Polly’s first week back sailed by, and Lynn managed to avoid Gus. She might say a quick hello and goodbye, but she let Polly interact with him. On Friday, after saying hello to Dulcie and Cal, she disappeared into the kitchen and closed the door.
Gus watched her go, then turned sad eyes on Polly.
“Give her time,” Polly said. “She’s still grieving.”
“That’s why I want to see her. To find a way so she doesn’t have to grieve and we can be together in some way.”
“She wants the whole enchilada.”
He nodded. “If she’d just see me.”
“She’ll get there. I’m sure she wants you in the baby’s life. She just needs to figure out how. Right now, it hurts too much.”
“That’s it,” he said, heading for the closed door. He pushed it open and found Lynn peeling carrots for their morning project. They were making stone soup after reading the children’s book of the same name. She looked up when the door opened, then turned back to her work.
“You can’t hide in here all morning.”
“I’m not hiding.”
“Look, Lynn, I know I’m an asshole and a whole lot of other things, but I have things I want to say to you.”
She shook her head. “Not now, Gus, please.”
“Okay, fine. Tomorrow, I’ve got Daisy babysitting. I have some work at the farm in the morning but will be coming into town at noon to pick up supplies. I would love you to join me for lunch at Gracie’s. Twelve thirty, if you can get free?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Fine, but if you change your mind, I’ll be in a back booth hoping to see you. If you don’t come, I’ll keep asking until you do. Have a good day.” With that, he turned on his heel and walked out, before she could say a word.
A few minutes later, Polly poked her head in. “Hey, are you planning to stay in here all day?”
“Ha-ha.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“So what did he want?”
“The same thing he always wants, to meet. For lunch at Gracie’s tomorrow. Just what I need, another public display of blubbering for all the town to see.”
“Maybe you won’t blubber?”
“It seems to be all I do these days.”
“I like that top, by the way. Where’d you get it?”
“Saguaro Dreams. They don’t have a maternity section, but they have lots of these blousy tops, and they’re cheap. I bought four. I’m also wearing my preggers jeans,” she said, grinning as she lifted the hem of her pale green muslin blouse.
“Cool.”
“Got ’em online. Two pairs and a skirt.”
“I told you I have some things you can borrow!”
“And I said that nothing you have would fit unless I lose fifty pounds and change my body shape overnight.”
“No way. Maternity clothes are very forgiving.”
“Not this forgiving,” Lynn said. “On a good day, I wear a twelve or fourteen. What are you, a two? Come on, let’s get the kids together. Do you want to read Stone Soup while I keep prepping?”
“No, you read, Daisy can take over here, and Rusty’ll help with cleanup and then corral everyone. I’ve gotta pump, and I’ll be back out in time for soup mixing.”
“Sounds good.”
“And Lynn, want my advice?”
“If it concerns you know who, not especially.”
“Well, I’m giving it anyway. See him. Listen. Make a plan so that he doesn’t keep upsetting you and all this,” Polly said, waving her arms around, “gets resolved. You can’t keep running into the kitchen every day at drop-off and dismissal.”
“Ha-ha,” Lynn said, smiling as Polly grabbed her bag of supplies for pumping her breast milk.