Sidewalk Conversations

Toni had a busy day visiting and now she wanted to pick up a gift for Sarah McGee before heading back to Glenridge. She’d been wanting to go inside Nonnie’s ever since it opened and now she had an excuse.

She selected something and talked with Nonnie for a little while, she liked Nonnie right off and wished her well in The Glen. She’d just stepped out of the store onto the walk.

Richie left Libby’s and decided to dash over and speak to Nonnie before going to Coffs and see her uncle. He walked across the street and stopped a few steps from the door. Toni had just come out with a package.

“Hiya Toni,” he tilted his head, hands in pockets. He felt a nervous fluttering in his chest.

“Richie…hi…I was just um…how are you?”

“I’m good, you’re looking good I uh hear you’re expecting.”

“Yes we are.” Toni smiled.

“Well that’s good, that’s what you wanted I’m happy for you.”

“Thank you, are you still at Millie’s?”

“Yeah but I’m looking for a place about ready to get out of a single room ya know.”

“I’ll bet you are…it must be…” He must be miserable there she thought.

“Yeah it is…what have you got there is it heavy do I need to…”

“Oh, something for Travis’s mother, it’s not heavy.”

“I hate talking on a sidewalk, um look I want to apologize for that day you came in my office, I was…”

“I know you were, it’s okay I hope we’re past that now, I am.”

“I think I am…maybe I’m not,” he looked down a minute. “I still um care about you Toni I’m uh glad things are working out for you and Travis. I don’t want to hit him anymore.”

Toni smiled a little, “That’s good I don’t think he wants to hit you either. Have you uh heard from Michael lately?”

“Oh yeah, I’ve been invited over for Thanksgiving I’m thinking about going.”

“I hope you do, I really hate he missed his trip over here…I do Richie. Maybe when you find a place huh?”

“Yeah when I find a place and I’m looking.”

“Good luck and I mean that about everything…well I should be going it’s getting late.”

“Oh right, I didn’t mean to keep you…it was good seeing you Toni.”

“Yeah…you too.” She smiled meeting his eyes.

“Oh let me get the door for you,” Richie moved over and opened her car door.

“Thanks, bye.” Toni buckled up and he closed her door.

“Bye Toni.” Richie stepped back on the sidewalk and took a deep breath.

He waited until she drove down the street and he walked in Nonnie’s, she’d been watching them through the window.

“That was your ex-wife wasn’t it?” Nonnie moved from the window

“Toni…yeah well technically we’re still married, we have to wait a year ya know.”

“She’s very attractive and nice, whatever did you do there Richie?”

“Messed up the best thing I ever had goin’ for me.”

“Shame on you…are you sorry?”

“Yeah I am I’ve been on a freefall ever since.”

“No chance of ever getting her back?”

“None she’s pregnant with Travis McGee’s baby, I’ve lost her completely,” Richie ran his hand through his hair and looked back at Nonnie.

“I’m not going to be sorry for you,” she walked back to her counter and began taking money out of the cash register drawer and putting it into a zippered bag.

“I’m not looking for sympathy.” He followed her over.

Nonnie leaned across the counter resting on her arms, “What are you looking for?” she watched it run though his eyes, “you don’t know do you?”

“I bet you could tell me.”

“I bet I won’t even if I knew for sure, that’s up to you to find.”

He placed his hands on the counter, “You know what sometimes you scare the shit out of me.”

“Maybe you need to think about why.” Nonnie straightened up and picked up her handbag from under the counter.

Richie looked down at his hands, “I’m going to see your uncle.”

“I know, he’ll be in all evening.”

Richie quickly looked up, “have you got time for a drink?”

“No, I don’t besides…you have some thinking to do.” She smiled and shouldered her bag and picked up her key ring.

“Maybe I’ll see you there…in Coffs.”

“You probably will…I live there.”