Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
B randon had arrived back in the city by midday and had gone to Giovanni’s right away. He was ready to fill his new position.
“We’re going to make a lot of money together!” Anthony said, clapping his back as he hugged him.
For the rest of the day and night, he checked his email but had heard nothing from Julian.
When he finished, Julian was the first person he sent his manuscript to instead of Marcus Mulligan. If Julian thought it was good, he’d send it himself.
But instead of worrying about his manuscript and his new job, he went to bed wishing he had told Cora how he felt that night in the cottage by the sea.
Brandon should’ve stayed—should’ve pushed through his own feelings and stayed at the party, but how could he compete with a guy like Julian?
He sat in his tiny little space at the restaurant, questioning everything. If he had stayed in Blueberry Bay, he could’ve at least been looking out at the ocean instead of a corkboard full of old papers and receipts. He didn’t even want to work at the restaurant, so why did he take the position? He looked up at an old schedule with Cora’s name still on it.
She was probably hanging out with Julian as he sat there miserable, wishing he hadn’t left Maine. He couldn’t call her and hear about them hanging out, knowing he lost his one shot with her.
When his phone rang, he checked to see if it was Cora but saw a number with a Vermont area code.
“Hello?” he said.
“I couldn’t do it,” Julian said on the other line.
Brandon dropped his head. He knew what this meant. “It’s so hard.”
“But I can’t keep asking for anyone else’s help.” Julian sounded stronger than he had before. “I need to figure this all out on my own. I know now that I should’ve stayed.”
“You just need to attend meetings, create new habits, and make more changes.” Brandon wanted him to know how far he’d come already. “You did so well for all that time. You can do it again—even better this time.”
“I don’t know.” Julian sounded doubtful.
“You got this.” Brandon hoped that Julian did have this. Starting over could be hard but so worth it. “Life can be good without the booze. I don’t even miss it.” Brandon realized he didn’t. Then he added, “You just need to get through the program, and we’re here along the way.”
When Brandon first met Julian, the pompous businessman couldn’t even admit to having a problem. He wanted nothing to do with treatment and the meetings and was unwilling to change. He’d also only wanted to get clean for Cora, which, although admirable, wasn’t sustainable. Julian's desire to change for himself seemed promising to Brandon.
Julian took a while before answering, “I’d like that.”
Before Julian hung up, he said, “Do me a favor, will ya?”
“What’s that?” Brandon asked.
“Just go for her,” Julian said. “You just need to do it.”
“What?” Brandon asked, not sure if he understood Julian's message. No guy tells another to go after a girl he’s into.
“Cora. She’s your protagonist’s love interest, right?” Julian laughed. “You’re crazy about her, and if you can’t see how crazy she is about you, then you’re the one with the bigger problem.”
“What about you?” Brandon said. “I thought you were crazy about her?”
Julian was silent for a long time and then said, “I’m not good for anyone right now.”
Brandon didn’t know what to say.
“But you…” Julian continued. “You two are great for each other.”
“Once you’re sober, things will come together for you, Julian, I promise.” Brandon believed it.
Julian sighs heavily into the phone. “I should get going before they give away my pudding.”
“Wait, Julian,” Brandon said before he let him go. “How’d you know it was Cora? My character?”
“It was obvious by how she twirled her hair around her finger,” Julian said.
When Brandon left the restaurant for Sunday dinner; he drove straight to his mother’s without remembering the drive. He couldn’t stop thinking about Julian and what he said. He never did say whether or not he liked his book.
Brandon stayed in his thoughts while they ate, nodding and pretending to be paying attention to his siblings’ stories, but completely lost in his own thoughts.
“Hello?” Sophia waved her hand at him as he cleared the dishes. He carried the heavy stuff, including the big bowls and dishes. Sophia carried the little items, just like when she was the little sister, like the parmesan cheese, the condiments, and the bread baskets.
“So, I finished my novel,” Brandon said.
Sophia hit him in the arm. “Why didn’t you say something earlier? Ma! Bran finished his novel!”
“What?” Lucia said, poking her head from the dining room. “You finished your novel? That’s great news.”
“I finished it, but…” He didn’t know much about Salem, but he did know he couldn’t keep working in a restaurant if he wanted to be happy. “I think I want to go all in on my writing. Leave the restaurant and work on finding an agent and getting published.” He looked at his mother for her reaction.
“You’re going to quit your job as kitchen manager?” The crease between her eyes deepened.
“I really want to write,” he said, waiting for her to do more than just stare back at him, but soon a smile broke across her face.
“Good for you, Brandon,” Lucia said.
“Really?” he said. “You’re not disappointed?”
“That you’re finally following your dreams,” she said, walking over to him and giving him a hug. You’re always making me proud.”
He embraced her and held her a little bit longer than usual.
“I might need to get rid of my apartment since I won’t have a job,” he said. “Would you be willing to have another one of your children move back in until I can figure things out?”
“Your bedroom’s all ready,” Lucia said. “I’ll just put on some fresh bedding.”
Sophia playfully hit him in the shoulder. “I cannot get rid of you.”
He smiled when she leaned and wrapped her arms around both him and his mother.
When they split apart, his mother put her hands on her hips. “It’ll be nice to have you move back home.”
Brandon went to correct his mother—he wasn’t moving back in, just thinking about possibilities—when his phone began to ring. The name Marcus Mulligan flashed across his screen. He stared at his phone as it rang and rang and rang.
“Are you going to answer it?” Sophia asked.
He shook his head. “It’s a guy who might’ve read my manuscript.”
Sophia’s eyes widened as the phone continued to ring. She jumped over the table and reached for his phone, answering it.
“Hello? You’ve reached Brandon Rossi. This is Sophia. How can I help you?”
Brandon opened his mouth in sheer embarrassment. He tried grabbing the phone from his sister, but she dodged his hand, ducking away and out of reach.
“Yes, I believe he is available,” Sophia said, now gently handing him the phone.
He cleared his throat. “Yes, hello, sorry about that. This is Brandon Rossi.”
“Hello, Brandon, this is Marcus Mulligan. I just received your manuscript this morning from Julian,” he said. “I think you have quite a novel, young man.”