this conversation isn’t over.”
“What are they up to?”
“Did you hear me? This conversation—“
“I know, I know. I was sitting right here, I heard.”
“Okay, just so you know.”
The honeymoon period in our relationship was long gone. It made Adam and Lump really irritating some of the time, because they were still going through theirs.
William took a sip of his coffee and said, “They were debating going out to breakfast, so they were calling to see if we wanted to go. Told him we were here. Invited them. Adam offered to let us talk, instead. Told him you’d probably torture him for it. In a nutshell.”
“How long are you planning on being in a bad mood?”
William laughed despite himself and leaned back. “You’re just so stubborn about some things. I love you; I want you around always. I want all your stuff in my place. I want to see you when I get home and not have to worry about what stuff I have where. I just…I want you to move in.”
“Yeah, yeah. Just another Davies mad that he isn’t getting what he wants.”
William laughed again, his eyes sparkled as they caught the morning sun, beaming that pure, beautiful blue at me. “I will get what I want.”
“Says you.”
“I’ll probably have to sacrifice a limb for it, but I’ll get it.”
It was then Lump walked in, followed by Adam. Thankfully they had stopped glowing every time they had sex, but this morning they both looked really tired, which meant—I let my head fill with buzz.
“Howdy-do ladies and gents,” Adam said, completely relaxed.
“I am not going to enjoy being your guys’ third wheel,” I muttered.
Lump sat next to me and grabbed my coffee. “I’m much more awesome than you are. You’ll love it.”
“Fat chance. Adam, can you get your woman a coffee so I can have mine back?”
“Yup. Willie?”
“Refill. Thanks.”
“So, what are you two bitter about?” Lump asked, finishing my coffee for me.
“Adam, make that a full round,” I yelled.
“Ahead of ya,” he shouted back.
“William isn’t getting his way as quickly as he wants.”
“Uh oh. That explains his constipated look. And, pray tell, what does he want?”
“Talk to you later about it.”
“Her to move in. Finally,” William said, staring at me.
“Ah.” Lump looked for her next round of coffee.
“Don’t you think it’s about time?” William asked Lump.
“She’ll talk to me later about it.” Lump had a fair idea of my hang-ups. And she also knew that this was a situation where she would need to take sides, and as one of her oldest friends, and a woman, that side would be mine. Although, if she didn’t agree, it would be worse than having William on my case.
Although, if things kept on the way they were, she would soon be in my boat, with the same circumstances. She’d definitely side with me. Then wait to see how it unfolded in anticipation of her future problems.
Changing the subject, and ignoring William’s frustrated stare easily, Lump said, “Gladis has been acting funny lately.”
“I know, but how specifically?” I asked, grabbing my coffee and nodding at Adam.
“She had a clear shot to hit me with a banana, but she didn’t even bother. She said she wasn’t in the mood. When is she not in the mood for a game?”
“Crazy game y’all are playin’,” Adam shook his head.
William had got her twice, so far, and both times when she was kissing or cuddling Adam. She nearly knocked Adam flat on his ass the second time to get away. Adam hadn’t moved fast enough, though, being too heavy, and William took that round. It was hard to tell who was madder; Adam for getting pushed, or Lump for getting impeded and losing that round to William.
Lump had still never hit William—she reversed the challenge when she got hit the last time. William was fast, and Lump wasn’t near as sneaky. She only got close when he was coming around corners—or when I sabotaged him for her.
“Did she hurt her arm, maybe? You know she doesn’t like to admit injuries,” I speculated.
“I don’t know, Jess. I don’t think so. I think she just isn’t feeling all that great these days. Lady will only take one day off, and that is with the strict understanding that Adam and I will stay at Gladis’s for that night.”
I once asked Adam if it was weird staying with Lump in a room at Gladis’s house. He’d said that the first night, yes, absolutely. He really didn’t want to, but Lump strong armed him. Apparently, though, his unease ended abruptly when he woke up to an extravagant breakfast, a paper, and seconds on anything he chose. Oh yeah, and his boots shined by the time he was ready to leave. He never complained again. Lump even caught him leaving the door open so his laundry would be done by the time he came back. He obviously missed his mama doing all his chores.
“Tell her about the other thing,” Adam said.
“Oh yeah. She keeps trying to corner me into agreeing to expand the business. ‘Cause, it’s, you know, doing well…” Lump had a sip of her coffee to hide her pride.
“I visited,” William said, leaning back in his chair and nearly putting his arm over Adam’s shoulders.
Adam jumped and leaned away, a big grin on his face. “Now, I know I’m pretty, Willie, but don’t go mistakin’ me for Jessie.”
William smiled in embarrassment. “As Jessica would say, ‘my bad.’ Anyway, I stopped in when you asked if I wanted to invest. Or, when Jessica asked, anyway.” Lump had needed more cash to move to a bigger place, and I figured investing was the way to go. That’s how I ended up with 25%, William and Adam with 12% each, and Lump with the majority, 51%. “You’re doing good. The set-up is well thought out, the classes seem organized and well received—you made it a success.”
Lump’s face turned red. “Jess was huge in that. I’m good at the hands on, she’s good at everything else.”
Now it was William showing pride. He went to put his arm around Adam’s shoulders again.
“Jessie, switch with me,” Adam said, jumping out of the chair. “Next he’ll be trying to cop a feel, and I don’t swing that way.”
“Are you sure?” I asked, obliging. I got a dark look.
“Well, anyway,” Lump continued, smiling at what I’d said, “she has been trying to get me thinking about expanding the business. I mean, seriously expanding. As in, nationwide. She doesn’t think I am using my full potential.”
“What’s wrong with that? You aren’t,” William divulged.
“She’s lazy and doesn’t see things through,” I answered. “But if you didn’t know that, I can see Gladis trying to push. She always wants what’s best.”
“I agree,” Adam said. He got an elbow. “I mean, not about the lazy part, but yeah, I can see how
Gladis would want Lump to push her advantage. But, Jessie, it’s not that, it’s the way she’s after it. Really pushing at her. Pushing at me to get Betz to get some plans together.”
“I don’t know.” Lump shook her head. “I catch her walking through the house, noticing things. Like she’s taking inventory.”
“I wouldn’t let that worry you too much,” William stated. All three of us turned to look at him, his nonchalance misplaced in this group. He put up his hands in surrender, “Not that I’m saying it isn’t strange. It is. I’ll mention it to my mother—“
“Oh, good plan. Denise’ll snoop and push until she finds out what’s going on.” I approved.
William gave me a squeeze—his arm having finally found rest on the back of my chair. “She’ll inquire, yes. But Gladis is getting up there, and she probably knows it. She wants to make sure everything is taken care of, and that probably means you girls. I wouldn’t treat it like Doom’s Day.”
“Well, I think you should stay at the cottage while Willie is gone, Jess,” Lump said. “We’re going to stay more often, too. Make Gladis think she has a full house. Lord knows Adam keeps everyone plenty busy for the staff to assume he was five men instead of one.”
“Is it my fault everyone gets things for me? It’d be rude to say no!”
“You’re not a guest.”
“I am so.”
“Then why don’t you make me meals and clean up after me at your house?” Lump quirked her eyebrow at him.
“Because that is my house, and you are the girlfriend. You should be doing that for me. You are in Gladis’s house, and there I was a guest long before you came along.”
“I should be doing that for you? Should I be wiping your ass, too?”
“If you can stomach it.” Adam was totally dead pan.
Lump scoffed. “Jess, dead arm.”
I got up immediately with an excited grin and punched Adam in the arm.
By rule, Lump and Adam did not hit each other. They did not act in violence toward or around each other in any way, even when they got in spirited arguments. I, however, could hit, kick and bite Adam as much as I wanted. And since I was always on Lump’s side—in public—I got to enforce her irritation.
William had tried to put a stop to it once, but he got a high-heel thrown at his head, which he narrowly dodged. Being that my punches didn’t hurt Adam all that much, and I usually got a nuggie for my efforts, which really sucked when my hair was looking good, everyone stopped complaining.
Another Saturday without William. He’d been gone for two weeks now. Missing him had moved from a dull ache to a sharp pain. When you are with a guy every day, nonstop, for months and months, then suddenly his warmth disappeared—well, the return to the single life was a lonely one.
It didn’t help that everyone I knew had boyfriends, and liked to spend all their time with said boyfriend. Except Candace, who now had a fiancé, thanks to stupid Valentine’s Day.
My response when William told me: Valentine’s? He ruined a proposal with that loser holiday? But Candace was thrilled, so who was I to judge?
I made my way through the beautiful crisp morning to Gladis’s house. Per Lump’s request, I had been spending all my time at the cottage—except for a day now and again so I could check on William’s house and also sniff his smell off his sheets like a creep.
I let myself in the back door, as I had a million times before, and closed the door on Fred so he’d stay outside. The freaking dog was feeding off my listlessness and moaning constantly; it was driving me crazy. I really hoped I wasn’t that irritating.
I found an empty parlor, but a happy Adam stuffing his face at the small kitchen table. The table wasn’t actually in the kitchen, since the kitchen was giant and mostly industrial, but it was in a small dining room off the kitchen where people could get a quick bite on their way to do whatever. Or for Adam to setup shop and get seconds and thirds on everything the cooks could dish out.
“What’s up, Butternut?” I asked, sitting across from him at the round table.
He looked up with troubled, brown eyes.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“I’ll let Betsy tell ya. Probably nothin’.”
“Note to you: I hate when people do that.”
Adam shrugged and bent over his plate full of greasy breakfast items.
“When will she be down?”
“She went out for a run.”
“How long ago?”
“She drank some OJ and headed out. I was just sittin’ down to grub.”
“You measure time by how much you’ve eaten?”
Adam looked up again, with a smirk this time. “When I get fed this well, yup.”
The light was coming through the window next to Adam and hitting him just right. His brown eyes, once brooding, were now soft and deep. He had just enough twinkle to invite conversation, whereas before he’d be the statue against the wall, relying on William’s conservational skills. His dark brown hair was tussled, and the light emphasized his perfect features.
“You’re looking good, cowboy. Hotter than before, I think,” I said, sitting back to analyze.
And he was. Something about him had softened, or deepened, maybe. Or maybe he’d just cleared away all the rubble, and was now enjoying his life. Whatever it was, he looked better for it. It made my insides squishy—I was really happy for the guy. He was an important friend to me; loyal and honest and good. I was glad whatever had plagued him before was easier to deal with now.
Or maybe he was just getting laid. Funny things happen to a guy that isn’t getting laid properly.
Adam straightened up and looked at me cock-eyed, his bacon halfway to his mouth. “You hittin’ on me?”
“Um…yes? Wanna roll in the hay?”
“Can’t. I only date ladies, and ladies don’t say ‘um’.” He laughed and finished putting the bacon in his mouth.
“You, too? Hm. Well, I’d be offended if Lump hadn’t tricked you so thoroughly into thinking her a lady.”
Adam smiled and nodded, mouth now full of egg. The guy shoveled food into his face like it was his last meal.
“She’s a good woman, Jess. I thank God every day for her. And you and Willie, too, because without you hangin’ around, she wudda taken off runnin’ after Gladis’s party. We took a long road to get where we’re at, but I’m glad for it. I found a good thing in her.”
“Wow, sentimental morning.”
“It’s true. I love that woman somethin’ fierce. Do anything for her. Got me a rude awakenin’, knowing I ended up just as whipped as Willie, and caring jus’ as little by it.”
I paused as Joanna walked in with coffee. “You want eggs Miss Jessica?”
“Um—“ Wince. Damn it! “Yes please. And some toast if you don’t mind?”
“Of course. Why I mind? I get paid to cook. You here to eat. So, there you go.” Joanna walked out, shaking her head.
I watched her go with a smirk. “I like that all Gladis’s employees have attitudes.”
“That Joanna is from Cuba. Gladis got her legalized when she found out Joanna didn’t have good paperwork. She’s got three kids.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. When Gladis has to follow the rules, she does it ethically. I bet all these people make a fortune.”
“Yeah. Still. I’ve known Gladis a long time. She knew my father. Never approved, but she knew him. Guess I never really got to know her. Not like I do now. She’s a good lady. Better’n most. Never knew the half of it, I guess.”
“Cripes, it is a sentimental morning, huh?” I leaned out of the way so Joanna could put my breakfast in front of me.
“Jam?” she asked.
“No, thank you.” I got a nod before she walked away.
Then something occurred to me. “Adam,” I said slowly. He looked up at the change in my tone. “Why is it a sentimental morning?”
Adam’s face became guarded. “It’s nothin’.”
“Tell me. I will start cr
ying if you make me wait for Lump.”
Guarded became slightly panicked. “Jess, it ain’t my place—“
Thinking the worst, I felt tears well up, which had Adam halfway out of his chair. Then, realizing he wouldn’t have to console me if he just told him, he sat back down.
“Gladis just had some pain in her chest—“
“What?” I interrupted in panic.
“Now hold on. She had some pain, and a little trouble breathing—“
I half stood up, tears free-falling. Adam stood up with me and moved around the table to grab hold and squeeze me to his chest in his default “stop Jessica from crying” mode.
I knew better than to struggle—he’d just squeeze harder and it’d hurt. The time I got a paper cut from Lump’s mail, then started crying in frustration because her finances were all messed up—PMS didn’t help that situation—Adam had crushed me and started freaking out, calling William in a dead panic. It took Lump pushing him away for my tears of anger to turn into manic laughter at the freaked out look on the big brute’s face—I had terrible, yet exciting, mood swings one day a month. Poor Adam still thinks I’m crazy.
Hence his current rib cracking hug.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh thank the Lord!” Adam sighed, releasing me and pushing me at Lump.
“What’s going on with Gladis?” I asked immediately, nearly sobbing.
“Adam! I told you you’d only upset her.”
“What the hell was I supposed to do? She started crying for Pete’s sakes!”
“Good thing I’m not a crier.” Lump sighed as she pushed me back toward the chair. “He’d probably hang himself once a month.”
“I don’t love your monthly temper, neither.” Adam looked back in forth from his unfinished breakfast and the door.
Lump sighed. “Jess, it’s not that big of a deal—“
“But Adam said chest pain and shortness of breath.”
Lump turned to Adam with a look of doom. “Are you serious?”
Getting lost won out. Except, Adam was smart—he grabbed his plate and headed into the kitchen. He’d probably need seconds, and would surely get some peace and quiet; Joanna didn’t bother you if you didn’t bother her.