“She came under the guise of peace, but she’s not being particularly friendly.”
Maureen huffed, “I don’t understand what’s gotten into her.”
“Me,” Arissa said. “The woman doesn’t like me. If I was a better person, I’d back off, but I’m not going anywhere. She needs to fucking deal.”
“Yeah, she does.”
Maureen took lead, heading into the house, her voice bright when they reached the kitchen in time to see Catherine moving back to her seat from the kitchen island. “Catherine, how lovely to see you,” Maureen said, pulling out the seat next to her. “You feeling okay, Sugar, you look a little pale.”
Arissa’s focus was on the kitchen island and her phone. Crossing the room, she snatched up her phone, her gaze turning to Catherine in question before she dropped it in the drawer.
“I’m not feeling so well,” Catherine said as she stood. “It must be the coffee. We’ll have to finish this conversation another time.”
There wasn’t going to be another time. Arissa was done with this woman. “I’m sorry to see you go so soon,” Arissa said, already moving to the hallway and holding the door open.
“Such hospitality,” Catherine said, too sweetly. She stepped over the threshold.
“Have a good one, Catherine,” Arissa said, then closed the door in her face.
She turned, leaned up against it and saw Maureen smiling. “You were nicer than I would have been.”
They heard the sound of Catherine’s car. “I hate her,” Arissa confessed. “It pains me to say, but I hate her.”
“I don’t blame you with the way she’s acting. Hopefully you’ll learn something on Friday,” Maureen offered, moving back to the kitchen right for the wine. She lifted it, met Arissa’s frustrated stare. “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
Arissa didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll get the glasses.”
* * *
Hank had just hung up the phone. Tossing the cell onto his desk with force. He gave in. He fucking gave in like always. Jesus. He ran a fucking town but hearing his mom cry on the phone had him taking a knee. He was pissed but more so at himself than at her. If he was going to change their relationship, cut the damn fucking cord his mother had securely around him, he had to grow some fucking balls. Sure he understood the dilemma his parents were dealing with, making their only child their sole focus in life only for that child to move on, he got it. It hurt. People got burned but he hated being the one always lighting the match.
He looked at the clock above the door. Arissa should be back from her meeting with the lawyer and waiting for him at Dehlia’s. Standing, he snatched his phone and walked out of his office.
“Ed called, Hilda’s on the loose again.” Jo told Hank, her focus never leaving the computer, her fingers not stopping as she typed.
“Call him back, tell him he’s gotta deal with her today.”
The clicking of keys on the keyboard stopped and Jo lifted her eyes and leveled them on Hank like he had just grown two heads…no, four. “Can you repeat that?”
Hank rotated on his foot and told Jo, “Tell ‘em he’s gotta deal with it.”
Jo smiled, trying to hide the huge grin that she wanted to show by tucking her lips between her teeth.
“People gotta realize I’m not gonna be around forever, gotta start fixing their own shit,” Hank said to the window as he looked out.
He didn’t see that Jo was nodding but he didn’t need to when she said, “I agree, I’ll call him now.”
“Thanks,” Hank said and walked out the door to have lunch with Arissa. He moved through Dehlia’s like he always had with nods of hello to the patrons who called greetings to him. Sitting down in their saved booth, Hank eyed his woman knowing something wasn’t sitting well with her. “What’s the matter?”
She glanced up, smiled absently before she shared, “He wasn’t there. The lawyer.” The truth was she was hoping the meeting was the cure all, that magically he had all the answers and the shit with Catherine would be fixed. She should have known better, it was a long shot to begin with. She studied Hank and added more softly, “I was just hoping to make things right.”
Hank lifted the glass of sweet tea and took a hefty gulp before he offered, “You said he was forgetful so maybe he forgot.” Arissa tilted her head, clear frustration on her face. “Cheer up, we’ll figure it out.”
That was what she thought too, he’d just forgotten but then that meant there was a good chance he wasn’t going to even remember coming to Summerville, let alone why. To Hank, she smiled because even being frustrated, just seeing him made her happy, ridiculously happy. “Yeah, we’ll figure it out.” Moving on from that she asked, “How’s your day going?”
Hank leaned back in the booth, crossing his arms. “Well, you thought my mom would call the day after coming to your house. I thought she’d wait till the weekend. Well, she called today.”
“Damn. What did she say?”
“Apologized.” Hank started but asked Arissa. “You order for us?”
“Yeah, pastrami on rye.” Arissa told him, and before Hank could open his mouth she added, “Yes, I ordered you extra mustard.”
“Good.” Hank nodded and went on. “Said she was sorry, outta line and she’d do her best to give me space.” When Arissa opened her mouth to speak, her reaction written all over her face, Hank beat her to it. “I know.” He held a hand up. “I know, fat fucking chance of it happening. But, Babe, we gotta give her time.” Even though Hank said the words, they came out like fingernails on a chalkboard. Everyone had the feeling she was up to something; he heard the whispers behind his back. He wasn’t stupid. But recalling so much of his childhood, it falling into his adult life, he had a nagging feeling that
