“Did you drink this bottle all by yourself?” he asked with a look of concern.
“Well... I was waiting for you. Remember, I told you I’d cook a special dinner for you tonight. You said you’d be here by six.”
“I’m sorry babe. I forgot,” he said, running his hands through his thin receiving hair; he looked tired and irritable. He took a spoonful of stir-fry sitting on the oven. “Yuck...this is tasteless and cold.” He was about thirty pounds overweight and had decided to lose those extra pounds, and this is precisely why Angela had cooked him a healthy dinner. He loved food; a little too much. He walked straight to his office without saying another word.
“That’s it. That’s all you’re going to say?” she screamed, standing by the stairs, looking up. His office was on the second floor. It was a nice office with a contemporary teak desk and black leather chair, a large window looking onto the street. Robert didn’t care about the rest of the house, but his office was another matter. It was nine o’clock and this was becoming a daily routine; him coming home late and heading straight to his office. The office was off-limits to her. This was not said outright but was understood. She had never invaded his privacy before but now, she thought she should, as soon as she could.
It turned out to be another annoying Monday. Angela left Dot’s study, livid, talking to herself aloud as she tended to do when she was upset.
“Well, if she thinks I’m just going to drive here every week and waste my time...” she grumbled as she made her way to the coat room. “She’s got another thing coming.” She looked for her jacket. She wasn’t sure where Ellie had put it.
“There are some people out there who need me a lot more than she does. What a
selfish--”
“So, you’re one of those.”
She hadn’t heard the footsteps behind her. He was standing by the doorway, a big, wide grin on his face.
“Oh I didn’t know anyone was here...” she said, her cheeks blushing. “What do you mean? One of those...”
“...one of those people who talk to themselves. You know… crazy people.”
She laughed. He, like many others, had been witness to her internal thoughts. She told herself she really had to stop this habit of talking to herself.
“I know, my mother can be hard to-”
“She’s fine. I can handle her,” she told him firmly.
He smiled. He seemed to love smiling at her expense. “Are you sure? Because you don’t seem too happy...”
“Well, I came all the way out here and she just informed me that she wasn’t in themoodtoday to read. Can you believe that?!”
He laughed.
“What is so funny?”
“You.”
“Well, contrary to popular belief, I do have better things to do with my time,” she told him, making sure he knew she had a life.
“Actually, I’m glad I saw you because I wanted to tell you something.” He walked close to her, making her uneasy. What did he want to tell her?
“It’s my mother’s birthday soon,” he said, lowering his voice.
“Really. How old?”
“Oh, I could tell you but then she’d make me kill you,” he joked. “Let’s just say it’s a special one.”
“Anyway...” he went on. “I’d like to invite you to the party. I could mail you the invitation but since I don’t know your address and you’re right here...”
“Sure, I’d love to go. Even if she did just annoy me to hell.” She was quite enthusiastic - any excuse for a party.
“Great.” His eyes lit up. “Come, follow me. I’ve got the invitations in my office. I’d love your opinion.”
She followed him eagerly.
From the tall bare windows of his den, she could see the beautiful garden. Bookcases lined the wall behind his desk; holding a myriad of books, pictures and various possessions including old wooden intricate antique boxes. Two specific pictures caught her attention.
