“Nobody. Just a former friend.”
“The guy who picked you up a couple of weeks ago?”
Now it’s my turn to look pinched. “Bobby, it’s none of your business.” It’s nobody’s business. Sam shouldn’t be sending things to my workplace. I turn and stomp into the back room. I need to give my heart a chance to stop pounding in my chest and to force the tears back inside. “He sent me flowers?” I whisper to the room. Last night, I’d finally gotten myself to a good place. Well, not a good place but I’d quit crying, so that was an improved place, anyway. I return to the shop and see Theresa but no Bobby.
“You upset him.”
“I know. I just didn’t want to talk about Sam to anyone right now.”
“I understand. Been there. Done that. But maybe you should apologize to Bobby.”
I nod to Theresa. I take a deep breath and walk out into the mall. In the toy store, I look around and see only one clerk. “Hey, Sandy. Is Bobby around?”
“Back room,” she mutters.
I walk to the back and push open the door. I don’t see him, but I hear pounding. I walk around one of their tall inventories and hear the pounding get louder. I hear words now. “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”
I pass another shelf and see Bobby. He’s pounding his fist against the back wall. “Bobby?”
He turns abruptly, and his appearance startles me. He’s red and sweating. His expression is angry, and I think I see tears. “Um, I want to apologize to you. My weekend wasn’t good and seeing the flowers upset me. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you, Bobby.”
A small smile appears on his face. “It’s okay, MacKenzie. You should just throw those flowers away so you don’t have to look at them all the time.”
“I should, but I’ll leave them in the store so Theresa can enjoy them. It doesn’t bother me to see them,” I lie.
“You need to stay away from that guy. You need to watch what you’re doing.”
I nod and smile. “Well, I’d better get back. See you.”
“Wait. MacKenzie? Do you want to have lunch?”
“Can’t. Gotta walk the dogs.” I start to walk away, but I turn. “But their family is going out of town and I don’t have to walk them on Friday. How ’bout then?”
He gives me the biggest, brightest smile. “Sure. Great.”
It’s hard to believe having lunch with me could make him this happy. I make my way back to the store and try to keep my mind off Mr. Three o’Clock.
The restof Monday continues without any more drama. The woman who called about my jewelry was a no-show, but maybe she’ll stop in on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, I get to work early again, but Theresa’s not there to witness it. “Diane? Make sure you note that I’m here early again. I want to get as many bonus points with Theresa as I can.” I giggle.
“Will do. It is pretty shocking—you being early.” She laughs.
It’s not really that shocking—not to me. I can’t seem to sleep right now. I’m dragging ass; the sun wakes me up.
“We’re going to inventory the cases today—or at least start that process.”
I’m glad we have something to do that’s mind-numbing. “I’ll grab the forms. Where do you want to start?”
“Let’s start at the front and move around the room.”
“Good idea.” Taking inventory is easy work. We also wipe down the cases and clean the jewelry while we do it. Diane and I clean and count until it’s time for me to walk the dogs. When I return, there’s a man in the store holding a brown paper sack.
I look at Diane as she says, “He’s got something for you that smells heavenly.” She moans. She’s hungry—she’s been waiting for me to return so she can go to lunch.
“You MacKenzie Parker?” asks the man in his late sixties.
“I am.”
