“Unless … when will I see you again?”
“I wasn’t planning to come back to Philly until September.”
“Could you come back sooner? Or we could meet someplace — Chicago’s about half-way.”
“I’ll talk to Jeff on Monday about a long weekend, maybe next month.”
Before they could make any more plans, his ride arrived.
By the time Margo got back to Fir Street, the evening had progressed to dessert and after-dinner coffee. Theresa poured her a big glass of wine as soon as she walked in and led her to the couch in the living room where they could have some privacy.
“You okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine. This is what Tony does. Not much you can do about it.”
“I was thinking more about what’s going on between you two.”
“Oh, that.”
“Yeah, that. You and Tony.”
“Me and Tony.” Margo sighed. “I don’t know what to say, Theresa. I’m still trying to figure it out.”
“You want to hear my theory?”
“I might as well say yes. You’ll tell me anyway.”
“I think the two of you have been in love with each other since you were about fourteen. It’s been there so long it’s like background noise. You don’t even notice it. It’s way past time you did.”
“You haven’t told your brother this, have you?”
“Of course I have.”
“What did he say?”
“Ask him.” Theresa took Margo’s hand. “I will say this. Today he was more like the Tony we all love than he’s been in a long time. The grin on his face, that kiss outside … ”
“Yeah, that was classic, wasn’t it?” Margo smiled thinking about it.
“Except he hasn’t been the Tony who’d do something like that in a long time. Mom says he’s been happier this week than he’s been in ages. So, I want to ask you a favor. As a friend.”
“Anything. You’ve always been a good friend.”
“Margo, I know you. You’ll think of all the ways this won’t work and then make sure one of them happens just to prove you’re right. Or to keep from being hurt. Whatever. For once, don’t do that. Just let it happen. You might be surprised how well it’ll turn out.”
Chapter 10
A plane flight had always been a way to get from one place to another while she napped. However, this time the trip home to Portland suspended Margo in thin air figuratively as well as literally, as she turned over and over in her mind what had happened in Philly.
Her life in Portland was predictable, under control, the way she liked things. What had happened with Tony was about as unpredictable as it got. There were a dozen reasons she could come up with for why it wasn’t going to work, even more potentially bad consequences. But as soon as she started going down that road she heard Theresa’s voice asking her not to.