On A Thread

Chapter 16

Josh let himself into his sister's office, the ajar door was his invite in.
He expected to see Brie but his anticipation deflated rather quickly when he only found his sister getting ready for another round.
He could swear that his wife was here, he probably missed her by some minutes.

He was late, again.

Life wasn't playing fair and it infuriated Josh. Now he was ready to put away work,  He had the liberty to turn down offers but his wife's patient had ruan out and he didn't blame her for it"

The moment when the roles were swapped back in college, when Brie had to work multiple jobs and only afforded him some minutes before she fell asleep after a long day of work. She had covered school work for him, given that he was in a cast and employing the aid of a wheel chair could not walk with hopes to walk again, still in all that those few minutes before her words lulled and her tired eyes fell shut was golden.
Josh knew how that brief moment felt to him.

He knew how hard it was when you had that battle in your conscience to bring up being ignored or needing more time as opposed to how tired and worried about them she was.

Josh knew and he couldn't fathom how he did this to her. One thing certain was that he took far too long.
His hands fell beside him in jutter dissappointment, the soujd of friction between flower and bouquet wrapper called Anna's attention and she spun around adjusting her ID card around her neck. Her eyes widened and her movements halt for a moment.
She smiled widely, "baby brother," she said before walking to him and iving him a hug. Normally it'd irk him but he foind that he needed it at that moment.
"what a pleasant surprise," sh said detaching from the hug and looking at her brother's face, she moved some hair from his forehead. Her eyes fell to bouquet he was holding and she knew instantly why he hadn't complained that she reeked of antibiotics and antiseptic.
"i should be heading out for a round," she was walking back to her table and pulling her hands out of her coat, "but I can spare some minutes you know... do you want to talk?" Anna's heart ached for her brother. He was always so full of energy but that wasn't it.

The way his hands lingered beside him with some petals falling off the bouquet that he most certainly brought for his wife thinking she was here.

He looked dejected and his eyes didn't hold much of the light they usually held, they were sunken.

She warned him even though she was a hypocrite.
Even now she was too busy to be fully there for her brother or her friend. A hypocrite.

Josh took a seat across her.

She studied him for a few seconds, "would you like anything?"

Josh manged a smile. "I'm good." he played with the spinner on her desk. "you seemed so stunned to see me"

Anna drew in closer, "it's a rare occurrence to find you out of office at this time with a bouquet in your hands."

she paused and began again,

"when was the last time we had a moment. If mom was alive, she'd rage" Anna laughed, He laughed too .

"what's going on with you Josh?" Anna asked not sure whether or not she was been too forward.

his eyebrows knit together, "what are you talking about?"

Anna heaved, her shoulders rose and fell dramatically. "you know... anything." she drawled, hoping he'd take her hint, but he appeared to be aloof. "how's Brielle?"

The tension in Josh's shoulders at the mention of his wife's name was visible. His lips twitched by the corners. "did she..." he was focused on the spinner, a sheen was in his eyes, "did she come by?"

Anna jammed her hands together inaudibly, she nodded slowly.

"you missed her by some minutes." she watched his shoulders slump even more, he brushed his eyes with the sleeve of his coat and she knew she had to play a part in whatever reconciliation that could still be there.

She knew they could salvage it. Make it work.

She was an outsider with regards to their marriage but she could understand that it wasn't adultery or the falling out of love bullshit, they still loved each other but the resentment was enough validity. She'd feel resentful towards her husband if he had to let her go through a rough path alone.

Josh smiled apologetically. Maybe he was sorry for sobbing or sorry for being late, again.
"have any idea where she's staying for the night?"

She was in a pretty tight spot, she exhaled, puffing her cheeks. She rubbed her temple.

"I was going to say you could deliver the flowers to her. She'd appreciate it."

Josh pinched the corner of his eyes,

"Anna, I know this might put you in a tight spot, but I want to see her" he was making a plea and his brittle voice was all the evidence of sincerity.

"I'm losing my mind without Brie. She won't even come home." His tears escaped at the slightest opportunity.

Anna made a round to where he was sat and patted him, he held on to his big sister.

He needed to fix everything but he didn't even know where to start. He had no idea what was upsetting Brie so much, he had no clue what she was running away from. He needed to know, to at least be in proximity with her.

Did she wait for him?

Hell, he didn't even know if she was sick or just came by to see her friend.
Anna swallowed hard before speaking. "I think it's best to send her the flowers. I can help with that."

Josh looked at Anna, pain and longing haunted his eyes. She touched his cold face. She knew it wasn't what he needed to hear but that was the reality. Brie was hurt and as the months pass by, she'll be even more hurt .

"i believe she needs some time Joshy, and you need to give her that but don't leave her alone. Send her the flowers, breakfast, anything Joshy. Just make her feel not so alone."

she looked into her brother's eyes, "perhaps you left her alone for too long and she got used to it." she said and slapped his back slightly before getting up and putting on her coat.

"I'll give the address but I need you to give her space if that's what she wants."
He bit his bottom lip trying to stop the quivering. "Anna do you know something I don't"

Anna froze over, it took her a while to compose herself, she just turned and stared blankly at her brother who was supposed to know more about the happenings on the life of his wife more than anyone else.

She chuckled, "maybe I know that there's some friction between you both?" she set her stethoscope, "come on Joshy, what else could I possibly know more than you do?"

Josh shot up from the chair, his adrenaline shot through the roof,

"my wife isn't sick, is she?" his stare was dead serious, like the rest of his life depended on Anna's answer.

"what?... no Josh" Anna spluttered, "Brielle is healthy. I'm not just a doctor, I'm family as well. I wouldn't... she wouldn't keep that from you.."

It took Josh a minute to believe that.

It was disheartening that Anna knew Brie whereabouts but not him

He simply nodded and grabbed the bouquet, Anna was getting ready for a round and he already delayed her by some minutes.

"We should have lunch soon?"

Josh cracked a smile, "so mom doesn't rage?"

They both laughed, the tensed air blew past slowly.

"I'll leave you to pick a venue and time. You're the busy one now"

"sure." Anna smiled, "I'll pick up a fancy dress for your inauguration. It's a big deal."

"I'll look forward to it Anna, Lunch especially."
Anna replied with a smile and he was out of the office satisfied that at least Anna would message him the address.

He should give Brie space and just see her at the inauguration.
He would take whatever she offered.