For the next five days I get a slew of text messages and voice messages from Blake that all say about the same thing: Please come to my show this Saturday, down in Little Five Points. You have to be there.
I guess that’s what he meant by a lot of work. His art. It was my idea for him to use the phone to communicate, I guess, and Blake is taking it to the extreme. He even makes up a song inviting me to his show and sings it on my voicemail. He has a good voice, of course.
Throughout the week I lay low and try to avoid Caroline, but Diana catches on by Wednesday. We’re in the office when she asks, “What’s eating you, darling?”
I tell her the whole story, details and all, and she doesn’t look even remotely surprised. “Ha! Of course that happened. Blake is strikingly handsome and kind, and he’s got that free spirit thing that practically spills from your own damn pores. You’re a match made by Diana. If only I could really take credit for it.”
“But what about Caroline? Then she’ll know…all along, that—”
“My goodness, you don’t think she knew? Caroline is far from naïve, honey.”
“I don’t know. I’m scared. Maybe I’m Blake’s rebound?”
She laughs. “I’ve been in this business way too long. I’ve seen this a hundred times. Trust me, if you met Blake five years ago, you might have been a rebound. That relationship has been over for a long time.”
I can hear everything she’s saying. My hormone gang is sitting on my shoulder expectantly like they’re waiting for me to make a decision that will either send them to their death, or free them forever.
While I’m on my lunch break, my mom calls.
“How have you been, Mom?”
“Wonderful, Hayden. I wanted to tell you that I finally got promoted to manager at the store. I want to repay you.”
No wonder her little mini me hasn’t been hanging around my shoulder lately. “Congratulations, Mom! But what about your retirement?”
I can hear the shock in her voice as she recounts, “They’re providing me with a 401(k) and adding retroactive pay to it. They wanted to reward me for being such a devoted employee.”
“Mom, that’s wonderful! You don’t have to pay me back. Seriously, really good things are happening for me.”
“Maybe for all of us. Your brother landed his dream job, apparently.”
“Geez, is that dimwit ever gonna call me?”
She laughs. “I want you all home for Thanksgiving. I’m going to do it like I used to when your dad was around.”
It feels like a knife when she says that because I have no memory of it. All these years she couldn’t do Thanksgiving or be home with her family because she had to work, to provide for us.
“Grandma gonna be there?” I say.
“Oh, hell, no, Hayden. We don’t need Grandma there counting our calories.” It’s like everyone is waking up from a fog at the same time. My mom has always known what my grandmother was like? Maybe she even went through the same thing when she was young.
“Okay, Mom. That sounds great.”
“Bring anyone you’d like. If you have a friend or someone special…everyone is welcome.”
I’m almost in tears when I hang up. It feels good to know my mom is finally looking out for me. She deserves to be happy. We all do.
Back in my apartment, I’m going through my mail when I find a postcard advertising Blake’s show. There’s no return address.
Boy, he’s really trying every possible platform, isn’t he? What’s next? A singing telegram?
I guess I’m going to show up after all…
Chapter 21
The gallery is filled to the brim with art appreciators and reviewers. I spot him from across the room, talking to a large group.
You know when you see someone from afar and it’s almost like seeing them with new eyes?
