The airport feels like a strange hallucination, and baggage claim is purgatory. My bag appears on the rumbling luggage belt, as easy to spot as I’d first hoped, though it’s only mattered twice and the bag looked so garish next to Morgan’s designer luggage.
I haul it off the belt, struggling with the weight.
I know Morgan would have swept it out of my hands, steadied me, scolded me for trying to pick up something so heavy.
My eyes sting. But mostly I feel numb.
I just need to get home, get back to my routine. I’ll adjust.
The cover story is that I got bronchitis, which is also how I’ve gotten away with not calling Mom to catch her up since before the night at the casino.
She surprises me at the apartment with chicken soup. I really appreciate it, but if I’m honest, I kind of want to be alone.
Still, it’s nice to listen to her as she catches me up on the guy she met at the hotel right after I left. His name is Vance, and he was a guest from two towns over. They’ve been on a couple of dates. It’s going well.
She seems really happy. “I know it’s soon, but… I’d love you to meet him sometime.”
I offer a smile that reaches my eyes thanks to years of practice, but it doesn’t quite reach my heart. “Yeah, I’d like that.”
“What about you? Oh, I never meant to spend that long talking about me! I’m so sorry.”
I consider telling Mom. About everything. But it still feels surreal and… I don’t want to be a downer. I’m not even sure how I feel.
So I just say, “There’s not much to add, really. It was pretty boring after I got sick.” I thought I might have to pretend harder, but after seeing how Mom reacted when I walked in, I’m pretty sure I look like shit. No pretending required.
“Aw, I’m sorry to hear that, hun.”
“I got to stay a few nights at one of Morgan’s houses, though. It was pretty cool. And honestly, I’m glad we cut it short. I can’t imagine doing that for two more weeks. So, silver lining. Tell me more about Vance, though. He sounds cool.”
And then she’s happily rambling again.
Morgan was right when she said it’s better if other people don’t know.
Maybe I should forget too.
#
The cover story requires me to spend another half a week at home before I go back to work, and it’s for the better. I’m not presentable enough for the office. I go through six tubs of ice cream and rewatch every season of Home Wreck Fixer.
When I finally go back to work, there’s a little pot waiting on my desk with a succulent and a tiny sign that saysGet well soon.
The card underneath it, written in Eileen’s handwriting, says,
I wanted to get you flowers, but Morgan says flowers die, and this won’t. She also says, DON’T OVERWATER IT. Get well soon.
Office of Morgan Hunter, CEO
I’m not sure whether I’m about to laugh or cry. Fuck, I need to get over this. I tuck the card away and slid the succulent to the brightest area of my desk.
Lily finds me, and our chatting gets my manager’s attention. They spend the first day peppering me with good-natured questions and complimenting the fireside chats. We hit our fundraising goals despite cutting the tour short, but I know that means the goals were too low. I’m sure we could have raised at least twice as much if we’d kept going.
Lily’s busy with her own project now, so over the coming days we meet for cordial lunches but don’t talk much. She’s now fully immersed in Artemis’s research, and I’m a month behind.
A week later I finally get a project assignment, and ramping up on the new technology is enough to keep me occupied.
I find the closet Starbucks and start an afternoon coffee routine, and it reminds me of Eileen. I shoot her a text,
Hey, kept meaning to send this. I’m sorry I didn’t get to say a proper goodbye before the campaign was over. Thanksagain for all the help. And I really had a great time shopping together.
