Page 46 of Come Home to Me

Frank

After nearly a full Sarah-less week, I realize just how empty my life is without her around. I love my job, but there’s nothing but work to look forward to. I love my apartment, but it feels empty without her energy filling the space. All too often since she left, I’ve sat at home, TV on, browsing on my phone after work. The evening passes without me noticing and time flies by with nothing to show for it. My mood suffers, brightening only when she texts me, which is often, but not often enough.

I’ve come to need her. To depend on her. She is the reason I smile.

As good as it feels to fall in love, and yes, I came to terms with the fact that I’m falling in love with Sarah the moment she stepped on that plane, I know I can’t place that kind of importance on someone. Ultimately, I am the one in control of my emotions, the one in charge of bringing myself happiness. If I let that task fall to her, then I’m no better than I was when alcohol started taking over my life.

I should love her without needing her.

I should need her without depending on her.

The warning signs are everywhere. I address the ones I can, but more crop up to take their place. I’m crumbling and I hate it. So, I throw myself into work, while I live for her texts. Her calls.

Things seem to be going well in Ohio. Her father is recovering, and she’s having deep, soul-bearing conversations with her family.

I listen and congratulate her but never once do I let on how I’m struggling.

Because that’s the last thing she needs.

I’m a grown man. I can carry this burden while she takes the steps she’s been running from for so long.

I just hope she comes back soon.

* * *

“Mr. Wilde?” Trish Juniper’s voice is tight. “Mr. Kent would like to see you in his office.”

I hold the phone away from my ear and stare at the receiver. It’s a strange request and warning bells jangle through my head. “Sure,” I say, after I put the phone back to my ear. “Just tell me when and I’ll clear my schedule.”

“Now.” Trish clears her throat. “He’d like to see you now.”

I promise to be right there, hang up, and grab my suit jacket before making the trip to Brian’s office. Trish smiles as I approach, though it’s tense and tight and nothing at all like her regular smile.

“Go right on in, Mr. Wilde,” she says, hiding behind formality. I nod once and push through the door into his office. After a night of too much TV and not enough Sarah, I’m not in the mood to handle whatever this is, but the look on Brian’s face tells me I need to get in the right mindset. And fast.

“I’ll do us both a favor and skip the pleasantries. Have a seat, Frank.” Brian gestures at a chair in front of his desk. He doesn’t smile. “Before I hired Sarah Carmichael, you assured me that the two of you were not romantically involved.”

I blink and lift my chin as adrenaline hits my system. This is about Sarah? I think of all the times we’ve been less than discreet about our relationship here at the office. I was so sure it didn’t really matter. So sure they wouldn’t dare reprimand me and risk losing one of their best players over a receptionist who wouldn’t be sticking around.

“I did,” I reply.

Brian’s face stays stoic, though his eyes flash. “And now?”

“That’s no longer true.”

“Was it ever true?” Brian lifts one furry eyebrow, then shakes his head, his jowls wobbling with the movement. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. People have complained about the two of you almost from the moment she started working for us.”

I scowl as Brian tells me about coworkers being offended by innuendo, about all the times I’d touch her when I thought no one was looking, about finding us in a quiet hallway, her back against the wall, my mouth on hers. “And,” Brian says, his eyes locked on mine, “I believe it’s prudent of me to inform you that the elevators in this building have security cameras installed.”

I grind my teeth together. My hands tighten into fists. The thought of some pot-bellied security guard leaning in, his greasy nose pressed against a monitor, eyes wide and leering as he got off watching, it’s gasoline to the fire in my belly. Sarah is mine and that moment belongs to us and no one else.

Brian speaks before I can. “Believe it or not, I was willing to overlook all of it. All of it. You’re a damn good engineer. One of the best. Our company is better because of you and there isn’t a single person here who doesn’t know that. But now, Ms. Carmichael has taken an extended leave of absence. She said she had to go home because of a family emergency, but we have reason to believe she left because of you.”

I let out an abrupt laugh. If that’s what this is about then we’re just a short explanation and a good laugh away from this being behind us. “Let me assure you…”

Brian raises a hand and I trail off. “Bree Marshall explained the conversation she overheard between you and Ms. Carmichael last week.”

Shock stuns me into silence as Brian continues, showing me all the pieces of the puzzle Bree handed him. They fit together so perfectly, just like they did with Sarah, only he doesn’t know me as well as Sarah does. I can’t even begin to refute what he’s saying. Every time I try, he stops me before I can get a word out.

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