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“You said yourself I needed to take a beat and think things through.” If I answered his call, I was bound to say shit I didn’t mean—or maybe shit I did. “Ozzie comes home tomorrow. We can talk then.”
24
Ozzie
All my I love you and miss you text messages, while read, went unanswered. I called, even sent an email, and it was crickets from Dial. During my goodnight chat to Maple, I asked her to put her mother on the phone, and she said Dial was in the shower. This was confirmation Dial was avoiding me. On the plane ride home, I racked my brain trying to figure out what I’d done to warrant the silent treatment.
I wanted to drive straight from the airport to Dial’s place, but figured better of it because getting into some heated exchange in front of Maple wasn’t an option. Instead, I made some calls to ascertain her whereabouts. By all accounts, she was at Figs and Twine alone, processing inventory while Maple was at a play date.
When I got there, I rang the service bell out back and waited. When Dial caught sight of me from the other side of the plexiglass, she frowned.
Opening the door, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
“I don’t like being sent to voicemail or having to track you down. If you’re mad at me, just say it, but don’t do whatever this is.”
“Liars don’t get to dictate terms.”
“I’m a liar?”
“Your daddy filled me in on all the exciting Texas news you conveniently left out.”
Okay, now I was all caught up. The news I should have told her months ago was now biting me in the ass. Sounded like my father had gotten tired of my kicking the can down the road and decided to push things along. Dial had every right to be pissed—if the roles were reversed, I’d be heated as well. Since hearing the news, she’d probably questioned my intentions and was kicking herself for ever trusting me again.
“Can we talk inside, or do you want to do this here?” I asked. Her not slamming the door directly in my face gave me hope that this was salvageable.
Stepping aside, she allowed me to brush past. She led me to the sales floor, filled with every manner of plants and colorful blooms. The nursery was closed on Sundays, so fortunately, we were alone.
“So, I’m guessing my dad told you all about Texas.”
“You think?” she spat. “God, Ozzie, you had me out there looking stupid, and I don’t like that shit. I ain’t never been a dumb bitch, and I ain’t gonna start now.”
“My father wasn’t supposed to have that conversation with you.”
“I figured as much, because you wanted to keep it a big secret. What, were you gonna ghost me and your baby or just fake your own death?”
“You have every right to be mad.”
“Mad don’t cover it.”
“Do I get to explain, or nah?” I asked.
“What’s to explain? You’re moving to Texas for a year or more. If you think for one minute I’m gonna let you take my child to Texas, you are sorely mistaken. I’ll fight you tooth and fucking nail.”
“Are you done cussing me out?”
“You better choose your words carefully. Because if I don’t like what I hear, I’ma drag you for fucking filth. You’ll have to hightail it out of Hume after I’m done with you. You’ve heard that saying about a woman scorned? Well, trust, you ain’t seen shit. They will write stories about the hellfire I’ma rain down on your ass.”
“This is great, get it all out.”
“You’re a son of a bitch, just like your fucking daddy. I thought he was gonna piss himself, he was so excited to break the fucking news. I trusted you, and then you go and do this, to me. All this time, Dial, you’re the love of my fucking life. I’ve never loved anyone like I love you. Just bullshit lies.” She kicked a nearby stack of wicker planters, probably wishing it was my head. “Fix this, Ozzie. Fix it.” Her eyes were full of tears.
“Baby, I’m not moving to Texas. What would I look like leaving you and Maple?”
“Your father said you were looking for long-term rentals. Was that a lie too?”
“No, I was, but it’s not for me. I mean, it is, but it’s also for—”
“If you say it’s for us… I know I threaten to punch you all the time, but I may actually do it.” Her hands were balled into fists, at the ready to rain blows on me.
