“What? I just offered you exactly what you wanted.” Worth looks at me with genuine surprise.
“Get out!” I repeat. “You have no idea what I want,” I say hoping my words slice through his egotistical posturing.
He scans me up and down. “Well, it can’t be these little toys,” he walks over to the display of Smurfs and picks one up carelessly.
“Do not touch those! They are priceless Smurfs,” I yell sharply.
He laughs and tosses the blue guy to the floor. “Did you just say priceless Smurfs? What has happened to you?” Worth sighs heavily. “You obviously aren’t thinking clearly. I’ll give you some time to get back in a proper frame of mind but you better do it quickly or you’ll be walking over rubble on your way to work.” He walks out the door.
I’m absolutely shaking with anger, frustration and fear. Worth has only ever seen me as an object to be put on display like garniture on the shelf. Danny doesn’t make me feel that way at all. He makes me feel seen and that makes me feel confident.
I need to correct the mistake I made. I was stupid for thinking I could make everything right all by myself. I’ve been a solo act for so long that I’m not sure how to play a duet, but I should at least know that it means honesty and openness. I need to tell Danny everything about agreeing to meet with Worth. I just hope he’ll forgive me for being so stupid. He’s only been honest and open with me and deserves the same in return. I don’t want to play by myself anymore. I want us to make music together as part of an ensemble.
I look over at Toothy lying on the floor where Worth tossed him, grinning his bright smile before he takes the toothbrush to his mouth. I pick him up and put him back in the village with all the other busy blue members of the community. Now he is exactly where he belongs.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Danny
I’m a few miles away from the shop when I realize I forgot the vintage thimble I’ve been meaning to give Kasia for her collection. I hate having to backtrack but smile at the fact that it means I’ll be able to give Prescott a second goodbye kiss.
As I approach the shop I notice that someone is inside talking to Prescott but I can’t see who it is since the windows are frosted over. Something in my gut tells me to hang back a bit. Maybe I shouldn’t spy on him like this but then I begin to make out exactly who is in there with him.
It’s Worth.
I can see his face in one of the mirrors that Prescott has on display and I wish I couldn’t. What is he doing here and why are they sitting so close to each other? Prescott and I discussed meeting with him privately and decided it was a bad idea. Then I remember Prescott ushering me out the door to my appointment. Could he have planned this meeting in secret when he knew I would be away from town?
I’m about to step out of the shadow and enter when I see the only thing that could stop me.
A kiss.
As soon as I see their faces next to each other I turn away. They are definitely not a safe distance apart and certainly not far enough apart for an ex-boyfriend when your current boyfriend is about to come back. Everything is blurry through the window but I don’t want to see any more. I walk a few yards past the window. How could he do this to me? How could he kiss Worth right in the shop?
Maybe there’s an explanation. I think about going back to the store and demanding to know what’s going on. But where would that get me? I saw what I saw. Ever since Worth’s name was mentioned I thought I felt him pulling away. It was just a bit at first and then this past week after Worth’s performance at the community meeting Prescott has seemed quieter than he has been recently, more shut down. Not to mention his silence after his presentation at the city council.
He assured me that Worth was nothing to him anymore and, gullible heartsick fool that I am, I believed him. I always do this. I jump in when I should tread. I thought we were going slowly. I though the whole point of going at this speed was to prevent the deep cut opening in my heart at this moment. I really thought we were on the same page about building this relationship but apparently not. Does he have any idea what he’s throwing away?
How could he even think about being with the guy who is planning to tear down his beloved Yardley House? I’m sure he couldn’t care less about the bank, but I believed him when he talked with such eloquence and passion about that special roof and the augmented doorways and hand-blown windows. How could he do this to me?
I can’t face him or anyone. I’ll go to Kasia’s next week. I’m too angry and too hurt. I’ll make up some excuse later. I can’t get over the fact that he was with him right there in the middle of the afternoon in the shop where we both work. He’s smarter than that. Then I think maybe that’s exactly what he wanted. He wanted me to see. He wanted a scene where he could claim I was being dramatic and he could dump me without having any blood on his hands and then rush off with Worth to become a matching set of candlesticks. Were we just too different to make this work?
I march up Ferry Street back to the apartment with no intention of giving Prescott the big scene he wants. I open the door and Lizard is on the couch.
“It’s the middle of the afternoon. What are you doing home? Are you sick? Oh, no. Did you eat the Pad Thai I had in the fridge because that wasn’t Pad Thai.”
“I’m not sick,” I say and collapse on the couch next to her. “And what do you mean that wasn’t Pad Thai?”
“That’s not important—or at least not important right now. What’s going on?”
“I saw Prescott kissing someone in the shop.”
“He was what!” she shouts, jumping up from the couch. “Are you kidding me? In the middle of the day he is just making out with some rando in the store?”
“I wouldn’t say making out and it wasn’t some rando. His ex, that horrible guy Worth.”
“Ugh. With the fancy car and million-dollar haircut who’s tearing down the buildings?”
“Yeah, that guy.”
I tell her the whole story about how I was on my way to Kasia and when I came back I found them locking lips.
“Well, what did he say when you walked in?”
“Walked in? I didn’t step foot in the place. I don’t even think he saw me. At least I hope he didn’t. As soon as I saw Worth on him, I left.”
Prescott
Where are you? You okay? I text to Danny. I’ve been sitting at the pizzeria waiting for him, wondering if I misunderstood the plans for dinner. I’m getting worried. I stare at my phone and nervously smooth out the red-and-white tablecloth under my hand. We’ve been coming to Gaspo’s a lot since we got together. It’s quickly becoming “our place” and I’m glad we decided to meet here. Kicking Worth out felt good. I’m nervous about telling Danny that I met with Worth privately but I’m glad I can tell him how I kicked him out. I hope he’ll understand. He’s got to.
Finally the bubbles indicating he is texting me back appear. I immediately feel relief. Maybe he ran into a friend, started chatting and lost track of time. He does know everyone. Maybe he and Kasia stopped for a cup of coffee somewhere. There are lots of reasons he might be late, I tell myself.
Ate some bad Pad Thai. Not feeling well. Went home. Poor guy. I hate the thought of him in any pain. I look at my phone and it takes me a second to realize why the text seems odd. There isn’t a single emoji. Danny usually creates the strangest combination of tacos, smiley faces and flags in even the shortest response. He must be feeling really crappy.
I’m so sorry. Let me bring you some soup, I text back. Maybe something with a salty broth will make him feel better. I can fix a tray for him and tell him all about my afternoon. Come clean. Clear the air.
This time it barely takes him a second to respond. No, is all he says. I wait to see if he follows up with anything else but he doesn’t. When I’m sick I just want to crawl into a spot and be alone. Although before I met Danny everything made me want to crawl into
a spot and be alone. I want that a lot less currently, and I definitely want to crawl into a spot with him now—but still I need to give him the space he needs to feel better.
Okay. Just text me if you need anything at all. I stare at the text before sending it. First I think about including an emoji but that’s really not my style. Then it hits me. What I want to say is: “Love you.” I enter the text carefully and stare at it for a second. I’m shocked I wrote it but the fact is I do. I love him. I love his openness and honesty. I love how he makes me laugh and I love how he makes me feel when we are together. The cursor at the end of the message blinks like a siren forcing me to make a decision. How do you feel, Prescott? How do you feel? The answer comes to me quickly. I love him. I do.
But a text is not the way to express it. I delete it and just leave the part that offers my help if he needs it.
When I get home I mostly spend the time online searching for Danny’s Amore hoodie. I pay extra for the overnight shipping and plan to give it to him the next day in the shop. I might even tell him exactly how I feel.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Prescott
When I get to the shop the next morning Danny isn’t there. Normally I’d think that was odd because he’s such an early bird. He usually has the potbelly stove roaring before I’ve started across the bridge. He must still be really sick. I checked my phone all night in case I needed to run over to his place with anything, but I didn’t get any messages so I figured he was sleeping off whatever bug he might have gotten. The fact that he isn’t in the shop this morning prompts me to check on him again.
How are you feeling? Do need anything? I can run up with a latte or breakfast if you’re up for it.
No. Don’t, he texts back immediately. Won’t be in today. Maybe tomorrow.
I go to type a heart but I realize I’m not even sure how to use the emojis. There are dozens of hearts, all different colors in different styles. I have no idea what each one means and I’m worried I’ll send the wrong one so I just type Feel better and wish it was easier for me to express my feelings even in text.
If yesterday afternoon dragged then this morning is going backward. I spend most of my time staring at Danny’s desk and even walking over to his side and playing with some of the things he has on display. It’s late afternoon when I’m in the middle of a hypnotic session with a Slinky Dog when the delivery I’m waiting for arrives. I sign for it and thank the woman before tearing the box open. It’s Danny’s hoodie, bright blue with the Amore Chocolate logo featuring that man who looks so much like Danny. I decide to close the shop and hand deliver the present to Danny hoping it will cheer him up. I won’t stay long, just a drive-by to let him know I’m thinking about him. I can wait to make my confession until he feels better.
I knock on the door to the apartment and Lizard answers. She always makes me nervous but in this moment she has a scowl on her face that makes her usual scowl look like a Girl Scout salute.
“What do you want?” she asks.
“Uhm...hello... I was wondering if, please, Danny is feeling better. Is he home?” I ask. Her confrontation has me rattled. I expect her to open the door widely and let me pass but instead she steps outside and closes the door completely.
“You want to know how he’s doing?” It sounds like she is revving up to lay into me but then she suddenly slams the brakes. She takes a breath and says, “He’s fine.”
I’m not sure if I believe her. “Could I step in and see him? I brought him a gift.” I hold up the hoodie which I didn’t even take time to wrap since I wanted to get here so quickly.
Lizard looks at the garment and laughs out loud. It’s not a giggle. She’s mocking me but I’m not sure why. Did I get the wrong size? The wrong color? Does he actually hate Amore Chocolate?
“What do you think Danny is going to do with a sweatshirt with a picture of his grandfather on it, you jackass?”
I can admit the guy does look like Danny but what is she talking about? “I don’t understand. Grandfather?”
“You think Danny is some guy you toy with while you’re on vacation from your rich friends? You don’t know anything about him. The man on that sweatshirt is actually Danny’s grandfather. He started the company a few generations ago. Danny’s the heir to a fortune.”
“What are you talking about? I thought he said his father works at a restaurant or on cars or something.” I know Danny told me that. He never said anything about them being rich. He certainly didn’t say anything to make me believe otherwise.
“Uhm, yeah, his dad loves cars,” she says, the sarcasm dripping off her lips like ice cream down a cone. “He has a garage full. A Lamborghini, a vintage Porsche, a Bentley. Why don’t you just get lost?”
She walks back inside and slams the door.
I walk off the front porch and stand on the sidewalk with my phone out doing some very simple digging. I just need to add his name to the search term Amore Foods Inc. and the hits just pour down my screen. Amore Chocolate is part of Amore Food Incoporated which is part of Amore Industries. The parent company is worth millions—no, actually billions.
I find an empty bench down the block and sit down so I can find out more. There are corporate headquarters made out of steel and glass in various cities around the world, headlines about growing revenue and corporate mergers and pictures of the man who must be Danny’s father with celebrities and world leaders. In one image his father is at Buckingham Palace with an assortment of members of the royal family. Hit after hit about his family’s massive wealth scrolls down my screen. Images of mansions, yachts and parties. How could he keep something like this from me? How could he lead me to believe something else? I specifically remember having a conversation about growing up and having our dads work so they could make ends meet. It doesn’t make any sense but there it all is scrolling down my phone like rain ruining a picnic.
I shove my phone in my pocket. I can’t look anymore. His father was off with Prince Whoever and my dad was dealing cards at a casino. Is that why he felt he couldn’t tell me? This whole time I was opening up to him about my background, sharing with him who I really am, and he was feeding me a lie. I can’t believe I told him about Carol Ann. Tricked again, Prescott.
This is what happens when you open up to people. They lie to you. I’ve spent my whole career developing an astute eye so I can always spot a fake. The problem is, I should never have let my heart enter the equation.
Danny
“Did you get rid of him?” I ask Lizard, unable to get up from my hiding spot on the couch.
“Oh, yeah. He won’t be coming back here anytime soon,” she says. I can still feel the apartment vibrating from the door slam.
“I have to work with him. I told you to just tell him I wasn’t feeling well. What did you say?” I ask not really wanting to know. Lizard and I have always been fiercely protective of each other.
“You hated him for weeks. Now you can just go back to that. It’ll be fine.”
I’m not sure I ever really hated Prescott. From the moment I laid eyes on him I thought he was the handsomest guy I ever met and, sure, we clashed. We both shared a love for old things. They just happen to be different old things.
“I’m so stupid,” I tell Lizard. “I really thought this time would be different. I really thought we were taking things slowly so we could trust each other. I thought I just needed to meet a guy who liked me for me. The truth is this is actually worse.” I grab a throw pillow from the couch and hold it tightly for comfort. “At least before I could say that the guys cheated on me because they realized I’m not anybody’s meal ticket. I could tell myself it had nothing to do with me as a person.”
“It didn’t,” Lizard says firmly.
“He doesn’t know my family is loaded. In fact,” I pause, hesitating to reveal my omission out loud. “I led him to believe we were not very well-off.” Lizard’s eyes dart do
wn and her head follows. “I planned to tell him. I thought that once we got past the protest I would be able to. We’ve been so busy and then Worth came to town and it never seemed the right time. Now who cares? It’s not like the two of us were on the same page at all.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that because I sort of let it slip,” Lizard says peeking through her hands as they shield her eyes.
“You did?” I ask. The thought of him finding out from Lizard makes my entire body tense. That’s not how I wanted it to go down. I was picturing a warm fireplace after skating on a quiet pond not the doorway to my apartment and by my best friend and her rather sharp tongue. Still, it’s not her fault. It’s mine. “It’s okay,” I say feeling myself sink deeper into my sadness.
“What did he say?” I ask knowing I shouldn’t want to know the answer to that question as much as I do.
“I don’t know. I slammed the door.”
“This is all such a mess. I should have been honest from the start but I wasn’t because...”
“Because you thought he would take advantage of you.”
“No,” I say. “I mean I’m always on guard about that and guys have in the past but Prescott isn’t like that.” I stare straight ahead and try to gather my thoughts so I can put them into words. “I think I didn’t tell him because I was enjoying being seen without my family looming over me. It’s more about how it made me feel like I could be myself all by myself and he seemed to like me for just me. I should have just told him the truth. I don’t know how I thought we could build something when I wasn’t honest.”
“But Danny, he wasn’t honest with you either. You told me he said he wouldn’t go behind everyone’s back and meet with Worth but he did. He must have known how much that would hurt you. And clearly from what you saw it was more than business. He’s a shallow, self-important snob.” She plops down in the chair next to me and puts her feet on the coffee table.
The Beautiful Things Shoppe Page 18