“Yeah, she’s doesn’t mean to meddle. She just needs people to take care of,” he says, tapping his fingers on the bar. “I think she figured since you’re alone and all…”
Nettie walks back in with a large bag of napkins. She walks past me, straight to the nearest table to refill the metal napkin holder.
I walk over, grab the holder from the next table and start to fill it. “I’m sorry, Nettie. All you’ve done since I met you is be welcoming and kind. And I … haven’t treated you the way I should have.”
“Nope, that’s fine. I’m too nosy for my own good.” She moves on to the next table and I follow her.
“The thing is, for a long time, I’ve gotten used to being on my own and it’s become very comfortable for me. And today was just sort of bad because a lot of little things happened that added up to me being in a terrible mood—which was in no way your fault.”
“What happened?” Nettie asks, her face filling with concern.
“Oh, it’s all so stupid,” I say, glancing out the window and reaching for Isaac’s ring. “I turned forty today, and I feel really old even though I know I’m not. And it just made me miss my husband because he would have made it a really special day, you know?”
“Oh, love,” Nettie says, her facing crumpling. “Of course you’d be in a pissy mood today. No one likes turning forty. It’s the absolute worst.”
“It is,” Peter adds.
“And you’ve got no one to celebrate with.” She pulls me in for a big hug, and this time, I don’t recoil. I accept, knowing it’s for both of us.
When it’s over, she pulls out a chair for me, then takes a seat. “Come sit and tell me what your husband would’ve done to make it special.” I sit down and start talking, first about Isaac, then I move onto the other petty little things that upset me this morning—the email from Lauren, the FedEx guy, Colton making me face the fact that I’m not writing, and my fear that I never had any talent in the first place. By the time I unload it all, I feel much lighter. “I mean, if evenColtoncan see I should be writing, I probably should be writing.”
“Yes,” Peter, who joined us at the table sometime around me complaining about Liam thinking I’m forty-two, says, “You probably should.”
Nettie slaps his arm. “It’s not that simple, you dolt. She’s scared that she’s no good at it.”
“Well, sitting here crying in her soup isn’t going to help, is it?” he asks her. Turning to me, he says, “There’s really only one way to find out.”
“It’s her fortieth birthday! Quit nagging her, for God’s sake,” Nettie says. Turning to me, she smiles. “How about you stay here for a nice supper on the house? We can sing to you and...” Her voice trails off, then she says, “And you would hate every minute.”
“But just the thought is so sweet of you, really.”
“Tell you what, I’ll pack you a supper to go and some cake. You get home and get your arse to work.”
I nod. “Okay, that sounds perfect.”
A few minutes later, Peter comes out of the kitchen with a large brown paper bag. “Now, get going and don’t come back ‘til you’ve written something you’re proud of,” he says as he hands me the bag. “Oh, unless you need something. Then call or stop by.”
“Or if you’re hungry,” Nettie says.
“Or it’s Thursday night and you could use a break and some good music,” Peter adds.
I chuckle. “Okay. Thank you, both.” Looking at Nettie, I swallow, guilt still eating at my insides. “I really am sorry about this afternoon.”
She waves her hand. “Think nothing of it. It’s our first row as neighbors and we’re over it now.”
“Good to just get it over with. It would have happened sooner or later anyway,” Peter says, gesturing with his head toward Nettie. “Especially withthisone.”
“Arsehole.”
“Cruel wench.”
“You’re both lovely,” I say. “And I’m lucky to live next door to you.”
Peter narrows his eyes, but the smile never leaves his face. “Are you still here? I thought I told you to get going.”
When I get home, I flop down onto my bed and draft a text to Colton.I’m sorry I was such a grouch today. I didn’t mean what I said about you being nosy. You’re not. You were just curious, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
I read it over a few times before I send it. Then I wait. A minute later I get back a message from him.No worries. Everybody has their bad days. I’ll see you tomorrow.
