Falter (11 page)

I choked on a breath. Layla’s question stunned me. I waited for him to answer, but he never did. An unpleasant silence idled between them—between all three of us.
 

I started to edge past the doorway, eager to escape the tension. The pang of a metal bucket, kicked by my foot, shattered the silence—and my effort to flee the uncomfortable scene. I attempted a smooth recovery and finished my noisy entrance into the kitchen, acting as if I’d just gotten there.
 

With them both staring at me, I felt the need to persuade them that I wasn’t standing there eavesdropping. “Oh, hey guys. Sorry for making such a racket. Haven’t learned my way around this place in the dark, yet.” Still no response from the two, just awkwardness. “Um, I was checking on George before I went to bed. Did you need me for anything else?”
 

Good one, offer help, pretend you didn’t hear a thing. Hah, right.

Gavyn’s lips curled up at one corner in a smirk. “No, I think we’re finished here.” He looked sharply at Layla before picking up a screwdriver from his toolbox and returning to the cabinet-work.

“Yeah. For now.” She glared at Gavyn and then at me. Spinning on her heels, Layla left the kitchen, every bit of her confidence intact.

“I thought we agreed that you would watch where you were going?” His lovely smile widened while he focused on the cabinet door.

“Sorry. I’m going to the lounge now. See you in the morning.” I rushed to leave the kitchen before he could talk.

“Nevaeh?”
 

Shit, my plan didn’t work.
 

“Hmm?” I answered innocently.

“If you want to talk about what’s goin’ on...,” he paused, stopping his task to look at me.

The words flew out of my mouth. “Nope, I’m good. Don’t need to know anything. You and Layla are none of my business.”
 

“No…no, I meant what’s going on with
you
,” he quickly answered, chuckling.

I was certain my cheeks were blood red. “Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think it’s anything you want to hear.” I smiled at him appreciatively and left the kitchen.
 

George’s footsteps were weighty and slow coming down the hall. I listened as he went into the bathroom and shut the door behind him. The shower running provided a nice waterfall effect in the quiet café and eased my restlessness.
 

I lay on my little couch thinking of Layla. She seemed completely out of character tonight, and it bothered me. Maybe I was jumping to conclusions. Who am I to judge someone I barely know? She’s been nothing but nice to me. So what if she likes Gavyn? It’s not as if anything was happening between us. Why would it? He’s just being nice, right? But the fact that he didn’t answer Layla’s last question sparked my interest. If given enough time, what would he have said?

A shadow blocked the faint light coming in from the hallway. I let my eyes focus on the figure and waited for it to speak.
 

“Hey, hon. Didn’t mean to scare you. I was gonna leave you some more clothes,” Layla whispered, now playing the part of the sweet woman I thought I knew. Maybe I was analyzing things too much.
 

“Thanks. You really don’t have to keep giving up your clothes for me.”
 

She set them on the chair next to the door. “Oh please.” She waved her hand in dismissal, “I don’t mind. I always wanted a sister I could dress up. Besides, you need all the help you can get, right?” There was a cruel, stinging undertone to her words.

“Well...thanks again.” I ignored her odd behavior, hoping she didn’t mean anything by that.

“See you in the mornin’. Sweet dreams.” Layla disappeared into the shadows, leaving me with many suspicious thoughts to sort through.
 

George tiptoed into the lounge about twenty minutes later, trying to be quiet in case I was sleeping. If I
were
asleep, his clumsy footsteps and deep breathing still would’ve woken me. I rolled over and strained to see the large shadow moving around the dark room. Under the soft moonlight filtering in through the window, I could just make out the silhouette of wet locks poking up from his head. Glints of coarse gray shined against the fading black of George’s hair.

“Good shower?” I asked, letting him know I was up.

“Oh. Yeah. Much needed.” He took a deep struggled breath, then coughed.

“Are you feeling okay?” My voice trembled, fearing that he might not be.

“I’m fine, don’t you worry.” He forced out a weak chuckle. “Think I’m comin’ down with a cold or something, that’s all.” The couch creaked as he laid down.

“George?”

“What?” he replied with a tired voice.

“I love you.”

“Love you too, Nev. Get some sleep.”
 

I listened to his slow steady snoring for a while and then let myself fall to sleep.

I woke with the sun warming my face. George was still asleep on the couch with one arm draped over his face and a leg resting on the floor. Laughter and talking echoed down the hall as the other employees got ready for the day. I stretched out of my usual balled position and grabbed the clothes Layla left. Creeping out of the lounge, I headed toward the bathroom and leaned into the door with my hip to close it behind me.
 

After changing, I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and began coiling my messy hair into a loose bun. When I looked in the mirror to make sure my hair was pinned in place, I choked on the mouthwash swishing between my cheeks. The burn that had marred my face last night was gone. No redness, no scab. Nothing. The “I’m crazy” feeling returned very quickly.
 

The others saw it too—I couldn’t have imagined it
.
 

I tried to ignore that it somehow magically disappeared and threaded the bobby-pin around a stubborn curl, fastening it tight to my head. I wasn’t going to let that stuff ruin my day. Again. I was going to be productive, and most of all, sane.

Knock, knock
.
 

“Are you in there, Nevaeh?” George was up.

“Uh, yeah. Almost done.” I hurried, tying my blue ribbon around the base of my bun. I gathered my shoes and belongings, then opened the door.

George leaned against the wall with one hand propping him up. He coughed violently into his other hand tightened into a fist at his mouth.

“George!” I squealed, gripping his arm to help hold him upright.

“I’m…
uhah, uhah
…I’m fine. Just need something to drink. Mouth’s a little dry from snoring...
uhuh, uhah
,” he said in between hacks.

“I’ll get you something.” I ran down the hall, slipping my shoes on along the way. I rushed into the kitchen, passing the few employees that were in there, said my “good mornings” as I flew by, and snatched a juice from the refrigerator. Avoiding the questioning eyes that watched me, I ran out as swiftly as I could.

“Hey, George?” I called, sliding to a halt to bang on the door.

“Damn, Nevaeh, I just coughed a little,” he answered harshly from the other side.

“Look, I’m just trying to help. Do you want the drink or not?”

He cracked the door and took the juice. “See, I’m fine. I’ll be out in a minute.” He shut the door in my face.
 

George had never acted like that before. I didn’t know whether to call 911 or skulk around until he apologized for hurting my feelings. The first would only make him madder. I walked down the hallway, keeping an ear out in case he called.
 

The crew stared at me as I entered the kitchen, much slower this time.
 

“Sorry.” I lowered my head, embarrassed, and moved toward the spread of breakfast foods. They resumed their conversations, unaffected by my random act of running through the building like a madwoman. I swiped a bagel from the pastry tray, a bottle of orange juice, and then proceeded into the cafe.

“Morning.” Gavyn’s smile greeted me when I entered the hallway.

“Hi.” I held up my bagel. “Just getting something in my stomach before helping with the food prep.” The words fumbled nervously out of my mouth. I didn’t know how to act around him after last night.

He opened his mouth like he was about to ask a question and paused. I hurried by him, denying any chance of further conversation. Feeling guilty for dodging him, I looked over my shoulder and offered him an apologetic smile.
 

I found an empty table next to the window and settled into the creaky chair. The others engaged in updating one another on any events of significance happening in their lives since they last spoke. I sat in silence, staring out the window watching people pass. I wanted to take a temporary leave from my life and get lost in the crowd.

“Got room for one more?”
 

I glanced up to see George towering over me.

“Of course. Do you feel better?” The little bit of hurt I felt from George’s harshness earlier wasn’t enough to out-do my concern for him.

“A little. I can’t seem to shake this cold. It came on so sudden.” A small cough escaped as he finished the last word.

“Maybe we should take you to the hospital too. You really don’t look that good. I’ll ask Gavyn—“

“No,” George cut in, “I don’t wanna go to any doctor. I just need to let it run its course. It always does.” His stern words broke through mine.
 

I examined his face, noticing new lines and ridges that I hadn’t seen before. Tiny crevasses added years to his already aged face. His skin looked damp and clammy. Gray undertones surrounded his eyes and lips.
 

“All I’m saying is that you need to at least rest. Gavyn might let you take the day off.”
 

“We can’t afford to both be sick. I’ll tough it out. No big deal.” George forced a smile.

“First of all, I’m not sick. Second of all, you look awful. You can’t tell me you don’t feel just as bad.”

“She’s right, George. You do look rough.” Gavyn agreed, joining the argument as he approached our table. “I don’t have a problem with you taking the day off. I won’t fire you.”

“Thanks, Gavyn, but I’d rather work. I’ve never been good at being sick. This’ll pass.”

Gavyn looked at me with remorse—like he was about to go against my wishes and wanted it to be okay. I frowned and crossed my arms disapprovingly. Staring out the window, I waited for him to make his decision.
 

“Alright, man. You need to stay in the back with the dirty dishes though. I don’t want you coughin’ on the food and getting the customers sick too. If you change your mind, let me know.”

I continued staring out the window like a selfish little girl who didn’t get her way. George stood and kissed my forehead, “I’ll be fine, Nev.” He walked away in a slow shuffle.

CHAPTER SEVEN

An Inconvenient Visitor

Layla was already cutting tomatoes when I walked into the kitchen. “Hey, Nevaeh. Ready to start something new today?”

I nodded, attempting to appear more excited about working with her than I really was. “Where do you need me?”

“Hmm.” She glanced around, thinking of an assignment to give me. “You can grab the bag of onions from the pantry. Half of them need to be chopped and half of them sliced.” She concentrated again on cutting the orange-red tomato in her hand.