Tonya sat in her bedroom and looked out the window as the postman worked his way along the street.
It was Saturday, and the office was closed. She thought about what had happened during the week with Marcus. Why had he made her such an offer? He was a rich man, and she was sure he could have any woman he wanted. Did it turn him on to treat her like that, or did he really like her and want to help? No, if he just wanted to help, he would have lent her the money, no strings attached. The postman reached their house and put a letter and what looked like a newspaper in the postbox. She would look for another job and leave him to molest his next receptionist, she concluded.
Once Tonya had washed and dressed, she went downstairs to find her mother holding the letter the postman had just delivered. She handed it to Tonya.
“More? How can it be so expensive?” Tonya cried. “Sorry, Mom. That was insensitive. Your treatment comes first. We'll find the money.” Her mother smiled, but it was a worried smile.
After breakfast, Tonya sat out on the veranda and wondered why in such a civilized country medical bills were so expensive. She'd read that in some European countries medical treatment was practically free. They wanted to add another twenty thousand to her mom's bill. Who knew where it would end, Tonya thought as she imagined an auctioneer standing on a podium in front of their home with a crowd of bloodthirsty bidders in front of him.
Her cell phone rang, it was Lucy. “Hi. Do you want to come for a barbecue this afternoon? It's a lovely day, and we've decided to invite a few friends over. Please say yes.”
“Okay. That sounds great. I'll bring some wine.”
“No need. Steve's got it covered. Just bring yourself and a smile.”
Did she mean that I was miserable? Tonya thought.
At 3 p.m. Tonya put on in a floral summer dress and hopped on her bicycle. It was a short ride to Lucy's, and she enjoyed the fresh air. She also enjoyed all the guys who turned their heads to watch her long brown legs rotate seductively as she peddled.
Lucy greeted her like a long-lost friend and introduced her to four guys who drove trucks for Steve and a couple of young women who worked in the office. There were also a few members of Lucy's family there, including her cousin Jeff.
“Jeff,” Tonya said as she opened a beer. “How are you?”
“All the better for seeing you. You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks. How's college?”
He swept a hand over his black hair and fixed his green eyes on her cleavage. “Okay, but it seems like a never-ending road. Eight years of grind.”
“But just think how great it will be to call yourself doctor at the end of it all.”
“I suppose so. It would be even better if you were by my side, Tonya. Imagine what a team we would be.”
Tonya took a mouthful of beer and thought about what she should say to him. They'd been through all this weeks ago. He obviously hadn't listened. “Jeff, I told you before. I really like you, but for me there's no spark. It's not your fault. We're just on different wavelengths.” He looked at his feet and shuffled from one foot to the other. “I'm sorry. You'll find Mrs. Right one day, I know.” She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
“But you're so...I can't describe it. You're just perfect.”
Someone burped and a few people laughed hysterically. “Thanks, Jeff. You're so sweet, and I wish I felt different, but I don't want to lie to you.”
Tonya moved away and stood next to Steve, who was cooking chicken and making a poor job of it. “You'll burn it. Move it to the side,” she said. Steve put his arm around her.
“Tonya, it's great to see you. You always call to see Lucy when I'm at work. Afraid you'll not be able to keep your hands off me?”
Steve had a great sense of humor. He was a big guy and strong. With his arm around her, she chastised herself for beginning to feel secure in the arms of another woman's husband. “You got it in one, Steve. How could any woman resist?”
He kissed her on the cheek and offered her a chicken wing. “Later,” she said.
“Go and sit with the guys. A couple of them are single. Who knows?” he suggested.
Truckers weren't number one on Tonya's list, but she saw a free chair and sat down between two big guys who already had several empty beer bottles under their chairs. One of them leaned over to her and introduced himself as Ivan. It turned out he was from Romania and had come to the US to drive trucks. He spoke English with a strong accent, and Tonya found herself saying “pardon” quite a lot. When he started to stare at her breasts and put his hand on her knee, she excused herself and went to talk to Lucy.
“And? What happened?” Lucy asked.
“He's a bit rude.”
“No. I mean with Dr. Crosby, not Ivan.”
“Oh. Nothing. I told him to sod off.”