next release. Although, according to the rumor mill, all future product work is still on hold, so I’m not sure what the purpose of this exercise is. Additionally, several paragraphs of text, some fairly technical, have to be written up in typical user-friendly fashion to be used in various sales collateral. Basically, it’s my job to take something that’s highly technical and likely far too complicated for the customer to actually understand and make it seem as easy as tying your shoe.
I put together some warm and fuzzy emails to introduce myself to the team, tack on assignment information, and hit the Send button before heading out for a quick break. Job assignments seem fairly obvious to me. Most of us have our customers that we communicate with on a regular basis. I assigned new customers to the Napa folks. There is usually some travel involved in this part of a project, depending on how much a customer pays us and how much hand-holding they require. Generally, I end up in Portland for a week or so, and Nate goes to Austin. One of the new customers is located in San Diego. It makes sense for one of the Napa people to take that one. This will work out nicely, I think.
I beat Bryn to Starbucks and debate my beverage choice. Since my icy frappuccinos are likely numbered for the season, I decided to order what will probably be my last one until next summer. When it’s ready, I take it to our usual table outside.
A large umbrella shields me from the bright sun, and I watch the people passing, but I don’t really see them. Instead, I’m preoccupied with how this encounter will go. I’m not nervous exactly, but I’m not calm either. Condensation forms on the plastic cup and I put it on the table, drying my hand on my shorts. Those days are numbered, too. Shorts will soon be exchanged for jeans.
“Hey.”
I glance up to see Bryn standing beside the other chair. “Hey,” I reply.
Bryn looks the same as she always does with her shiny bob hanging forward over her full face and her black Life is good t-shirt. She offers me a hesitant smile as she pulls out the chair and sits down, her own frappuccino in her hand. “How are you?” she asks.
“I’m fine. You?”
She shrugs. “You know. SOS at work. I updated my resumé and I even called a recruiter. I may actually get my butt in gear and look for a job.”
“That’s great.”
“It will probably come to nothing. But it’s a start, I guess. You? Everything okay at work?”
“I got a promotion, actually, I think. Well, maybe.”
Bryn’s expression is puzzled. “Okay. What does that mean?”
“I’m a project lead for a probationary period, and if all goes well it could be permanent, which, I think, would then be an actual promotion.”
She laughs. “That’s great. Congratulations.”
“We’ll see.” I take a sip of my drink. Bryn does the same. An awkward pause is filled by slurping noises.
“Look, Andy, I just want you to you know,” she finally says, putting her drink down, “That I’m fine with everything.”
I feel my brow furrowing. Huh?
When I don’t say anything, she continues. “I mean, I know you told Katie and she must have confronted Mike, and that’s fine. I figured it would probably end that way. Not that it ever really started.”
“He’s not calling you anymore?” I guess.
Bryn has her head bent so that her hair is partially covering her eyes. Despite her claims of being fine, red stains appear high on her cheeks. “No,” she presents me with a weak smile. “I haven’t heard from him since Labor Day weekend.”
“Oh,” I reply, backtracking in my head. That’s the weekend Katie told him about the baby. That’s interesting. I debate what, if anything, to tell Bryn. I don’t want to tell her that Mike left Katie. Saying that feels like too much of a betrayal. Although, now I know that he didn’t leave her for Bryn. Maybe I can reveal some news that might help Bryn to feel better about being summarily dropped even though I haven’t been given the go ahead to spread Katie’s news. Seeing Bryn’s distress now, I wonder what harm there could be in it.
“Katie’s pregnant,” I say.
Her eyes nearly pop out of her head. “What? She’s pregnant?”
I nod.
“Oh my god. I can’t believe it. That must be why he….,” she trails off quietly. “You did tell her what I told you, about Mike and me?”
“I