Minus Me by Mameve Medwed

Author:Mameve Medwed
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CROOKED LANE BOOKS

* * *

Annie shuts the suitcase. “All packed.”

“I am starting to feel much more optimistic than I did earlier,” Ursula admits.

“I wish I could say the same.” Annie sets the suitcase on the bench at the foot of the bed. She checks the clock. It’s almost midnight. She wants only to crawl under the covers and forget everyone and everything. Has this been the longest day of her life?

From downstairs, she hears a key turn in the lock, then the front door creak open. “Hello! Hello! Where is everybody?” Sam calls.

Ursula looks at Annie. She grabs her wrist. “He’s home.”

“We’re in the bedroom,” Annie shouts back.

Sam’s feet make slow thuds on the stairs, a sign he’s as tired as Annie. She knows he will not be happy to see Ursula sprawled on the bed he’ll want to jump right into. He will not be happy, either, to spot the battered suitcase, which is distinctly not Ursula’s.

He stands in the doorway. He points at the bench. “What’s that?” he asks.

“I’m taking my daughter away on a little trip,” Ursula explains.

Sam frowns. Mustard splatters his shirt; a residue of flour dusts the knees of his pants. Dark circles rim his eyes, and his shoulders slump with exhaustion. The timing isn’t great, Annie realizes, but when is it ever? “What’s going on?” he asks.

“Arabella is coming back with me to New York. Tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow!” Sam turns to Annie. “Is this true?”

Annie nods.

“But why?”

“Your wife needs a vacation,” Ursula clarifies.

“I would love nothing better than for you to join me, Sam,” Annie says. “But one of us has to mind the shop.”

“And this all has been decided? Tonight?” He looks at his watch. “All between ten and twelve?”

Annie nods again.

“I assume this is Ursula’s doing. And that you’re just going along with her wishes?”

“Not exactly, Sam. I think it might be nice …”

“Nice!” Sam exclaims.

“Well, fun … I mean …”

“On your own?”

Ursula takes over. “She won’t be on her own. I haven’t spent much time with my daughter, as you yourself are completely aware, Sam. The opportunity arose, and I was able to make the arrangements.”

“How long?” Sam asks Annie.

“Not long,” Annie consoles. “If you don’t mind …”

Sam sighs. He shrugs in resignation. “Sorry I reacted so abruptly. My stomach’s a bit upset. Besides, it’s late. I’m bushed, and you sprang this on me.”

“It was spur-of-the-moment. I was as unprepared as you.”

“If this is what you want. If this is your own decision.”

“I have not twisted your wife’s arm, if that is what’s bothering you,” Ursula interrupts.

Annie adds, “It is what I want. It is my own decision. Though I’m sorry I’ll be leaving you in the lurch.”

Sam relents. “Don’t worry. Maybe Megan will agree to more hours. If I need to, I’ll get extra help.” He brightens. “Hey, you can check out sandwich shops in New York, take photos with your cell, get some ideas we can use when we expand.”

“Are you intending to expand?” Ursula asks. “Everyone at tonight’s ceremony was just raving about your hors d’oeuvres.

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