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“Yes,” I said with a note of finality.
Mellie issued a heavy sigh, then mumbled she’d pass the message along.
“Do you want me to fly to KC and stay with you?You sound like you could use some company and a shoulder to cry on.”
“No.I’m fine.Really.This shit will pass.I’ll just go back to…”
To what?The idea of going back to the life I left behind a week ago chafed.
“Back to what?”Mellie pressed.
“Back to research.”
“Myron closed the office,” she reminded with a hint of doubt.
“I’m working on an article that I’m trying to get published.I’ve got tons of research that will keep me busy.Please, Mellie.I’m fine.”
“All right,” she sighed in exasperation.“But you’d better call me if you need me, understand?”
“You know I will.I love you, sis.Love you so much.”
“I love you too, baby.Pour yourself a glass of wine and go relax in a long, hot bubble bath.You need it.”
“I will.Talk to you soon.”
As I hung up the phone, I cringed.Dylan and Nick were mad.That wasn’t the reaction I expected.What did it mean?
“It means nothing other than you usurped their authority and took back your control,” I groused.
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I tried to will away my pounding headache before dragging my cell phone from my purse.When I turned it on, there were over fifty calls from the same unknown number when I’d stopped to get gas.
“Nick,” I whispered wistfully, then cursed and tossed it back in my purse.
Aimlessly wandering through my apartment, I stopped in the bathroom to take some aspirin but realized I hadn’t eaten all day.My guts were already churning and burning with anxiety.The meds would only add fuel to the fire on an empty stomach.The refrigerator was empty.All I had in the freezer was a frozen dinner and a bag of peas.With a sigh, I slung my purse over my shoulder and headed to the store.
As I strolled through the aisles of the grocery store, I realized I should have stayed home and fixed the TV dinner.Though nothing looked appetizing, I grabbed a package of chicken breasts and vegetables for a salad, then swung by the bakery.
My favorite motto was…When in the throes of depression—eat cake!
But even that looked too sickeningly sweet.I knew when I turned my nose up at cake, I was in serious trouble.As I headed toward the ice cream section, my cell phone rang.Fear gripped my heart until I saw Mellie’s name on the caller ID.
“Hello?”
“Hey.Don’t be mad, but I had to check on you again.Are you feeling any better?”
“Aww, Mel.You know I could never hate you.I love you for being worried, but honestly, I’m fine.I’m at the store…getting cake,” I lied.
“Julia Child would be so proud,” she teased.“I wish I knew how to boil water.Thank god for delivery.”
“So, what did Nick say when you called back?”
“He didn’t answer, so I left a message telling him you were home and fine, and you saidthanks.Cake, huh?The magical powers of flour, eggs, sugar and whatever else is in it will do you good.”
“It will.”
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Seriously, Mel, I’m fine.I’m not where I want to be, but like Mom always used to say,this shit, too, shall pass.”
