Sometime Soon

twenty-three



“Beautiful day,” Joan announces when I walk past her desk with a large coffee in hand. I have a couple of irons in the fire today. I need to check in with my team to see how their work is progressing. I’m already missing the days when my own work was all I had to worry about. I doubt I would be hearing anything so soon, but I begin watching my personal email account for news from Karthik and Cronus.

I barely drop my bags on my cubicle floor when Rob appears, startling me so I nearly spill my coffee. “Hey,” he says brightly.

“Hey,” I reply much less enthusiastically.

“So, how are things?”

“Fine, I think. I have a question for you though.”

He eyes me expectantly. It’s too early for Nate to be here, but I wonder if Ken and Anand are at their desks. “Can we talk in your office?” I ask.

“Sure.” He nods, appearing curious now.

I take my coffee and follow him. In his office, I sit in my usual seat across from his desk, which he now settles himself behind.

“When you give people assignments,” I begin, “do they just do them or do they try to weasel out of them or complain about the work you’ve given them?”

A smile blooms on his face. “Welcome to my world.”

My exasperation is immediate. “So, this is typical?”

“Part of the job,” he says. Then he leans forward and rests his arms on the desk. “When you get to hire your own people, you generally have better luck. When you inherit them, it’s a lot tougher.”

“The way you inherited all of us?” I ask.

He nods.

“You could have warned me.”

“You’ll be fine,” he says, unconcerned. Then his expression brightens. “Hey, did you catch The Bachelor finale last night?”

His ambivalence about my predicament is hardly encouraging. “Yeah, I saw it.” I cringed during the entire two hour finale, anticipating the ending.

“Well, I think I’m done with that show. It’s a complete farce.”

I nearly gape at him. The Bachelor is his life.

“He chose the blonde gymnast over the down-to-earth redhead. I think it was the splits that did it,” he says thoughtfully. “As soon as he saw her in that position, his mind was made up. But that’s not much of a foundation on which to build a relationship. You know?”

“I guess not,” I laugh.

His answering smile and the twinkle in his eye cause me to laugh harder. Maybe there’s more to Rob than I thought.



Nate turns up over an hour later, looking especially haggard today. He’s wearing a wrinkled purple T-shirt that reads Sarcasm is just one of the services I provide.

“Bad night?” I ask.

He grunts at me and drops heavily onto his desk chair. “Emma has an ear infection. We took her to the doctor this morning. She screamed the whole night.”

“Ear infections hurt,” I say.

“Yeah, I got that.” He turns toward his desk and begins hitting buttons harder than necessary, powering up his computer and monitor.

I wisely decide to turn away and mind my own business. Next week Nate begins his traveling. I could remind him of this to cheer him up, but now that he’ll be leaving his wife with a sick baby, he hardly deserves cheering.

I really need to think about my own travel plans. I’ll have to be in Portland for at least a few days either this month or next. But if the Cronus job comes through, I won’t be here to make that trip. I could probably put off booking it for a few more days, but that’s all.

When I open my email and see that I have more messages from my wholly inadequate team, I decide to procrastinate by calling Katie again. I left her a message yesterday, but she hasn’t called back. I get her voicemail at work and leave a message there. Then I try her at home, where I leave another message.

About a half hour later, I have my head in my hands when my phone rings. The entire team, including the formerly silent Tracy, is having issues. I’m ready to march into Rob’s office and cry “uncle.”

“Hello,” I say curtly in the receiver.

“Geez, that wasn’t very friendly.” It’s Laura.

“Hi. What’s up?” I ask softly, self-conscious as always, as my whisper seems to echo in the quiet of the office.

“You sound moody,” Laura comments.

“I am.”

“Why?”

“I can’t talk Laura,” I reply, hunching over the phone.

“Oh, right. All those computer nerds are so interested in what you have to say.”

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Okay, okay. I just wanted to know if you’ve heard from Cronus yet.”

“Nope.”

“What about David?”

“Nope.”

“Well, I’m pretty sure he’s calling you tonight. I ran into him this morning at the courthouse. I think he’s really into you.”

“Did he take the T there?”

“I don’t know,” she laughs. “Probably.”

“Any luck with the wedding invitations?”

“Well, we know what we don’t want, but apparently we have to visit at least ten more places to find what we do want. Do you want to come? We’re going to a few this weekend.”

“I’d love to, but I think I have to wash my hair.”

“Very funny. You know you can’t avoid dress shopping for much longer. I was thinking that you’d look good in puce. All the other bridesmaids like it, too.

“Puce. Isn’t that red?”

“Yeah, a dark red.”

“Why can’t they just call it dark red.”

“Because they call it puce.”

“Whatever,” I sigh.

“Well, when the invitations are settled, the dresses are next. So be prepared. I know you’d love to chat for hours and hours, but I’ve got to run.”

As I replace the receiver, I hear a loud snorting sound coming from Nate’s cubicle. I turn to see his head down on the desk, his mouth hanging open, and the noise which I now know to be snoring, sounds again. I really wish I had someone with which to share this Kodak moment, but I don’t want to get Nate in trouble. Instead, I take a picture with my cell phone to lord over him later, before I heartlessly shake him back into consciousness.



I leave the office early and pick up a salad for dinner on the way home. It’s time to start eating a bit healthier, especially if I have to go dress shopping soon. Tiger attacks the brown paper takeout bag when I drop it onto the kitchen table. All kinds of interesting smells are emanating from it. But when I withdraw the container and opened the lid, Tiger takes one more sniff and jumps off the table. A salad is hardly the chicken or tuna meal he was hoping for. It isn’t all that appealing to me either.

I make quick work of the salad, and I’m just cleaning up when my phone rings. I’m hoping it’s Katie finally, but it isn’t. It’s David Rose.

“I’ve got a surprise,” he tells me after I say hello.

“Oh? What is it?”

“Do you like live music?” he asks, sounding excited.

“Sure.”

“Well, I got tickets to see Steely Dan at The Pavilion on Friday night. How does that sound?”

Steely Dan? I’m not a fan. Which is not surprising since their average fans are probably somewhere in their forties and fifties. “That sounds nice,” I reply, trying to inject some enthusiasm into my voice. Shouldn’t he have checked with me first? Although, I suppose he could ask someone else if I wasn’t interested. And I have to give him high marks for effort when it comes to date planning.

“Do you like them?” he asks, seeming to sense something.

“Umm, I don’t really know their music that well. But it’s always fun to see a concert, especially outside at The Pavilion.” The Pavilion is a huge outdoor tent set up in downtown Boston right on the waterfront.

“I know. I think it will be really fun.”

“Definitely,” I agree. I really don’t believe I have any romantic interest in David, but I don’t have the heart to say so. He’s so eager and enthusiastic.

“What happened to your closing?” I ask

“That’s still happening, but the concert doesn’t start until nine, so I’ll be able to make it. We should probably meet around eight-thirty or so.”

“Meet?” I ask.

“Yeah. We could meet right outside the entrance. Do you know where it is?”

“Yes,” I answer hesitantly, unable to staunch my exasperation. The fact is, if he was going to drive there, he’d have to go right by my house. Actually, if I took the train, we’d be riding the same rail line there. Of course, I wouldn’t take the T because I don’t want to come home late at night by myself on the train. Since there’s no parking at my local stop, that also means walking home from the station. I could drive to another stop that has parking, I suppose, but why can’t he just drive in? It couldn’t be easier to do. The Pavilion has a huge free parking lot for concert goers. I’m debating whether or not to say anything when he continues with his plans.

“And afterwards we could go to this bakery I heard about and get some dessert.”

“David,” I begin, “how about driving in?”

“What?” he asks.

“Well, I live right on your way to The Pavilion, and they have plenty of free parking there. So, why don’t we just drive?”

“Oh,” he says, sounding surprised. “Isn’t the train easier?”

“No. Not for me.”

“Oh,” he repeats. I can tell that I’ve thrown him with this driving concept. “Well, you could go ahead and drive in,” he suggests.

I roll my eyes, watching as Tiger jumps into the kitchen sink, bends his head down below the kitchen faucet and begins to lap at the drips. “Actually, I can’t get into that lot without a concert ticket to show them.”

“Well, maybe I could get the ticket to you before Friday.”

I sigh, losing patience. “Wouldn’t it just be easier for you to drive? I know the way. I can direct you.” I suppose I could offer to pick him up and drive, but it’s out of my way to do that, and I don’t really want to offer to drive.

“Well, why can’t you take the train?” he asks.

Now I’m getting angry. “Because there is no parking at the station near me and I would either have to drive to another station hoping to find a spot or walk home alone from the station nearby.”

“Well, how far is it from your station? Could you take a cab?”

I sigh and roll my eyes at no one again.

I hear him breathe into the phone. I listen, saying nothing; not sure what to say at this point. Finally, he speaks again. “Look, if I put the ticket in the mail today, you should get it by Friday.”

I don’t know why I can’t just let this go. “David, you do have a car, right?”

“Right,” he answers hesitantly.

“How are you ever going to learn your way around the city if you never drive it? I promise you, it’s a very quick and easy ride from my house. Boston roads can be scary. I completely understand your reluctance. But how about giving it try?”

“I’m not scared to drive,” he stutters.

Oops. “I’m not saying you’re scared.”

“That’s what you implied.”

“Um, well, I’m sorry if I implied that.” I’m backpedaling now.

“You didn’t mind driving yourself into Boston the last time we went out.”

“Well, actually, it did occur to me that it would have been nice to have been picked up at my house. When someone asks me out, picking me up and driving me there is usually part of it.”

He makes some noise into the phone that could be laughing but comes out more like a harsh bark. “That’s why you’re still single,” he says. “When I first saw you, I wondered why you didn’t have a husband or a boyfriend, but now it’s pretty clear.”

“What?” I sputter.

“Well, you own your own home and you have as good a job as I do, and yet you want to be completely catered to and waited on. Well, you can’t have it both ways.”

“Huh?” I mumble. I can’t form a coherent response. I’m completely taken aback. My total appall is rendering me speechless.

It’s silent from his end now, too. But he’s still there. I can hear him breathing. I’m just about to hang up when he finally breaks the strained silence. “Look,” he begins, his voice calmer now. “Let’s just meet there, okay?”

Now I’m the one barking out a laugh. “No,” I say. “I don’t think so.” Then I hang up the phone and throw it onto the couch--feeling the need to get that conversation as far away from me as possible.

I don’t know how long I stand there staring at my phone lying sideways on the cushion. Will he call back? Surely not. My throat starts to feel tight and the tears begin to brim, blurring my vision. No one has ever said anything like to me before. The men I’m meeting are just getting worse and worse. This was the worst one yet. I’m never dating again. This is just too much.

Feeling violated somehow, I wipe away my tears and finish cleaning the kitchen. Then I change out of my work clothes and into sweats and a T-shirt. Next I search the kitchen for sweets, finding none, finding nearly nothing in fact, I settle on the couch with Tiger and my phone, trying to calm myself a bit more before calling Laura. When I open the phone and see David’s number listed under recent calls, I start deleting all evidence of him in my phone. I wanted to rid myself of him completely.

When my phone rings in my hand, I startle, causing Tiger to leap off my lap and the phone to fall from my hand. What if it’s David again? I pick it up and cautiously peer at the caller ID. To my relief it’s Katie.

“Hey,” I say, looking forward to hearing a friendly voice.

“Is this Andy?” an unfamiliar woman’s voice asks.

“Yes.”

“This is Katie’s mother. I wanted to let you know that Katie got your messages, but she isn’t really up to talking right now.”

I sit up straighter. “Why? What’s going on? Is the baby okay?”

“Everything is fine with the baby.”

“Thank goodness,” I sigh with relief.

“Wait a minute Andy, Katie is here now. She says she’ll talk to you. Hold on one minute.”

I wait, wondering what’s happened.

“Andy?” Katie’s voice comes on the line.

“Hi. What’s going on?”

She clears her throat and coughs. “It’s Mike.”

“What about him?”

“I found out that he’s seeing someone else.”

“Someone else?” Not Bryn, I think. It can’t be.

“He told me so himself after his new girlfriend answered his phone. They’re living together.”

“New girlfriend?”

She sniffles.

“Who is she?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” She sniffles again and then she blows her nose. “He must have been with her when he was with me. You don’t just move in with someone else so quickly. And it’s not Bryn. I know that much.”

I can’t believe it. Mike has been juggling three women at one time, if you count Bryn. This is Katie’s worst case scenario. Her husband’s cheating is what broke up her marriage. “I’m so sorry,” I say lamely.

“I’m really going to be alone,” she whispers. “I’m going to be a single parent. I can’t believe it.”

I can hear the complete terror in her voice. I want to say something comforting. “It seems like your folks are being supportive.” I offer.

“They are. They’re being great. Of course, my dad wants to hunt Mike down and kill him.”

“There’s no question of him paying you some kind of support, is there?”

“Oh god. I haven’t even thought about that.” She starts crying in earnest now. Her mother comes back on the line. “We’re going to hang up now, Andy. Katie appreciates your calling.”

“Please tell her that I’m here if she needs anything.”

“Thank you. I will.”



I sit in my living room and watch out my window as the sun sets. Sensing my mood, Tiger curls up on the couch beside me, keeping me silent company.

I finally call Laura just after nine, hoping that any wedding invitation shopping is finished for the night.

“We didn’t go tonight,” Laura tells me after answering. “But we’ve got appointments every other night this week. Hey, did David call you yet?”

With that, I relate to her the fateful conversation with David, surprised to find myself getting choked up again at the retelling.

“I can’t believe he said that,” she repeats for about the fourth time, referring to the ‘wanting to have it both ways’ and ‘now I know why you’re still single’ comments.

“Do you think I made too much of the driving?” I ask her, second guessing everything I said to David.

“No,” she says firmly. “Even if you had, he had no business saying those things to you. He was way out of line. I’m so sorry, Andy. This is all my fault. I had no idea that such a jerk was hiding inside such a seemingly polite and normal guy. Next time I’ll do better.”

“You think there’s going to be a next time?” I ask incredulously.

“Hey, don’t judge my matchmaking skills by one loser.”

“He’s the only person you’ve ever matched me up with. Besides, I’m done dating. I’ve had enough.”

“Don’t start that again,” Laura warns.

“Hey, if I needed more evidence to show me that it just isn’t worth it, Katie called in tears tonight.”

“Why?”

“She found out that Mike is living with his new girlfriend.”

“What?” Laura exclaims. “You mean Bryn?”

“Not Bryn. Someone else. Katie thinks that he must have been seeing this woman for a while.”

“Wow. That’s awful. This can’t be a complete surprise to Katie though.”

“I’m pretty sure it was,” I say. “I know you think that somehow Katie is unconsciously seeking out jerks because of some insecurities of her own. But those jerks should not be so easy to find!”

To my surprise, Laura starts to laugh.

“I’m serious.”

“I know. I know,” she replies, a smile in her voice. “But you can’t be so pessimistic because of what Mike did to Katie. He is not someone you would have ever given the time of day to. And David is my fault. So, you can count him out, too. There are good ones out there. I found Jonathan.”

“Hmm,” I grumble, noncommittally.

“I am really sorry for Katie."

“She’ll be fine. She’s probably better off without him.”

“I can’t argue with that.”

“Anyway,” I yawn loudly, not bothering to cover the phone. “It’s been a long day. I’m going to bed.”

“Don’t worry, Andy. Your time is coming.”

“Goodnight Laura.”