Page 114 of In Sheets of Rain

“Your first bypass machine sold into Dunedin Hospital. Well done,” he said and slapped me on the back enthusiastically.

I looked at our sales team, and my eyes found Michael’s.

He smiled and winked.

* * *

I’d just finished a meeting with one of the directors and walked back to my cubicle to find Michael sitting in my chair.

“Who’s that?” he asked, nodding toward a picture of a little girl and me.

He looked intrigued but also confused.

“She’s a friend’s daughter,” I said.

“And those ones?” he asked, pointing to a picture of me in front of a Christmas tree with a little boy and girl.

“My nephew and niece,” I said.

He didn’t say anything.

I watched him as he looked at the photos on my cubicle wall.

“You like kids,” he finally said.

“Yes.”

His eyes met mine, and then he stood from my chair.

“Dinner?” he asked.

I looked back at the pictures on the wall.

“OK,” he said. “Next time.”

* * *

Everyone finished singing “Happy Birthday” to Heather. She blew out her candles and grinned. Plates were handed out. Michael handed me mine.

“Do you always celebrate staff birthdays like this?” I asked.

“Best excuse for cake and coffee,” he said.

“I don’t need an excuse for cake and coffee,” I replied, and shoved a piece in my mouth.

He laughed.

“Great. Then shall we do this tomorrow?”

“Do what? Celebrate a birthday?”

He looked at me. I looked at him.

And he said, “OK. Next time.”

* * *

Iwas closing my boot, trying to decide if I’d remembered everything I needed for my sales trip when Michael walked out of the warehouse door. His eyes found mine across the carpark as if drawn there.

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