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Brunch At The Marbury

“Did you see him holding her hand?” Trilby hissed in her ear.

Marta frowned and adjusted her red cat-eye glasses with the Christmas trees in the corners. They were all the more appropriate since she’d sprayed her hair green and done it up in a beehive with tiny ornaments, jingle bells and narrow strands of tinsel. “So what? She was on the verge of tears. Why wouldn’t he?”

Trilby’s eyes began to tear up. “Because I want him to hold my hand.”

“Well, now that you’re putting on the water works maybe he will. Don’t be such a baby.”

“I’m not being a baby. I just don’t understand why he likes her better than me.”

“Well, we still don’t know that for sure. Calm down. The hostess is coming.” Marta tugged at the hem of her shaggy knit green sweater. With her red miniskirt and candy cane stockings, she looked like a walking Christmas tree. At least, that’s the look she was going for. Christmas was coming after all.

Trilby humpfed.

“Now what?”

“You know darned well I can’t afford an extravagance like this.”

“You know darned well I can. Shaddap and enjoy your brunch already. This place is off the hook.”

“I don’t like owing you, either.”

“Well, you don’t. So, don’t worry about it.”

“I don’t like being a kept woman.”

“Seems like you don’t like much. What’s come over you all of a sudden? Do you want to make a pass at this guy or don’t you?”

“Of course, but it looks like Aundrea has the home field advantage.”

“Advantage, maybe. That’s not guaranteed to win the game, Trilby. Besides, he’s a person not a trophy. Do you want to be friends with him or do you just want him as a status symbol?”

“Now who’s jealous?”

“Did you hit your head again? What is that supposed to mean? Do I need to take you back to the hospital?”
“Nurse Julie said you were in love with me.”

“Julie is an excellent nurse. In all other aspects of life, she’s an absolute kook. Mom said so. She went to school with Julie. Nice lady but nuttier than squirrel poop. Pay her no mind.”

“So, you don’t love me?”

Marta stopped in her tracks and clenched her fists at her side as she scrunched her eyes tight. She counted to ten silently and blew out a slow breath at the end. “Trilby Hughes, of course I love you. We’ve been best friends since Middle School. You’re like a sister to me. I’m not in love with you. I love you. They’re two different things. Julie is a kook. Boy, you’re the dumbest smart person I know!” She pointed at the table where her parents and Jeb were gathering. “Go. Sit. Shaddap.”

Trilby’s shoulders rose up to her ears and her big blue eyes went wide. “Yes, ma’am.”

“That’s more like it.” Marta snapped her head toward the table. The little bells in her hair jingled and the tiny ornaments wiggled.

“You know, it’s really hard to take you seriously when you’re done up like a walking Christmas tree.”

“Shaddap! Go sit down.” Marta jumped behind her and grabbed her by the waist.

“What is this, a conga line?”

Marta began tickling her sides and nudging her forward. Trilby was laughing and convulsing as Marta remote-controlled her forward motion.

“Knock it off, willya? Jeb is looking at me.”

“Guys like girls with a sense of humor.”

“Guys don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses.”

“Don’t bet on it, sweetheart. You need to come out drinking with me more often. Plenty of guys make passes at me.”

“Standards tend to go down when they’re drunk, you know.”

“Unless you want my knee to introduce itself to your tailbone, you’d better go sit down.” Marta stuck her fingers into Trilby’s sides. While she was convulsing weirdly, Marta swung her hip around and bounced Trilby toward the table.

Jeb was sitting down across from Marta’s parents. He pulled out a chair for Trilby to land on. “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

Trilby’s mouth flapped open and shut without making a sound. Her face transitioned slowly to a shade like maraschino cherries.

Marta pulled up a chair on the other side of Jeb. “There’s persistent neurological damage from her fall. She might be like this forever.”

Trilby bit her bottom lip and struggled to hold back a scream.

Jeb just smiled and turned back to Mr. Kwock. “But anyway, you were asking about?”

“Oh, I was wondering if you had any big projects. I really enjoyed that eagle you did for Herb Galloway’s porch.”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I’m working on a bear. I have a customer in Wyoming Pass who is looking to take delivery on the 23rd.”

“Wow, I’d love to see it before you hand it off.”

“Here’s a picture I took to show Pastor Greg. He got to see it on Friday, but I made a lot of progress yesterday.” Jeb pulled up the photo on his phone and handed it to Trilby. “Could you pass that to Mr. Kwock?”

She looked the picture over and passed it along. Marta was leaning over to keep an eye on her. From this angle, it looked like she had sprouted from his chest like one of those bug aliens in the movies her Dad liked so much. Trilby shrugged at her. Marta rolled her eyes and shook her head at her.

Jeb heard the jingling and turned to see what it was.

“So, Jeb. How’s life out on the farm these days?”

“I didn’t realize it, Marta, but I’ve actually been feeling kind of lonely.”

“That’s a shame.” Marta put her hands over her mouth. “Isn’t it, Trilby?”

“I could visit you.” Trilby’s voice squeaked nervously.

“That would be nice. I’d enjoy the company. I’ve decorated for the holidays and everything.”

Trilby smiled and shot up from her chair like a rocket. “Gotta go to the ladies’ room. Be right back.” With a clenched jaw, she said. “Marta! I think you do, too.”

“Um, guess so?” Marta stood up to help her friend find the bathroom. They locked elbows and headed out. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”

“Gotta go, Marta. Gotta go.”

“Okay, but you realize you’re leaving him wide open. We had him pinned in. Anything could happen while we’re away.”