Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88742 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
“How was your day, honey?” My eyes go wide when my mom throws a question my way. Thankfully, there's a bite of food in my mouth, so I use the chewing time to try and compose myself.
“Um,” I mumble after swallowing. “You know, the usual.”
“Really? Everything is okay?”
What does she know? She knows something, right? My mom has that maternal intuition people talk about. I wouldn’t be surprised if she came to me later, tape in hand, saying she fixed everything.
“Yeah, Mom. I'm fine.”
“It's just that you look a little flushed. Distressed even. You're not getting sick, are you? I could make some chicken soup. Get some ginger ale for you if it’s your tummy.”
I’d thought I was hiding my fears way better. Shit, I really am an open book.
“I'm just tired. It's been busy at the flower shop. Summer is a popular time for people who want to add to their garden.”
“Our little girl is just working hard, Margie.”
“But look at her, George. Maybe she shouldn't come to the barbecue this weekend. She should catch up on her sleep, instead. I don't want my poor baby to collapse from exhaustion.”
The barbecue? Oh my goodness! I'd completely forgotten that Brick Productions was hosting another company barbecue. My parents told me about it weeks ago. I haven't gone to one in a while, and I really wasn’t planning on going to this one either.
“Well, it's up to her, Margie. Tammy knows whether or not she can handle the event. Right, sweetheart?”
“Huh?” I need to get out of my own head or my parents will start to think I'm slowly losing it.
I definitely used to like going to the company barbecues, but as I got older, I found them kind of boring. Plus, with all of this on my plate, maybe it would be best…
But hold the phone. If it's a company event, that means Brick will be there. That might be the perfect time for me to confront him about the tape. I don't get a lot of chances to see the guy, and this way, no one's going to think it's weird that I'm there since I am the daughter of an employee.
There’s probably even a way I can get him to myself at the barbecue. Of course, there’s always so much going on, I’m sure that even if Brick and I were in a crowd talking, there would be enough commotion going on that no one would really hear our conversation.
I’m going to go. It’ll be the best course of action.
“I'll be fine, guys. It's just been a busy few days. I'm sure by Saturday, I'll be all rested up. Plus, I'm not going to turn down free barbecue. Do you guys even know me?” I add playfully.
My mom giggles, and my dad sports a proud smile.
“That's our girl,” he says, joking but also a little serious. My parents go back to talking to each other, leaving me alone for the moment – probably because of all of the exhaustion talk.
I don't mind, though. It was hard having to keep up with the conversation while also having an internal breakdown. My inner monologue is all over the place.
At least now I have some kind of a plan. Waking up this morning, remembering everything that happened and realizing the implications of Brick having that tape, really did a number on me. It's all I could think about during the day.
But with this plan, as haphazardly thrown together as it is, I'm feeling a little less panicky. Don't get me wrong, I’m still freaking out, but this is an anchor I can hold on to for now.
“Tammy, honey, are you going to eat your dinner?” My mom motions at my almost full plate. I look down at the pasta and meatballs with red sauce. Usually, I love my mom's cooking. She's got some seriously fabulous recipes, but all of this anxiety is getting to my stomach. It’s turning and turning, and I’m worried I won’t be able to keep anything down.
“I'm just not very hungry tonight. Sorry, Mom. I had a late lunch at the shop.”
“No worries, baby. Why don't you go lie down? You deserve to rest. You’re always working so hard.” I nod and thank her.
My parents are always doting on me. I know they love me and think I am a gift to their lives, which is why they can never find out about that tape. It would completely shatter their view of me.
I go to my room, falling onto my bed in a heap. My covers always feel so welcoming. Right now, they offer a modicum of comfort in these trying times.
I turn over onto my stomach, resting my chin on my pillow.
“Okay, Tammy. You're going to go to that barbecue and give Brick Barrister a piece of your mind. You'll get the tape back, maybe apologize for what you did because what you did was technically wrong, and hopefully, that's the end of this god-awful saga.”