Mel didn’t even want to repair them. Not after the way Vanessa had treated her. Mel knew she wasn’t innocent in all of this. But Vanessa? She had kicked Mel to the curb, then had disappeared. After three days, Mel’s regret overwhelmed her. She’d pushed her pride aside and called Vanessa, fully prepared to apologize and talk things out. But it rang and rang until it went to voicemail. Mel didn’t try to contact her again. If Vanessa wanted to talk to her, she would. But she didn’t even try.
Mel should have known that it was all too good to be true. She was done. She’d gotten this far in life on her own. She didn’t need anyone else.
“That’s it,” James said. “I can’t stay out of this any longer.”
Mel crossed her arms. “Do you really have to do this, James?” Mel knew that James didn’t deserve her ire. But she didn’t care.
“Yes. We do.” He threw his arms up in the air. “What the hell happened between you and Vanessa, Mel? You’ve been moping around here like a piece of you died. And I haven’t seen Vanessa like this since, well, Rose.”
So James had seen Vanessa. That meant that Vanessa hadn’t completely disappeared. She was just avoiding Mel.
“Look, I know that you two had a fight. But have you even talked about whatever it is that happened?”
Mel shrugged.
“Wait. Don’t tell me that Rose caused this. Did something happen the day that she came in?” James took Mel’s silence as confirmation. “Look, I still don’t know what happened between Rose and Vanessa, but I pieced together enough to know that you can’t trust her. Especially when it comes to Vanessa.”
“It wasn’t Rose.” It wasn’t only Rose. Vicki had said the same thing. And Vanessa hadn’t denied any of it.
James let out a frustrated groan. “Don’t you see it, Mel? You’re both exactly the same. Too stubborn to say what you’re really feeling. Afraid of getting your heart broken. Just talk to her, Mel. I’m sure you can work things out.”
“It’s over between us, okay, James?” Mel yelled. “I don’t want to work things out. I don’t want to talk to her. I don’t want to see her ever again!”
“Looks like you don’t have a choice.” He was looking over Mel’s shoulder.
Mel turned. Vanessa was walking toward them. Mel sighed.
“Talk to her, Mel. Your shift is almost over, anyway. Go.” James walked off into the back.
Vanessa reached the bar. “Hi,” Vanessa said. “Can we talk?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.” Mel turned away and began tidying up behind the bar.
“I need to tell you the truth, Melanie. About everything. About Rose.”
Mel hesitated.
“Please, Melanie.”
Mel balled her fists. She had never been able to resist Vanessa’s pleas. “Fine.”
A few minutes later, they were seated at a booth at the quieter end of the club. A generous glass of whiskey sat before each of them. Vanessa had insisted on it. Mel was begrudgingly grateful.
Vanessa took a long drink. She placed her glass down on the table. “I’m so sorry, Melanie. For the way that I treated you that night. For disappearing.” She paused. “I’m sorry. I’m…not very good at this. This is hard.”
“This is hard? For you?” Mel’s voice cracked. “It’s been two weeks, Vanessa. Two fucking weeks since you yelled at me and told me to leave. And then nothing!”
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“I tried to call you.” Hot tears formed in the corners of Mel’s eyes.
“I know. I’m so sorry, Melanie. I was in a bad place and…” Vanessa closed her eyes for a moment. “I can explain. Or at least, I can try to.”
Mel crossed her arms. Nothing that Vanessa could say would make her change her mind.
“James told me that Rose came in here. He omitted the fact that she’d spoken to you until I pressed him. You never said anything.” She looked into Mel’s eyes searchingly, but Mel’s face was stone. “It was no coincidence that Rose came in here and spoke to you. She must have heard about you after I took you to the fundraiser. People gossip. Word gets around. She probably got jealous and decided to sabotage things. She’s like that. And for the past few weeks, she’s been… well, she’s the reason I’ve been so distracted lately.”
For the first time, Mel noticed that Vanessa looked different. She was wearing jeans. A plain blouse. No makeup. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail instead of loose over her shoulders like usual. It was a far cry from the impeccably put-together woman Mel knew.