Page 90 of The Shop on Royal Street
“Nola?” Jolene’s voice and gentle knock sounded from the door. “Did you fall in?”
Despite everything, I laughed, although it came out more like a snort. “No. I’m just not ready to come out. It might be a while.”
“Oh, sweetie. Did something happen with Michael?”
“Yes.” The word came out as a sob.
“All right, then. Let me just get comfortable here so we can talk about it. Jaxson left, so it’s just the two of us.”
I listened to the sound of her getting settled on the floor on the other side of the door.
“I’m ready when you are.”
My lips twitched. “You know, Jolene, the reason why sometimes people want to lock themselves in the bathroom is because they don’t want to talk to anyone.”
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re not just people and I’m not just anyone. And you don’t have to come out until you’re ready, and you don’t have to say anything, either. Sometimes when your heart is hurting the best thing is just to be next to someone who cares.” A fluffy paw emerged from the crack beneath the door. “And a dog.”
I touched it with my finger, then rested my head against the door, the crying having zapped the last of my strength and energy. We sat in silence for a long time, only the sound of Mardi’s snoring coming from under the door.
I eventually managed to summon the strength to speak. “I’m pretty sure that Michael’s been lying to me this whole time. That he only pretended to care about me because of something to do with my house. He’s ghosting me and now he’s hiding out in the mountains so I can’t confront him. I really want to hate him, but I can’t.” I clenched my eyes, which somehow made it easier to admit out loud the one hardest thing to accept about my own stupidity. “Because I was really and truly falling in love with him.”
I waited a moment, expecting her to come back with some platitude either about how all men are scum or about how it’s his problem and not mine and I could do much better. Instead, she said, “I’ve got a big car trunk and we’re doing a lot of excavating at my house in Mississippi. I also own a shovel and know how to use it.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
It took her a long second to answer. “Maybe. I just wanted you to know that you have options, and as your friend I’m here to help.”
“Thanks, Jolene. I appreciate that.” I turned around, leaning my back against the door, my bruised heart feeling a little lighter just at the image of Jolene and her shovel. It almost made me smile.
“If it makes you feel any better, Michael pulled the wool over my eyes, too. And to think of all the makeup and hair we wasted on him. Just goes to show that if it has tires or testicles, it’s bound to cause you trouble.”
“Does that include Jaxson?”
I heard her heavy sigh through the door. “Sadly, it does.”
I could hear her breathing. Knowing she was there but unable to see the shame or desperation on my face gave me the strength to say what I needed to. “I really need a drink right now.” I held my breath, imagining I could feel Jolene’s disappointment radiating through the door.
It took a full minute before Jolene answered, her voice devoid of any condemnation. “Are you drinking again?”
I wanted to sayonly socially, but she would see it for the lie it was. “Yes.”
She took a deep breath. “Nola, I’m not going to get you a drink. Because you’re better than that, and because I’m your friend and I love you like a sister. But I will make you hot cocoa and fill half the mug with marshmallows and I will stay with you as long as you need me to and we can talk it all out. I’ll bring a tissue box, the whole pecan pie with two forks, and a tube of color so I’ll be ready to talk my lipstick off. Do you think that will help?”
I did smile this time. “Yeah. I think that will help a lot.” My eyes stung and my throat constricted as warm tears began to slip down my face. Neither of us made a sound for a long time, just Mardi’s snuffling audible as he changed sleep positions against the door. “Jolene?”
“I’m still here.”
“Thank you. I’ll have to get back to you about the shovel-and-trunk thing, but thanks for being here.”
I could hear the smile in her voice. “That’s what friends are for.”
“So, are you going to tell me what happened with you and Jaxson that made you run home to Mississippi?”
She didn’t answer right away. “If I tell you, you’re going to have to come out of there. My knees are getting wrinkles. I’ll get started on that hot cocoa and we can finally go through those hatboxes. We can do a fashion show!”
I managed another smile, my cheeks drawn and tight from the hot shower. “All right.”
I listened as she settled herself into a more comfortable position. “Remember that night you went to Antoine’s?”
