I shrug. “I guess I could do that.”
“I hired a high school girl to come in after school. So far, she’s been great with the phones and keeping things running while I work in the back. Plus, Gus has been a big help with deliveries. This week, I’m going to teach him how to do some simple arrangements.”
I snicker at the image of Gus Kowalski doing flower arrangements.
“Hey.” She smirks. “Don’t laugh. He’s a natural.”
“I just bet he is.” Which reminds me, we never talked about Gus and his family. That needs to happen ASAP.
Turning to my doctor, I ask, “How long will I be on bed rest?”
“That’s a question I cannot answer. We need to be very careful from here on out, though.”
And by “we” she means “me.”
“I’ll be careful.” Definitely no carrying groceries up three flights of stairs.
17
Nate
Why am I here again?
Oh, I remember, Gus called.
Fucking Gus.
Anyway, he told me Maggy has to stay on bed rest. That she’s still spotting. So, here I am again, but this time, I don’t come empty handed. No. This time I’ve brought food. I’ve got a bag with some groceries, including the eggs I promised her. In the other, I’ve got food from that burger place I love, only I brought her soup and a club sandwich, the same thing she ordered the day we attempted to have lunch.
The question is, though, will she answer her door?
Making my way up the front steps of her building, I look at the panel that lists each occupant. When I spot Fitzgerald, I press the button. It doesn’t make a sound from my end, but moments later, I hear her. “Yes?”
“Maggy? It’s Nate.”
There’s a lengthy pause.
Very lengthy.
I can’t help wondering what she’s thinking.
“What are you doing here?”
“I brought sustenance.”
“Huh?”
“Food. I brought food.”
“What kind of food?”
I chuckle. “Eggs and something from Cal’s.”
“Cal’s?” She pauses. “That place we had lunch?”
Well, technically, we didn’t have lunch. “That’s the one.” Another long-ass pause. “It’s fucking cold out here, Maggy….”
“Oh. Right.” I hear a buzz and know she must’ve hit the button that will unlock the front door for me.
