“We have plans.”
I focused on him and not my thoughts.
“Pardon?”
“Lunch.Today.You.And me.We have plans.”The words wereshort.Impatient.But even so, not unkind.
I didn’t know how he pulled that off but I didn’t put toomuch thought into it.
I had to get this done.He was my boss (kind of).He wasalso an important man.I didn’t know that outside of the fact Iknewthat and I couldn’t forget it for a second.
So if he wanted “a word,” I had to give it to him.
And then get away.
“No we don’t.”
“Our last meeting didn’t go as I’d hoped but I had thoughtI’d made my intentions clear,” he replied.
I didn’t know how to respond to that because he had, I justdidn’t get it nor did I want it.
All of a sudden, a change came over him, and even though itsoftened his features, warmed the cynicism clean out of his eyes, I still feltthe tension in my shoulders increase.
“Are you okay?”he asked quietly.
“Uh, yeah,” I answered normally.
For some reason he looked to the floor, beyond me, thenagain to me.
“You’re here.”Now his voice wasn’t quiet, it was soft withinquiry and concern.
Here.
Where, out back, I’d been raped just over a week ago.
God, I needed to get away from this man.
“Yeah,” I agreed.“I’m here.”
“Should you be?”
“Chardonnay had a wardrobe question,” I explained.
And again his expression changed.This time it didn’t hidehe thought I had a screw loose.
“I’m sorry?”
“Chardonnay.She had a wardrobe question,” I repeated.“Andher roommates are bitches.Totallyjudgeyabout thestripper thing so she couldn’t model at her place because she has to show meher moves in her new getup and they’re there.She couldn’t come to mine.Sowe’re here.”
“Why couldn’t she come to yours?”
I couldn’t tell him that.I couldn’t tell him it was becausethe place was filled with daisies and I didn’t want to answer the questionsthat might bring.I didn’t want to tell Chardonnay or anyone not only wherethose daisies were coming from but that, in my worst moments, their bright,happy beauty was the only thing that was seeing me through.
So I didn’t say anything.
“Does she know what happened to you?”he asked gently.
I nodded.
