Page 22 of Lovebug
“Okay then.” I look at the time on my phone. “I… guess I’ll head to the station and catch the next train back home then.”
“Atta girl. Love you,” he says, sounding relieved there won’t be a fight tonight.
But that’s the thing. There’s never a fight.
Mabel McGonigle doesn’t fight. She never has.
“Love you too,” I say, then move to the table where Doreen is still talking strategy with Dawn and Mrs. Kim. I silently grab my backpack and sling it over one shoulder. Bert takes a seat.
“Good night, ladies,” I say with as much cheer as I can muster.
“Leaving so soon, sweetheart?” Doreen asks.
“Yeah, I’m going to try to catch the 7:07 back home. You know, spend some quality time with my parents.”
“Lovely. Tell them I say hello.” She stands and hugs me. “I was so happy they could be there with us last night to celebrate.”
“Me too. They’re really excited.” Before she pulls away from the hug completely, I say, “Hey, um. Could I ask you something?”
“Of course, dear.”
We pull off to the side, and I make sure to speak quietly so only she can hear. “My, um. My friend told me about the posting in theIntelligenceryesterday?” I tread lightly.
“Did you see it?” Her entire face lights up with excitement.
“Not yet, no.”
“Oh, it’s lovely! Don’t worry, I bought twenty-five copies. So I’ll give you one the next time I see you.”
“Sounds… great, thank you.”
Do I push this any further? I think I have to.
“I guess, um. I guess I was just a little surprised to hear about it, since—well, since you’d have to have submitted it to the newspaper before I even said yes. Hahaha.” I follow this up with a good-natured chuckle to put her at ease.
“Well, what were you going to say… no? Hahaha!” Doreen laughs like that outcome would be utterly preposterous. She’s right, though. It would. There was no way I was going to say no.
“Of course not,” I say.
“Right, so I thought it would be really special if the good news was announced on the same day that the good news happened. I’m sorry, sweetheart. I am just so excited for you to officially join our family. It’s not a problem, is it?”
“No…?” I pause and look at her eager face. “No. Of course not.”
“Wonderful. Have a great night, dear.” She gives me one of those hovery side kisses where lips and cheeks never actually make contact.
“You too.”
Feeling like Bert and I have already said everything we need to say to each other for now, I attempt to scoot past him and out the door without any further discussion.
“Hey.” He remains seated but manages to grab my hand at the last minute. I turn to face him. “Next Monday,” he says. “I’ll make it up to you, okay?”
“Okay,” I exhale.
“Trust me?”
He traces small circles on my hand with his thumb.
I give him a faint smile and lean down to kiss him gently on the lips.
