“I’m tired.I was up at five this morning, trying to catch up on my day job.”I pause, not liking my whiny tone, and try again.“I’ve been out almost every night this week doing things for the gala.And Tamara wants me to come by her office to sign some papers.We don’t have a trial date yet, but she’s trying to make it so I don’t have to testify in person.”
“I wish she hadn’t called you.”His face hardens, worry lines creasing his forehead.“She’s been keeping me up to date and I told her I’d get you to sign whatever was needed.”
“Zach, you can’t shield me from this.”He means well and he’s been amazing at holding up his part of our deal, but I need to know what’s going on.“I don’t want to be kept in the dark even if I never want to see or talk to Joel Hummel again.”
“Paige, I told you I’d take care of it and that’s what I intend to do.And as for the trial, I’ve told Tamara no fucking way you’re testifying with that psycho in the same room.”
“I don’t want to spend the last few minutes we have talking about this.Don’t worry about it.”I wave my hand in a carefree manner and force a smile.“I went to the hotel tonight and finalized the menu and room set up.Things are coming together nicely.”
“Are you enjoying it?”His voice is softer now, as are his eyes as he roams my face attentively.
“Yes, I am.I may be exhausted but I’m liking all of it and learning so much.I really can’t complain.”
I don’t bother telling him about the constant butting of heads with Reagan Hussey.She’s not only her grandmother’s proxy at foundation meetings, she also volunteered for the benefit planning committee.Lucky me.“And Morgan has been such a big help.”
“Good.If you weren’t liking it, I’d tell Nan to find someone else.”
“Zach, I made a commitment and I’d see it through regardless if I liked it or not.But thank you.And you’d better go.Mr.Wong is waiting.”
He nods.“Yes.”I detect a deep reluctance in his tone.“Get some sleep.Sweet dreams, Paige.”
“Thanks, and have a good day.”I smile and in return, his is small but warm.
I contemplate hitting the red round button with the X in the middle, but I don’t want to be the one to end our connection.Without words, he seems to understand this.
He doesn’t budge and does that thing again, staring at me.If his gaze wasn’t tender and contemplative, filled with so much emotion, I’d be freaked out.For one beat, then two and three, our eyes are locked on each other with only silence connecting us until Zach breaks our moment.
“I like you there.On my side of the bed.The only thing is, I wish I was there with you.With you on top of me or under me or…”
“I get the picture.”My cheeks flame and I shake my head, squeezing my thighs together to stave off the sudden emptiness inside me.
“Bettina, you aren’t listening to me.I have to cancel the order.”My mother refills my empty wine glass and I mouththank you.
“Don’t be silly.We always get orchids.The gala wouldn’t be the same without them.”Her voice is high-pitched, so unlike her usual stoic monotone, and I pull the phone away from my ear to double-check that I am in fact speaking with Bettina van der Jagt.
“Orchids are expensive, and the cost is way outside the budget.”
“We get them every year,” she says as if I didn’t hear her the first time.“I don’t understand how they can’t be within budget.”
This is where I explain, for what feels like the hundredth time, that this year’s budget isn’t last year’s budget.She listens but barely, interrupting several times.Mom pats my hand, giving me a sympathetic smile and Bas, my little brother, mimics hanging up on her.I bite my bottom lip to stifle a giggle.It’s tempting to hang up on her.
If she’d been paying attention when I presented the budget, she’d know why we can’t afford orchids.And shewaspaying attention; she’s just being stubborn.Even when she’s on video conference from Calgary for our foundation meetings, she’s always asking questions.She’s shrewd and for some reason, she’s holding out for orchids.
Not going to happen.We are a charitable foundation after all, and our purpose is to make money for those in need, not spend it on flowers, even if they are beautiful flowers.
“Paige.They’ve been ordered and that’s that.I won’t continue to have this conversation with you.Call me when you realize your error.Good night.”
Dial tone.
Again, I check the phone screen and incredulous, I growl at my mom, Sam, and Bas seated around the kitchen table.“She hung up on me.”
This is what Zach meant by a ruthless bunch.He’s right.It’s bad enough I have Reagan Hussey objecting to anything and everything I propose and now I have to deal with this.Bettina didn’t hold back at all.She fought me tooth and nail for a bunch of flowers.No, correction, extremely expensive flowers.
“That’s why you should have done it first,” Bas says, shaking his head.
“She sounded so hard-core,” Sam adds.
“Do you have to put up with that a lot?”Mom asks.
