Sometime Soon - By Debra Doxer Page 0,33
is playing.
“Sorry about that,” Ryan says into my ear, startling me. “You still there?”
“I’m here.”
“We’re in the middle of another mini-crisis.”
“I’m sorry. It’s no problem to call back at a better time,” I offer. I can hear voices in the background. It sounds like people arguing.
He laughs. “Actually, this is a good time. We just landed a second customer.”
“Hey! That’s great.”
“Yeah, but now we’re under the gun to deliver what they want. We really need to hire more people.”
“Maybe this will help you get your funding.”
“I hope so.”
Suddenly, there is static on the line and a muffled scraping noise. “Ryan?”
“Sorry, I’m just stepping out into the hallway where it’s quieter. Okay, that’s better. So, how are you?”
“I’m fine,” I mutter, restraining a sigh. It’s a loaded question at the moment.
“You sure?” he asks, picking up on my less than enthusiastic response.
For some reason, I want to tell him about my job and about Katie, but of course I don’t. I hardly know him. “I really am fine. I’ve just got a lot going on. But I’m calling to let you know that I got your message and your plan sounds great. Only, I’m wondering if we could do it on Sunday instead. I’m afraid I can’t make it on Saturday.”
“Oh,” he says. Then there’s silence.
“Or maybe we could do something next week if Sunday isn’t good?” I add quickly.
“No. Sunday works,” he responds after a brief hesitation.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Looks like I’ll need to work at least part of the weekend anyway. So, I might as well get it out of the way tomorrow and be able to have Sunday off.”
I give Ryan directions to my townhouse and we arrange a time for him to pick me up on Sunday morning. The plan is to drive down to Duxbury, a town on the south shore known for its beautiful beaches. I reason that if Ryan is picking me up, he can’t just leave me in Duxbury to find my own way home if he isn’t really interested. Right? I smile to myself. I certainly hope not. I go online and check the weather for Sunday. There’s a graphic of a bright yellow sun with ninety degrees stamped over it. Perfect beach weather.
Next, I compose an email to the job recruiter who found me my position at BTS Systems. I continue to receive holiday cards from her, so I know she’s still in business. In my email, I explain the situation and attach my updated resumé.
With that done, I return to working on my white papers. Now that I know there is no additional work coming in due to the cancellation of all future projects, I no longer feel pressed to get the work done immediately, and my freed up mind easily wanders. How will I break the news to Katie? When you have to get a tooth pulled, you want it yanked out quickly. Playing with it first, or trying to loosen it, is just torture. I’ve never delivered bad news like this to anyone. I really have no idea how to do it.
I sleep badly that night, getting tangled in my sheets and listening as the air conditioning kicks on and off. I finally give up around five in the morning, rising just after the sun, deciding to get up and make coffee--lots of coffee. I kill time by watching the morning news programs and tidying up unnecessarily. I’m meeting Katie at Macy’s at eleven. The plan is to shop first and then go for lunch.
I arrive early and jittery from caffeine-enhanced nerves. Macy’s is in the mall, which is crowded with shoppers on this stifling summer morning. If you aren’t going to the beach, the mall is as good a place as any to keep cool. It’s a bustling center of commerce. Having been renovated about five years ago, it now contains three shopping levels, with an interior brightened by sunlight streaming in through skylights that line the ceiling. I sit down on a bench by the entrance of Macy’s to wait.
I spot Katie then, walking briskly in my direction. Her blonde hair, thin frame, and long legs cause many a head to turn and watch as she moves toward me.
Katie’s pensive expression clears when she spots me. She tosses a quick wave in my direction and hurries her step. “Hey Andy,” she says a bit breathlessly. “Can you believe how hot it is today?”
“Good day for shopping inside,” I answer, smiling and standing.
As we enter