Page 53 of Restless Ink
“No, because if it’s that bad, then what kind of person am I that I could be her friend for all these years? She says stupid stuff that hurts me, but she doesn’t do it on purpose. Shecan’tbe doing it on purpose, or she’s far crueler than I thought possible. I don’t think I’d be happy with who I am if I’ve really let her put me down like that for years. So that can’t be what she does.” It was circular reasoning at its finest, but she knew that Molly hadn’t always been this way, hadn’t always been the person who could make Thea question everything.
“Maybe she’s not cruel. Maybe that’s just who she is, someone who feels better about herself by putting others down. But that’s a different kind of meanness and cruelty, right?”
Thea let out a breath. “I don’t know. I just don’t know. She showed up at my date with Dimitri this weekend.” Thea hadn’t meant to blurt out that last part, but maybe she needed to.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Roxie’s eyes widened. “Like, actually showed up at that fancy place you were so excited about?”
“Yes. It’s apparentlyone of her places. Not that I knew that. Not that Dimitri knew that, since neither of us can actually afford it.”
“What did she do?”
Thea winced. “Well, she came over to the table, made a few comments about how surprised she was to see us. Considering it’s not our usual place, I got that. Then because she said something about dining alone…”
Roxie groaned. “Tell me you did not invite Dimitri’s ex-wife to join you for dinner. Because I get that you and Molly know each other, but there will always be that sense of you being the other woman with her around.”
“I know, I know. Too many tangled webs and hurt feelings. Hence why I have a headache. And, no, we didn’t invite her for dinner, but I did invite her to stay for a drink because I was stupid and felt bad and didn’t want to see her walk away all alone without friends. Dimitri did his best to be cordial with her but didn’t engage her in conversation or invite her to sit down. That was all me, and because I can’t put the idea that she’s his ex and my friend in the same category, I asked her to join us for a drink. She did, but just that. She didn’t eat with us, and we didn’t see her again. But then she made a comment about Dimitri’s allergy, and I got confused all over again.” Thea met Roxie’s gaze. “I think she lied to me, Rox. That night and before about the shellfish. And I don’t know why or what to do about it.”
Roxie held up her hand. “Wait. What about the shellfish? You mean the fact that Dimitri had that reaction when you cooked for him? How is that connected to her?”
Thea explained about the day that Molly had come into the bakery and mentioned what she thought was Dimitri’s favorite dish.
“That bitch! She tried to kill her ex-husband. That’s what you’re saying. She tried tokillhim and make you the culprit.”
Thea’s eyes widened. “No. No way. It wasn’t that bad. We caught it in time, and he normally wouldn’t have even had a bite of the food since he always checks things first, but I was being silly and trying to be romantic about it. I don’t think Molly tried to kill him. But I think…I think she wanted to somehow prove she knows him better and put me down in the process. And because of that, I don’t know what to think.”
Thea looked down at her hands, at the dough under her fingernails and the burn marks along her fingertips. She did her best to keep from comparing herself to others since she couldn’t put her next foot forward if she were constantly looking to the side, but she couldn’t help but think about the little comments Molly had made about her hands. How her friend—or the woman she’dthoughtwas a friend—would mention how she was off for a manicure, something Thea needed but never got because of money and time.
“It’s always the little things…” Thea whispered.
“Conveniently forgetting and remembering a deadly allergy isn’t a little thing.”
Thea pressed her lips together, her head pounding. “You’re right. But I don’t like what it all means. Or at least what itcouldmean.”
Roxie looked at her for a moment, raising a single brow. “You know, something sounds fishy, and I’m not just talking about the shellfish.”
Thea groaned. “Really? That’s the joke you’re going for when I’m having a crisis of friendship or faith or love or all three at once?”
“I can’t help it. Your so-called friend sounds a little…shellfish to me.”
Roxie grinned, and Thea put her head in her hands, realizing too late that she was smearing dough all over her skin.
“Crap.” She went to wash her hands and face, then went back to finishing up her dough so it could rest overnight and not ruin the whole batch.
Thea looked over her shoulder as Roxie laughed. “You need to stop with the fish jokes. This is serious.”
“I know. Sorry. I guess I’m just coming out of my shell.” They both laughed, tears threatening to stream down Thea’s face as she finished up the dough and set it in the fridge to rest overnight. Brioche was tricky, but she knew what she was doing, even with some unexpected resting in the middle of her prep.
“You’re a dork, but I love you.” Thea rewashed her hands and cleaned up after herself, gesturing for Roxie to meet her up at the corner table in the front area of the bakery where they could talk. She’d been keeping up with the goings-on up front while she stressed out and worked her hands sore doing prep. Her two staff members were working hard, as well, but the place hadn’t been busy for the past hour or so, which was okay since it was the normal lull. Moments where they could catch up for the next rush were needed—expansion or not.
Thea checked in with her staff then went back to the table where she and Roxie wouldn’t be overheard, bringing two cups of tea with her.
“Thanks,” Roxie said, taking the mug from Thea and blowing across the top. “I love Abby’s teas. I mean, I love your coffees and cakes, too. But tea sounds perfect right now.”
“I know. I’ll always be grateful that she moved into the building because our partnership works perfectly.” She let out a sigh and sipped a bit since it was still too hot to gulp like she wanted to. “I’m so confused, Roxie.”
“I bet. There’s something off with that woman, Thea. I know you don’t want to hear it, but from the outside looking in, it’s like she’s trying too hard to make you and Dimitri happen so she can watch you fall apart. Or maybe she’s not that smart and istryingto be okay with you and Dimitri being a thing, but also realizes that she’s not the center of attention anymore. I don’t know.”
“I don’t know either. That’s the problem. There are a hundred different possibilities for why she’s doing what she’s doing. When I really look at everything that’s happened. But those answers running around in my head all say that something is off, and I have a lot of thinking to do.”