After I give her the numbers, she asks me to hold. She’s gone so long, I half wonder if she’s just hung up and I haven’t realized it.
I glance at my brother wondering what I can do to get him out of my office.
“So are you going to cook?” Bray asks when he catches me giving him death stares. “I could use a steak. I need the protein to help me heal.”
“You need to figure it out with Dad. I’m going out.” I have no plans to go out, but I don’t want to be at home, cooking. My resentment will build and there’s a real chance I might explode.
“Dad can’t cook steak.”
“Then have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I’m not your mom or your girlfriend. And I have enough to do already without adding Wilde’s Catering to my résumé.” I know I’m being a bitch before Bray has to tell me. “I’m sorry. I’m stressed out by these invoices. And I just need a minute.”
“Iris?” Karen asks from the other end of the phone.
“Yes?” I ask hopefully.
“I just found one of the invoices in our system. It’s been stuck waiting approval. I just need to check we received the order and my boss is happy. I can’t find the other one, though. Can you send it again? I can give you my direct email.”
“Sure,” I say. I guess it’s progress, but there’s no certainty we’re going to get payment on either invoice. Dad is really counting on getting payment on these so he can get the cherry pickers. “I’m going to follow up in a couple of days.”
“No problem,” Karen says. “Thank you for your patience.”
Patience.
That’s what I need. If I can just ride this deep sense of disappointment, things will get better. Or back to normal at least. I’ll stop thinking about Jack. About New York. About a different life.
Bray tries to get to his feet but is fumbling for his crutches. I go over and help him, pulling him to his feet.
“I’ll drop you off before I head to Grizzly’s, so you don’t have to wait for Dad,” I say.
“Thanks, Iris,” he says. “I’m sorry you had to cut your trip short for me.”
I sigh and pull my mouth into a small smile. “Thanks.”
Our home is adjacent to the farm, so it doesn’t take long before I’ve helped Bray into the house and gotten him some snacks to keep him from withering away until Dad gets home.
“Who you meeting at Grizzly’s?” he asks. “Your school friend? She still in town?” He raises his eyebrows, almost likehe’s daring me to say yes. “Oh no, you didn’t go to Vegas with her in the end, did you?”
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Otherwise, eat another chip and I’ll be on my way.”
“You messing around with some married man or something?”
“What?” I yell. “Why on earth would you think I’m messing around with a married man? I would never.”
“You’re hiding something. You could never tell a lie. I’ll bet you’veneverbeen to Vegas. I just don’t know where you disappear off to every year.”
“Well, you have a think about that. I’m going to get myself some chicken wings.”
“Awww, bring us back some,” he calls as I head out.
“I might,” I say over my shoulder, and I push through the front door.
I’m not sure I’m even going to Grizzly’s. I could grab a pizza at Pizza Meet Ya. I’ve never been to either place on my own. When I go to New York, I quite enjoy eating at a restaurant by myself, but here, in Star Falls, I’m pretty sure people would think I’d lost my mind if I asked for a table for one.
All the same, I pull into Grizzly’s parking lot. I can’t be on my own with my thoughts tonight. I need to be around people. Just not the people I gave up everything for. Tonight, I need space from Bray and Dad. I need to forget about everything.
I need to forget about Jack.
EIGHT
