CAKEWALK by Douglas Bell

Author:Douglas Bell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary Fiction
Publisher: Troy Porter
Published: 2022-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

Something was scratching his collarbone. Bryan pulled his T-shirt away from his skin and ripped off the price tag. Since Nadia’s abrupt departure after his call with mama, everything in his life was backward or inside out. He barely found the energy to get out of bed and arrived at work after eight each morning. Evenings found him facedown on the couch. He ate cold hot dogs straight from the refrigerator in the middle of the night. His reflection in the mirror was not worthy of the Italian-made clothing hanging off his frame.

He called Nadia every other day, which was the limit of his willpower. She never answered. He left messages apologizing and explaining. He told her he had lied so his mother wouldn’t cut him out of her life, and now that she knew the truth, she had done exactly that. He begged Nadia to understand.

Exactly a week from the wonderful Thanksgiving dinner he and Nadia had created, his sister rang his office number around noon. He answered with trepidation.

“Hey Bryan, I feel awkward . . . well, awkward both in general and for saying this, but mama is really hurt and mad.” Rebecca’s voice sounded squeaky, breathless. “It’s probably best if you stay away for now. She’ll call Lawanda to see the kids.”

The thought of his mama being so angry and upset that she’d voluntarily call Lawanda was enough to make Bryan’s toes curl inside his Italian loafers. “Okay,” he eked out, so full of embarrassment and shame he could barely speak above a whisper. In a flash of anger borne of those same feelings, he snarled, “You’re certainly the favorite child now,” and hung up.

He had never experienced such rampant rejection for such innocent reasons from anyone. That it originated from his mother and sister cut him deeply. With Nadia gone, he had no one. Jerry would understand, but Jerry was nowhere to be seen. Bryan imagined him popping into his office unannounced and gasping, “Oh my God, just look at you. Did you dress in the dark? You need to iron your shirt. Did you even comb your hair this morning?”

Bryan actively wished for this scenario.

Then again, Jerry might still be furious with him, or think he got what he deserved, hiding and lying as he did.

Imaginary Jerry rattled away, “It’s hard to believe Nadia let you walk out the house looking like that. So, you’re the new VP? You know, Amy deserves it more than you? All of us know that for a fact.”

“Who is ‘us’?” Bryan asked aloud to his empty office.

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