Page 7 of Safer Together
~ Chapter Three ~
Angela
Monday mornings are always the hardest day for me. Getting out of bed when you have relaxed over the weekend, generally having experienced twenty-four to forty-eight blissful hours of being by yourself and zoning out. Not thinking about anything besides the tv show you are going to binge watch, the antiques fair you spent hours at or reading your favorite book in bed.
Instead, your alarm clock jars you back into reality, informing you that you now need to get your ass into gear and get yourself ready. It’s time to be around others, time to put on your other persona. It’s time to be professional and get to work.
During my extra-long morning shower, a happy thought crosses my mind: it’s commission check day. I quickly wash the remaining conditioner out of my hair, turn off the steaming water and step out of the shower, grabbing my towel from its place on the rack and wrapping it around myself. I lean out of the bathroom to pluck my cell phone from its position on top of the chest of drawers and quickly locate and open my banking application. Sure enough, a larger number than yesterday is peering back at me.
Without giving it a second thought I scroll through my contacts until landing on the number I was searching for. Holding the phone up to my ear, three rings later I am answered by a welcome male voice.
“Hairwaves Nashville, how can I help you today?” Ah Dominic, the only person who I trust enough with the importance of the task ahead of him.
“Dominic, its Angela White, how are you?”
“Angela, Daaarrrling, it’s so good to hear from you. Please tell me you’re going to bring that mane of yours in here for some love?” Nothing quite like the honest opinion of a gay man.
“I sure am. Can you fit me in on Friday Morning? I need the works, cut, color and style.”
I hear the flipping of pages. No doubt he is looking through his schedule. I cross my fingers hoping he has an opening. “Oh honey, we will give you the full work up don’t you worry your pretty little head about anything. How does 10:45 sound?”
I fist pump the air and an ear-splitting grin takes over my face. I’m in. “Sounds perfect Dominic, I’ll see you then.”
“Yes, you will, Sugar.”
With my pampering session now booked, I go about the rest of my morning without a care in the world. Dominic will make me look fabulous. I will be able to now look my very best when I finally see Elliot. I will also be looking lovely for the Christmas party.
Mondays at work are either so busy you don’t have a moment to think, or they are so quiet that you can hear a pin drop. I was hoping for the first, anything to make the time go quicker and provide me with a welcome distraction.
When I walk in the front door, I feel something is different, its oddly quiet, not even the voices of any of the other agents can be heard. I head straight to my office and notice why I can’t hear any voices; Sandra and Jenny are both in my office, standing over my desk. I clear my throat as I am approaching, giving them ample warning to stop whatever it is they are doing. I hear a thump, indicating that something has been dropped. Please tell me they haven’t been into my hidden chocolate supply.
“Morning ladies, how was your weekend?” As I walk around them I see what they must have been looking at, a small box, perfectly wrapped in silver gift paper and with a matching fabric ribbon tied in a bow. My heart leaps to attention, could Elliot have sent me another present? Settle down now Angela, don’t go jumping to conclusions.
“Ah, the delivery man just dropped this off for you. There was no note. I was bringing it in to leave it on your desk for you when Sandra walked past and asked what I was doing. Anyway, I just wanted to leave it here for you so you could open it when you got in…” Jenny trails off.
“Thanks Jenny”, I pick it up and deposit it into the top drawer of my large office desk, then proceed to set myself up for the day. Both women stay in their spot. “Was there anything else I need to know about? If not, I have a lot to do to make sure I’m completely up to date before Thursday afternoon.” Hoping that I have made myself clear, Jenny shakes her head and wanders out, followed by Sandra.
After around fifteen minutes, and no return of either of my lovely colleagues, I slide open the drawer of my desk, skimming my forefinger over the paper. I pick it up, holding it my hand, trying to gage the weight of the item, trying to guess what it could be. I pluck the box it was posted in from the wastepaper basket beside my desk and open it. No notecard inside. Jenny was right, there was no card attached, looking up once more and making sure the coast was clear, I return to the matter at hand and untie the ribbon, then ripping open the paper. A small piece of folded paper falls out, I open the paper carefully and see the cursive script of my mother:
Merry Christmas Sweetheart,
We love you very much.
Mom & Dad xoxo
I open the box to find a pair of simple yet flawless, princess cut diamond earrings, in a white gold setting. They are beautiful, and exactly what I would have chosen myself. They appear to be around a carat each, and knowing my mother, the jewelers that she would have purchased these from would have been expensive.
Not wanting to lose them, I quickly remove the $15.00 silver hoops from my ears and put the diamond studs in their place. I put the hoops in the box my new earrings just came out and place it into my handbag along with the handwritten note. Once they are safe and sound, I stand up from my desk and make my way to the ladies’ bathroom. Once inside, I stand before the mirror. The diamonds sparkle even in the yellowish glow of this grey tiled room. I lean one ear closer to the mirror; the light catches it just so that a small rainbow reflects in the mirror before me.
I hear someone open the outer door of the bathroom and quickly turn the tap on, throwing my hands under the water. Suzy, one of the part time administration girls walks in.
“Hi, Angie.”
“Hey, Suzy. Ready for the Christmas break?”
“Sure am. The twins can’t wait for Santa to come.”
I smile back at her, Suzy has two-year-old twin boys. She only came back to work around six months ago and does three days a week. I can only imagine how busy her home life could be. Once she disappears into a cubicle I shut off the water and dry my hands with the paper towel provided, after throwing the used towel into the bin, I head back to my desk.
