Bellissimo Angelo - Book Three

Chapter 6 - Hallelujah

EIGHT MONTHS LATER...

My phone vibrates on the nightstand. I walk over to glance at the caller ID to find it's Nate. Shit! I've been rehearsing this conversation in my head for weeks now. Come on, Maggie, just do it! I gather up all the courage I have left and pick up the phone. "Hello?" I answer. 

"Hey, what are you doin?" he asks. 

"Nothin, getting ready to watch John Luke for Momma while she runs to the store. What are you doin?' 

I'm totally lying to avoid hanging out with him, but he doesn't need to know that. We got into a horrible argument the last time we hung out, and I swore it was the last time I'd subject myself to the abuse, "Well, I was gonna ask if you wanted to see a movie, but I can see you are busy, so I'll let you go." He barks. 

Now is my chance. I need just to rip the bandaid off, "Hey, listen, I've been thinking...we need to talk, Nate." I choke out. 

He snickers,  "Don't tell me."

"What do you mean?" I ask curiously. 

"You are going to break up with me, aren't you?"

"Well, yes. I think it's time, Nate. We are not right for each other. I need this time to get my business rolling. If you aren't supportive of my decisions and are always critical of how much time I spend at work because I'm trying to save money, then I just need to move on."

He snorts, "Aren't you going to tell me, oh it's not you, it's me, kind of thing? Well, enjoy the time with your friends now. Oh, wait. You have no friends." He responds viciously. 

"Nate, come on. Let's be grown-ups about this. Stop being an asshole!" I reply sternly.

 "Screw you, Maggie! By the way, your baking sucks!" he yells as he disconnects the call. 

I pull the phone from my ear. Ugh! What an ass! Tears begin to well up in my eyes. He's right about the whole friend thing. I really have no friends right now. My only friend is away at college. I put my head in my hands and began sobbing quietly. 

My sobs are interrupted as I can hear Momma speaking to someone over the phone in the living room. I remain quiet and press my ear against my bedroom door to listen, "Okay, so the funeral will be Saturday at 1:00 pm. Thank you, Fletcher. I'll be by to make the final arrangements Monday." she says tearfully.

Funeral? I wipe the tears from my eyes and tiptoe down the hallway towards her; she's sobbing on the sofa with her head in her hands, "Momma? Are you okay?" I ask. 

She looks up at me and holds her hand out for mine, "Gran passed away last night, baby. I got the call early this morning, and I just called to make funeral arrangements." she chokes out. 

Suddenly my whole world came crashing down around me, and I begin sobbing uncontrollably. Gran...my light...my ride or die...my biggest fan...gone! Momma embraces me tightly as we cry on each other's shoulders for a moment. She breaks the embrace and holds my shoulders with her hands, "I need to call your brother. I set the funeral for this coming Saturday at 1 pm." She sniffles as she reaches out for her phone to dial his number.

I amble back to my room as she calls him. Once I enter, I plop down onto my bed, sobbing. My heart is literally broken, and I wish I had someone to talk to. I not only lost my Gran, but I also broke up with Nate. Wow, this blows! I pick up my phone to look through my contacts, trying to find someone I can call when I come across Brie's number. She would want to know about Gran too. I dial her number; she picks up on the second ring, "What's up, heifer?" she answers. 

I begin to sob, "Brie, it's Maggie." I choke out. 

"Hey, Maggie, are you okay?"

 "No, I'm not okay. Gran passed away last night." I sniffle.