The Letter(45)
Her thoughts went rolling through her mind. He regretted sleeping with her. He was just busy at work—though not a customer was in sight. He didn’t like her bothering him at work.
“Gil, is something wrong?”
“Wrong? Nope. Just a bit busy.” He placed another box on the shelf behind him and took another box off the shelf. She’d swear he was paying no attention to what he was doing.
“I thought maybe we could have dinner tonight?”
“I’m going to be tied up at the store.” Gil grabbed a box he’d just put on the shelf and pulled it back off.
“Oh, okay then. Coffee tomorrow morning?”
“I have to open the store tomorrow.”
“Are you sure there isn’t something wrong?”
“Nope. Just busy. Listen, I need to go in the back and finish up some orders.” His voice was cold and impersonal.
“Okay. Well, I’ll head out then.”
Gil just nodded, turned, and walked away towards his office, his shoulders stiff with tension.
Madeline stood there, near tears. Then mad at herself for getting emotional. Whatever was eating Gil, he wasn’t going to share with her. And if he wouldn’t talk to her, she’d never know what was wrong. Fine. Maybe she’d just been a fling to him. Nothing more. She’d been such a fool.
Madeline hurried back to the Sweet Tea in a murderous mood, which was better than tears. She was done crying over men. She pushed open the front door and Rebecca called from the dining room. “Madeline, that you?”
“Yes.” Madeline crossed over to the dining room.
Rebecca looked at Madeline as she came into the room. “What’s wrong, hon? You look like you’re ready to explode.”
“I am. I will never, ever understand men.”
“You and Gil have an argument?”
“No. He’s just not really talking to me. He was so cold and dismissive.”
“That doesn’t sound like Gil. Did you ask him what’s wrong?”
“I did. But he said nothing was wrong. I thought that we had… something… between us. Now I just don’t know. He said he was busy working tonight. And tomorrow. Forever, for all I know.” Madeline sank into a dining room chair.
“Oh, hon. I’m sorry. I wonder what’s up with him?”
“I thought we were getting so close. We talked about everything. I felt so connected to him.” Madeline was ticked that she’d opened up so much to the man. It was time to close down now.
“Maybe you should go back and try to talk to him again.”
“No, I think I’m finished. I tried to get him to talk. The cold shoulder was just… too much.”
“Well, the mail came and it looks like your credit card is here.”
“Good timing. I think I’ll pack up and head out first thing in the morning.”
“I’ll be sorry to see you go.”
“I’ll miss you too, Rebecca. Both you and Larry have been so nice to me.”
“We enjoyed having you stay here. I hope you’ll come back again. Are you still going to look for Paul?”
“I am. I feel like I owe that much to Josephine after opening up this whole letter thing.”
“You’ll let me know what you find out?”
“Of course I will.” Madeline stood up. “You know, I think I’ll call Josephine and drive over to see her this afternoon before I leave.”
“I’m sure she’d like that. It’s a pretty day for a drive up the beach, too. Would you like to have dinner with us tonight?”
“Oh, I’d love to.”
“Okay, dinner about six. Does that give you enough time?”
“That would be perfect, thanks.”
~ * ~
Madeline tried to appreciate the scenery on the drive to Bay St. Louis, but it no longer held much allure for her. She was angry and sad at the same time. Shut out of Gil’s life with no clue to what had gone wrong.
She pulled up in front of Josephine’s cute little cottage. She was going to miss Josephine when she went back to the Midwest. She’d have to make an effort to keep in contact and let her know what progress she was making on finding Paul.
Madeline opened the gate on the white picket fence and walked up the steps to the front door. Josephine was opening the door as Madeline reached it.
“Come in, come in. I was so glad to get your call.” Josephine gave Madeline a quick hug.
“It’s good to see you, too.”
“Let’s go into the parlor and talk. I made a peach cobbler. I hope you’ll have some.”
“That sounds wonderful.” There would be one good thing about going back to St. Louis. She could go on a diet. People in the South sure knew how to cook and eat.