Page 60 of Reclaiming Love

“As far as I know.” Nadine stared out of the window.

Melissa ruminated on the implications of a year without Nadine. How was that going to work for her? She wondered who she would now report to in her boss’s absence and what her day-to-day workload would look like. She wouldn’t be Nadine’s assistant anymore, no matter how much Nadine tried to convince her otherwise.

“You don’t sound so excited about it.” Melissa probed.

Nadine sat, shoulders slumped. Gone was the vitality and exuberance of the woman who always jumped at the new projects and challenges that Mr. Zimmerman threw her way. She let out a sigh. “Things were beginning to work out for me here.” Nadine shook her head. “A year ago, even six months ago, this would have been the opportunity of a lifetime. But now…”

Melissa knew what the problem was. Nadine now had Ethan. She’d found her soulmate. And giving him up for what would have been one of the many highlights of her career, was now asking too much.

Who’d want to give that up?

“I don’t want you to worry about this—I know how hard it was for you when I was in Europe for a month. I’m going to figure out how we’re going to handle your workload—and that depends on what Michael thinks is going to happen to my workload.” Nadine attempted a brave smile. “I’ll see to it that you aren’t faced with the same problems you had the last time.”

Melissa knew Nadine would look out for her. But she wanted to know who would look out for Nadine. “What does Ethan think?”

“He thinks I’ve already made up my mind,” Nadine replied. The cool and composed mask she often wore so well slipped a little. She’d seen Nadine handle the toughest work pressure, with deadlines and difficult clients wanting a piece of her all the time. She’d seen Nadine negotiate with Michael, dispense her easy firmness and develop a thick skin when it came to Sandra. She’d seen her coast through all these difficult waters with more composure than her predecessor—and still Nadine always had time for Melissa.

But now, to see her coming undone slowly before her eyes, this was something else—and it was all because of love. Real love, the type that meant something.

“Have you made up your mind?” Melissa asked her, forgetting the implications of this decision for her own job.

Nadine looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. “I thought I had. But I’m not sure anymore. I don’t want to lose what I have—it was hard enough putting my life on hold for a month. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be stuck in Paris, or Milan, away from him, for a year.”

Melissa watched the heavy crease line Nadine’s forehead and understood completely. Even though she herself had never had anyone she’d felt that kind of closeness to, she could imagine a little of how that might feel. The way Nadine’s face changed when she talked about Ethan. Leaving that behind, putting those feelings behind, didn’t seem the way to a happier life.

Forgetting her own troubles, she offered her take on it. “It is a huge decision, and a year sounds like a long time. I think if you’re already struggling to make this fit in with your life—then perhaps you already know your answer.”

“I think I do. Anyway. It’s time to go. Michael wants a team meeting in the conference room now.”

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