Page 6

Iris nodded in thanks. Sparing a final glance at the stranger, she fumbled for her phone, hurrying through the door behind them into the privacy of Dr. Sumpter’s office. Mercifully, the small, tidy room was empty but for the doctor’s elderly chihuahua, Luna, who lay snoozing on her bed in the corner

“Gabriel?” she asked automatically, forgetting to glance at the number.

But the laugh on the other end of the line didn’t belong to him. “Is that how you answer your phone now?”

“Sorry, Audrey,” said Iris, recognizing her friend’s voice at once. “What’s up?”

“Just wondering if you’re free for dinner. I have some news.”

Late afternoon sunlight streamed into the tiny roadside cafe, a hidden pearl nestled between the bookshop and the bakery. Outside the tall windows, the final leaves of autumn coasted along the breeze like liberated souls, their viney hands stretched wide to welcome freedom from their bark-clad prisons.

As one of only two establishments in town open for dinner, the cafe was filled to bursting like a balloon stuffed with too much helium. Iris and Audrey had been fortunate enough to nab two empty seats at the counter overlooking the street. Unluckily, they were right next to the front door and subjected to a breezy rush of air whenever someone squeezed into the cafe’s warm, coffee-scented embrace.

Having come straight from work, Iris felt a tad frumpy in her large violet sweater and gray leggings. Audrey was as fashionable as might be expected from a successful visual artist. She wore a deep brown sweater dress a half shade darker than her skin, a burnt orange wool coat and olive handbag slung neatly over the back of her chair. Iris knew she was able to afford nicer clothes now that she’d sold so many of her paintings, but even back in college when they’d spent every weekend thrifting, Audrey had still looked a million times more pulled together than Iris had ever managed.

“Alright, something's up. What’s wrong?” Audrey set her latte down on the counter with a dramatic thunk and swiveled around to face Iris, her ankle boots resting on the rungs of her chair.

Iris shrugged, taking a bite of her cranberry muffin as she absently tore the rest of it into pieces. “Gabriel has been…distant.” She frowned at Audrey’s expression, positive that her friend was dying to burst out with an I told you so.

Sure enough, Audrey tossed the end of her scarf over one shoulder before saying, “Well, I did warn you this ‘platonic life partners’ thing was going to be…shall we say, challenging. So, what happened?”

Haltingly, Iris told Audrey about Gabriel’s uncommunicative behavior over the past few days, starting on Monday night when he’d refused to tell her why he’d arrived home late, and including the way he continued to monitor his phone as though fearful it might implode if he failed to shower it with attention.

“Have you tried to sneak a peek at his phone?” Audrey suggested.

Iris blinked in surprise, absently lowering her cup. “I couldn’t do that.”

Audrey shrugged. “At least then you’d know if he’s cheating or something.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Oh, right. Because you’re platonic life partners. I forgot.”

Silence descended as Iris allowed her mind to wander.

“I have a theory,” Audrey said at last, leaning forward to catch Iris’ eye. “I think you’re scared.”

“Of what?” Iris watched a group of giggly teenage girls collect their drinks, their eyes dancing with amusement as they gossiped their way out the door. She wondered dramatically if there’d ever been a time in her life when she’d felt that carefree.

“Of learning the truth about Gabriel.”

“Why would I be scared?”

“I just think you’re worried that whatever he’s hiding might upend the peaceful life you two have.”

Iris stared down at a small crack in the counter, digging her nail into the crevice. Deep down, she knew Audrey was probably right. Gabriel was the one who had given her hope that she could leave her sorrows in the past. It would break her heart to learn that he was fighting off his own shadows, that he might even believe it was his duty to face them all on his own.

“Maybe,” Iris conceded. She straightened up in her chair, tamping down her concern to focus on her friend. “Anyway, how have you been? You said you had news?”

In reply, Audrey stretched out her left hand.

“You’re engaged!” Iris’ heart leapt and she pulled Audrey in for a hug. “Congratulations!” She leaned back to examine the ring, a bright topaz gemstone set with diamonds. “When did this happen? I can’t believe you let me mope around this whole time when you had something so exciting to share.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t notice the ring! Well, actually I can, you’re not always that observant.”

Iris laughed, still admiring the gemstone. “What’s Evette’s ring look like?”

“Evette proposed to me, so we haven’t picked hers out yet.”