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Junie started to answer but he asked her to let him finish.
“Please, Junie, please think things through. Be sure, because the only thing worse than living without you would be living with your disappointment.”
His voice broke on the last word and Junie pulled in a shuddering breath.
“I’m sorry, Lenny. I never meant to make you feel that way. I was overly defensive.”
“No, baby, you were right. I should have put you first. At least that, I can promise you, is a mistake I’ll never make again.”
Junie swallowed hard and forced her voice through the ball of grief lodged in her throat.
“I’ll see you Friday?” she confirmed.
“You promise you’ll think things through?” he huskily requested.
“Yes, but there’s not much…”
“Friday, then,” he interrupted, “I love you, Junie.”
He disconnected the call before she could reply. She stared at her cell for a moment, looking bereft, then turned to me, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
“Looks like you’ve got ducks, too,” I murmured, reaching for her.
She lay her head down on my lap and cried while I stroked her long hair away from her mottled face. She cried for a long time. She cried for her stubbornness, and she cried for what she’d nearly thrown away, but mostly, she cried for the pain she’d inflicted on the man who loved her.
Chapter 44
Clown Car
Willa
“I’ll drive,” Mara decided, and we all looked at her, stupefied. She was a good driver under normal circumstances, but Mara was not known for keeping her cool under stressful situations.
“Mara,” Bex began, but Mara cut her off.
She looked at me steadily, her heart in her eyes.
“She’s my baby, and I’m taking her.”
After Junie finished crying her eyes out at her place on Saturday afternoon, she cleaned herself up, we walked to Minty’s place, and caught her up.
We tittered and laughed on the way, thinking to catch Minty unaware and less than put together. We were disappointed. Minty was dressed casually, for her, in designer jeans and a light off the shoulder sweater. Her hair was already up in its habitual French twist, her makeup was flawless, and she invited us in happily.
Both Junie and I looked at each other, disgruntled.
“What is it?” Minty asked. “Why are you both so disgruntled?”
“Why are you always so perfectly put together?”
“I’m not,” she answered, surprised.
Junie comically waved her hand up and down, indicating Minty and her entire get-up.
“Oh,” Minty blushed. “Well, I’m on my way out! I don’t always look like this on the weekends! I’m not a robot!”
Junie narrowed her eyes. “Where are you going?”
Minty smiled her secret smile. “Why are you here?” she countered.
