AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Everything,” she said, then lifted a shoulder to show she knew that was a non-answer. “I knew I didn’t want to do things the way my dad did. But I didn’t have a clue. It was Baxter’s idea to let some artist friends sell their stuff on consignment. He was the one who encouraged me to upcycle a lot of the stock. It was just collecting dust anyway, and if we were going to write it off as a loss it didn’t matter if we uglied it up first, you know? So, I did, and… it sold. The social media stuff started because I was just having fun, you know? Posting for my friends who lived elsewhere--hey look at what I’m doing while you go to work. But that took off too. And we’ve been in the black for years. It’s great. We built something together that is successful. And I don’t want that to change.”
“It sounds like you built something that’s yours, though,” David said gently. Shoshana made a questioning noise and he dipped his head, chewing his lip for a moment as though trying to figure out exactly what he meant to say. “It’s your name on the door, Shoshana. All of the things you’ve done together to further the business--it seems like these are things that makeyouhappy. Would the business look the same if he were running it himself?”
“Probably not,” she said, considering the question. “I mean for one thing he’d probably choose something that wasn’t furniture. For the record, I did try to give him a percentage of the place. But he didn’t want that. Because I pay him very well, because I know how much he contributes. I try hard not to take him for granted.”
“Can I make an observation based on my one interaction with the guy?” David said, and something in the way he said it made her think if she said no, he really would let it go.
She made a noise that sounded affirmative. Because she was curious about the perspective. Leah was of the opinion that Baxter had lost his mind and the situation was going to end in tears. Abi refused to say one way or the other because Bax had never been her favorite person.
“Baxter seems like a nurturer. He obviously cares very deeply for you and he wants you to be happy.”
“Accurate,” she said, settling more into the pillows. Deev rolled on his back, presenting his belly for attention and her hand settled on it, her fingers tunneling through his fur. The cat started to purr. Shoshana considered his smoky gray fur for a long moment before she continued. “And I want those things for him too. Building Goldman’s up was a great experience. It was hard, sure, but it was mine. It was great to experience that. And I want him to be able to have that. So in that respect I’m excited for him. Because I can see how well his skills would translate to the new project.”
“Those are all good things.”
“I don’t want him to get hurt,” she said thoughtfully. “If he’s working with me then I can help, you know? But if he’s somewhere else, and it all goes to shit, what can I do? And I don’t even necessarily mean the relationship stuff. I know I can’t help with that. I want to be able to help him like he’s helped me, and if he leaves, I can’t do that.”
“You’re a good friend,” he said quietly. Shoshana felt something like relief at the words. Perhaps relief was the wrong word. Validated, maybe? She wanted to turn onto her back and purr like her cat.
“I also want to kick the shit out of him, though. Apparently, this has all been happening over the past few months, and he just didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to upset me or whatever. He only said something today because I asked him directly why he was at work so early. He’s been writing a procedure manual for me, so nothing falls through the cracks. Like, what the fuck, right? Even when he leaves, he’s taking care of me. I don’t know what to do with that.”
“Nobody in your life has ever taken care of you before?” David sounded shocked. She realized what she’d said and sat back to think about it.
“I take care of myself,” she said simply. “I have people that care about me, that’s not the same thing though.”
“So, you feel abandoned,” he said, shifting so that his head was resting on his arm. This time her eyes did prick with tears. She was shocked at how quickly the emotion hit her. She dashed at her eyes with the heel of her hand. She felt small, all of a sudden. As though she were a child.
“I told you I don’t like change. Please don’t make me talk about this anymore,” she said, her tone thick. She realized she was on the verge of a really, really long cry and squeezed her eyes shut to stave it off.
“Shoshana,” he said, and there was so much in her name.
She felt his concern like a physical caress, and she couldn’t bear to look at his face. She didn’t want to see the pity in his eyes. She could take anything but pity just now. She crossed her arms over her chest and turned onto her back, the effort not to cry making her tremble.
“Shoshana, I need you to look at me.”
She shook her head, knowing he couldn’t really see it because she was probably completely out of the frame of the phone’s camera this way. He said her name again and this time there was something in his voice that made her respond. She rolled over, wiping her eyes with her hand even though they were dry. She made herself look at him, afraid of what she might see. When she finally opened her eyes, the look on his face shocked her. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
“I’m going to text you my address,” he said, and his tone left no room for discussion. “I want you to come over.”
Twenty
David wasn’t sure what exactly he was doing, basically commanding Shoshana to come to his house. All he knew was that he couldn’t look at the naked pain on her face and do nothing. A large part of him was annoyed that he was making her come to him, but that was purely logistical. He had Dani sleeping down the hall. He couldn’t very well wake her up, put her in the car, bring her to Shoshana’s house, and hope for the best that she was able to fall back asleep. It felt inappropriate.
And calling someone to drive over to babysit at this late hour on a Monday night also didn’t feel right. He would have to wait for the person to arrive, for one. Also, they would have questions and he’d have to tell themsomething.
Even if he called Abi, who he happened to know lived two streets over--she would have something to say. He had a feeling Shoshana would see it as a betrayal of trust.
So, here he was, pacing his living room, waiting for her to arrive.
If she’d refused to leave her house, he would have to let it go.
She had to process her own stuff however she felt best.
But that look in her eyes haunted him.
You make things more complicated than they need to be, David,the knowing voice of Reb Moshe said in his head. David rolled his eyes heavenward. The last thing he needed right now was his guardian rebbe deciding to sound off on the situation.
“Pipe down, Moshe,” he said to the empty living room.
