Sometime Soon - By Debra Doxer Page 0,21
the kitchen table watching Tiger inhale his dinner. His life is so simple. “Still having trouble deciding on a wedding date?” I ask.
“I’m not sure Mike really wants to get married anymore.”
“What? Why do you say that?”
“When I started looking at dates again, he said that he’s too busy to think about it right now. He’s got some big meeting in Chicago that he needs to plan for. But it’s just another excuse. He always has an excuse.”
“You don’t think they’re legitimate excuses?”
“I don’t know. I suppose they could be, but he doesn’t even seem to mind that we can’t settle on a date.”
The afternoon rain has lasted into the evening. I hear the heavy drops pelting the windows. Despite the fact that Katie is one of my best friends, I’ve only met Mike a handful of times. He is divorced with two children, a boy in middle school and a girl in grade school. Katie has worked hard to win them over, but she wasn’t making much progress until they discovered Katie’s parents have a cottage in New Hampshire near the ski slopes and right on a beach off Lake Winnipesaukee. They all spent July fourth weekend there, and it had gone great.
“Have you asked him if he’s having second thoughts?” I’m not a big fan of Mike’s, but I want to tread carefully. I haven’t revealed my doubts to Katie, but I don’t like the things she’s told me. According to her, Mike has painted his ex-wife as an ogre and himself as the injured party. Apparently, the ex-wife is completely self-centered, has turned all their friends against him, and often threatens to drag him back into court to extort more money from him. I have trouble believing this one-sided account.
“No, I haven’t said anything to him.”
“Do you think you should? Maybe you’re worrying yourself needlessly.”
“I don’t want to seem insecure.”
“But you are--or at least he’s making you feel that way.”
Katie is silent on the other end of the phone.
“What about telling him that he has to pick a date by the end of the month? It can be any date that works best for him. Tell him that you’ll make the time work for you, but you need to make your plans and you need a finalized date. But say it in a nice way, not like an ultimatum.”
“Let him just pick any date?”
“If picking a wedding date is becoming such an issue, then let him choose one and make it work for you. If he really doesn’t want to get married, he won’t give you a date, right?”
“I don’t know.”
“Take all your impediments out of his way and see what he does.”
Katie hesitates. “I suppose I could try that. What if he wants to get married in the middle of February?”
“Then you’ll get married in February and be a beautiful winter bride.”
“I guess it’s worth a try,” she agrees sounding a bit less forlorn. “Maybe I’ve just been too picky about the timing.”
“By the way, if you do have your wedding in February, personally, I’d prefer a Caribbean location.”
“Me, too,” she laughs.
I end the conversation feeling proud that I’ve improved Katie’s mood, but hoping I haven’t just doled out some really bad advice. Katie is going to be devastated if Mike has changed his mind. Of course, I’m also thinking that Katie really needs to be more assertive. I wouldn’t stand for Mike’s wishy-washy attitude. But then again, I’ve never really been in love. Who knows what I’d be willing to do for it. I don’t think I’d compromise myself or let insecurity rule me. At least, I hope not.
seven
There is no commentary on my arrival at work that morning. Joan’s chair is empty. It feels odd starting the day this way. When I get to my cubicle, I see that it’s just as I left it on Friday. Drafts of the white papers I’ve written are printed and neatly stacked.
My marketing co-worker and row cube mate, Nate, arrives just I settle back down with my first cup of coffee of the day. Nate is supposed to be on his second week of paternity leave.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, happy to see him. Without Nate here this past week, I’ve had no one to roll eyes with over Rob.
“You haven’t checked your email yet, have you?” Nate is a freckled red head whose cheeks, much to his own dismay, flush when he is under the slightest emotional strain.
I now notice their pink tinge. “Uh-oh.