11. Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Erik
I t's the weekend, and I want to spend it with Brandy, having important conversations between the two of us. She's showering while I'm getting dressed. I hear her phone ring.
"Bran, your phone is ringing."
"Can you take the message, please?"
I pick up the phone and answer.
"Brandy Lennon's phone, how can I help you?"
"Hello, this is Mrs. Jones calling for Brandy Lennon."
"She can't come to the phone right now. Do you want to leave a message? I'm trustworthy, I assure you."
"I'm sure you are, young man. Just tell her to get back to me and that I finally have an opening for her to be my apprentice if she hasn't left Miami yet."
"Oh…I…I'll give her the message. Thank you."
I hang up the phone and start racking my brain to remember what Brandy told me about this apprenticeship. I thought she had been doing it for the past month. What has she been doing with her time then?
Brandy comes out of the bathroom with a towel around her body, and for a moment, I'm distracted, but I'm stronger than that.
"That was, ah—Mrs. Jones. She says she's got a spot for you in her apprenticeship."
"Oh, that's great!"
"I thought you were already doing it."
Her face pales, and she knows she's been caught in a lie. Just how many things has she lied to me about?
"No, she didn't have any dates available for me at the beginning of my stay. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this one, but it wasn't a sure thing. I might not have gotten in at all during my time here."
"Did you lie to me? I mean, what have you been doing all this time?"
"I've been working on some custom quilts and giving classes at the community center."
"Why didn't you just tell me that? Why the subterfuge?"
She sits down at the edge of the bed and plays with the ends of the towel she's wearing. Her head is lowered, and I wonder if her next words will be the truth or another lie.
"I needed a good enough reason so you'd let me stay here for the three months."
"Why three months?"
"That's just a random number. I needed to spend time with you."
"Why?"
"It's been twelve years, Erik. I couldn't wait for you any longer. I had to come here and see you—be with you. You are the love of my life."
"So your intent all this time was to seduce me?"
"Don't you dare put that on me. We've both been flirting. The connection we have been feeling comes from both of us."
"You need to leave."
"What? You don't mean that. Erik, we have something between us. It's big, and it's real. Don't throw that away."
"Was my mother in on this?"
She lowers her eyes again, and I know I've caught her. I'm going to kill my mother for this.
"Your mother knows how I feel about you…"
"You don't even know me, Brandy. I'm a different person than the boy you knew."
"We've gotten to know each other pretty well these past few weeks. I like the man you are now much better than that boy from back home."
"I still need you to go. I should have known you were up to one of your schemes. That's no way to start a life together."
Her face shows many things. Shock, disillusionment, resignation. I school my own features so that she sees nothing of the heartache I'm living right now. The need to put space between us is too much to bear, so I turn around and leave my room. One place that can give me solace is my home office, so I go there and serve myself a stiff drink.
Why do I feel like I'm being unnecessarily cruel right now? I'm not the one who lied and manipulated. No, I'm the victim here. I got played by the small-town girl. Does it matter that she's the perfect woman for me? That even with my anger, I can't help but want to put my arms around her because she's distraught right now.
What hurts the most are those words I said to her, 'That's no way to start a life together.' That's what I had been dreaming about—our future together, a life as husband and wife, kids, the whole nine yards. I've never felt like this for another woman, which makes it hurt more after I find out about the deception.
After a few drinks, I do something that one should never do drunk. I call my mother. The phone rings a couple of times, and then she answers, her good mood clear in her tone.
"My sweet boy, it's so good to hear from you."
"I know what you and Brandy are up to." I start right in.
"Are you okay, Erik?"
"Why did you send her here? Why help her? I was doing perfectly fine without her."
"Is that really true?"
"She lied to me."
"It was time for you two to reunite. She told me she wanted to win you back, and I am all for it. And, besides, you wouldn't be this upset if you didn't care about her."
"That's not the point, Mother."
"I think it is. She told me you've reconnected, and she sounded happier than ever when she called me. I think you two have something great together. Don't let this small thing get in the way of your happiness."
"This is not a small thing. How can I trust her ever again?"
"Brandy has a great heart. She's an amazing woman. You must have seen that in the few weeks that you've been together."
"That might not be enough to build a future together."
"Oh dear, you love her."
"That's not what I said."
"You love her, you love her. I knew it would work. You two belong together. I'm so happy for you, baby."
"I think I lost you somewhere. I'll call you sometime soon." I grumble.
I hang up the phone, and all the feelings and thoughts that are going through me crash down on me, and I want to curl up in a ball and die. Could I see a way out of these circumstances? Am I brave enough to follow my heart even though it's been broken in what I believe is a brutal way? I settle for drinking until I'm in a drunken stupor. This way, there are no more thoughts in my mind of her.
Brandy
Erik looks really hurt, and I can't blame him. I'm still sitting here in my towel since he left the room. His bedroom. I'm not sure what to do. My heart said to stay and fight for him, but my mind heard his harsh tone of voice when he told me to leave. Right now, I'm the problem and the solution is easy. I must pack up and return to Woodland Falls with my tail between my legs.
I get dressed as quickly as I can and go back to my room, where I start pacing. I want to talk to someone about this, but the only person who needs to hear what I have to say is Erik. He doesn't trust me anymore, and trust is not something you can get back in a day. You have to rebuild it bit by bit and I can't do that from back home.
I reach for my bags when my phone rings. I check the caller ID, and it's Anne.
"Hey, Red, I'm packing."
"What? Why?"
"Erik found out that I wasn't being one hundred percent truthful about the reason I was here, and he kicked me out. I'm not sure what to do, though. I don't like how we left things."
"Did you tell him how you feel?"
"I told him he was the love of my life. I think that's pretty straightforward."
"You need to give him some time to deal with everything. He's really into you."
"You think I should stay?"
"We have a guest room."
"A big part of me wants to go back home and lick my wounds while eating ice cream and wearing flannel pajamas."
"Will you be watching Hallmark movies while doing this?" Anne chuckles.
"Of course, what do you take me for?"
"I'm on it. Pack a bag for two or three days and come over. I'll order the ice cream and get Max out of the house."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Yup, now move your ass."
I make up the bag for my sleepover but also finish packing all of my stuff in case Erik goes mental and starts throwing everything I own out the door. It's good to have someone like Anne to go to when times are hard. Without even trying, I made a friend here in Miami. My time here wasn't wasted.
Oh, I'm feeling sorry for myself, that's not good.
Honestly, I had the time of my life these past few weeks. Getting to know Erik was easy and fun. He just opened up to me completely. This is why he's so angry at me. How do I make things better? I pick up my bag and head downstairs. I think Erik is in his office so I leave quietly and walk the few blocks over to where Anne and Max live.
Tears threaten to overflow my eyes, but I take a firm rein on that. I have to be strong. Hopefully, Anne will get the good ice cream. When I'm finally at their front door, I ring the doorbell. Anne opens and takes me into her arms as soon as she sees me standing there looking like a sad, sad girl.
"Things will work out. You'll see." She whispers in my ear.
I hug her back hard and then pull away.
"Is the stuff here?"
"Yes, come in. I've got a flannel pajama set with your name on it as well."
That brightens me up. I put my bag on the floor and follow her to the kitchen.
"We've got rocky road, mint chocolate chip, cookie dough and an orange sorbet that Max likes."
We both scrunch up our faces at that. No one likes sorbet.
"We'll save it as a last resort. Rocky Road, please."
"First, let's change into PJs, and then we can come down and watch something while we eat our comfort goodies."
We change, and she has me sit on the couch. Then she gives me a comfy blanket and leaves me to find the entertainment. I pick a Christmas movie and wait for her to bring the ice cream. I have to give it to Anne. She's good at helping a friend out like this. I wonder if she's had to do it many times.
Finally she comes with the tubs of ice cream and two spoons. We nestle against each other on the couch and I press play on the movie. Before we know it we've watched two movies and have eaten all of the ice cream. We're getting upset at the lack of sugar when Max comes in with a couple of bags of food.
He looks surprised when he sees us. We have the good judgment to look embarrassed for eating two tubs of ice cream.
"Hello, ladies. I didn't know it was this bad. It looks like you're nesting."
"Erik is an idiot." Anne declares.
"You mentioned something like that in your messages. How about you ladies eat something other than sugar for a bit."
We both sigh deeply and then we clash our spoons together in solidarity. Max goes to the kitchen to deal with the food, and we just watch him from our comfy nest on the couch.
"Should we get his input?" I ask.
"I don't know. They're like little girlfriends. They have their own club. He might be on his side."
"How do we sway him to our side?"
We watch quietly as Max sets the table. He keeps sending us curious glances but says nothing. When everything is set up, he comes and gets us.
"Dinner is served."
When we get up, he starts laughing at our pajamas. I don't mind. I wear flannel half of the year back in Woodland Falls. I take a peek at what he's brought us, and it's lasagna. Perfect comfort food. Right on the money. Sitting down eagerly, I serve myself a big slice. Max still regards us as if we're some sort of weird creatures.
"Max, baby, this is delicious," Anne gushes.
I nod my agreement but keep on eating.
“I bet Erick would enjoy it, too.” Max remarks.
"Well, our friend Erik might need to talk to someone." She says.
"Is this where you tell me the truth about what you and Brandy have been up to?"
"Red had nothing to do with it, Max. It was all me."
I go on and tell him what happened between me and Erik. I make sure he understands I take full responsibility for everything that happened. When I'm through with my story, I wait and stare at him. He says nothing and keeps eating his dinner. Anne kicks him under the table.
"Hey, I'm thinking." He says.
"We're on the edge of our seats here."
"Just tell me, Max.” I cry. “What do you think?"
"You need to give him time."
"Max!" Anne hollers.
"Hey, you lied to me too, kitten, and it took me several weeks of talking to you to start letting go of my anger. Erik is more laid back, so it might not take as long, but he still needs a little break to absorb everything."
"I think he's right, Anne. I'm going to stay here for a couple of days, and then I'll head back to Woodland Falls."
"I might just go with you," Anne says, shooting daggers with her eyes at her soon-to-be husband before she smiles at him.
If time is what Erik needs, that's what I'm going to give him.