Marnie walked out of the elevator, three bags weighing her down. Her pinkie finger bowed to the pressure, letting a purchase slip to the floor. She stooped to reclaim the Dooney and Burke bag.
“Here, let me help you.” A deep voice rumbled in her ear. Strong fingers snatched the bag before she could reach it.
Slowly she stood, gazing into Brian's bright hazel eyes.
A warm smile crept over her face. She dropped the remaining bags and gave him a big hug. Marnie surprised herself with the joy Brian's presence brought her. She giggled like a school girl.
“I didn't know you were coming out this way,” she said, releasing him. “Danny didn't say a thing.”
“I didn't tell him I was coming. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing.” Brian helped put Marnie's bags in her room, and then the two sat down in the living room. “Truth is, I just needed a break from work, and I've never visited him before, so I thought it was a great mini vacation excuse.”
Marnie listened intently, grinning from ear to ear.
“I know it's your day off, but if you don't mind, I'd love to go get something to eat. I completely understand if you have other things planned though,” Brian said sheepishly.
She squeezed her eyes shut and crossed her fingers. “Please tell me you're a hot dog kind of guy.”
Brian chuckled. “Love them.”
“Awesome. I know the best place to get the world's most famous hot dog. It's almost too good to be called just a hot dog.” She popped up from the sofa and grabbed her purse. “Come on, let's go.”
Crif Dogs was no ordinary restaurant. When Brian ordered the spicy redneck, his eyes widened as a large hot dog wrapped in bacon and slathered in coleslaw and chili was handed to him. He downed the dog, and playfully suggested Marnie share half of her own with him.
After leaving the restaurant, Marnie and Brian strolled through Tompkins Square Park. A gentle breeze showered them with a sprinkle of snow. Marnie reached over and brushed a fallen twig out of Brian's hair. It was odd how comfortable she felt doing that.
They finally settled down on a bench and shared a bag of M&M's.
“For some reason I can never eat the red ones,” Brian chuckled.
“Probably because of those commercials with the talking red M&M. Guess that makes me a cannibal.” She popped a red one in her mouth.
“Tell me about yourself.”
“Like what?”
Fear crept into Marnie's stomach. She liked Brian and hoped she wouldn't have to lie to him. People were always funny about the subject of drugs, and she didn't want to make things strange between them. Whatever this was, they were just getting started.
Turning, she avoided his gaze to look at a Robin. Those eyes could make any woman melt.
“How'd you meet Danny? Did he put an ad online?”
“I met him at a Gary's.”
“Really?! Not the most conventional way to get a job, but I'm not really surprised. I don't know if you've noticed, but he hates doing things in an orthodox manner like the rest of the world.”
Marnie smiled at this quip. It was spot on the truth, but she'd come to at least respect, if not tolerate, Danny's eccentricities.
“Is it hard though, dealing with someone who's an addict? I know he's not really clean. I've read the books; if you're clean, you've got to be one hundred percent sober from all substances. All that drinking he does is not the exclusion.”
“Some people don't have an alcohol addiction.”
Brian snorted in disbelief.
“Well, for the most part,” Marnie said relenting. “He is sober.”
“How can you tell though?” Brian finished the last M&M and threw the bag in the garbage. He held out his hand to help her up.
As they left the park he continued his verbal assault on Danny.
“Don't get me wrong, I want him to be sober. But he has been soooo good for so long at convincing my mom, my family and me, as well as the rest of America, that he's sober, when he wasn't.”
Marnie bit down on her lip. He needed to know his brother was doing better than he thought. Even if it meant exposing herself.
“I know without a doubt he's sober because he's helping me,” Marnie said.
She stopped walking and looked into his eyes. Although she anticipated disgust or shock, anger wasn't what she expected in his eyes. Brian's face contorted in fury. Gone was the sweet baritone and calming hazel eyes. A stranger had stepped in his place.
“What?!” he grabbed her arm roughly.
“I'm a recovering addict,” she said to his shoes. She bit back tears of shame, threatening to well up in her eyes.
“So what, assistant is code word for supplier? Is that how you assist him?!” Brian tilted her head upward so she could look into his smoldering eyes. Marnie was so embarrassed. She looked around. A few senior citizens and some children had stopped to stare back at her and Brian.
She swatted his hand away from her face and stepped backward toward the steps.
“You're not listening to me. He's sober, and he wanted to help someone else. That's why he offered me a job with a guaranteed sober atmosphere. That's how I know he's clean. He couldn't help me otherwise.”
Marnie turned to walk down the concrete steps.
“Just tell me one thing?” he called after her.
Marnie ignored him and continued her descent, but she was forced to turn around when Brian roughly grabbed her arm and jerked her backward.
She looked into his eyes defiantly. She had nothing more to say to him.
“Are you fucking him for his money?”
Sheer outrage gave her courage.
“What?! Who the hell do you think you are talking to me like that?”
She smashed her fist into his chest and tried to wriggle out of his vise‐like grasp.
Brian ignored the attack.
“I'm his brother. I have to look out for him.”
“Oh yeah, and where were you when he was arrested in Lima?”
“Fuck you!” Brian pulled Marnie closer and poked her forehead with his index finger. Each word felt like nails were being hammered into her. “You don't know a thing about me or my brother.”
Brian released his grasp and shoved Marnie back hard in the process.
Her left foot searched for a step, but only caught air as her body hit the concrete steps. She rolled down, her head hitting each one in the process. Grabbing the wrought iron railing, she managed to slow her descent, but smashed her forehead against the concrete column.