Page 8 of Safer Together
During the day, I notice both Sandra and Jenny walk past occasionally, no doubt hoping to be invited in and shown what I had received this morning. No such luck ladies, I’m keeping it to myself. I know they are probably imagining whatever was in the box was sent by my mystery man. They can keep thinking that for all I care.
5:00 pm comes and I’m so happy to be leaving for the day. Only three more days of work to go and then I can relax. I head home from the day, calling my Mom during the drive home. Per usual, our conversation is brief. Mom and Dad are both getting ready for their annual holiday. I’m getting ready to have two weeks off, I don’t tell them I’ll be in New York over Christmas. I don’t want them to possibly cancel their trip and I certainly don’t want to tell them about Elliot, not just yet. I want to ask Dad if he knows him, but that will just open a can of worms, including: “Why do you want to know, Angie?”
Even though I know that I could always use the excuse that he has been checking out property in the Nashville vicinity, I prefer to keep that aspect of his life private. As he did say it will be his vacation home.
Instead, I thank them for my Christmas present and tell them both that I love them before hanging up just as I arrive back at my apartment building. The evening goes by without any contact from Elliot. Not wanting to be the clingy girlfriend, I instead look at his picture on my phone until I fall asleep.
Tuesday and Wednesday go by so fast, without anything interesting happening. So when Thursday morning breaks, I can’t help but feel happy. Today is the last day of work and I have a clear schedule. The entire day will be spent in the office. I completed everything that I needed yesterday, which means relaxation, clean out my desk, get rid of anything I no longer need and get prepared for the new year. I want to make sure the first day back in my office will be one that sets the tone for the year ahead. A clean office, a clean start.
The last day of work is always a fun day. Sandra lets us dress down to a certain extent, casual yet professional, knowing that all of us generally have no appointments. Some of the agents even head home after half a day. I, however, work the entire day today, so I don’t have to come in tomorrow for half a day. I have way more important things to do tomorrow, like seeing Dominic and getting my hair freshened up.
With the casual yet professional mantra ringing in my head, I settle on my ever-comfortable, always faithful, go-to black jeans and white long-sleeved silk, open-necked blouse. I pull my red trench coat out to protect me from the cold during my walk to and from the car today and, finally, my knee-high, buckskin leather boots.
Casual on the bottom, business at the top, professional enough just in case any clients walk through the door. My hair is a bit oily, not having been washed since Monday, I spray some dry shampoo into it, brush it out and throw it up into a messy bun. It will do for one more day, one more day before it will be completely different with a fresh color and a fresh cut.
I arrive in the parking lot behind the office twenty minutes early. Not wanting to go in quite yet, I walk down the road until I reach my favorite coffee shop, ‘Cup of Cinnos’. The teenage boy behind the counter is super friendly while taking my order, and even gives me a wink when he hands me my Vanilla Chai Latte, with a sprinkle of cinnamon on top. The barista informs me that it’s just like Christmas in a cup. Yeah, right buddy, it’s good, but not waking-up-to-piles-of-presents good.
With coffee in hand, I walk the short distance back to the office. The wind has picked up while I have been inside, and the air has the feel of snow in it. That’s fine, get the snow over and done with today. Any storms the weather is thinking of brewing, bring it on today. I don’t need anything preventing Elliot’s flight from arriving tomorrow.
That word, tomorrow, it makes me smile. I did it, I got through two entire weeks without him. It also brings to my attention something I have been trying to push down, trying hard not to acknowledge. I’m falling for him, and I’m doing so hard. The time apart was meant to help me push my feelings for him aside and keep them at bay, to prevent them from growing any more. And yet even with thousands of miles between us, he has found a way to dive further into my heart…. The many phone calls, text messages, photos, the flowers, the Skype calls, being able to see him whether he was in his office at work or lounging on his bed at home before sleep.
I’m in trouble. What if he arrives tomorrow, lays his eyes on me and realizes that the time apart has done the opposite for him? If it has made him realize that I’m nothing but a plain old real estate agent, living in Nashville. That the distance is too much and it’s not worth starting something with someone that you can’t see after work. Somewhere along the line he is going to realize that phone calls and Skyping sessions aren’t enough. And when that happens, he is going to say goodbye, and my heart will break into a thousand pieces all over the floor.
My thoughts are disturbed by the bell of the office front door opening. I shake the thoughts occupying my mind away for now. Walking in, I say good morning to everyone and welcome the sanctuary my office provides. After putting my handbag in its usual spot and shrugging out of my coat, I sit in my leather chair and sip my latte. I spin in my chair to take in the entire room. The painting on the wall has been there since my first day. It’s one of Sandra’s. I’ve never thought of taking it down before. It’s held that position with pride since day one. It’s a vista of Nashville, it’s one you often see on tv shows. It shows The Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge prominently; various buildings can be seen in the background.
This office has been mine now for going on four years. It’s time I make a difference. The hutch on the wall under the painting has a vase of fake flowers on top. I spray with perfume weekly to keep them fragrant, but they are overdue for replacement. Filled with dust and the colors fading badly. I jot that down on the notepad in front of me. The porcelain tea set is the one item that screams me in here. The set consists of a large teapot and two cups with matching saucers, the white has started to fade, showing signs of slight yellowing, the cherry blossoms painted on still have their blush pink color. I’ve never used it during its time living in my office, it’s purely for ornamental purposes. There is enough empty space beside that could easily fit a good-sized photo frame. Maybe a photo of my parents, a landscape I’ve taken, or maybe, just maybe, if things work out with Elliot, I could showcase a photo of my boyfriend and me?
Next, I move to my desk, the Apple Mac takes up prime position, along with the mouse and keyboard. To the left I have the work phone and a beautiful pen holder, it’s a classic type of pottery that was big in the 1990’s. Grandma made it and it used to live next to the phone while I was growing up. When I moved out, I took it with me. To the right of the computer sits my notepad with a pen on top, other than that, it is completely blank, readily awaiting something to occupy it.
I look down at my notepad, my messy running writing looks back up at me:
New flowers and vase
Photo frame and photo of loved ones
I could possibly bring in my double decker bus Elliot brought back from London, that would be a talking point with clients, a good ice breaker. My thoughts drift to Elliot’s desk, his home office was neat and tidy. A computer and accessories, possibly a family photograph if I remember correctly?
When we recently Skyped while he was in his main office at his New York building, Sands Tower, I couldn’t really see his desk, I wonder what he has displayed. Without giving it a second thought, I pull out my phone and send him a message:
Don’t ask why, but can you send me a photo of your work desk? :)
I know that this will make him think, why would I be asking, hopefully he just does it. With the last few drops of my delicious chai latte now in my belly I toss my cup into the bin under my desk, switch on my computer and wait for my email program to load.
The text message sound from my phone draws my attention. It’s a photograph from Elliot, I open it to look at it with the entire screen of my phone, his desk is a rich timber, a deep green leather inlay in the center. He has the HP equivalent to my computer, a desk phone, and a row of those super expensive pens that you change the ink in to continue to use them, not the cheap disposable ones that when the ink runs out you just throw into the wastepaper basket.
The one item that catches my eye makes me laugh, in a prime position where he can easily reach out and activate it with just a touch, is a Newton’s Cradle. The silver frame with five equally sized silver balls hanging on strings all the same length. You pull one of the end ones back and when you let it go it creates force though all the others to then make the ball at the opposite end separate fly out in the opposite direction, before swinging back and activating the other end to once again move and so on and so on.
It makes sense, watching one of these in action can be quite soothing, grounding even, it’s something I could quite easily place on my desk and get use out of it, during phone negotiations with clients I can activate it and watch it, allowing me to concentrate on the matter at hand. It also would also serve as a reminder of Elliot, without showing his photograph to everyone who enters my office, a reminder that I would understand, but no one else would get.
I notice that Elliot doesn’t follow up the photo with a text message. He isn’t asking. He really is perfect. My reply is simple:
Thank you :) See you tomorrow x
And with that now done, I add a Newtons Cradle to my list of new items needed for my office. The remainder of the day goes by, completely free of any phone calls, new clients or even speaking to James. Since his visit on Sunday we have barely said ten words to each other. A smile across the room, or a quick ‘Hey’ in passing. It’s been horrible.
At ten minutes to five I collect all my things and turn off my computer. On a mission, I walk to the other side of the office where James’s office is located. I see him inside and without knocking walk straight in.
“Well I’m done and dusted for the day, and I guess for the year too! I’ll see you tomorrow night at the party?”
He looks up at the sound of my voice, shock plastered over his face, he obviously didn’t expect me to just walk right in. I’m not sure why though. It’s not like I haven’t done it before.
“Yeah, I’ll be there. Your man still coming?”
I nod “Sure is. We will see you then. Have a good night.”
“You too, Ange. Enjoy your day off tomorrow.”
Turning on my heel, I walk out. “Will do,” I call out over my shoulder.
