She is about to say something, but Lola begins to gag, and the next thing I know, my black dress is covered in orange vomit that has a rancid smell.I’m shocked, but not as shocked as Elodie, who quickly drops her basket and scoops up a crying Lola from my arms.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” She feels Lola’s forehead and pulls her close.
People around us stare, and my jaw still hangs low, my body frozen from the quick turn of events.
“Uh… it happens,” I squeak out. Elodie seems mortified, and I push my disgusting misfortune to the side. “Don’t worry about it.Let’s get you the medicine and get out of here.”
“This is horrible. Your dress is completely ruined.” Elodie is panicking.
I reach out and touch her shoulder to calm her. “I didn’t like the dress much, anyway.” A complete lie, but it doesn’t matter.
A store clerk must have seen the scene, and she appears with a paper towel.I gratefully accept it and blot my dress, but it makes it worse.
“Oh no, do you have to go back to work?”
My face strains because I won’t have time to find something else to wear. I need to be back to ensure Julian has his notes for his 4 o’clock meeting. “I always have extra clothes in the office in case of a cream cheese bagel incident.” If only I were so smart.
She releases a deep breath. “Phew. You can still impress your new beau.”
I laugh at her ability to find comedy in this situation.“Nah, he won’t care. I’ve already impressed him enough.”
I’m sure Julian from a few weeks ago would have had a snide remark. Today? Not so much.
As soon asthe elevator doors open to the office, I hear shouting.Julian’s harsh voice floats in the air, with apparent disapproval in his tone.
The door is cracked open, and I recognize the other voice as Charles. I’ve learned that when Julian is in full-steamheated discussion mode with others, I stay out of it. That’s precisely why I walk to my desk and tuck my purse into my drawer, accepting the events of the day.
Vomit on my clothes, and Julian is in a foul mood. My cell vibrates, and I see it’s my aunt, so I’m quick to pick up.
“Hi.”
“Hi, sweetie. I’m sorry to bother you at work.” Her voice causes concern.
“Is everything okay?”
“With you? Why do I hear commotion?”
I huff from the classic Julian office meeting. “That’s my boss in a mood today. He’s in a meeting with someone.” She has no idea about Julian’s role in my life now.
“Oh, must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.”Not exactly. We were stuck in the middle of the bed, we don’t choose sides.
“Anyhow, I was wondering the chance that you would come home this weekend?”
I sense it isn’t a question but more of a nudge.“I could manage.” It’s been a while since we really had an opportunity to catch up.“If I schedule right, perhaps I can get away early from work for the weekend.”
“That would be great.” She means it, but there is something underlying. More serious, perhaps. My gut tells me I need to go back to Everhope.
“I’ll text you when I know what time I’ll be back tomorrow, okay?”
“Love you, sweetie. Drive safe.”
When I end the call, I open my laptop, but I don’t get much opportunity to check my calendar because Charles storms out of Julian’s office, with Julian not far behind.
“You’re crazy!” Charles tells Julian. Charles never arguesto this level, but I can see that this discussion isn’t cause for concern, and at the core is twisted humor.
Julian crosses his arms and leans against the office doorframe. “You’ve mentioned. But you told me to think before you returned, and I did.”
“Seriously, now you’reoverthinking this.”
