The Magnolia Chronicles: Adventures in Modern Dating(68)

Rob: I have a crazy early call with London in the morning. Morning for them, I guess.

Rob: I know I'm going to be tied up from that point forward but I wanted to make sure you got a good morning message before I stumble/sleepwalk into the office at 4 a.m.

Rob: I also wanted to mention your notable absence in my bed right now.

Rob: It is not the same without you.

Rob: I'm not the same without you.

Rob: In case you need proof, I bought a potted plant on the way home from that stupid long business dinner. There was a little flower shop I'd never noticed in the South End before. I didn't know they were open so late but I went in and picked out a green thing.

Rob: The lady working there said it was a peace lily but I don't see any flowers.

Rob: She also said it's toxic for dogs. I'm sure you know that. I don't know where to put it but Gronk can't climb so we'll find a good spot.

Rob: Right? He can't climb? I wouldn't put it past him though.

Rob: Anyway, yeah, I bought a plant.

Rob: Have an amazing day, love. Feel free to warm my bed and teach me how to deal with a plant tonight.

Magnolia: lol no, he can't climb

Magnolia: His vertical leap isn't bad but he also knows he's not supposed to eat plants so that helps.

Rob: Why are you awake, my love? Are you thinking about how much happier you'd be sleeping with me?

Magnolia: You do have central air and it is hot as balls so…yes.

Rob: That's fine. Use me for my HVAC. I'm good with it.

Magnolia: How was dinner?

Rob: Stupid long.

Magnolia: Other than that…

Rob: Fine. Closed some new business and picked up some good info that will keep the air conditioning on indefinitely. Had some nice roasted brussels sprouts with that sweet vinegar glaze stuff you like.

Magnolia: And you bought a peace lily.

Rob: Apparently.

Magnolia: It's a gateway houseplant, you know. First it's a peace lily and then it's a pothos and a spider plant and maybe an orchid or two. Soon enough you have 9 different types of ferns, a fiddle-leaf fig, and a rubber tree.

Rob: A rubber tree? You're making that up. That's a landscape architect joke, right?

Magnolia: The sap is latex.

Rob: My mind is blown.

Magnolia: You've had a late night and you're looking at an early morning. Go to sleep. We'll talk about green things tomorrow.

Rob: Dinner?

Magnolia: Sure. I'll text you later.

Rob: Sounds good, love. Sleep well.

Magnolia: You too. Enjoy that air conditioning.

Rob: I'd enjoy it more with you.

Magnolia: Same.





*



Ben: I know it's the middle of the night and I really hope this doesn't wake you up.

Ben: You told me you've had your phone on silent for something like 19 years once so I figured this wouldn't make a sound but now I'm not sure if it will vibrate.

Ben: I hope you're not awake because this is a god-awful hour of the night.

Ben: I shouldn't even be typing this right now.

Ben: But I'm on nights so I'm up and I can't stop thinking about what you said.

Ben: We don't talk, do we?

Ben: We talk about paint colors and your dog and my complete inability to hammer a nail straight but we don't talk about anything important.

Ben: I was trying to figure out why that is and I don't think I can talk.

Ben: Right now. I can't talk right now.

Ben: I think I'm really fucked up and the deepest thing I can handle is bashing the shit out of a nail and then yanking it out and doing it all over again because you won't let me fuck up.

Ben: Maybe that's what I'm supposed to get out of this. You won't let me fuck up the only good thing I ever tried to do.

Magnolia: I'm sure you've done plenty of good things.

Ben: Fuck I woke you up.

Ben: I'm so sorry.

Magnolia: I'm awake because Gronk had to go out. There was a squirrel taunting him.

Magnolia: Or a ghost. I'm not sure which one.

Ben: Do you believe that? Dogs can see ghosts?

Magnolia: Ummm…I think so? There are times when he barks at empty rooms and I refuse to believe he's hollering at the termites.

Ben: I like that.

Ben: I wish I could see ghosts.

Magnolia: I know, sweetie. I know. I'm sorry you're going through this. That house isn't the only good thing you've done. I'm sure of it.

Ben: I didn't do anything. That's the problem. I had this big idea and thought I was going to pull off this whole remodel in a goddamn weekend or something and I could've spent that time with my grandmother. So, now she's gone and I didn't give her a nice place for her last days and I didn't even spend those fucking days with her.

Magnolia: Did she know you were working on a house for her?

Ben: Yeah.

Magnolia: I'm no expert on the matter but I think that gesture probably spoke volumes to her.

Ben: Maybe.

Magnolia: It's okay if you can't talk right now. There was a time when I couldn't talk.

Ben: When? What happened?

Magnolia: I made some bad choices a few years ago. I thought something was real but it really, really wasn't. I ruined a dear friendship, one I'll never get back.