Page 53 of Convincing Him
Replacing it, Tara read the other one which was taped to an empty wooden crate which was sitting on end on the counter.
Spot for Brit’s cookbooks.
Frowning Tara caught a glimpse of an open doorway where there were a ton of sticky notes and other papers on a wall. Investigating, she found the office. Papers, magazines with sticky notes, diagrams of the house were pinned on the wall. A list on the desk caught her eye. In Gabe’s masculine scrawl there were notes on what Britney had shown preferences for in furniture, paint, decorations, fabrics. A pile of magazines with sticky notes sat beside the list. Tara flipped through the papers on his desk when another note caught her eye.
Make Brit happy.
On it was a list of things to do for the house, the honeymoon, to discuss whether or not to put a tree house in the back yard, etc. Tara rolled her eyes as she set it down. It was such a man list. Women would try to find ways to say they loved a man, to show affection and care. Men just wanted to see if they could provide things. As if that was the answer. She tossed the list back on the desk and went to find Britney in the nursery.
Tara hesitated in the doorway. “Oh Brit. I knew this was a bad idea.”
Britney shook her head as she flipped pages in a book. “He highlighted names.”
“Excuse me?” Tara came to her friend’s side and looked at the book.
“Baby names,” Britney had a watery sigh. “He highlighted some.”
“He’s just trying to get into your head,” Tara pulled the book out of Britney’s grasp, setting it down on a dresser. “He did up this whole house to get into your head.”
“It is everything I would have chosen,” Britney stroked the wooden crib rail. She loved the blue and plaid accents.
“Exactly,” Tara tried to talk sense into her. “He had your magazines and got a decorator to do up the house exactly as you wanted. He’s trying to get you back. Just like he always does. However, once he has you, he doesn’t know what to do and just leaves you. He does it all the time.”
“He’s never had me before,” Britney pointed out wryly as she picked up a stuffed bear.
“He’s always had you,” Tara sighed. “Remember when you were going out with Brandon? Brandon was ready to propose and Gabe inserted himself just enough so you would break it off and be available, which you did. Then he pulls a disappearing act and wants nothing to do with you. He’s incapable of loving you but he doesn’t want you to happy with anyone. I’m telling you, the guy is poison.”
“He’s never done this before,” Britney touched the tiny sheet in the crib with the giraffe pattern. “He’s never told me he wanted to love me, that he wanted to try, that he would be there for me.”
“He’ll say anything,” sighed Tara. “He does it every time he gets close to losing you. Gabe dangles a carrot of mediocre affection and you come running. Then he turns it around so you are alone and embarrassed while he’s off living his life without a thought of you.”
Britney digested the words quietly. “It was true before. This time he seemed to mean it.”
Tara wrapped an arm around Britney, sighing. “Trust me. This is no different than all the other times, even if he did buy the house. He can afford to.”
“He gave me back my shares,” Britney gently put down the stuffed bear.
“A smooth tactic on his part. I have been watching him break your heart year after year. You are better off without him,” said Tara in a firm voice.
“You’re probably right,” replied Britney woodenly.
“Come on. Let’s go,” Tara led Britney out of the room. After they had descended the staircase, Britney stopped.
“I want to see the back yard,” she mentioned as she caught sight of a children’s swing set outside.
Tara nodded and the pair exited through the living room French doors onto the back patio. A newly landscaped yard greeted them. Not only was there a new swing set but a sandbox and treehouse had been added.
“There is something a little off,” Tara frowned as she looked around. “Is the ornamental tree crooked?”
“Good morning!” called out a cheery male voice.
Britney and Tara turned to see a man walking across the yard. Blond and a little heavy set, he had a round, happy face.
“Um, hello?” Tara shot Britney a look. Britney shrugged.
“One of you must be Britney,” the man held out his hand in greeting. “I’m Tom. I live next door. Gabe texted me this morning, asking me to water the sod and plants. I guess he thought you weren’t going to be here yet.”
“Isn’t there a sprinkler system?” Tara asked a little suspiciously.
