Chapter 42 Junie
Junie
The beauty shop is buzzing, the card tables are busy, and every Louise has a smile of some sort on her face. If Junie didn’t
know better, she might say they’ve finally found their stride on this second Cards night. And she might be the only person
who knows this happy bubble of life can’t carry on forever.
An hour or so ago, she and Eddie rolled in trying to look like they hadn’t endured an emotionally taxing morning, and Junie
suggested Eddie join Georgia as co-bartender. She specifically asked to man the poker chips, making a claim about it being
her lucky spot, but mostly she wanted those two together and herself firmly parked in a chair.
Chemo was just about as ghastly as Junie expected, and she’s ready to do her best to forget it ever happened until she has
no choice but to suffer the side effects tomorrow.
Tina plops down into a seat next to her at the poker chips table. “Georgia and Eddie are looking awfully friendly.” She says
it with the largest hint of judgment she can manage.
“What would you prefer?” Junie says.
“Well, it’s just— Don’t you mind, honey? I guess they’re not flirting, but it’s hard to start a friendship when romance is the muscle memory.”
“Honestly, not really.” Junie feels on the border of letting the truth rip, like the pull of it is unbearable. After today,
it’s too heavy to hold. “I’m not sure it wasn’t a totally dumb idea for me to try to ‘date’ my sister’s ex. If ‘exes’ is even
what we can call them—seems like there should be another term for people like them who seem made for each other.”
Tina misses the air quotes Junie puts around date.
“Well, I never,” she says. “It’s not right. I’m going to go over there and pull one of them to be the ‘bouncer.’”
When Junie looks over, separating them is the furthest thing from her mind. Maybe it’s the chemicals they pumped into her
veins this morning, but there’s something just so delightful about Georgia and Eddie together. They’re natural and joyful,
like relishing life is their default mode when existing side by side. The way they laugh and banter and challenge each other
in intellect. The effort tonight from both of them to keep their distance, not laugh or linger too long—it’s obvious because
it looks like work to stay away from the love that is so natural between them. Eddie looks like a fully decorated Christmas
tree on his first official night, and in that moment of glory, he stops and chooses to look at Georgia. Like she’s the whole
world itself wound into one human body.
He adores her. Plain and simple.
Junie has been an idiot and an ass to stand in their way.
“I’m sorry, hon, I have to say something to them,” Tina whispers to Junie, then pops up and marches toward the bar.
“Tina!” Junie calls after her. She stops halfway to the bar and turns to meet Junie’s glare.
Junie shakes her head and mouths, Don’t you dare.
“Just a Sprite and nothing else, please,” Junie calls over.
Tina rolls her eyes like a surly teenager then continues past the bar and its two bartenders. Only then, out of sight, does she whirl around and flip the bird.
Good God, what have they done to sweet Aunt Tina?