Authors: J.B. Hartnett
“This is not the time, Tawnea.” Nico’s voice was firm but quiet.
“Make it the time, Nico.” We had apparently walked right into a lover’s spat.
“This is my place of business. You can call me or come by when I close, but I cannot discuss this now.” He shot me a look of apology, studied Olaf, and went back to Tawnea – what a name.
The blonde lowered her voice, but she was clearly pissed, “That was not the first time I walked in on you kissing a ‘client’ (she made air quotes) and you wouldn’t tell me what the hell warranted a kiss.” I clearly remembered him kissing Anika when we came in together. She explained it as affection meant to comfort. For him, it was all about bringing peace to the woman in question, to make her feel safe because as I understood it… any woman who he kissed like that had been through hell… just like Anika had.
“Tawnea, I am not going to break confidence with my clients. I told you, it’s the way I do things. Now, we can talk about this later. I have customers.”
She snapped her head toward me, “Are you two a couple?” She asked, her eyes darting back and forth from me to Olaf.
Olaf being Olaf, wrapped his long tanned fingers around the back of my neck and pulled our foreheads together, “We’re not just a couple, we’re soul-mates, cookie.”
“Ugh. This town is filled with fags. At least my boyfriend won’t be kissing you.”
Seriously. I couldn’t understand how a guy like Nico would be with a girl like this. The bell sounded on the door behind us.
“Sorry, are you Nico?” The gentle voice behind me asked. Olaf and I were still in our fake embrace, Nico was clearly trying to rein in his temper at the hate his soon to be ex-girlfriend just spewed.
“That’s me.” He said on a shaky exhale. “What can I do for you?”
“Excuse me, we are not done here, Nico.” Tawnea interjected.
Nico ignored her, “What can I do for you?” He repeated.
“I’m Lark. I’m living in cottage three? My Aunt owns the bookstore? Uh… I can come back-”
“No, you’re fine Lark. Is something wrong with the cottage? I don’t have time now, but I can stop by when the other artist comes in at four.”
“Nico!” Tawnea snapped.
He continued to ignore her. Olaf moved into Tawnea’s line of vision and started to run his fingers across my chest. When she looked at us in disgust, he grabbed my crotch. It took all my will not to punch him… or laugh.
“Tell me what you need, Lark.” He asked the beautiful girl. I only had eyes for Anika, of course, but this girl was stunning. She had straight, long, dirty blonde hair tucked behind her ears. Her lips were full, the kind that suggested you wanted to know more about them and what she could do with them. Yeah, Anika was it for me, but I could appreciate the beauty of this woman and it took a lot to turn my head.
“Okay, well, your mother said you worked here. I’ve seen you… I didn’t know you and Rachel… anyway…” she was stammering. She was totally into Nico. Fuck that Tawnea chick; this was the girl he should be with.
“Spit it out. We’re kind of in the middle of something here.” At that point, it was a certainty Tawnea was history if the tick in Nico’s jaw was any indication.
“Oh, sorry… gosh, sorry… so, this is for a client… Anika? Your mom said she trusted you to bring it to her.” She moved closer to Nico with a clear gift box, tied with a wide, white bow. I was able to see it clearly. I thought it was jewelry, but when I leaned in a bit to take a look she explained it to me, “I call them Cluster Corset’s. It’s my business. They go around the bridal bouquet. I embroider them to match the dress, but they lace up the back, so I suggest to customers to wear them on an anniversary as a bracelet.”
It was a work of art. An amazing skill and if this was an indication of the dress Anika would be wearing, she was going to be more than beautiful. “Wow. Looks good.” I said.
“Wait a minute, isn’t ‘Anika’ that chick you said had that tree on her back?” Tawnea asked. Nico glared at her. “This matches the Monique Lhuillier dress. I know who she is. She completely went over my head to your mom and cheated me out of that sale.”
It really was a small world. Anika had never told me the story, but Aimes did. This girl was exactly what Aimes described her as, an entitled, rich bitch.
“Leave.” That was Nico, to Tawnea.
“I’m not going anywhere until we discuss this.” She folded her arms.
“Fine.” He said and turned to me, Olaf, and the lovely Lark. “I’m very sorry about this.” He said to us. “You want to do this now?” His eyes drilled into her.
“Yes!” She spat.
“Fine. You and I are finished, Tawnea. Done. You sucked me in and you were a good time when you wanted to be nice, but you are a fucking bitch.”
“What?!” She squeaked.
“You heard me. I thought I was lucky to see the sweet in you, something only I got to see, but the more time I spend with you, the more of a bitch you are.” He didn’t yell at her, but you could feel the tension radiate from him.
“I’ll get your mom, fired.” She threatened.
“And she’ll take all the good business with her. There’s a reason customers chose her and not you. You’re beautiful, you have a heart in there somewhere, but until you find it… the person you were today, here… I do not want to know that person.” I don’t know about anyone else, but I could see he was really trying to not lose his cool with her. “I have a reputation and if I’m with someone like you; it’ll make me look like a liar. My clients won’t trust me and they need to know they can trust me.”
“What? So some damaged white trash woman can get a huge tattoo to prove to the world she is, indeed, white trash?” She sneered.
“Get out.” He said quietly.
“That’s not what you said last night, Nico.” Her perfectly tinted lips smirked.
“With the right teacher, any chick can suck dick like you. Now. Get. The. Fuck. Out!” His yell actually made the poor Lark girl jump.
Tawnea stared at Olaf, every ounce of lighthearted playfulness had evaporated as his eyes bored into her. She stood there, silently demanding we move away from her exit. “Do you know who I am?” He asked her.
“No and I don’t care.” She folded her arms impatiently, her keys the only sound in the room.
“Ah, but you will. You will because I am the best man at the wedding for Anika Redding. Do you know about the legendary Evist men?”
“Of course I do.” The nostrils on her doctored nose flared.
“I am Olaf Evist. I know your mother Tawnea. I know Nico’s mother too. I also know you are out of a job. And this man,” He gestured toward me, “Is Cole Carlyle. Honey, you picked the wrong audience to be a bitch in front of. Run along now. Be sure to let your mother know that Olaf sends his love.” Her bright red face almost faltered. We moved so she could pass and just as the door was closing I could have sworn I heard that sweet Lark girl say, “See you next Tuesday.”
“Give me a minute.” Nico turned around and walked to a far wall, his hands grabbing the sides of a long padded table. He wore a fitted black tee that showed every muscle move in his back, and every muscle tense in each arm. His blonde hair, all one length fell forward. He stood back up, straightened, took a hairband from his wrist and pulled his hair into a small half-pony tail.
“Everyone, I am so sorry. Lark was it?”
“Yes.” She eased the words out.
“I apologize for my foul language and manner. I had no intention of having that scene here.”
“She wasn’t very nice.” She shrugged her shoulders, letting him know it was no big deal. We were all there, we all understood.
“Still. And Cole. Man, I don’t know what to say.”
“I used to be married to her twin. I understand.” Olaf chuckled beside me. “And you. Don’t you ever grab my dick again or I’ll kick your ass.” Now he couldn’t stop laughing. “Sorry, Lark.” I smiled at her but she just grinned back.
“You should’ve seen your face, Cole. Or should I say ‘big fella’, Jesus! Oh, that was great.”
“Fuck you, Olaf.”
“Is there a reason you’re here, Cole? Is Anika alright?”
“I’m your new landlord for all intents and purposes. I’ll hire a property manager and get everything repaired. I know you’ve been repairing things and paying for it out of your own pocket. Let me know what you’ve spent-“
“Cole, I can’t ask you to…”
“Nico? Are you seriously not going to take my money? This is about more than the property and you and I both know it. But tell me a good time, we’ll sit down and you can tell me who’s who and what needs to be done. Deal?”
I watched his shoulders drop. “Wow, deal. I had no idea. I thought that city council guy was gonna put condos here.”
“It’s done, Nico. Lark, you and your sister are going to run the store?” I heard that the old woman had two great nieces that planned on re-opening the store.
“My cousin. Maybe next year. Is that okay?” She asked, her face tight with worry.
“I don’t care if it ever opens, whatever you guys need, let me know. You want me to take that flower thing home with me?” I asked pointing to the clear box. “Beautiful by the way.” I glanced at a smiling Lark.
“Thanks.” She said. “I think you better take it to your mom, Nico. She was pretty specific and no offense Mr. Carlyle, but you’re the groom, so maybe if you could forget you saw it at all, that would be ideal.”
“No problem.”
“Bye. That was very… uh, okay. Bye. Congratulations on your wedding.” And Lark was gone.
“Ask her to the wedding. She should be your ‘plus one’.” Olaf grinned suggestively.
“She seems kind of shy. Besides, that wasn’t exactly me putting my best foot forward. I think I’ll skip dating for a while.”
“Well, if you change your mind, bring her. I’ll see you then.” I put my hand out to shake his.
He looked down at it and stepped closer to me. Somehow Olaf understood Nico wanted to say something and moved to look at the tattoo designs framed and displayed on a far wall. “Aside from my mom, she was the most difficult. It killed me how strong she was, Cole. I’m glad she found you. She deserves it. She deserves to be happy.”
“Thanks, man.” We shook hands, I cocked my chin to Olaf and my errands for the day were complete.
Anika
Trish being Trish and having some kind of sway with pretty much anyone was able to arrange an appointment with an obstetrician in town. She made an excuse that Cole accepted and whisked me away for what she called, “future mother-in-law duties”.
Trish Carlyle and I walked through a side entrance, not the main door and were met by the most handsome doctor I had ever seen. He was T.V. doctor hot of the “McDreamy” variety. He also made me a little bit shy, which was not something that ever happened to me during a normal gynecological exam.
As instructed, I removed my clothing from the waist down and took a seat on the edge of the exam table. There were all sorts of equipment around me, some of which I recognized from the one pre-natal appointment I attended with Aimes. My attention was caught by one of those framed photos I’ve come to expect at the doctor. This one, instead of warning me about having a regular pap test, showed three generations of women; one pregnant, the pregnant woman’s mother, and the grandmother. A few months ago, maybe even a few weeks ago, I think I would have been deeply saddened by the photo, but not anymore. The family I already had and was gaining in two short days wasn’t what you would classify as typical, but it was incredible none the less and it was mine. Full of love and bringing a child into the fold with Cole and me as its parents was going to be wonderful.
I heard Trish and her light little knock, “Anika? Okay if I come in?”
“Come on in, Trish.” She took a seat on the opposite side of me and fidgeted. Her hands were digging in her purse, looking for something that wasn’t there. I was calm as can be, which actually surprised the hell out of me. “Trish? How ya doin’?” I tried not to smile, but she was so obviously nervous it was hilarious.
“How are you so calm, dear?” She let out a breath.
“I have no idea. I’m going with the flow. I think I had my freak-out yesterday and in fact, I think I did a pretty good job.” I laughed.
“Are you sure you want me in here?” She looked beyond me, purposefully not making eye contact.
I took her hand and held it in mine. “I can’t think of anyone I would want here more… except for Cole that is. But I like the idea of surprising him and being sure everything’s okay first.”
“Thank you, Anika.”
A quick rap to the door and hot-doctor came in. “Trish! How are we today?” All smiles, perfect white teeth, and perfectly coiffed hair, Dr. Collins casually tossed a file to a counter and began to wash his hands. Looking over his shoulder he asked, “And you must be Anika? Bride to be?”
“That’s me.” My cheeks hurt from smiling and Trish caught me in a blush. Hers almost matched.
“Thank you for seeing us on such short notice, Philip. I owe you one.”
“You owe me nothing. Everything you do, Patricia? I’m insulted. Now then, let’s have a feel of your tummy.” It almost sounded condescending but I was totally okay with it. “Ah ha. Let’s squirt some goo on you and see what we can see.”
“Aren’t you going to use that wand thing?” Aimes had told me that when you’re early in the pregnancy they shove this wand thing in you to get a better look.
“I have a theory. Just hang in there, Anika.” After a couple of minutes of sliding the device across my stomach he asked. “So, do you have any idea when you last had a period?”
“It’s been a while. But they’re so seldom and light since I’ve had the implant I don’t even keep track. I never really worried about it.” Until now that is. But worry isn’t a word I would have chosen.
He pressed a couple of buttons and before I knew what was happening I heard a sharp gasp come from Trish.
“Well, hello little one.” The sound was like nothing I had ever heard before. It was also completely different from when I came with Aimes. This was simply incredible, it was music… pure, and I was instantly in love.
“Well, I’d say you’re about eight weeks already, give or take. After I felt your belly, that was my guess and I was right. So, you’d be due approximately,” He tapped a few keys again, “late August.” He printed a 3D image that was fascinating and creepy at the same time and handed it to Trish who hadn’t spoken at all. When I looked at her again, she was quietly weeping. “Now, Patricia…” He said softly, “this isn’t like you.”