AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Right?
I mean, I did leave before she stirred. She was just so beautiful laying there asleep. And while I didn’t have my main camera and lens, I did take several shots of her with my phone. Vi would look downright ethereal if I could take some nudes of her out in the wilderness, though I’m not moronic enough to ask her right now. I will definitely show her the sweet shots I got of her sleeping, though.
I probably should’ve left a note or called her later yesterday, but the sunrise had come up in its pink and orange glory, and I became sidetracked. Once back at my truck, I dug out my real camera and after applying the correct filter, took dozens of shots, maybe even closer to hundreds. That happens to me frequently when a landscape or other subject beckons.
The clouds had been of the stratus variety, the type that look like a cottony blanket, and I’d had to capture them while I could. Then, the green of the meadow alongside Main Street called to me, and I totally lost track of time. And the truth is I did think of her the whole time I was shooting. I wished she was with me enjoying the color show and maybe I’d get to take a few shots of her in that light. It was a dick move to walk out and not call after a night like we had.
Yeah, that could account for why she seems so pissed at me. But there’s part of me that’s a little scared. I’ve been half in love with Violet for all the years she was absent from my life. Now that she’s back in my life, I’m worried something will happen to mess it up again. That I’ll do something to blow it all to hell by being an idiot or something.
“Uh, Vi, I—” But before I can get the words out, she points a finger in my direction and shakes her head. Next, she disappears into her kitchen.
I’m not sure what to do anymore. I go ahead and order some lunch, anxious to ask Jeremy what’s up with her, but he races off before I can. When he brings out my plate, though, I grab his arm.
“Dude, what’s going on with your boss?”
“Can’t talk. We’re too busy.”
But I don’t let him go.
“Come on, Jeremy. I’ve never seen her like this. Can’t you provide me with some intel? Anything at all?”
“All I know is she came in like she had a vendetta against the entire freaking world.” With that, he snatches his arm loose and goes about his business.
So, what I had hoped might not be my fault, just might be exactly that. Well, shit. I have to speak with her. If I don’t, this could escalate even more out of control and that’s the very last thing I want.
I take my time eating her still excellent fried chicken sandwich with au gratin potatoes, sipping at my beer like a newbie trying not to get tipsy. For a solid hour and a half, new patrons come in to replace anyone on their way out, and the restaurant stays full. I spend those endless minutes rehearsing about twenty different conversation starters with her.
“Hey, Vi, felt good to get laid, didn’t it?” Yeah-no.
“Violet, you need to calm down and tell me what’s wrong.” She might just slaughter me with a meat cleaver if I go that route.
“Don’t be so hysterical, dammit.” That’s my father’s chosen avenue with my mother which might account for why she almost divorced his ass when Harrison and I were teenagers. They were in couple’s counseling for five years after that little remark.
Next…
“Vi, you and me make a great pair. What’s got you so riled up, anyway?” Eh, better, but not there yet.
“I hope we didn’t ruin our friendship, Vi, because I care about you.” Truth. And at that thought, a chill settles over me. Yes, we got a bit carried away. And yeah, we’d each been drinking, which Violet acting more drunk than me. How inebriated had she been? Had I made a mistake that she might consider unforgivable.
Shit, I need to talk to her.
Around two in the afternoon, the people occupying the tables thin, and I’m ready to take my chance. I can’t in good conscience allow this insanity to go on any longer, especially since all this conjecture has me growing more and more nervous about facing her. I definitely didn’t intend the other night to FUBAR us. I had the time of my life and would love a repeat. Lots of them.
Yet as I approach that kitchen door again, I feel heavy trepidation. And what I see once I open it leaves me rooted to the spot.
Four
Violet
I don’t have time for this fit of weeping, but I can’t help it. When I walked in here earlier, I discovered that hundreds of dollars of fresh—and expensive as hell—meats had spoiled because one of our refrigerators lost power. A refrigerator I specifically told Brooklyn to set up a repair order with our local refrigeration contractor last week. When I found out she didn’t put a ticket in and heard her excuse…
“I forgot all about that…”
Well, I just lost my shit and fired her. Perhaps I will regret doing so. I already do in some ways, but Brooklyn’s usual competence has been slipping of late, and I can’t afford a weak link with everything else that’s going on. And as for the everything else, another nightmare I arrived at work to find was a voicemail from my accountant warning me that The Blue Heron had been operating in the red for too long.
I’d been fully aware that I’d been operating in the red, but I thought we could catch up. Business has been increasing due to a new marketing plan, but that marketing has been expensive. The price of food has increased with inflation, too, as well as shit like my refrigerator going down. I’ve been dipping into my savings ever since the beginning, hoping my profits would eventually make up the difference, but now, all my savings are gone.
With the loss of all that high-end meat—the wagyu beef had been in there for shit’s sake—I knew I couldn’t let that go.
