Page 10 of The Facilitator: Part 2
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For a couple of days,I watched Mackenzie. When our paths crossed at work, he was all business and often sharp. At home, he seemed more tired than usual. I caught him pinching the bridge of his nose, screwing his eyes shut so tightly he must have had a permanent headache. I was constantly asking if he was okay, only to be told he was. Yet he wasn’t, that much was not only obvious to me, but to Alex aswell.
“Lauren, do you have a minute?” he asked, as he popped his head into myoffice.
Alex had moved to sit in the central desk area, vacating his office for me. I had objected at first, but it was part of the handover, he’d toldme.
“For you, of course,” I said, placing my pen on a proposal I was scanningthrough.
Alex closed the door and immediately I was on alert. There was an open door policy, always, at Trymast. If a confidential meeting was needed, it was generally held upstairs, in theboardroom.
“What’s wrong, Alex?” I asked as he took aseat.
“I’m worried about Mackenzie, to be honest. He’s not himself. I don’t want to know if you guys have personal problems, but I’m due to leave in a few weeks, and I’d hate to think I was leaving him at a time he might need somesupport.”
“Nothing wrong with us, and I’ve been asking him constantly if he’s okay. He tells me he is, but I’m with you, Alex. There is something going on, and if he hasn’t told you, that makes me moreworried.”
“Mmm, I see. I don’t want to worry you unnecessarily; sometimes he will keep things close to his chest until he’s ready to share. How about we just keep an eye on him over the next couple of days and see if anything issaid?”
“Sounds good to me. I’m glad you’ve noticed, though. He snapped at Mary yesterday, and the fact she didn’t retaliate told me it was a first and she wasshocked.”
“That’s so out of character. I know Mary said his ex had been in touch. She left a message asking for him to callher.”
He hadn’t mentioned that at all, and I wondered if I should feel a little slighted. I didn’t expect him to tell me everything that went on in his life, but she was a massive thorn in his side, so to not mention her seemedodd.
“He never said, so I don’t think he could have called her back. I hope she isn’t going to starttrouble.”
“She knows you two are living together. She questioned Daniel as to why she hadn’t been told; as if she has a right to know in the first place.” He sniffed at his statement in a way only Alex could. Ismiled.
“I wonder how sheknew?”
“My mother. I’m sorry. I mentioned it because she asked after you. I think she told her out of spite,” Gabriella replied, as she walked into my office and obviously after overhearing that part of ourconversation.
“I was telling Lauren we were concerned about Mackenzie,” Alexsaid.
“I’ve noticed something is off for a few days, but when I ask he tells me he’s okay,” Iadded.
“Well, he hasn’t said anything to me,either.”
“Does he tell you everything?” I asked, not sure how that question would be taken. I loved that Mackenzie had Gabriella as his best friend, but if he was troubled, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel if he kept it from me but shared withher.
“He used to; he doesn’t need to now,” she said with asmile.
Alex stood. “As I said, let’s keep an eye open and see how he is in a couple ofdays.”
I smiled as he left and Gabriella took hisseat.
“Are you okay?” sheasked.
“I am. I’m more worried now that it’s noticeable Mackenzie is off. And the fact we’ve all asked him and he’s not telling usanything.”
“He does that sometimes. If he doesn’t have a solution, or an answer, he’ll hang on to the problem until he’s sure what to do about it. He doesn’t believe in worrying anyone unnecessarily, even though I tell him he is,” she said. “Now, can I tell you something?” sheadded.
“Ofcourse.”
“I’ve decided I’m going to marry Alex, but here in the UK. It would be too much of an epic, theatrical—thinkGone with the Wind—type of wedding if I wait until we gethome.”
“That is amazing, does he know?” I asked with alaugh.
