him, unlocking the door and opening it.
He scurries out into the hallway and shoots to the doorway across the hall. He stands on his back feet like a gopher and does the same thing. Scratching at the door.
“Hey.” I hurry over and scoop him up. “You can’t do that, crazy pants. Come on. That’s not our door.” I kiss his forehead, something he is not fond of and carry him back into our place.
As I close the door, I hear the door across from us open. But by the time I turn around and peek in the peephole, the door is closing.
“You are bad,” I scold Romeo who gives me a savage expression as an answer. “Bad.” I kiss his forehead again and put him down. He sits, tail and ears twitching. He is not happy with me. “Behave yourself.” I point back at him as I stroll into my office to chain myself to the desk to get back to work.
Romeo comes into the doorway of the office and sits, giving me the stink eye.
He meows.
“I’m not letting you into the hallway to scratch at strangers’ doors. You little monkey.”
He sniffs and turns, walking back out. Tail twitching and all.
“What a crazy cat,” I mutter as I lift my home phone from the desk and call Doreen to double-check the account in front of me.
She answers straightaway, “Lil, how’s it going?”
“Good, you know. Same old. How’s it there?” She and Matt have been working in the office, the only two people there.
“Busy.” She pauses and I have a bad feeling about what she’s about to say next. “Rod’s Facebook—”
“Right.” I wince. “Yeah, we are separated. I updated my address with Janice. I’ve moved into the city actually. Not far from work.”
“I’m so sorry,” she says sweetly but something she’s not saying haunts her tone.
“It’s not a big deal,” I reply in hopes this is what she was looking for. “He and I have always made certain that our paths never crossed at work. He’s residential property management and I’m commercial accounting. We never saw each other at work before.”
“Oh, okay. That’s good news. I didn’t want to ask, but Matt and I want to make sure you’re all right. As our best accountant, we needed to be sure you would be comfortable at work.” She is delicate. I can’t imagine how this would be coming from Matt.
“I’m completely comfortable. Have you spoken to Rod?” I ask the thing I shouldn’t.
“No. He’s been working remotely. Hasn’t checked in much. And when he does, he’s all smiles and joking. You know Rod.”
“I do,” I say with a sigh. “Honestly, you don’t have to worry about it. He’ll be fake and I’ll be tucked away in my office and never the twain shall meet.”
“Excellent.” She sounds lighter. “Now what can I help you with?”
I fake a smile so my voice is pleasant and continue the call. But deep down, not deep enough though, I wonder what might have happened if I’d said I couldn’t work with him.
Did I just save Rod’s job?
Chapter 28
May 1
Sitting on the window seat with Romeo in my lap, I smile as I think about yesterday.
“Lil, can you get me another pillow? My back is hurting.”
“Yeah!” I place Romeo on the cushion and stand, immediately falling back onto the seat. Romeo jumps up, startled by my reaction. It takes a minute for the room to stop spinning. I haven’t had a dizzy spell like this one in a while, but I also haven’t eaten yet today and it’s after lunch.
I get my bearings and stand up gradually this time, walking to my bedroom. My stomach is fluttering when I pass Liz a pillow and help her adjust it. I need to remember to get something to eat.
“Twelve days,” I say when she grunts a thanks. Reminding her this is the final stretch. She’s so done it’s not funny.
She grumbles again, this time not forming actual words, and continues with her movie, Four Christmases. She’s been watching Christmas movies nonstop.
A knock at the door draws my attention. It has to be Sam. Anyone else would have called up to be buzzed in. I want to hurry but I walk slowly so I don’t fall again, still feeling funky. I answer without looking, surprised when I find Anthony from work here. He’s not wearing a mask. “Hi,” I say, not inviting him in. Not certain he wants to come in wearing workout clothes and a backpack.
“Hey, Lil. I have some