He placed his hands over hers, helping her lower the bear to the counter before he removed the tongs from her hand. Chest heaving and shoulders shaking, she balled her fists and bowed her head.
“It’s okay, Vannah.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his body. He could hear the hiccups she swallowed and knew she was tittering on the edge of a meltdown.
“Shh.” He placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “Let’s take a break.”
Leading her to the stools across the room, he helped her sit. She clenched her jaw. Seeing the silent fight to contain her anguish made him feel like a voyeur. Words escaped him. Everything that popped into his head sounded too contrived or ignorant. So he held his tongue, rubbed her back, and waited for a cue. A few minutes later she cleared her throat.
“I’m okay.” Her back stiffened. She pulled away from his hand.
“No.”
“What?”
He refused to let the curt tone put him off. “After all of that there’s no way I’m going to step back and pretend it never happened.”
“Why? It’d work for me,” she mumbled.
“Because you have to talk about this.”
“I really don’t.” She shook her head.
“Vannah, have you ever thought your refusal to deal with this head-on might be affecting Clark?”
“What are you talking about?”Her eyes flashed with anger.
“You know what keeps a spirit earthbound? Unfinished business.”
“I’m not going to sit here and listen to this.” She removed her gloves with loud snaps and spun around, ready to leave. He placed a hand on her shoulder, stopping her retreat.
“Yes, you will. He knows you aren’t the same. Do you think it doesn’t affect him?”
“That’s his choice.” The words were unconvincing.
“Bullshit.”
She sighed. “What do you want me to do, Carey?”
“I want you to stop acting like a damn robot, and feel,” he growled, frustrated by her lack of empathy.
“You have no clue what I’m like outside of work.” Her lips curled upward in a sneer.
“No, but I bet Clark does.”
“He told you about last night, didn’t he?” She glanced up, releasing a deep breath that tossled the wayward tufts of hair framing her face.
They never kept secrets from one another. Why should now be any different?
“He mentioned it, yeah. What were you thinking, leading him on like that?”
“Leading him on? I was honest about my feelings. I felt he deserved to know.” She placed her hands on her knees and leaned forward.
“Why? Nothing could come of it.”
“He’s not the only one who’s suffered from the need for closure all this time, Carey!” She rocked back, stretched to her full seated height, and glared.
“Aha! So you admit it.” He pointed to her, pleased that he’d gotten her to respond.
“Son of a bitch!” She threw her hands up in the air and rose from the stool. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? Sneaky bastard!” The narrowed stare she pinned him with made him antsy.