Page 34 of Through the Snow Globe
Diana:Alone?
Rochelle:Yes, I am confident enough to eat alone in public.
Another eye-rolling emoji came through.
Diana:Great. I’ll be there in five.
Rochelle:Fine. But, just so you know, I’m still upset.
Diana:I know. I’ll buy your food to make it up to you.
* * *
Diana stepped inside Sparky’s Tavern and scanned the room, spotting Rochelle at one of the tables in the back. She headed that way. “Hey,” she said, pulling out a chair and plopping down.
Rochelle swirled a French fry in a dollop of ketchup and looked up. “Hey.” Her gaze hung heavy on Diana, traveling from the top of her head to the front of her shirt, damp and sticking to her. Thankfully the table blocked the lower half of Diana’s outfit, which was coffee-stained in unfortunate places. “Ever heard of an umbrella?” Rochelle finally asked.
Diana could see her hair curling in her peripheral vision. But she had bigger issues than a bad-hair day. “Happy birthday. I’m sorry. I’m a horrible friend,” she rattled off in quick succession.
Rochelle nodded in agreement to all. “Thank you. Apology considered, but not yet accepted. And your ability as a friend is subjective,” she said in reply. Then her expression softened. “It’s not like you to say you need me. What’s up?”
Diana reached for one of Rochelle’s fries and took a bite. “Well, I wish I would have listened to your advice on calming my nerves before the meeting with Mr. Powell. I bombed it again.”
“Again?” Rochelle looked up from her basket of fries and narrowed her eyes.
“No. Not again. I only bombed it once.” Diana took another bite of her fry. She kept forgetting that no one else was reliving this horrible day. Just her.
“Come on, it couldn’t have gone that bad. What happened?” Rochelle asked.
Diana nibbled at her lower lip for a second. “Well, I told Mr. Powell that he was going to promote William instead of me because he’s a man.”
Rochelle’s mouth dropped. “You accused your boss of being sexist?”
“I didn’t mean to. But it’s true, heisgoing to promote William instead of me. William, who doesn’t even have half my years of experience.”
“And you know he’s promoting William how?” Rochelle reached for her drink.
“I just know. But I was still determined to go into that meeting and convince Mr. Powell to change his mind. Then he brought up Ms. Krick—”
“Your patient who died last month?” Rochelle asked with a touch of sympathy in her voice.
Diana swallowed. “I guess he expected that I’d be torn up about it because I’m a woman, whereas William is a man.”
“Hmm.” Rochelle hummed as she bit into another fry.
Diana knew that sound. It meant that Rochelle was avoiding saying whatever was really on her mind. “Just say what you’re thinking.”
Rochelle looked at her across the table. “Maybe he didn’t think you’d be upset because you’re a woman, but because your patient was your patient. Anyone would be affected by that, Diana. I’ve lost a patient before. I couldn’t get out of bed for two whole days afterward. I was devastated.”
Diana focused on the fry in her hand. “Of course I’m sad and I miss her. I’m not going to break down in the middle of a meeting with Mr. Powell, though. Life goes on.” Even if Diana had felt like staying in bed for two days afterward herself.
“So what did you do when your boss mentioned your patient?” Rochelle asked.
“I spilled coffee all over myself and then on him. Accidentally.”
“Hmm,” Rochelle said again.
Diana didn’t want to know what Rochelle was avoiding saying this time so she didn’t ask. “Needless to say, I’m not getting that promotion. Mr. Powell probably never wants to see me again. And maybe I’ll be job searching in the near future. I wonder if Sparky is hiring here at the tavern.”
