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A soft chattering caught my attention, and I wiped my tears to look up and see mournful eyes peering at me from under a table. Brice never showed himself, so I had to assume he was feeling bad.
“I’m not sure what your motive was, buddy, but what happened tonight wasn’t great.”
His eyes filled.
“I’m not mad, I promise.” I held up my hands. “I suspect you were trying to protect me. I agree, Munroe’s parents are jerks. But Munroe isn’t. You know that. He’s one of the good ones. Remember how he always asks if you’ve been fed or how you are doing?”
The eyes nodded from the darkness beneath the table.
“Well, just remember that for the future, okay? WelikeMunroe. And I really need this restaurant to be a success. Or we…Iwon’t be here anymore.”
Brice’s eyes widened.
“Exactly. I really appreciate all your help around here, but you have to trust me to handle certain situations, okay?”
“Aye.”
It was the first time the little guy had really spoken to me, at least clearly, and I took that as a good sign. Sighing, I stood and stretched.
“Let’s put this behind us. I left you a full meal in the pantry, okay? I’m heading out to get some rest, but I’ll see you tomorrow.”
There wasn’t much else to be said. I had a magickal kitchen goblin that could prove to be a liability if I couldn’t figure out how to rein him in. Picking up my spells book, I put it in my purse and closed the kitchen behind me, the adrenaline from the day long worn off. I wanted a hot shower and not to speak to anyone for a few hours.
Instead, I was immediately confronted with Munroe cuddling his perfect dinner companion in the parking lot in front of me. Would the hits keep coming? Rage flashed through me, and I veered from the direction of the castle and stomped out to the parking lot. It looked like we were going to do this now then. I hadn’t really thought that Munroe would succumb to something like this, but maybe the broonie had pushed him over the edge. Maybe the elegant woman his parents had chosen for him was a far better fit than I was. Who was I to say? I hadn’t known him all that long, and maybe I was just a fool. I skidded to a stop, ready to let them both have it, when the woman lifted her head from Munroe’s chest, and I saw tears dripping down her face.
Instantly contrite, I stepped forward.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, softly, and Munroe turned, a worried expression on his face.
“It’s not what it looks like…” Munroe began, but the woman stopped him, stepping back and wiping her cheeks with her palms. She wore a baggy sweatshirt, which meant her nice jacket had probably been soiled by Brice, and she gave me a tremulous smile.
“It’s not, I promise you. In fact, that’s what I’m crying about.”
“Robyn has some personal issues going on,” Munroe said, coming to stand next to me and put his hand on my arm. “I’ve known her since I was a wee lad. I promise you, it’s not—”
“I get it,” I said, raising a hand to stop him. The rage that had flitted through me ever so briefly left as quickly as it had come. I’d been correct about Munroe. He was far too nice to pull something like that on me. It wasn’t in his nature to deliberately hurt others. After meeting his parents, I realized that trait likely came from a lifetime of getting hurt himself.
“Munroe’s protecting me, but I’ll second what he said. It’s really not what it looks like. In fact, it’ssofar from what it looks like.” Robyn huffed out a small laugh. “I’m gay. And my parents are best friends with his and, well, I’m their only child, and so I think they were hoping there would be a love match between the families.”
“And your parents don’t know?” I guessed, sadness filling me.
“I haven’t worked up the courage to tell them.” Robyn shook her head and rolled her eyes. “God, you’d think after all these years, I could just stand up to them and show them who I was. No matter the outcome, it has to be better than hiding.”
“I’m sorry,” I said. I couldn’t imagine how difficult it had to be to live under the weight of potential consequences from a family that wouldn’t accept you.
“Normally, it’s fine. But they’ve been making more noises about grandkids. And the family bloodline. And well, this just kind of brought it all to a head. I’m going to have to say something, or they’ll keep pushing this, won’t they?” Robyn looked up at Munroe.
“I can go with you when you tell them. If that will help?” Munroe, ever the gentleman, asked.
“No, God no. Could you imagine my father trying to hide his embarrassment in front of an outsider?”
“What if he accepts you? Are they…as difficult as Munroe’s parents?” I’d wanted to say awful, but I caught myself in time.
“Well, they’re best friends. So, definitely a lot of similarities. I’m sorry. This is your big night, and here I am crying on your boyfriend.” Robyn gave me a watery smile, and a thought occurred to me.
“You know, you never did get dessert. And we’re certainly not going to let you drive home in this condition. Come to the kitchen with me. Nothing makes things better like a cup of tea and some sweets.” I all but dragged Robyn back to my kitchen, flipping the lights on and pushing her onto a stool at the prep table as I did. Munroe followed, a curious look in his eyes, as I pulled out my book of spells and began to page through it.
“Robyn, what did Munroe tell you about what happened tonight?”
