Crap. Bobbie hoped not.
What, exactly, was this all about? Had the frustrating man put his sister-in-law up to something?
Again, as if reading her mind, Everlee continued. “Buck hasn’t said one thing to me, so no worries in that department. But Ellen filled me in on the…issues that you and my brother-in-law had fifteen years ago. She also told me this is the firsttime you’ve seen each other since things blew up in a spectacular fashion. I just wanted to offer my support, and a friendly ear in case you needed to talk about it.”
Well, that was a first. Nobodyeverwanted to revisit that time in her life. Her brothers, back in the day, had certainly shuffled it off quickly, and had even forbidden her to speak of it, post incident.
The friends she’d had in high school had all moved on with their lives; college, marriage, kids. Not one of her “besties” had stayed in the area, and when they did occasionally visit, the last thing anyone wanted to do was bring up why Bobbie was still stuck here.
Her employees—Melo in particular who’d become a good friend—werealmostcompletely unaware of her past, and simply viewed her through their current lens as a successful entrepreneur, Which is how she wanted it.
And now, for someone, a stranger at that, to offer up an ear was…
Confusing.
How should she respond?
“Uh, thank you?” Bobbie managed. “I, umm… It was a really long time ago, and these days I just look at it as water under the bridge. Buck and I no longer have anything in common, and we really have no need to converse about things again. Ever. So…” Bobbie shrugged, and hoped her nonchalance looked believable.
Everlee inched closer so that no one could accidentally overhear their conversation.
“It’s okay,” she soothed. “I understand your reluctance. But I can’t help but see the way the two of you have been eyeing each other all night. Whatever was once there between you, is clearly still simmering on the back burner—if you pardon the cooking metaphor. And it’s not just anger that I detect, it’s also anunderlying current of personal…unresolvedness. What do you think? Do I have that right?”
As much as Bobbie didn’t want to admit it, Everlee had hit the nail on the head. Bobbie had never been able to equate the Buck she’d known with the things he’d done. Could it possibly help the mental turmoil she’d been experiencing—especially since seeing Buck again—to acknowledge, out loud, the truth in Everlee’s assertion?
“Well, maybe. I guess,” Bobbie grudgingly admitted. “Idostill harbor a lot of resentment toward him. I had a path for my life, I had goals, and with one selfish act, he destroyed… Well, he didn’tdestroymy future, but he changed it,andset me back, years. Yet…” How could she describe her divergent feelings?
She tried again. “Buck is still a compelling personality. Of course I remember the attraction that we had for each other back then. And that’s where my problem lies. Those anomalies divide my brain in two, and try as I might, I can’t quite get those opposing lobes to reach a conclusion.”
Everlee nodded. “All normal, considering you two never talked things out. I have a feeling that there’ll eventually need to be a head-to-head where you both let loose with hurts that have festered for a long time.”
Bobbie scoffed. “Nope. Not happening. After the wedding tomorrow, and the celebratory brunch I’ll be cooking on Sunday, I’m off the clock and I’ll be putting my feet up at my little apartment to regroup. On Monday, early, I’ll be heading—sailing actually—to my weekly cooking gig in New Brunswick. I won’t be home until Wednesday night, and by that time, Buck will be long gone. Back out to sea. So I don’t believe a confrontation of any kind at this point is likely or relevant.”
“Oh.” Everlee looked surprised. “You don’t know yet.” She looked down at her feet a little uncomfortably. “In a small,gossipy area like this, I just assumed that word had gotten around.”
“What word?” Bobbie narrowed her eyes and braced. This couldn’t be good.
“Buck is out of the Coast Guard,” Everlee apprised gently with a wince of compassion. “He and Spencer, along with Spencer’s wife-to-be, are going to be opening a rescue diving operation out of Hampden. He’s here for good. And I hate to say it, but the chances of not running into him in the future around here are probably close to nil.”
“Shit,” Bobbie let slip. That wasn’t something she’d been expecting.
“You said it,” Everlee agreed.
“I…” Bobbie was at a complete loss. What the hell was she going to do? Her companion was correct that the towns around the area were all small and interconnected in a myriad of ways. Bobbie wasn’t stupid enough to think she could avoid Buck for the rest of their lives.
Maybe a bit of magnanimity was called for?
“Good for him. I guess,” Bobbie finally managed.
Yeah. That was lame.
Everlee gave Bobbie’s arm a warm pat. “I can see that despite your anger, you still wish the best for him. Which gets back to why I approached you. I want you to know that if you need to talk, I’m here. I have a very neutral ear. I don’t take sides. I won’t bristle if you need to rant about Buck, and I won’t defend him unless I have solid facts. I can’t imagine what you went through at that time, or how you managed to process it and get on so successfully with your life.” She waved a hand around the venue, then snapped her fingers in an ah-hah gesture. “Unless you have a therapist. In which case I commend you, and I’ll totally butt out.”
“No. No therapist,” Bobbie responded in a small voice.
“Okay then,” Everlee said with a nod. “My offer stands. I’m here if you need to vent.” Her look got impish. “And in case you’re wondering, just because I’m married to a Sothard, doesn’t mean I don’t know how annoying and overbearing the entire clan can be.”
Bobbie had to snort at that.
