Chapter Nine
1749 Words
She had driven halfway across town before realizing she had no memory of the traffic lights she passed.
Catalina’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and she huffed out a cloudy breath. A traffic ticket would be the least of her problems. The white kerchief dug into her palm more, reminding her of the dejected look on Julian’s face when she lashed out at him.
He had called her ‘‘Ms Giodarno.’’
God. She shut her eyes as she turned down Bernard’s street, laughing at the irony of missing her name on his lips.
The Gentle Roses Flower Shop and Cafe looked even brighter in the night light. The downstairs windows glowed a warm orange against the dark street, displaying fresh peonies, orchids, and handmade pastries beneath elegant hanging lights.
Its domesticity almost made her cry. Why was it that after all these years, she was still running to Bernard with all her baggage? It wasn’t fair to either of them.
The door pulled open before she reached it. Bernard was at the other side, his arms spread wide as he took her in. The oversized cream sweater swallowing her frame. The mascara running down her eyes. The twitch in her mouth as she struggled to hold on to the tears.
“Tali, come here,” he said softly.
Catalina walked straight into his arms and broke apart.
A sob tore from her chest as Bernard wrapped both arms around her, pulling her into the safe cocoon of his familiar warmth.
“I know,” he murmured quietly against her hair. “I know.”
She cried harder, and he held her tighter.
She did not know how long they stood there before making the short trip to his apartment.
The apartment above the café was beautiful in the effortless way Bernard always managed to make things beautiful.
Warm wood floors with an open floor plan that made it seem like each room was woven into the other. His enormous bookshelf was stacked with titles from every genre he managed to collect over the years.
And, in true florist fashion, fresh flowers filled every available space.
Catalina sank onto the black couch while Bernard disappeared into the kitchen.
‘‘You still haven’t moved the monstrosity of a bookshelf out of the living room?” she asked weakly.
“How else will I show off to the ladies that I am a well-read man?”
He returned carrying a tray with fresh coffee, a chocolate bar, and an apple Tarte Tatin.
Catalina stared at them.
“When did you have time to make all of this?”
“I was sure you would be hungry after seeing that crass interview,” His voice softened slightly. “So, an apple to keep the doctor away.” He extended the pastry to her.
Catalina thanked him, sinking her teeth into the warm and flaky treat. ‘‘Oh, my god, this is so good. You have to write a cookbook so I can get your recipes.’’
Bernard sat across from her, staring silently. ‘‘You don’t have to do that, you know?’’ He said
‘‘Do What?’’ She replied with a shrug.
‘‘That,’’ He pointed at her. ‘‘The weird thing you do when you have so much to say, and then you push it off with a joke. I want you to talk, Tali. Talk to me.’’
The sounds from the street below were all one could hear in the quiet room before Catalina finally whispered. “I did something awful to someone.”
Bernard leaned back slightly. “Who?”
“Julian.”
His response was a raised eyebrow. “What happened?”
Catalina laughed bitterly under her breath. “There’s a breach at Giordano Estates. Someone’s leaking information, and my cybersecurity team is f*****g incompetent. I completely lost it, smashed stuff,” She raised the hand with the kerchief now stained with dry blood. ‘‘He came to help, I didn’t take it well.’’
Bernard nodded for her to continue.
“I screamed at him. Told him to get out, and I just…, I chased him away.”
“Ouch.”
“I know.”
“And what did he say?”
“That’s the worst part.” Catalina swallowed hard. “Nothing. He called me ‘‘Ms Giordano and left.”
She rubbed her eyes, blinking back a fresh wave of tears. ‘‘I thought I was past this B, this crumbling and lashing out when I am panicking, hurting people. I…, I don’t want to be this person. This hateful person causes people pain. For god’s sake, I shouted at Sophia. What is wrong with me?’’
“Besides your addiction to coffee?”
A small laugh escaped her.
Bernard pointed triumphantly. “There she is.”
Catalina shook her head slowly. “Maybe this is karma. All those years of covering Marcus’ mistakes, and it all comes back on me. Can you believe the asshole gave an interview as if I was some sort of s*x crazed nympho when we were married? Tsk, the absolute nerve.”
“Forget Marcus and his shitty interviews.’’ Bernard leaned forward, elbows resting against his knees. ‘‘He is just trying to psyche you out, pull you into his schemes. You are better than him, Tali. Want to know what I remember most about you when we were younger?”
Catalina shook her head.
“Books. You had this very blue princess bag slung over your shoulder all the time, everywhere we went, you had a book out, drawing, reading, ignoring the world and disappearing into yours.’’
Catalina smiled as the memories came flooding back.
“You drew everything in sight, but when you drew buildings, it felt like they were alive. I could reach into that book and bring them. That Catalina, the one who drew life itself, who staged a protest outside a professor’s office to contest a grade, would never let anything bring her down. Sure, you would cry, lament, and even hide for a while, but you always came back stronger. That’s what I love about you.”
Catalina looked away at his admission and swallowed hard. ‘‘How do you not hate me?’’
Bernard frowned slightly. “How could I hate you?”
“You love me. I am a lot of things, but I am not stupid. I know how you feel for me, and yet I just ignore your feelings and show up to take advantage of you. You should hate me; I would hate me.”
Pain flickered across his face before he hid it. “Catalina, I am not going to lie to you and pretend my feelings have disappeared, but I also know that you don’t love me the way I love you. Your love for me is what they call platonic, and I am okay with that.”
Her chest tightened as she took in his sad smile.
“B,”
“Hey,none of that now,” He stood and walked back to the kitchen, returning with a clean bandage and a bowl of warm water. Taking her hand in his, he removed the kerchief from her wound, cleaned the bloody spot carefully, and wrapped her up in gauze.
“You don’t owe me an apology, Tali. I am not expecting anything from you, just take it easy on yourself. And,” He pinned her down with a hard look. ‘‘You should call Julian to apologize.’’
Catalina groaned softly. “I don’t want to. He hates me.”
Bernard snorted. “That man looks at you like you hung the moon and stars. I can assure you hate is the farthest thing from his mind where you are concerned.”
Heat crept up her neck, and she silently cursed her fair skin. ‘‘You make it sound like he has the hots for me.”
“And if he does?”
Catalina hid her face briefly behind her hands. “I hate you.”
“Nah, you love me.”
‘‘Whatever. I want to take a nap. No calls, please.’’
‘‘Yes, Your Majesty.’’
It was still dark out when Bernard walked her back to her car hours later, two hands clutching five boxes filled to the brim with more sweets, treats, and snacks than she could imagine eating in one month.
“You’re encouraging my sugar rush and ever-expanding thighs.”
“Nonsense. You are barely a twig. I’m sure I could bench press you.”
She wagged a finger at him. “Don’t even think about it.”
He opened her car door for her before his expression softened again.
“Call Julian tomorrow.”
Catalina hesitated before nodding affirmatively. ‘‘I will. Promise.’’
Bernard squeezed her shoulder gently before stepping back onto the sidewalk.
“Drive safely.”
Catalina collapsed onto her bed in a heap of exhausted bones. The low buzzing of her phone startled her just as the sandman was pulling her under.
‘‘How are you?’’
Her stomach knotted. The simple text was from Julian.
Catalina contemplated calling him before chickening out and sending a single text. ‘‘I am sorry.’’
No reply.
She turned her head to set the phone on the nightstand when a call came in.
‘‘Sophie, it’s almost 2am. Don’t you sleep?’’
‘‘IcalledassoonasIgottheiniviteandjust..,’’
‘‘Wait,’’ Catalina stopped her, trying to unweave everything the woman said. ‘‘You are speaking too fast. What did you hear?’’
A sign came down the line before the other woman started speaking again. ‘‘DeLuca Holdings is having a shareholder event next week. We have been asked to attend.’’
That shook off the last sands of sleep. ‘‘Marcus wants to gloat in my face after that interview he did, right?’’
Sophia’s voice turned sharper. “No. Margaret Okoye sent the invite from her personal email. She wants to meet you.”
- Writer
