29. Chapter 29
Chapter twenty-nine
“Not really in the mood, brother.”
Abe didn’t remember moving to the bed, but when he woke up to the sound of Kai babbling to himself, he was in bed with Maggie next to him. He put his arm around her, and she turned to him.
“How did you sleep?”
“Like the dead. I don’t even remember coming in here.”
“You were pretty out of it. I was afraid you had a concussion or something.”
“Slight headache. A few bruises. Good to go.”
Kai stood up in his crib and started bouncing. “Papa. Mama.”
Maggie shook her head. “I don’t want him to get confused.”
Abe sat up. “He’s not wrong. Maybe a little premature, but…” He glanced at her. “If you want to keep correcting him, it’s fine.”
She rolled onto her back. “I don’t know what I want.”
“Now you sound like me. I finally figured things out. Now you’re backpedaling.”
“I’m not backpedaling.”
“You kind of are.” He turned to her and took her hand. “What do I need to do to convince you that I’m in this all the way?”
“It’s just a lot, Abe.”
He let go of her hand and stood up. “Fine. I get it. No pressure.”
She raised onto an elbow. “Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not mad.” He grabbed a diaper and laid Kai down. “Let’s get you changed, kid.”
Maggie came up behind him, then stood beside him. “Can we just go with the status quo for now?”
“Yes.”
She nudged him. “You’re mad.”
“I’m not mad.” He finished diapering Kai, then lifted him out of the crib. “I’m going to get mad if you keep telling me I’m mad.”
Maggie raised a hand. “I’m sorry.”
“Will you watch Kai while I take a quick shower?”
“Of course.”
“Or I can take him in the bathroom with me.”
“I’ve got him, Abe.” She took Kai from him. “I’ll go start some coffee.”
Abe gathered clean clothes, then went into the bathroom and looked at his reflection.
“More frustrated than mad.” He sighed. “Maybe slightly mad.” He took a breath.
“She needs time. Just give her time.” He looked at the dark shadows under his eyes and the lump on the bridge of his nose. “How can she say no to this face?”
They were both quiet during breakfast, and since she didn’t have her car, Abe drove her home before taking Kai to his mother.
“I’ll see you at work.”
“I’ll be there soon.”
She headed for her house, and Abe watched her until she went inside. He blew out a breath and looked at Kai through the mirror. “I’m not sure what I did. Or what I need to do. I need some advice, buddy.”
“Mama, go.”
“Yeah. Hopefully, she’ll be back soon.”
After dropping Kai off with Allie, Abe headed to work. Gentry was there and stopped what he was doing when Abe walked in, and held up a hand. “Not really in the mood, brother.”
Gentry smiled. “I’m sorry I missed out. Sounds like you guys had a blast.”
Abe nodded. “It was…awesome.” He touched his nose. “A little painful, but awesome.”
“Wes jumped in too?”
“Fully committed. You should see the shiner he’s sporting.”
“I wonder how Mr. B is going to explain that away?”
Maggie opened the door, and Abe continued to the kitchen and put on his apron. She smiled at Gentry. “Morning.”
“Morning, Maggie. Did you witness this Buchanan brothers fight?”
“No. Just the aftermath.” She set her things down and took her apron from a hook, then went out to make sure everything was ready for the day.
Gentry watched her for a moment, then looked at Abe and raised an eyebrow.
Abe shrugged and mumbled, “I have no idea.”
“Well, you must’ve done something.”
“Only if reminding her I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her is wrong.”
“Maybe she’s not ready.”
“Well, that’s pretty damn obvious.”
“I’ll let you work the dough this morning. Get rid of some of that pent-up frustration.”
“Thank you.”
Maggie mellowed out after a few hours, and by mid-afternoon she was back to her cheery self. When she was on her lunch break, Abe walked up to her table. “So, are we okay?”
“Yes.”
“I was never mad.”
“I know.”
“So…”
She set down her fork. “Can you sit for a minute?”
Abe sat down. “Talk to me, please.”
“When I see Kai…when he calls me… I couldn’t take it if something happened.”
“To Kai?”
“To us.”
“You still don’t trust me?”
“I do. I could do something to screw things up.”
He shook his head. “Impossible.”
“Loving you is easy. Loving Kai is…really scary.”
“You’re talking to the guy who freaked out when he got a fever. I understand how scary it is.”
“We’re going to be okay, right? The three of us?”
“Yeah.” He took her hand. “Damn right.” Gentry whistled, and Abe looked over his shoulder at him and waved. “Duty calls.”
“Can I come over tonight?”
“I insist. After our employee meeting.”
“What’s that about, anyway?”
“Despite being a partner in this business, I haven’t been informed.”
“Hmm. That’s weird.”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
Abe returned to the kitchen to help with the orders, and Gentry looked at him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah. But I need to do something.”
“Like what?”
“Like…I don’t know. Something.”
“That’s really clear, Abe.”
“Something to prove to her that the future is ours. That nothing is going to interfere with our happiness.”
“You can’t force it.”
“I’m not. That’s not what I mean. A gesture.”
“Okay, while you work on that, work on some orders.”
Luke came in for the meeting at eight and helped them close down, then Gentry got four beers and a pizza and brought it all to a table.
“Have a seat.”
Abe dropped into a chair and opened one of the bottles. “Is this a hostile takeover?”
“No. Quite the opposite, actually.”
“You’re not going to ask me to buy you out, are you?”
“No. This is somewhere between those two things.” He opened a beer and took a drink. “I think it’s time you and I took a little more time for ourselves and our families.”
Abe leaned back in his chair. “Oh. So, two days off a week?”
Gentry turned to Maggie. “You also deserve more time off.”
“I like the sound of that.”
“I’ve been talking to Lucia about working some shifts.”
“Lucia?”
“Yeah. She’s going a little stir crazy sitting at home while the girls are at school.”
Abe glanced at Maggie. “So, Lucia would be taking some of Maggie’s shifts?”
Gentry held up a hand. “Only if Maggie is willing to work in the kitchen part of the time.”
She smiled. “You want me to work in the kitchen?”
“Yeah. What do you think?”
“Yes. Will I get a raise?”
“Of course. I’m not sure it will make up for the tips you’ll be losing, though. So, think about that.”
“Well, honestly, the tips are a little bit unpredictable. I have good days and bad days. Will I still have some shifts on the floor?”
“Yes. I haven’t quite worked out a schedule. But with you and Luke helping out in the kitchen, that gives Abe and me the chance to take two days off.”
Abe took a slice of pizza. “Can Maggie and I have our days off together?”
“At least one for now.”
“Okay. I guess that works.”
Gentry looked at Luke. “I don’t know how much you want to work. But would having a set schedule help?”
“Yeah. Then Dad will know when I’m available.”
“If you could cover some of the closing shifts, then Abe and I could get home earlier and spend time with the kids before they go to bed.”
“I can do that.”
Gentry took a breath. “Okay. This is great, right?”
Abe looked at him. “Why now?”
“I see you hauling Kai back and forth to Mom and remember what it was like with my boys. How it still is. I don’t want you to miss out on as much time as I did. We can afford to take some time for ourselves now.”
“Okay. Sounds great.”
Luke took a slice of pizza. “If the meeting is over, let’s eat.”
When they’d finished eating, they closed up the restaurant, and Abe walked Maggie to her car. “Are you sure you’re okay with losing out on some tips and an extra day of work? You don’t need to take two days off. I know you’re saving for your dream home.”
“I’m very excited to work in the kitchen with you. And two days off, especially if one is with you and Kai, sounds great.”
“Okay. I just want to make sure.”
“I’ll buy the Mayhew place. It just might take a little longer.”
He opened the car door for her. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Say hi to your mom and dad for me.”
“Will do.”
Maggie drove off, and Abe went to his car, then sat for a moment. He smiled. “That’s it.” He started the car. “One hell of a gesture.”