“What’s going on with you?” I asked. “You seem tense this morning.”
“I’m fine, just didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.”
“Is everything alright?”
“Of course.” Robert said, leaning against the side of my desk so I could no longer see his face.
I pushed my chair back so I could at least see his profile. “Would you tell me if everything wasn’t okay?” I asked, unable to hide a suspicious frown.
The set of his shoulders tightened ever so slightly. He was definitely keeping something from me, but what?
“Violet, just trust me,” he said and turned his head to look at me. A sad smile touched his lips.
“Alright,” I said, pushing my chair closer to my desk.
“I need to make a few phone calls. I'll be outside if you need me,” Robert abruptly announced and pushed himself off my desk.
I didn’t say anything as I watched him walk out the front door. Turning back to my computer I pushed Robert out of my mind. I didn’t have time to sit here and wonder what could possibly be bothering him.
I spent the next couple of hours printing the larger photos and fitting the portraits into the frames while Robert went in and out of the store taking and making calls. His mood hadn't improved much since leaving the house that morning and it started putting me on edge. If he wasn’t on the phone outside talking to someone, he was inside frantically typing away on a text message. Something was definitely going on and he was trying to keep it from me.
Toward the middle of the day, food arrived in the form of a pizza I’d ordered. I took a slice and ate without really tasting it. I was in deadline mode and nothing else really mattered until I had everything done. Jessie showed up at three-thirty like always and I put her straight to work. With Jessie putting together the rest of the frames and Robert outside again, pacing back and forth in front of the store, I decided to call Matthew and let him know I’d have everything ready in about an hour.
“Hello?” Matthew’s voice came through after just one ring.
“Hey, it’s Violet,” I said, startled. I hadn’t expected him to answer so fast.
“Is everything okay?” His voice sounded off, tense. I shot a glance at Robert. He was still outside on the phone.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
“Just checking. What’s up?” Matthew asked, his voice suddenly light and carefree.
“I just wanted to let you know you can come by in about an hour and pick everything up.” I debated whether or not I should ask him what was going on but kept my mouth shut.
“Sounds good, see you in a bit.” The line went dead before I could utter a response.
I removed the phone from my ear and stared at it for a second, surprised that Matthew had been so abrupt. I got up from my chair and went outside to confront Robert, who still chatted away on his phone.
“What the hell is going on?” I demanded, bursting through the front door.
“I’m going to have to call you back,” Robert said into his cell, eyeballing me. He ended the call and put the phone in his pocket. “Now, what’s the problem?” He glanced at me as if I hadn’t just burst through the door yelling at the top of my lungs.
“I want to know what’s going on and don’t you dare tell me everything’s fine,” I demanded. I could feel my frustration crackle just under the surface. One wrong word from him and I’d lose it.
Robert frowned. “Why do you think there’s something wrong?”
“Well for starters, you’ve been distant all day and your phone hasn’t left your hand the whole time. Also, I called Matthew.” Robert’s shoulders tightened at the mention of Matthew’s name. “And the first thing he wanted to know was if I was okay. Why wouldn’t I be okay, Robert?”
He sighed. “Fine, but inside.” He wrapped his hand around the crook of my arm and led me back into the studio.
“There’s been a lead on the man who attacked you.” Robert said, releasing my arm once the door closed behind us.
“What kind of lead?” I asked as my heart plunged into my stomach.
“We think we may have tracked him down, here in Pismo.”
“So what does this mean?” I asked under my breath. My frustration teetered on becoming full-blown panic.
“Violet?” Jessie called, poking her head around the door to the back room.
Robert and I backed away from each other at the intrusion and I took a deep breath. “Yeah, Jessie?” I replied.
“Sorry,” she said, blushing after interrupting what was clearly a charged conversation.
“It’s alright, what’s up?” I smiled, trying my best to keep my voice light.
“One of the larger photos jammed.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, just give me a minute and I’ll be right there.”
Jessie nodded and disappeared behind the door.
“Robert,” I began, “what are-“
“We’re gonna get this guy, Violet,” he insisted, cutting me off.
“And what about the next guy and the next guy? This isn’t just going to stop with him.”
“I know, but you have to trust me,” he said, reaching up and placing his hand against my cheek.
“I do trust you.” I covered his hand with mine and removed it from my face. “But you can’t keep me out of the loop. I’m not a child, Robert,” I said, trying to stay in control of the wide range of emotions battling inside of me. I knew he thought he was protecting me by not telling me what was happening, but keeping me in the dark wouldn’t help either of us.
“I know you’re not, but it’s more important that I find out what’s going on than it is to fill you in on every little detail.” He frowned, irritation seeping into his voice.
Like a spark to gasoline, the anger ignited inside me. Some part of me knew the fear I’d been keeping at bay since the night I was attacked was driving my anger toward Robert. It was much easier to be mad at him than have to think about the fact that my life was in danger.
“You don’t get to decide what’s more important when it’s my life on the line,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Violet, you have to-“
“No,” I cut him off, “you need to stop pretending you know what’s best for me. I let you follow me around and keep me out of harm’s way, but don’t think I won’t kick you out of my studio if you can’t be honest with me.” I turned and walked away before he could add anything else to the conversation. I opened the door to the backroom and slipped inside without so much as a glance back in Robert’s direction.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself I stepped over to the machine that needed un-jamming. Once I pulled out the ruined portrait and hit the reprint button, I set to work with Jessie on the rest of the frames. Working helped abate my anger and just as we were finishing the last few frames, Matthew came into the backroom.
He was normally all smiles and I could tell he was trying to keep up appearances. But he couldn’t seem to look me in the eye. I found it impossible to be mad at him, though. It wasn't his place to update me on the latest Magical news. Not wanting to keep him waiting any longer than necessary, I quickly showed him all the portrait’s and put them back in the box the frames had come in. He thanked me on behalf of the Deardons and gave me a check as payment.
“Take care of yourself, Violet,” Matthew said as he kicked the front door open. His eyes met mine for just a second. There was a sadness to them I hadn’t seen before.
“You too,” I said as the door swung closed.
I found Robert sitting in the front of the studio in the small waiting area. I glanced over at him before heading back to my desk. He didn’t move to follow me, which was all the best since I really didn’t know what to say to him. I sat down in front of my computer and stared at the screen. We finally had more information on the guy who attacked me, but the news offered no comfort. I felt more afraid now than ever. Knowing I might have to face him again made me sick to my stomach. If he got to me before we got to him, would I survive a second time? I tried to focus on the hum inside me, to force myself to see the future. Nothing happened.