Chapter 9
9
T abitha and Winston were having a final dinner together on the deck. She was cooking Italian in celebration of his upcoming trip to Florence. Tabitha made prawns in a spicy tomato sauce, also known as Gamberi alla Busara. It would be served with a baguette and a green salad. Winston was bringing the wine, and for dessert, they were having crème br?lée.
The other girls were out with their significant others, or at least April and Deb were. Mel had to go to D.C. for a couple of days on business and was expected back that night. Kylen was working out, and Deenie was at rehab with Dalton. Her phone rang, and she hoped it wasn’t Winston canceling. She picked up her phone to see Maxim was calling. Tabitha hoped he was calling to tell her that he was getting married.
“Hey, Maxim. What’s up?” Tabitha asked. “You’re well, I hope.”
“Yes, I am. I was just calling to see what was going on. How’s the realtor you’re dating?” Maxim asked.
“How’d you know about that?” she asked.
“I heard it through the grapevine. How else does one get information around here?”
“That was Marcus, and he moved to California. Tonight, I’m dining with Winston, who’s a painter. I’ve been having such fun with him, and he’s helped bring creativity back into my life,” Tabitha said. He didn’t need to know that there was no romance between her and Winston.
“Darn it. You move too fast. I can’t even sneak in between men,” Maxim said jokingly. “Seriously, I was just testing the waters, but you seem otherwise engaged. I guess I’ll just wait patiently while you have fun.”
“Maxim, we’ve been down this road. We aren’t right for each other because we’re at opposite ends of the spectrum. I’m looking towards sending my daughter to college, and you haven’t had your first child yet. I thought you were going to date. Get on the apps and see what’s out there,” Tabitha said. She was expecting Winston at any moment and didn’t want to deal with this anymore.
“I have a blind date next week, and we’ll see how that goes. I really just wanted to hear your voice. I wasn’t expecting you to take me back, but a man can hope,” Maxim said.
“Good luck on your date, and we’ll catch up in mid-September when I return to work.” Tabitha hung up, and she walked downstairs with bare feet and a sarong that she picked up when she went to Hawaii with her brother and his family.
She put the food on low just as Winston walked up the steps.
“What is that you’re carrying?” Tabitha asked about the canvas he was holding covered by a piece of black fabric.
“It’s wine,” Winston replied.
“No. I mean the other hand,” Tabitha said with a laugh.
“It’s for my protégé. You can keep it in your kitchen back home, and it will remind you of the day we met.” Wilson revealed the painting.
It was the kitchen at Zabu’s, which was so much better than a tangerine sunset or a seascape. The colors of the meats and sauces were vibrant reds and browns. They were offset by the brilliant silver of the knives and white dishes. Sweat was coming off the chefs and waiters as they worked. It was brilliant and would be the most spectacular thing she placed on any wall.
Tabitha was in tears because the painting moved her so much. “I will cherish this for the rest of my life, and you’ll have to see it hanging in my home. I hope you come back with the Italian woman on your arm.”
“I hope so, too. If I do, it will be because of all the great advice you gave me. I don’t know why I don’t have more female friends. I learn about women from the source, and we never have to break up,” Winston said.
“I feel the same way. I find you attractive, but I like that being a thing at the same time we build a friendship. It’s not like we’re wild animals and have to get physical with every man we find attractive.”
“I agree with everything you just said. There’s an intimacy between men and women friends. I think of some of the things I talk to you about. Nathaniel would laugh at me if I brought those things up,” Winston said.
“Right? You tell me what I need to hear and not what I want to hear. I will miss you so much, but at least I’ll have that wonderful painting to look at.”
“One thing friends don’t do is let the other one starve to death. I smell an amazing dinner, and I’m ready to eat,” Winston said.
They ate and took selfies together. Tabitha was sad to see Winston go but refreshed at the same time. He listened to her stories and dished out candid advice. Winston told her that she’d better start liking herself above anyone else. Tabitha should live as if she was never going to find Mr. Right, and the chances were, she wouldn’t.
“I had too much wine to drive, so I’m going to walk home. I’ll pick my car up in the morning. I’ll send loads of emails and texts. I’ll probably overload you with them, so you can just delete them and pretend you enjoyed them.”
They shared a warm embrace, and he promised to contact her as soon as he got back from Europe.
Tabitha was cleaning up as she reflected on her sabbatical so far. She was finally getting into a groove that she was comfortable with. While at home, she scheduled a self-care day for herself once a month. Since she had been in Melbourne Beach, Tabitha was practicing self-care nearly every day.
Familiar footsteps were moving up the wooden stairs. “Hi. Am I interrupting?” Mel said, looking exhausted in a light pink skirt suit.
“You look like Jacki O. Sit down and take your shoes and jacket off because you look exhausted, and this is supposed to be a vacation. I’ll get you a plate and a big glass of wine,” Tabitha said. She grabbed Mel’s suitcase and dropped it inside. She worked too much.
“I had to sit on a panel for women in tech,” Mel said as she grabbed the wine and took a large gulp.
“Are you still concerned that Dale hasn’t been down as much as you thought he would?”
“I am. Something is off with him. He’s not being honest, and he’s off every time I talk to him.”
“Mel, I know Dale, and he is so devoted to you. I have truly never seen anything like it. He’s probably off because he misses you, and work has to be busy. NASA is enormous, and the need for lawyers never lets up. He can’t work from home like you when he meets with clients every day. He has to stay near the courthouse for hearings, and that isn’t something he can skip.”
“Dale said he was in a position to delegate to the more junior lawyers this summer. He talked about taking three weeks off just to spend it here. What could be more important than spending time with his wife?” Mel asked desperately.
“We’re going lingerie shopping tomorrow, and you’re going to stage a seduction. Get a fancy hotel room, champagne, and candles. It’s time to remind Dale who the woman he married really is,” Tabitha suggested.
“I like that idea. I know of a place in town where we can go. I love you, Tabitha. You always come up with an idea to cheer me up.” Mel smiled from ear to ear.
Mel’s phone started buzzing.
“If that’s a work call, then I forbid you from picking it up,” Tabitha said firmly.
“It’s Dale,” Mel said excitedly. “Hey, baby. What’s up? I was just missing you.”
“Will you be around tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes, are you coming down? I’m so excited for a beach day with my hubby.”
“I can’t stay long. There is something I have to say in person,” Dale said.
A single tear slid down Mel’s cheek.