Page 64 of Safer Alone
My phone rings, it’s the internal switchboard.
“Hello.”
James’s voice comes through.
“So this Christmas party, are we going together?”
I don’t want to do this over the phone, but since he had already called…
“Actually I’m bringing someone.”
I’m answered with silence.
“James?”
“Yeah I’m here. No worries. I’ll just RSVP for me then. Talk to you later.”
The phone goes dead. James has hung up on me. I’ve hurt his feelings, I know that. I tap out a quick reply to Sandra while I have the nerve:
Hi Sandra,
If you can put me down for two that would be great.
Warm Regards,
Angela White
Licensed Real Estate Agent
Nashville Property
I know it won’t be long before I get a reply, wanting to ignore it for as long as possible I pick up the phone and start to call prospective purchases. Seeing how the property hunt is going for each of them, remind them of the properties that they have already seen with me, encouraging a second viewing or even an offer. After three hours and no offers being made, I start on the contracts that Jenny had placed on my desk during my phone calls.
Knock, knock. I pick up my pink highlighter and mark the spot that I am up to on the contract before looking up. Sandra is standing there in front of me in her black three piece suit. She looks great in it. It’s an expensive suit that I would never purchase myself, but each to their own.
“Hey, Sandra.” I smile at my boss, who walks in and takes up a spot in one of the seats across from my own.
“Angela, honey. I’m just here to talk to you about your email. You are bringing someone to the Christmas party. I didn’t even know you were dating. Tell me all about him.”
Even though I was expecting the Spanish Inquisition, it still shocked me she would walk right in and ask me. I am unsure how much to tell her, I decide a small amount will do fine.
“I’m bringing a friend to the Christmas party, he lives in New York”
At that very moment Jenny walks in with a large bouquet of red roses. “These are for you, Angie. There’s a note. Can I open it?”
I stand up to take the bouquet from her. “Nope, I’ll open it, thanks”
Both Jenny and Sandra watch me, waiting for me to open the note. As I slide the small card from the envelope, I read Elliot’s fine script:
Angie,
I hope these brighten your day, only thirteen more days to go
Elliot
“Well are they from him?” Sandra’s voice breaks my eye contact from the card.
I look up at her, I see Jenny is now looking at Sandra too. “Him, who is this him you’re asking about? What am I missing?”
