Page 33 of The Affair
“Mumbling to yourself is still talking to yourself.” He grinned, clearly back to his normal self after our awkward encounter earlier.
“Okay, fine. I was giving myself a little pep talk. Happy?”
He shrugged, as if he didn’t mind one way or another. “As long as you are. What are you psyching yourself up to do?” He looked over the desk at the journal. His hands rested on either side, and he leaned over, that woodsy smell that was uniquely Sawyer drifting down, reminding me of that moment against the door. “Is that your grandma’s journal?”
I nodded.
“So, you took my advice then? You’re going to transcribe them?”
Another nod.Jeez, where did my voice go? I swear I could talk.
“That’s awesome. But you’re not planning on typing the whole thing, are you?”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he’d already guessed my answer.
“You should really try dictating some of it. It’s really easy.”
“Don’t you need to buy software for that?”Oh, hey, there’s my voice. I knew I could speak.
He shook his head, already moving around the desk to join me on the other side. That feeling in my belly was returning, like butterflies trapped in a mason jar. My nerves were everywhere at once.
“Here, let me show you. It’s already built into your computer. All you need to do is this.” He leaned over me, pulling up a program I’d had no idea existed on my computer, and within seconds, he was speaking into the microphone, reading a journal entry from the binder.
Tuesday, March 12, 1985
Mostly cloudy
High 41, Low 26
Started snowing at about five o’clock. Did a load of sheets this morning. Made chocolate chip cookies and took a plate of them to William.
I watched as the words appeared on the screen as he spoke, and I tried not to wince.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, turning off the dictation to give his attention to me.
I pointed to the screen. “It didn’t do half of the punctuation and—”
“Remember how I said you needed to learn to let some things go?”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I thought you said this was supposed to save me time?”
He gave me a look somewhat similar to one I’d seen my brother give his toddler. “It will, but you have to give it more than thirty seconds. Programs like this take a bit to learn your voice. So, put in the time. It will pay off. Promise.”
I rolled my eyes but agreed. “Fine.”
He expectantly stood next to me until my eyes widened.
“Well, I’m not going to do it now!” I laughed. “Besides, I think you promised me food in exchange for my time?”
“Ah, yes, I believe I did. I set everything up out here if you want to follow me.”
Set everything up?
My curiosity was piqued, so I did as he’d requested and headed out of the office toward the front of the store.
I was expecting another burger or maybe some tacos.
But this was something else entirely.
