Twenty-Four
V ini stared at the door, wondering how it was possible to feel the need to run after someone and to stay at the same time. She felt the desire so strongly it almost split her in two. The look on Jessica’s face when Vini had said they shouldn’t see one another anymore had been too much for her, and she’d had to look away before she broke and took it all back.
Her conversation with Dani and Ava had been eye-opening in ways she hadn’t anticipated. She hadn’t realized just how much she needed to talk to someone about her feelings until they came pouring out of her like word vomit until she felt wrung-dry and exhausted. It had been worth it to get her feelings out and get some advice like she had always wanted but not been able to for the past few weeks. There were so many apologies that she never wanted to hear the word sorry again for a long time.
The end result, however, was the realization that she couldn’t do this anymore. She couldn’t keep seeing Jessica knowing that there were only a couple days left. She had developed feelings, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to let her go if Vini continued to have her close. Vini couldn’t keep going and pretend like she was going to be okay the day that Jessica drove away and out of her life. Already she was mourning the loss as if her partner was going off to war. When even Dani agreed that nipping it in the bud was the right thing to do, she knew she couldn’t deny it anymore. Still, doing so had left her so emotionally drained that she quickly let Aiden know she would not be in the shop tomorrow and for him to take the day off.
Not wanting to stay in her room and wallow, Vini marched to the bathroom intent on standing under a hot stream of water until she couldn’t feel anything. It partially worked until Dani pounded on the door and told her to not drain the water heater. She almost did it anyway, just to be spiteful, but she turned it off instead. She couldn’t deal with anymore drama.
“Oh, hey, Dad.” Vini paused before continuing into the kitchen. Her dad was at the table, nose buried in the paper like usual. He looked over his reading glasses before smiling. “Hey, kiddo. What are you up to? I thought you would be out tonight.”
Vini frowned in confusion until she remembered having planned to take Jessica to the Christmas tree farm that was a couple towns over. The reminder of that nearly had her doubling over, but she kept her composure and gave him a brittle smile.
“Uh, yeah. A change in plans. I think it’s just you and me tonight.”
He nodded before turning his attention back to the paper. Vini sighed softly before walking over to the pantry and pulling it open. She didn’t really have an appetite for anything, but she pulled out a can of soup and figured she could microwave it quickly before her stomach decided to rebel on her.
“You all right there, Vin? You’re quieter than usual.”
Vini nodded as she went through the motions of heating up her soup. “Yeah, I’m fine, Dad. Just tired, I guess. It’s been a long day.”
“Right,” he replied, not sounding like he believed her story. “Just tired from work, huh? So you’re telling me that the long look on that face of yours doesn’t have anything to do with the woman you’ve been seeing?”
Jesus, does everyone know? Vini was quickly realizing that the only reason Ava hadn’t known what was going on was more because she didn’t want to see it and less because Vini was good at being sneaky. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you didn’t think you was being slick.” Vini sighed and turned to look at him. He had dropped the paper but was still looking at her over his glasses. “Really?”
“I wasn’t trying to be slick, Dad. I just wasn’t trying to put my business all out there in front of everyone,” Vini replied.
He nodded. “I got that. It’s why I kept my mouth shut. But don’t you think it’s about time to bring her over here so I can meet the poor woman? No need to hide her away, though I know your sister is a bit...”
“Overprotective? Controlling? Unable to mind her damn business?”
He laughed. “All of the above, silly girl.”
She chuckled until she remembered that the point was moot now. She and Jessica were over. There was no need to introduce or reintroduce her to the family. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. She and I aren’t... She’s leaving, so we decided...” Finishing her sentence was hard. It made the whole thing real to say it out loud. Vini swallowed hard before turning back to the stove and continuing to cook. It wasn’t until the water started to boil that she spoke again.
“You met her already.” When her dad didn’t respond, she turned to look at him. “The woman I was seeing. You met her during Thanksgiving.”
His expression didn’t change, and Vini huffed out a quick laugh. “You knew then, didn’t you? That I was seeing Jessica.”
“I’m old child, not blind,” he replied, making Vini laugh. “You spent most of the meal making googly eyes at that woman, just like Ava and Grace. Probably the only reason she couldn’t see what was going on. That girl always did have a one-track mind.”
More weight felt like it was lifted from Vini’s shoulders, and she slowly realized that she didn’t have to hide anymore. Dani knew. Ava knew. Hell, everyone in her immediate circle knew. She should have been happy that her infatuation was out in the open and she didn’t have to keep it quiet anymore. But instead, she just felt sad. Sad that it had taken this long and yet she had nothing to show for it except a string of arguments and a broken heart.
“I shouldn’t have started this thing, though,” Vini said as she dropped in the dry noodles and started to stir. She let the motion keep her going as she gave voice to her thoughts. “I knew she was only in town for a short time and that she would be leaving. Who starts something with someone when they know they don’t plan on sticking around?” She chuckled, though there wasn’t any amusement in her voice. Vini was slowly realizing that she had set herself up for failure.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
The question threw her off. What did her dad mean? It had everything to do with everything. “Because she was only passing through, and I knew she didn’t do relationships in the first place.”
“Well, I can’t speak on that last bit, but proximity means nothing if you want to be with the person. Hell, your mama was worth it, and I almost closed the shop for her when she got the chance to leave this place.”
“What?” Vini turned, bewildered by the idea that her dad had even considered giving up the shop that had been in his family for generations. “You were going to sell the shop? But I thought you loved it?”
He nodded. “I did. Still do. But honey, I loved your mom something fierce, and if I had to move heaven and earth just to be with her, you bet I was going to do it.” There was nothing in his gaze that gave Vini any doubt of his sincerity. “It was your mama who told me not to sell it and let my cousin, Terrence, run it for a bit while we checked out some other cities. He almost ran the damn thing into the ground, but after a year, your mama missed this place fiercely, so we decided to come back for good.”
All of this was new to Vini, and she needed a moment to think. They were both silent while she finished cooking, and Vini let the information marinate in her mind. She loved the shop and hadn’t ever known there was a time when it wasn’t strictly in her dad’s hands. The knowledge opened up whole new possibilities for her. But one blight still remained.
“But she said she doesn’t want to be with me. At least, not the way I want to be with her.”
“Well, that does present a problem,” he agreed. “Normally, if someone said they didn’t want to be with you, I’d say to hell with them. But I know it’s hard for you when there’s only so many potential matches available in this small town, so maybe you should give it another shot.”
“Dad—”
“I know. I know. It sounds like I’m telling you to be desperate, but I’m not,” he insisted. “I’m just saying, if you’re this upset after only being with Jessica for a month, maybe there’s something there worth fighting for. Think about it.”
He reached over and put a hand over Vini’s. She turned hers over and clutched at his hand like she had when she was a child and had nightmares at night. She wasn’t sure if she would take his advice so soon after calling it quits, but she spent some time considering it and tried not to let the small flame of hope grow beyond what she could bear.