It was eight in the evening and I had just arrived at the shelter. I saw Abby carrying some boxes and Mike was next to her, holding a pot. I ran to them, and as I got closer, I noticed that the line stretched from the door to the table.
"Good night," Mike said, placing the pot on top of one of the tables in the corner of the room. Abby deposited the three boxes she was carrying on a chair. — Abby?
Abby turned towards Mike and walked over to him, her smile was definitely very cute. I was happy to see it on her face.
— Can you deliver the chocolates? Mike asked, pointing to the boxes. She nodded and I approached him.
"Hi, Mike." I raised my hand in a wave. He smiled in response and walked over to the table where a woman was serving some people. - How is it going? Abby told me you were coming today, I was surprised.
He shrugged and glanced over at her, who opened some packages of chocolates.
"I realized I was very unhappy away from her because of my job." He turned his attention to me and smiled. "Your sister is a very special woman. Now I understand why she was mad at me when I wasn't around.
I frowned and swung the bag off my shoulder, setting it down beside the table. Mike walked past me and over to the counter on the other side of the room, where a cook was making soup. Abby approached me.
"Hi, little sister," she greeted me, holding out a candy. "I'm glad you came. We're really going to need helpers. I took the candy and Abby put her hands on her hips, walking down the long line. I followed her gaze. An erratic glow of sadness ripped through him. "It is very sad to know that so many people are in such a situation.
I pulled her to me and linked her arm.
"Glad you exist. I leaned my head on her arm and we were clinging to the main table, where people sat for dinner. There was a line formed near the table, and the others were arranged along the hall.
"And you help me." She winked.
Smile.
We walked, handing out chocolates to everyone in line. From children, teenagers, adults and seniors. Everyone, who until then had sad eyes, smiled when we offered smiles and chocolates. There were almost a hundred people.
When we were done, the waiters started to serve the dishes. Mike approached, the smile on his face almost exploded. He stayed by our side, watching people feed. There was something pleasant about it. Seeing the smile on their suffering faces meant we were doing the right thing. Mike wrapped his arm around Abby's waist, and I thought of Chase. Smile.
He was nice today. I wonder why so much change.
Did the hideous ogre overnight become a wonderful prince? Well, although he was a wonderful prince on the outside, he was hideous inside.
Abby and I went to the kitchen to help with the dishes as the first dishes started to return. She stood beside me, wearing her apron and the ridiculous cap that left a strand of hair hanging down.
- How was work today? she asked, looking at me. "Is your boss still picking on you?"
I wanted him to pick up on other things…
I shook my head.
- Not really. He was kind to me, even. He invited me for coffee at lunchtime and exchanged more than four sentences with me. I said, leaning towards her. She raised her eyebrows and splashed water on her plate. "I think he likes me. That he trusts, you know?
- IT'S?
- As much as we started off on the wrong foot, I feel like I have the opportunity to get to know you more and more. I no longer see him as Mr. Stupid Asshole. I see him as a very busy man who is sometimes rude. I confessed, turning my eyes to the plate she handed me. I picked it up and passed the cloth, drying it. 'He's not such a jerk at heart.
"Um," she grinned mischievously, looking at me. "Is anyone in love with the boss?" "Deep down, he's not such a jerk," she joked, repeating what I said in a funny way. I playfully slapped her arm. "I'm glad to hear that he's enjoying his new job, and that he's happy to be in it. - She said.
She took a deep breath and returned her attention to the plates again.
"At least one of us is." Her tone changed completely. Her body tensed and she cleared her throat, shaking her head and looking at me. "Sorry, you don't need to hear this.
"Abby?" I touched her arm and she stopped, frozen. She dropped her plate in the sink and I put what I was holding in the pile beside me. - What happened?
She looked at me and knit her eyebrows. There was sadness behind her eyes. She shrugged.
"I found out why Mike started paying attention to me again. She took a deep breath and blinked. "He thinks I'm pregnant.
I widened my eyes.
- Like this?
— My friend thinks she's pregnant and wanted to surprise her boyfriend. She asked me to buy the pregnancy test. I caught Mike looking at the test with a goofy grin on his face. - Is it over there He shook his head and brought his hands to his face. - I'm an idiot. Now he's going to be disappointed in me and...
She buried her face in her hands, sniffling. I hugged her tightly.
"Shhh," I whispered. "I think there must be another explanation.
Have. Mike is an idiot.
"Abby… it's not your fault. And, at some point, he will find out the truth. If he doesn't stand by you it means he's an idiot and doesn't deserve you. She looked at me, her eyes red and watery. Her face twisted into a grimace.
"You don't know what you're saying. I love him… I love him and I hate that he thinks I'm desperate. What do you think he'll imagine when he finds out the pregnancy test isn't mine? You don't understand, Anne! I frowned, shaking my head slowly.
"You're right," I agreed. "I don't understand why it became Abby's project. And you know what? You would be very happy without him around. Look… he's such an idiot that he thinks you're pregnant! He doesn't know you, Abby, not the way I do, and seeing you like this…" I looked her over from head to toe. She stared at me like I'd just told her I'm friends with an ET.
- So? As?
I opened my mouth, but the words escaped. I pressed my lips together and stared at her. Our fights used to be tough. But this one seemed the worst of all. I had never said anything against her husband, but now I had gone too far. The untouched Mike the saint had been offended by the sister who had no idea what she was saying.
- Nevermind. Not worth it. I tossed the dish towel onto the pile of dishes and walked out of the kitchen. Mike suddenly appeared. I swallowed hard and walked past him, purposefully bumping into his shoulder.
"Anne." I heard Abby's voice coming from behind me. I accelerated the steps. She was right. I didn't know what happened in her life. I had no idea, because I've never experienced anything like it. I was just some kind of walking vagina. — Anne, wait!
I turned towards her, and now I was the one whose eyes were glowing with anger.
She took my arm as she came a little closer.
"I didn't mean it.
- It will be? You're right. I frowned. My voice was choked. "I'll never look like you, or have the same problems as you… you're perfect even in that. That's what I mean? I cannot judge you, because you are capable of being loved by someone. I'm pathetic, Abby.
She shook her head no.
A wave of fury exploded in my chest, mixing with the wet, painful tears that seemed to gnaw at my heart.
"It's not, Anne. She assured, pulling me closer.
- How do you know?
"Because you're amazing. You will fall in love and see all the disappointments of love when the time is right. Until then, be content with its wonders.
I smiled.
I hugged his chest and my tears burst out, silent, guided by my sister's solace.
"Let's get through this together, okay?