paws at the large door’s pane, wanting in.
Georgette obediently walked over, opened the door and let the cat indoors. “Wow. It’s pretty out today.”
“It’s getting hot already.”
Georgette shuffled back to where she had been sitting and fell back into the same spot. She snuggled her feet under her and grabbed her cup. “I haven’t been out yet.”
“No kidding.”
“Shut up.”
“Sorry.”
They both sipped from their cups looking at nothing in particular.
Then both spoke at the same time.
“Look, Georgette—” “Roberta, I signed with a real estate agent—”
And again, “You first—” “Oh sorry, you—”
Then once more, “No really—” “You go—”
Georgette put one hand up in the air to stop and clamped her eyes shut. Then she put a finger to her mouth so Roberta wouldn’t speak.
“Shh.” She dropped her hand and opened her eyes. She gave Roberta a steady stare until Georgette knew she wouldn’t speak. “Let me speak. Please.”
Roberta nodded and set her cup onto the cocktail table. “I listed the diner with ReMax.” She stopped abruptly and then gestured to her to speak. “Can I talk now?”
“Please.”
“You’re acting hastily.”
“That’s your opinion.”
“It’s not an opinion. It’s an observation. Your head isn’t on straight.”
“My head is fine.”
“Have you even talked to Helen? Asked her what the hell she was thinking? Confronted her?”
“You know, she almost pulled the same thing with your father!”
“How is that supposed to make me feel, Georgette. Huh?”
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No. You shouldn’t have, but, again, your head’s not on straight.”
“Oh man.” She set her cup down on the floor next to the couch then put her legs down. “What am I doing?”
“You’re acting crazy. It’s normal for someone who just found her fiancée messing around with somebody else. Crazy.”
“I have to get out of here.”
“Well, that’s fine. Leave. For a while. Take a week. Lord, Georgette, take two weeks, but don’t sell the farm because of some stupid pig.” She picked up her coffee again and sipped. “That’s just plain stupid.”
“Who will watch it?”
“The diner?” She looked over at Georgette who nodded. “Who do you think?”
“You’d do that for me?”
“For a week!” She sipped again. “You come back after a week. If you need more time, then you stay at home and organize your tool shed or something, paint a bathroom.” She set her cup back down. Georgette turned to her. As she listened to Roberta, Georgette watched as she locked both hands together to speak—a thing Roberta often did when she spoke officially, as the mayor. “Look. I know you’re sad. It’s awful what he did to you. Helen’s a tramp. Blah, blah, blah. But the same thing happens every day to all sorts of people. You move on.” Roberta nodded with her last statement. A single bob of the head.
Georgette smiled, then she rubbed Roberta’s arm. She leaned over to lay her head on Roberta’s shoulder. With her head there, she couldn’t help notice the smell of her skin, a hint in her of something so offsetting but familiar, a perfect blending of Bobby and Vanessa. Thinking of them both at that moment, missing them like that, sent a jolt straight to her Adam’s apple but she swallowed it down, fighting against her emotions.
Roberta unlocked her fingers and grabbed Georgette around the waist with one arm. “You’ll be fine. You got dealt a real crappy hand, but you’ll be fine.” She sniffled and pulled back. She dabbed a finger to the corner of each eye. “Look. You are the strongest woman I have ever met. Well, Mom was amazing too, but Georgette, you two were equals. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
“Oh.” Georgette’s swollen eyes plated open as wide as possible. “Well, Roberta, my dear girl, I believe that might be the sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“Yeah, well, if you tell
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