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Chapter 8
“How was your weekend?”Dina asked.
Natalie wiped the glass counter, then reached for the Windex and sprayed a bit more into the rag. “It was good,” she said, rubbing the rag onto the smooth surface a tad harshly. Anything to keep from looking at Dina.
“When you asked for Saturday off, I wasn’t sure what to think. You never go anywhere,” Dina said behind her. “Did you meet someone?”
Natalie swallowed. When she’d agreed to leave Suarez with Vincent, she’d asked him for time so she could break the news to Dina. They needed to finish remodeling the house anyway, before putting it on the market. He’d help her, and she’d take the money she made from the sale with her to New York and begin a new life. “Sort of. How about you, did you enjoy those peaches?” she asked. Ever since Bob had dropped by with the box of fruit, she’d teased Dina about it, wishing that Dina would seriously consider going out with him.
“Yes. Bob wants to take me out for dinner.”
Hope filled Natalie’s heart. She turned around, eager to see Dina’s reaction. “That’s great. When are you two going on a date?”
Dina removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. When she opened them, they didn’t show that glint of joy one would expect. A sigh flew from her creased lips, and apprehension flashed in her eyes. “I told him I’d think about it.”
“Why?”
Dina glanced around, as if to ensure no one heard them. The only customer sat at a small round table next to the exit, and seemed absorbed in the suspense novel she was reading. Then, she leaned closer. “I’ve been thinking about starting over with Vincent, and I don’t know how well dating Bob plays into that.”
Her blood froze. “Start over with Vincent?” Natalie repeated, the words barely leaving her lips. Low. Sad.
“Well, I don’t know… when I called him to come help you, the thought crossed my mind. We’re older and wiser now. I still think he’s a fine ass piece of man. And a part of me—
“No,” she said, lifting her hand to stop her from continuing. “You can’t patch things up with Vincent, and I’m very sorry. I think he’s moved on too.”
“How do you know for sure? I was the only one he ever married. We had a child together. He didn’t have this kind of commitment with anyone else. Doesn’t that say something to you?”
Natalie cleared her throat. This explained why Dina had invited him to that dinner, and during the past week, had used every little reason to drop by. For instance, when she’d returned Natalie’s cell phone. Maybe I’m paranoid. She rubbed her hands together, hoping a magical solution would appear. Shit, shit, shit…
Her pulse skittered. I should just walk away and go home. Not do anything.
The chime announcing a client entering the shop startled her, and for the next hour she served the group of moms who met there every week with their toddlers in tow. Only when they left and she turned the OPEN sign to CLOSED, did she walk to the back. Each step made her heart thump faster.
I can’t walk and go home. She needed to face this problem head-on. Dina would hate her, fire her, but she could no longer lie to her face—Dina deserved to know the truth.
“Dina,” she called before she changed her mind.
Dina finished placing a tray of dough in the freezer. “Yeah?”
“You’ll hate me for what I’m about to say,” she started, catching Dina’s attention. Her boss closed the freezer and glanced at her, obviously intrigued. “And that’s okay. I deserve it. I wasn’t honest with you, but I feel like I have to be right now.”
“What is it?” she asked, wrinkling her forehead.
Natalie closed her trembling fingers into a fist, to keep from fidgeting. Just say it. “You should give Bob a chance, he really seems to like you. Vincent isn’t an option anymore, because he found someone else… Me.”
Dina stared at her for a long beat, her eyes squinting as the wheels in her head turned. Natalie reached for the chair, but didn’t pull it, and she didn’t sit. Her knees weakened, but she willed the fear away. Hurting Dina had never been part of the plan, even if that was what had happened. She needed to let her know the truth.
“I’m sorry for lying to you. We didn’t mean to hurt you. It just… happened.” And if I had known you were still into him, I’d never have pursued him. The words burned at the tip of her tongue, but she silenced them.
Dina took a deep, long breath, her face stern and unmoving. She remained standing a few feet away from Natalie, and Natalie almost wished she’d call her names or throw a bowl on the floor, or even at her. Anything to erase the tension crackling between them.
At last, Dina stepped forward, crossing her arms over her chest. “He’s your father-in-law. You’re telling me you’ve been humping your father-in-law?”
Natalie pushed the lump of frustration in her throat. Suck it up. “Yes, ma’am, that’s what I just said.” Never mind that her crappy husband had been dead for years, and that Vincent had never been the traditional father-in-law. But Natalie knew Dina was aware of all that, and she just needed to vent.
“Why? You could have a future with a young man like Josh. Why waste your time with damaged goods?”
Natalie bit her lower lip. “I’ve fallen for him.”
