P-2,
Firstly, I’m sorry to hear that you’re leaving. I honestly cannot even tell you how sorry. I know things haven’t always been smooth sailing with me, and that I’ve likely caused you a headache or ten since your arrival. For that I apologize, I truly am sorry – I would hate for you to leave and not know that.
Secondly, I know of the stray you’re talking about. You’re very kind to watch and worry about a pet that isn’t yours. I’ll make sure to keep an eye out for it, no worries on that score. Believe it or not, I know a thing or two about cats.
I also agree that we have become unlikely friends and the fact that you went above and beyond to be kind and so nice to me when you’d surely been warned about my ways, says a lot about you and the type of person you are, decent, honest and considerate.
The world needs more people like you.
Also sorry to hear about your recent professional and personal struggles – and heartbreak especially. Truth be told, I’ve been facing the same thing myself – I’ve told you as much, but I’m beginning to feel hopeful.
I do in fact watch TV, and I believe I know what you’re talking about. If that’s what you’ve been dealing with, well, let me just say that your asshat ex got his comeuppance fair and square. And maybe worth mentioning that in my humbleopinion, no man goes to bat like that for someone, unless he cares about her deeply too.
So I’m pretty certain your guy feels the same about you.
Could you maybe be looking at things the wrong way? Trust me, I’ve made a mistake like that before. Thinking that the person I love is with someone else, when the opposite is true.
Like you said, we have a lot more in common than we thought.
And you are right, your (former) client is going to be OK – professionally speaking. Removing the client label is the best thing that could happen.
You say I’ve given you good advice before – there’s a real chance I’m right this time, too.
In any case, considering all we’ve shared this last while, it feels wrong to not put a face to the name before you leave. If you feel up to it, maybe we could meet for a quick coffee?
Let me know if you’re open to it. Anytime tomorrow is good for me. You pick the place. Really doesn’t seem right to part ways without having the chance to truly say hello before we say goodbye?
Hope to see you soon,
P-1
Chapter 70
HANNAH
The following morning, Hannah wandered hesitantly down the street and around the corner for her unexpected ‘blind date’.
Standing outside the meeting spot she’d selected, she looked up, taking in its unassuming facade, and automatically smiled, remembering her first visit there.
This place was the perfect location to meet Ed. It was close by so not too tricky for her neighbour to get to, absent of any accessibility hurdles. It was also easy-going and considerably less stuffy than many of the more high-end eateries around here, and quieter too.
Despite Ward’s early promo efforts, business had since tapered off and gone back to normal, tap-and-go Millennials apparently unimpressed at the proprietor’s steadfast refusal to bend to technology.
Hannah smiled. Since she already knew Ed certainly wasn’t a Starbucks kinda guy, maybe he and fellow technophobe dinosaur Frank would hit it off and if he didn’t already, Ed might even keep frequenting this place once she was gone?
She was still taken aback that now, after all this time her curmudgeonly neighbour wanted to meet, and while in truth she wasn’t especially up for being sociable, there was no way she wasgoing to turn him down. He had obviously come to value their faceless companionship a lot too.
So the notion that this meeting might have a dual purpose in helping her lonely neighbour make a new friend made Hannah feel less guilty about her out-of-the-blue announcement that she was leaving at such short notice.
She was curious too about the insight he’d provided in his latest missive about Ward and Rob’s public showdown and the suggestion that maybe she’d misinterpreted. But she could certainly agree with his assertion that Ward’s current status as a former client was the best thing for all concerned. There truly was always something so wise and reassuring about Ed’s words.
Now she wondered momentarily if she was subconsciously tempting fate by deciding on such a meeting spot. ‘No,’ she reassured herself. ‘It’s old school, just like him.’
Last night when she’d picked up Ed’s note on return from her walk, she’d written a quick response thanking him for the invitation, saying she would meet him here tomorrow at eleven.
And just so you know who to look for, I’m mid-thirties, chestnut-hair, about five-three or so. I’ll head in early to grab us a table. Excited about meeting in person.
Even though he hadn’t provided a physical description in return, she was pretty sure she would be able to identify Ed when he came through the door; an older male with mobility issues, a gruff exterior and inferiority complex that concealed his inner child and good heart.
