“E-very-where?” Krysta asked in a sexy sing-song.
“Almost everywhere,” Angela replied, her eyes still closed.
“You are a T-R-A-M-P,” Krysta joked, covering Madison’s ears.
“That’s enough, I’m not telling you anymore. We’re not in junior high.”
“You are so cruel.”
Krysta would have given her right arm to have heard the rest, but she knew Angela well enough to know she wouldn’t kiss-and-tell, more than she already had.
Angela spent the week with Madison, trying to forget all about Michael and Robert. She had offered to take her off Krysta’s mother’s hands for a week. The doting grandmother was both pleased and a little saddened. Angela decided she was going to focus on her new job, Madison and Krysta, and not eventhinkabout men.
She debated visiting her family out West but she simply didn’t have the time to make the long trip. She needed a good week, and her job started in a few days. She told her fatherabout the break-up over the phone. Her father had been hit harder than she had. What would his daughter do without the support of the successful Robert? He didn’t seem deterred by the fact that Robert had cheated on his daughter, twice now. When Angela assured him she would be fine; that she was gainfully employed, her father was not too reassured.
“I just want you to be happy, Angela,” he told her.
She spent her days playing with Madison, bringing her to various play centers, and being surrounded by kids who only made her feel worse; she wondered if she would ever have children herself. Her dream of children involved a kind loving father.That would involve a man, now wouldn’t it?she thought, and remembered she had sworn off men.
Robert called her on her cell quite a few times throughout the week, and she promptly ignored him. It was over. It was over before she knew he cheated again, and it was certainly over now.
Every evening, her and Krysta made dinner together in the tiny yellow kitchen, and gossiped about their circle of friends, Krysta’s new boyfriend and the many weirdos at Krysta’s work. They read bedtime stories to Madison, and watched romantic comedies, each taking turns choosing from Krysta’s vast DVD collection. On Friday, she babysat so that Krysta could go out on a date with Adam.
This wasn’t so bad at all, Angela thought. Maybe she could grow to be an old maid, and live with Krysta and Madison forever.
Monday morning finally arrived. She had prepared what she was going to wear days in advance. She had that covered; she just wasn’t sure she had the rest under control. She hadn’t worked inan office setting for quite a while. She knew she would be rusty. She had spent a lot of time on her home computer; she wasn’t completely ignorant, but she would sure need a refresher course. She reassured herself that she was a quick learner, and that it wouldn’t be too bad. Christine seemed like a wonderful person, and she was sure everyone else would be too. Anyone who devoted their career to helping a good cause couldn’t be too bad.
Eleven
From the momentshe stepped in to the office, Christine guided her. She introduced her to everyone she would be working with; other staff and volunteers. There were many new people in a short amount of time. Angela did her best to memorize names and faces; using face-word association.
She listened carefully and took notes as Christine explained the various projects they were to work on; one such project being an art show fundraiser they were presently working on. She would be helping Sacha and her mother who were the organizers of the art show. Sacha had been diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis when she was a toddler and her mother and her had worked for the cause ever since. At ten, Sacha was mature beyond her years.
She explained to Angela the show would feature over eighty pieces of work created by all her friends who were just like her. They would be auctioned off in a silent auction to the highest bidders. The freckles on her face danced as she spoke, full of hope and excitement. This was precisely the reason why Angela wanted this job; the joy of being involved in such a good cause. Michael had known her well enough to know this was where she should be. It seemed he knew her as well as she knew herself.
Angela was a little surprised and overwhelmed with all the on-going projects. She knew she could handle it as long as she was focused. It would be a struggle initially to get familiar with the computer system, the files and the various people she would encounter every day but she had the highest faith in her organizational skills. Christine was a very kind and respectful manager and would assist her as needed. Angela had always been a quick learner. As long as she could survive the first week, all would be good.
Her first week was everything she hoped it would be with the exception of Robert calling her. She didn’t know how he had managed to track her down. He was a very resourceful guy and this annoyed her extremely in this instance. She told him yet again to leave her alone. She was so busy and focused at work; she almost managed to forget about Michael. Almost.
Michael hadn’t been so lucky. She had constantly been on his mind; like a really good song you just can’t get out of your head. With his kids back home and Dot spending a lot of time with Paul, Michael found himself alone in his huge house where everything was taken care of; the cleaning, the lawn, the handiwork. He hadn’t been able to focus much on work which was fine since work had been a little slow.
He watched a few DVDs on the French audio setting, as Angela suggested. He did a little gardening. He occasionally wondered what Angela was doing; if she liked her new job. Partof him wanted to call her to find out how she was faring but he knew it wouldn’t be a good idea.
Dot ate out almost every night with Paul which left Michael with no one to cook for. He had a new recipe he had wanted to try; a nice veal with capers but he felt silly cooking for just himself. He debated asking Ellie to stay for dinner. It would be strange wouldn’t it; she never stayed for supper. She always left at five on the dot.
He went looking for her after lunch and found her in the laundry room, watching General Hospital on the TV set in the wall cabinet. He asked her what her dinner plans were. When she told him her plans involved a TV dinner in front of reruns of her favorite sitcoms, he asked her if she wanted to stay for dinner. He explained he was trying out a new recipe and would love her opinion.
“I’m not getting canned, am I?” she asked, alarmed as he served her veal with baked asparagus and a white pasta.
“No. Never,” he laughed.
“Oh, good. This looks delicious.”
She waited for him to sit at his meal.
“What’s the special occasion?” she asked, taking her first bite.
“No special occasion. It’s just nice to cook for someone.”
