Page 73 of Refuge for Flora

“I’m getting ready for a guest. Work-related. Don’t have time to hang out today.”

Jesse had taken a stance, leaning against the jamb of the door between the living room and kitchen, arms folded across his chest and ankles crossed with one toe down. “Looks like you’re already hanging out.”

“Actually, Flora’s helping me.” She wondered why it was necessary for Barrett to point that out. It was pretty obvious, or it would seem so.

Jesse’s voice was smoldering. “I could help too.”

“Not necessary. We’re almost finished.”

“So could I stick around and meet this guest?”

Barrett huffed out a sigh and Flora could feel her cheeks heating up. She didn’t want to be between them, so it was most likely time to leave, even though it would mean walking home. “I should probably go and?”

The conservation officer’s voice was pure molten lava. “No. Absolutely not. You’ve been here helping me, and you don’t have to go anywhere.”

“I think I’ll go in the bedroom and fold those towels on the bed, if you guys will excuse me.” Flora pushed her way past Jesse, who didn’t make it easy for her, and headed for the bedroom.

But being in the bedroom didn’t mean she was out of the conversation, not by a long shot. “So, what’s going on with this other conservation officer?”

“You know I’m not at liberty to talk to you about that.”

“You’re at liberty to talk toherabout that.”

“You don’t know that and even if you did, that’s none of your business.”

“What, is she yourgirlfriendnow?”

Flora almost cheered out loud when she heard Barrett say, “As a matter of fact, she is.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me. You went from T-bone steak to hamburger meat with that one.”

Flora felt tears pooling in her lower lids until she heard Barrett’s reply. “Yeah? Well, I went from T-bone steak to tube steak. Now I’m back, but this time, it’s filet mignon. So chew on that.”

“Wow. That’s pretty low.”

“So is coming in here and insulting my girlfriend. You need to go. I’ve got better things to do than argue with you.”

“You don’t have to argue with me. Just remember how good it was between us and I know you can?”

There was a fury in Barrett’s tone that shocked Flora. “I remember. I remember being married to awoman. I didn’t marry aman. I’m not attracted tomen, Jesse. Not at all. And you knew that. This wasyourdecision. This wasyourchange. All I heard was, ‘Barrett, I know this is going to hurt you, but…’ or ‘Barrett, I know this isn’t what you want, but…’ You hid every damn thing you said behind a ‘but.’ Youknewhow this was going to affect me, and you did it anyway.”

“I want to be true to the real me!” Jesse bellowed.

“Yeah? Well, I want to be true to the realME!” Barrett yelled back. “I’m notgay! I neverpretendedto be! You knew that! Why? Why are you pushing so fucking hard? Why are you refusing to let go? Why are you so determined to makebothof us miserable?”

“Because I’m still in love with you!” Jesse screamed, and Flora shook all over. Would Barrett crumble and fall into his ex-wife’s arms? Or ex-husband? She wasn’t even sure how to think about Jesse anymore, especially since he seemed to be making the ultimate play for Barrett’s affections.

“Let me make this as plain as I can. I was in love with Jessica. Jessica isn’t here anymore. She’s gone. You’re not her and you know it. That’s who you were running away from, and you succeeded. I don’t know how to say this any clearer… Let. Me. Go.”

“But Barrett, I?”

“I. Said. Let. Me.Go.”

It got quiet, and Flora wondered what was happening. Just as she was about to peek out the bedroom door, she heard the front door open and close, and the sound of a vehicle leaving the driveway. Who had left? Jesse or Barrett? She was a little afraid to find out, but she had to, so she tiptoed out into the hallway and made her way silently toward the living room.

Barrett sat on the sofa, his hands tented in front of him, elbows on his knees, and index fingers pointed upward, his chin resting on his knuckles. He didn’t turn to look at her, just muttered, “I didn’t want you to have to hear that.”

“Kinda couldn’tnothear it.”

---