Page 49 of Real Forever
“Calgary. He bought an office building there, and he’s moving to open a new office. And he didn’t even tell me about it. I only found out because his bitchy mother showed up and spilled it.”
“Well, has he had the chance to tell you? How long have you two been seeing each other?”
“Seeing each other? Like, dating?”
“Yes, like dating, Madison.”
“I don’t know if we’re exactly dating. I mean… we started out spending a lot of time together because we were,” she caught herself, “we were working on a project together. Sort of a volunteer thing.”
Agatha eyed her suspiciously.
“Anyway, we were spending a lot of time together and this weekend, things sort of… took a turn.”
“Took a turn, huh?”
Madison kept her head down to avoid making eye contact with Agatha.
“So, let me get this straight.” Agatha paused and planted her hands on her hips. “You and Jake aren’t dating, but have been sleeping together for two or three days, and you now feel abandoned and heartbroken because he had yet to inform you about a business transaction you presumably didn’t ask him about?”
Madison lifted her forehead off the table to glare at Agatha. “You’re supposed to be on my side,” she whined.
Agatha laughed. “I’m on your side, Madison. But, perhaps you could cut this guy a little slack here. It doesn’t sound like he was trying to keep this from you.”
“Ugh. I hate you for being right about everything all the time.”
Agatha, gave her another quick pat on the back before heading back over to her coleslaw.
Madison stood up and finished tying up her apron and pulling her hair into a quick ponytail. “It’s just… I like this guy, Agatha. Like, too much, I think. I’m heading for a heartbreak and it’s like I can’t stop it.”
“Oh, pish. You have complete control over your own life Madison Avery, and you have got to stop telling yourself you don’t. If you like Jake, be with him. If you love Jake, do whatever it takes to stay with him. It’s as simple as that, my dear. Now, I’m not paying you to stand around pouting about your boy troubles.” She gave Madison a warm smile and a wink.
Madison gave Agatha’s arm a squeeze. “Thank you, Agatha. You always know exactly what to say.” She grabbed the coffee pot and headed out into the dining area.
“Good morning, Cliff,” Madison greeted Cliff as she refilled his coffee.
He set his newspaper down. “Good morning? It’s damn near noon young lady.”
Mrs. Henderson, an Agatha’s regular who had the honor of being Snowbrook’s oldest living resident at a spritely ninety-four years of age, huffed. “Cliff, you grouchy old buzzard. Leave the poor girl alone to do her job. Madison, you pay that fool no mind, dear.”
Cliff winked at Madison, but replied in mock indignation, “Buzzard? How dare you, Margaret? And you’re one to be calling people old. Madison, did you know when Margaret was going to school here in Snowbrook, Moses was her class valedictorian?”
Madison giggled as Agatha came out from the kitchen with a club sandwich and a side of coleslaw and plunked it down in front of Cliff.
“Cliff, how many times do I have to tell you? If you can’t be sweet to my staff and my customers, I’ll have to throw your dusty ass to the curb.”
Cliff chuckled, “Oh Agatha, you and I both know you’d never dream of kicking me out. You’d miss me too much.”
“Miss you?” Agatha scoffed.
“Yes, miss me. You’d miss all my funny jokes, and my interesting comments about the news of the day, and most of all, you’d miss my handsome face.”
At that, Margaret and Madison both started laughing, along with Joan and Kathy Marcoux, sisters sitting two tables over.
“Your handsome face?” Agatha was incredulous.
“Agatha, I’m the most handsome man for miles, and you’ve damn well known it since we were sixteen years old.”
“Ha.” Agatha’s voice stayed firm, but Madison thought she could see a bit of a pinkish hue forming on her cheeks. “Handsome, huh? Is it the sparse head of white hair or the beer belly I’m supposed to be fawning over?
