Sed was eating more than enough for two, while Jessica picked at her food and chatted with Mr. B about something political or lawyerly. Sed grunted an affirmation and passed the platter of turkey in Brian's direction. Brian forked a large piece of turkey onto Myrna's plate.
Myrna chuckled. "You're bound and determined to make me fat, aren't you?"
"I just want you happy and healthy."
Her fingertips resting on Brian's jaw, she kissed her husband tenderly. "Mission accomplished."
Eric's attention turned to Rebekah. She stared at her plate with a sad expression. He knew she was thinking about never being able to have kids. Shouldn't Dr. Perfect be comforting her about now? The jackass. Eric extended his foot beneath the table and touched her instep. She glanced up and he smiled at her. She smiled back, gave Isaac a wistful glance, and lowered her gaze to her plate. Eric wanted to get her alone. Hold her. He didn't care if she didn't return his affections. He simply could not stand to see her gloomy. He missed her smile. He'd do anything to see it again. Even make silly faces at her.
She giggled after he'd made several stupid faces in an attempt to cheer her up. He didn't give a shit if Mrs. B rolled her eyes a hundred times.
After dinner, they retired to the living room to play charades. Eric's favorite of all games. He settled next to Rebekah on the sofa. Dr. Save-the-World sat on her opposite side. Her warmth. Her scent. Her mere presence drove Eric to distraction. He really hoped she was happy with her doctor guy, because Eric was absolutely miserable.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" Rebekah asked.
For a second, he thought she was asking Isaac. He glanced at her, and she smiled hopefully.
She was asking him. Eric's heart leapt into his throat. "Yeah."
She jumped to her feet and headed for the front door. Eric followed at a half-run.
"Rebekah, where are you going?" Mrs. B called after Rebekah with a look of stern disapproval.
"I'll be back soon."
Eric took Rebekah's hand as they walked down the deserted street. It was a little chilly, but he doubted Rebekah would like him to wrap his arm around her shoulders and draw her against his side for warmth.
"I'm not sure where to begin," she said.
He was. "Are you really going to marry Isaac?" he blurted.
She stopped short. "Where did you ever get that idea? Did my mother tell you that?"
"No, you told me that."
"I did not. He did ask me, but I told him no. I told him you were my boyfriend. That I loved you. And you … You never even bothered to call me after our fight. I thought I meant something to you, Eric." She planted a fist on either hip and glared at him in the light of a nearby street lamp.
"You mean everything to me. And I did call you, Rebekah. A thousand times I called you, even after you texted me and told me to fuck off and that you were marrying Isaac."
"What? You liar," she yelled. "I never texted that."
"Yes, you did. And then Isaac answered your phone and told me you didn't want to talk to me and that I should never call you again."
She hesitated. "Isaac answered my phone? When?"
"A couple hours after I saw you kiss him."
"I didn't kiss him! He kissed me."
"Well, you didn't stop him!"
"I didn't get the chance. You punched him before I could retaliate."
Now Eric hesitated. "You didn't want him to kiss you?"
"No. I love you, you fucking idiot. Why would I want to kiss another man?"
Eric panted heavily, a mixture of anger and confusion and joy. She loved him. Sure, she had called him a fucking idiot, but she loved him. He almost believed her, but the hurt of the past few days made him hesitate. "If you love me so much, why did you hang up on me?"
"I would never hang up on you. Never. I wanted you to call, so we could work things out."
"Then why didn't you call me?"
"Isaac made me think that you didn't want to talk to me."
Eric's fists clenched. "That little weasel."
"Did you really call me after our fight?"
"Yes. Like I said, I called you around a thousand times."
"I think I would have noticed if you called a thousand times, Eric. You never called me. Not once. I even slept with my phone so I wouldn't miss your call."
"Maybe there's something wrong with your phone. I called you, Rebekah. I did."
"There's nothing wrong with my phone. I've used it several times today." She pulled her cell phone out of her pocket and flipped through her missed calls. "There's nothing from you," she said. "A bunch of calls from an unknown number, but not a single call from you."