Animate Me / Chapter Twenty-Eight / Home Delivery
“Golly, I sure wish I had a girl.” ~Cecil the love-sick Sea Serpent xxvii
I’ve just brushed off the cover of my sketchbook for Brooke when my phone prompt goes off. I feel a surge of hope seeing Morgan’s name on the text line. Maybe she’s heard more from Brooke.
Hey Nathan. I’m leaving for lunch now. Are you around? Can we talk in ten minutes?
Yes! I reply.
“Shit, all hell is breaking loose,” Morgan says dramatically.
“What’s going on?” I ask. My grip on my cell phone is tight.
“Brooke’s computer is back, but they went through her office last night. They weren’t even clean about it. It was obvious as soon as I went in to leave mail on her desk. Then Arnauld was yelling at someone like a wild man this morning. I could hear it all the way down here.”
“Damn.” I take a deep breath.
“But the big news is that I finally talked to Brooke this morning.”
“She called you?” I ask as I try not focus on the fact that it’s so messed up it wasn’t me she called.
“Yes, and the first thing she did was ask about you…if I’d talked to you or heard anything about you.”
“What’d you tell her?”
“That I wish she’d call you. I hope you don’t mind, but I told her I thought you were really hurt that she hasn’t called you yet.”
My heart sinks with the truth of it. As much as I’m trying to be stay positive, the fact that she hasn’t called is eating away at me. “Yeah, I don’t mind that you said it. It’s true. What’d she say then?”
Morgan’s voice gets sad. “Well, it sounded like she was crying, and she mumbled something about needing just a little more time. I didn’t know what to say, so I quickly changed the subject. I asked her when she’s coming back to work.”
The idea of Brooke back at Sketch Republic with Arnold makes me want to double over, but I don’t let go of the phone. “Is she going back?”
“Actually, she was really surprised I asked. She thought HR would have talked to me already about another position. Evidently, Tuesday she called and told them she was taking an extended leave.”
“Really?” I ask, hopeful.
“Yes, but I’m thinking she’s just stringing them along until she has her showdown with Arnauld.”
I hope she never returns to Sketch Republic, but I can’t be sure what she really wants. It’s so frustrating not to know any of this firsthand.
“And since then I think Arnauld’s gone over the edge. Knowing his ego, he probably assumes she’s just doing this disappearing act to upset him, and that she will come to her senses sooner or later. I mean, right before I called you, I called HR and they confirmed that nothing about my position has changed. And yesterday, Alana said Arnauld had her make reservations for him and Brooke Saturday night at The Ivy. He even had her get his favorite jewelry story on the line.”
I feel sick hearing his desperate plans. He’s either deluded or fighting for his last chance with Brooke. The one thing I’m sure of is that even if she doesn’t want me anymore, there’s no way Brooke would go out to dinner with him now.
“So I’m going to meet her after work today to take her some of the industry files she asked for. Luckily those were still in her file drawer.”
“Can I come too?” I ask, knowing the answer.
“No, she told me not to tell you where we’re meeting. She’s not ready yet.”
My anger flares. “Not tell me? She doesn’t think she’s ready yet? What in the hell does that mean anyway? Well, you tell her that I’m mad at her for not talking to me. This is making me crazy.”
“Please don’t make me tell her that. She’s not well, Nathan. I know it doesn’t seem fair, but you need to give her some space just a while longer.”
“She needs space? What about what I need?”
“She has it in her head that she has to finish something before she can face you. If you ask me, she’s sounding a little crazy now, too.”
Great… just great. “Honestly, Morgan. Should I be even more worried about her than I already am?”
“No, I’m not saying that. Just please give her a little more time. She still loves you so much, I can hear it in her voice.”
Her words break down my anger just enough, and I remember the sketchbook in my studio. “Morgan, I have something I need you to give Brooke. If I bring it to you after work, before you meet her, will you do that?”
“Of course.”
Later, when Morgan opens the door to her apartment, she gives me a curious stare.
“What?”
“You just don’t look as bad as I expected. I’m surprised.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Well, considering what you’ve been through,” she tries to explain.
I wave my hand at her. “It’s okay. No worries. I took a long run this afternoon to clear my head. I also listened to stuff on my iPod. It’s helping me keep my spirits up.”
“Good for you. Take care of yourself, and don’t let this stuff get to you too much.”
“If I fall apart now, it’s just one more thing that asshole took from me. I’m not going to let that happen.”
She nods and gives me a small smile. “Well, I applaud you.” She reaches her hands out. “Is that what you want me to give Brooke?”
“Yeah.” I hand it to her.
“What’s with the package of colored pencils?”
“I left the last page blank. She’s the only one who knows the ending…so I want her to show me what it is.” I point to the envelope pressed against the sketchbook in the clear plastic bag. “The note explains it.”
Her smile gets bigger. “I see. Okay, I’ll make sure she’s gets it, Nathan.”
I step back to leave. “Thanks, Morgan. Hey, will you call me after you see her. You know…just so I can hear she was okay.”
“I will. Hang in there,” she says. “I know this is going to work out for you guys…I just know it.”
“Well, she may have given up on us, but I haven’t. I’ll just have to be positive and fight for both of us.” I nod my head goodbye and turn to leave.
• • •
“Curtis?”
“Hey man, I’ve been worried. Why haven’t you answered my calls?”
“There’s so much going on,” I reply. “Honestly, I’m trying to handle one thing at a time.”
“I get it. This whole situation sucks.”
“Yeah. Besides, Billie really threw me when she went off on Brooke. I’m still not sure what to say about it.”
“Yeah, she was a little worked up.”
“I’ll say. Do you think you can work on her so she gets over being so furious with Brooke?”
Curtis sighs. “Yeah, my fiery girl was a bit too intense. I think she’s very protective of you. It’s really sweet. Don’t you think?”
“Sweet? No, I wouldn’t say that was sweet.”
“Yeah well, she’s still mad, but she’s calmed down a lot. So does this mean you and Brooke have talked?”
“No. But we’re going to…and it will be soon. I just sent her a message through her assistant and I’m hoping she won’t be able to resist reaching out to me.”
“That must be some message,” he says, his tone edged with skepticism.
“I have had my low moments this week, Curtis…but I know she still loves me. I just have a feeling…”
“Well, I hope you’re right. Maybe you’ll hear from her, and this crap will be over soon. Then you guys can start over.”
“Yeah, we can start over. Besides, I’m still planning on marrying her one day. It’s going to be a drag if Billie doesn’t like her. I bet she won’t even come to our wedding.”
“Marry her? Dude, your woman has left the building, and you’re talking about marrying her? You sound as loony as you were the first time we talked about her. Remember that? She was going to be your girlfriend, and she barely knew who you were yet.”