The only problem was, that turn never came around. I think that was the first time I truly started hating the word “soon.” Because that’s what Justin would always say any time I brought up me quitting my job.
Soon… when we have a credit card paid off.
Soon… when the real estate market corrects itself.
Soon… it’s not smart to open a new business in this economy.
After I found out he was cheating on me, I was devastated. Not only did I spend years of my life loving that man, but I gave up everything for him. I felt hopeless. Defeated. Like my whole adult life up to that point was wasted. I hated my job. I hated living in the house where I knew Justin cheated. I hated everything.
Which is when my big brother stepped in to save the day. He might come off as a cocky asshole to the world, but the day he found me bawling on his couch, the man didn’t hesitate. It helped that he always hated Justin, and he felt that him stepping in to help me was also a good middle finger to my ex.
Which is when he opened me a bakery.
It took him less than two weeks to find a location and buy it. This was a café before, so the bones were already here, but because he could, he made sure to outfit the place with the most up-to-date equipment, fixtures, and anything else I could need or want. He really was my hero because never in a million years would I have ever been able to afford half of the things he installed. And the man did his homework. By the end of this process, I’m pretty sure Beau knew more about baking equipment than I did.
From there, he told me to quit my job and that the two of us were going to open Sugar and Sweets with the agreement that one day I’d be the full owner and operator of the business,and he'd be the landlord of the building. He made sure to keep my name off every document, utility bill, and deed so that way Justin couldn’t ask for one cent of the business during the divorce proceedings.
To the courts, I was Gabrielle (soon to be back to) Devereaux, employed by Sugar and Sweets. To Beau and I, I’m the future owner and operator of this business.
Soon. Please God let it be soon.
“All you need is a little time now to really get on your own feet,” he says with encouragement. “Have a good year where you get some money in the bank and you feel like you’re settled, and then we switch over the papers to your name.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m not ready yet. But one day. Soon.”
It’s the first time I’ve said that word with a smile.
“I haven’t talked to you since you officially signed off on everything,” he says. “I wish I could’ve been there to seen his swarmy face when he admitted defeat.”
I laugh as I remember his look of complete depression. How he thought he wasn’t getting off not paying spousal support is still hilarious.”
“It was pretty funny. But I don’t know if your presence would’ve done any good. Especially since I still think it was you who slashed Justin’s tires when you found out he was cheating on me.”
He holds up his hands in innocence. “I’ll neither confirm or deny that action.”
I raise an eyebrow, wondering if he’ll ever tell me the truth about that. Or if it was him who also signed Justin up for an alien-believing cult’s mailing list, which I only know about because he brought it up at a mediation thinking I did it. Though, that one has more of Shelby written on it.
“While I appreciate you wanting to be there, I was fine. Actually, Shelby came and scared the literal piss out of him. It was quite a sight to see.”
“He’s scared of Shelby?” Beau asks.
“Who isn’t?”
“Me for one.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course you’re not. You’re too busy hating her to be scared of her.”
“I give back what I receive,” he says. “And since she hates me, and I think she needs to take the pitching wedge out of her ass and lighten up every once in a while, to me that equals maybe not hate, but a strong dislike. And I’m definitely, I meandefinitely, not scared of her.”
I don’t know why my best friend and brother hate each other, but they have our entire lives. On paper, they should be better friends than she and I are. They grew up playing golf together in Louisiana. They’re both now on their respective professional golf tours. They each know the pressures and work ethic it takes to make it professionally.
But the two can’t stand each other. I don’t think they’ve ever been civil to each other once in our lives, which includes my wedding when they were paired together. That was a mistake on my part. I thought I could make them like each other for one day. Instead they spent the entire time hitting each other or trying to make the other trip.
“You should’ve seen her in Vegas last weekend” I say. “She was fun and smiled. Danced and drank. She was talking to a football coach all night and seemed to really be enjoying herself. So, maybe it’s just you who makes her scowl.”
His face turns from annoyed to… anger? “I don’t fucking make her scowl. That’s her permanent look. I’m a fucking delight.”
“Of course you are. The belle of the ball.” I tease. “And I made up that I saw her smiling and laughing last week. A figment of my drunk imagination.”
