Secrets of the Great Oak

Chapter 21

Another week passed with nothing new on the case and no contact from Tam. Anna caught glimpses of Tam on campus and at work when she wasn't able to switch shifts, but Tam wouldn't make eye contact with her. Every time this happened, it broke Anna's heart a little bit more.

Anna and Jake settled comfortably into their new dynamic and Anna smiled every time she thought about it. That is until Tam popped into her head again and she thought of the consequences. She and Jake agreed not to talk about their feelings for each other and not push the boundaries beyond cuddling and the occasional forehead kiss until she had a chance to talk to Tam.

Up until now, Anna decided to wait until Tam came to her, but it had been almost three weeks and Anna was just about at the end of her rope. Mostly, she just missed her friend. If she could even call Tam that anymore.

Stella and Tam seemed to be fine. From what Stella told Anna, Tam wouldn't even talk about Anna when Stella asked questions about their friendship. Tam was hurting, and that was understandable. But, she wouldn't even make eye contact with Anna... Didn't she realize that Anna was hurting too?

It was Friday and Tam and Anna's shifts were overlapping. Anna walked in and immediately spotted Tam behind the counter helping one of their regulars. She took a deep breath and decided that she didn't have to take this anymore.

Steeling herself, she straightened her back and walked to tap Tam on the shoulder.

"Tam, I'd like to talk to you."

Without making eye contact, Tam responded, "I have nothing to say to you."

"Then I'd like you to listen to what I have to say. Please have dinner with me tonight."

For the first time in weeks, Tam turned and looked Anna full in the face. It was all she could do not to cry as she saw her friend's features hardened with what seemed to be hatred and hurt. "Not dinner. But, fine. I'll wait around after my shift and listen to you."

Anna had to remember how to breathe. In. Out. In. Out. Okay. This could work.

"Okay. I'll talk to you then. Thanks, Tam," Anna said and walked away to get ready for her shift.

Bringing Stella into this conversation might help to smooth things over.

Hey, Stell. Tam agreed to talk to me after her shift. Will you stop by the coffee shop at 3 today? I think it would be good to have all three of us sit down for this.

Stella's response came swiftly: Yes! I'm so glad you guys are talking. I'll be there.

She texted Jake for emotional support as well, which he readily provided and told her that he'd wait around the block for her to text him to pick her up so Tam wouldn't see him. That would probably make things worse, depending on how the conversation went.

Anna had several goals with this talk with Tam. She wanted to figure out why Tam was really angry, figure out how she can help Tam move past the anger, and admit to Tam her feelings for Jake--hopefully with Tam's blessing. Although that would be a stretch, Anna knew. But, she missed her friend and she wanted to be honest with both Tam and Jake about where her heart was. It was better to have things out in the open.

At least, that's what she kept telling herself. She refused the idea of sneaking around with Jake. Hiding their love was not at all attractive to her. Not that she or Jake has said the "L" word yet. They had already made a practice of hiding their friendship from Tam over the last year and look where that landed them.

No, Anna wanted everyone to be on the same page. And happy for each other. But, again, that would be another stretch.

She had practiced this conversation over and over in her head these last few weeks, but that did not prepare her at all for the nervousness and dread she felt when her shift ended and she finally approached the table that Tam and Stella occupied.