Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“I obviously don’t know what the issues were between you and your dad, but maybe… I don’t know, maybe you can get some closure. Or maybe even start to—understand? —him a little better.”
I couldn’t tell from Brady’s expression whether I should say more or not, so I decided it was probably best to wrap up my thoughts and keep the conversation moving. I had said what I’d needed to say, after all.
“I understand what you mean when you say it still feels like his space, though. There are a lot of times that I feel like he’s still here, too. Like he’s still watching over things.”
“Is that why you love this place so much?”
The question caught me off guard, and I blinked for a moment as I considered what I should say. The easy answer was yes, of course. But under Brady’s intense gaze, I wasn’t sure if the easy answer was the best one. Still, no matter what he was looking for, the truth was really all I could offer.
“Yeah, if I’m being honest, I guess that’s a big part of it. I mean, I like the customers, and the work, and of course Naomi. But… yeah, at the end of the day, your dad was a big part of the reason for me staying here so long.” Then, before I could stop myself, I added, “Is that why you hate it so much?”
As soon as the words left my lips, I wished I could take them back. The expression on Brady’s face made it clear that I had crossed a line, and even though that really hadn’t been my intention, the question still hung in the air between them.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to—”
“No, that’s okay,” he said, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. “I’m pretty sure I know what you meant. And if you really wanna know? Okay, maybe that does have something to do with it.” Then, in a more subdued tone, “You should know, though, that I don’t hate it. My mom’s name is on the door, after all. I couldn’t ever hate it.”
But you could still sell it.
At least I had the presence of mind to keep that thought to myself.
We sat in silence for several long minutes, not making eye contact, not even looking in the other’s direction. Then, abruptly, Brady’s head snapped up, and when he spoke again, there was a pain in his eyes that hadn’t been there before.
“Did he ever talk about me?”
Damn, he really wasn’t pulling punches with his questions.
For a split-second, I reconsidered my honesty-is-best policy. But no. It was a valid question, and he deserved an honest answer. If he was going to rely on me to be some kind of bridge between him and Henry, I had an obligation to be as truthful and accurate as possible.
“Not very often,” I said, finally. “But the thing is, when he did?” I paused and snorted a little as I pictured my old friend. “He got the same sort of look on his face that you get when you talk about him. Like, a nearly identical expression.”
Brady’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean? A pissed-off look?”
“No, not that. Not pissed. It’s hard to describe, but no matter what he said—and it was always good things, by the way—the expression on his face made it seem like there was so much more to say. So much that he wanted to say but just… didn’t know how. I think he missed you.”
Brady sat back in his chair and exhaled in a loud whoosh. He opened and closed his mouth several times, but no words came out.
I nibbled at my lip, wanting to reach out and comfort him, but wondering if maybe I’d crossed another line.
Before I could make up my mind, though, Brady stood up abruptly, his eyes still bright with emotion. I could tell that he was trying to smile, but the expression came across as more of a wince.
“Thanks, Joanne. I was just wondering. And thanks for lunch, but I’ve gotta go.”
“No problem, but you don’t have to thank me. I—”
I swallowed back the rest of my words.
I wanted to make sure Brady knew I was around anytime he wanted to talk. I wanted to tell him that everything really was gonna be okay. Sometime. And I wanted to point out that I should be the one thanking him, since he had bought lunch for me.
But I couldn’t say any of those things—or rather, I could, but Brady wouldn’t have heard, because he was already halfway up the back stairs before I could find the rest of the words that had died in my throat.
I stood up and quickly brushed at my cheeks, suddenly finding myself close to tears.
I gathered up the discarded napkins and wrappers from lunch, wondering how our conversation had managed to go off the rails so quickly.