“You know. Back at work. At the bank. I miss your…people skills.”
Well, that part could be true. The guy has no people skills at all.“You have plenty of tellers who are friendly and nice to the customers. You don’t need me.”
Gabe was starting to calm down. Until Adam reached for her hand, and then he went nuts, squawking and flying around as much as the cage allowed.
“I’m sorry, Adam. I’m not coming back to work. I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m almost five months pregnant.” She smoothed the sundress over her belly, revealing the infant growing there.
“Oh. Well, you can have maternity leave, you know. Then you’ll be able to keep your insurance benefits and—”
Before Gabe reacted to that, she held up one hand. “Stop, Adam. Just stop. I’m not coming back.” She flipped her hand over so he could see her rings. “I’m married now, and I have insurance through the fire department.”
“But—”
“No. Your apology is accepted, but our business is concluded.” She shut the door and locked it. Spinning toward Gabe’s cage, she said, “You didn’t have to make such a ruckus. I won’t be going back to work for him now or in the future.”
Gabe quieted but still seemed tense. She approached the cage slowly.
“I love you, you know. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. Not now or ever.” He seemed to relax and smooth his ruffled feathers. “That doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do. It just means I’ll do my best to communicate with you about all major decisions before making any. That’s what any married couple should do.”
He bobbed his head in agreement. Then he tipped his head, meaning he had a question.
Oh, goody. We get to play twenty questions or however many I have to ask before I hit on the right one.What could he want to know?
“Are you wondering how he found me here?”
He bobbed his head.
Oh, good. Got it in one.“I had to give him a forwarding address so he’d know where to send my last check.”
He righted his head in the neutral position, neither looking right nor left. She interpreted that as his being satisfied with her answer.
“Do you want me to read to you for a while?”
He looked at her with his left eye.
“So, that’s a no. Okay. Do you mind if I read to myself?”
He also gave her a no. So she picked up the novel she doubted he’d be interested in and put her feet up. She was just getting into it when Antonio and Gabriella returned home.
“Who was that at the door a few minutes ago?” Antonio asked. “We were still parking the car when he left.”
“Just my old boss. He wanted me to come back to work.”
“After firing you?” Gabriella asked.
“Yeah. He apologized, saying he’d overreacted.”
“So, are you going back to work?” Antonio glanced over toward Gabe—probably asking more for his benefit than hers. He didn’t know they’d already “discussed” the matter.
“I’m not.” She almost felt the need to defend her refusal since just sitting around on their couch and reading made her feel like a lazy, good-for-nothing squatter anyway.
He simply nodded. Gabriella let out a deep breath as if she’d been holding it.
“Are you interested in taking a walk? It’s a beautiful day out there.”
“Sure.” Misty needed some air to clear her head and was grateful for the opportunity to talk with Gabriella alone. Her new mother-in-law had become a good friend. She was always sunny and positive but would listen whenever Misty was down in the dumps.
She found that taking walks around the neighborhood was helpful too. Getting some sunshine and letting the warmth sink into her skin helped Misty’s hormonal moods immensely. “I’ll just visit the little girls’ room and be right with you.”
