by T. M. Meek
The memory of the man that complained after the presentation haunted Alex. She couldn’t get out of her mind his comment about not being able to save twenty-five percent for retirement. She had to do something to get some peace so she sat down at her desk in her bedroom and went to work. It was a Friday night and she worked all through the night and on into the next morning. She kept at it, turning away invitations from Meredith to play or go with her grocery shopping but stepping into the kitchen from time to time only for a quick meal before she went back to study more in her room. Alex was determined to get to the bottom of the problem. When Sunday morning came, Alex finally fell asleep.
“Samuel, something is wrong.” Meredith whispered to Samuel just after peeking into Alex’s bedroom to see her sleeping when it was over an hour past when she would normally be awake.
“With what?” Samuel asked confused.
“Alex. She’s hardly left her room in two days.”
“Two days?” Samuel could see that would definitely be a problem. But, since he had been busy working himself, he hadn’t noticed.
“Almost two days.” Meredith’s eyes furrowed in worry.
“What do you think is going on? New boyfriend? Texting him all day and night? She’s too young for that.”
“No. Not a boyfriend.”
“Well, then what?”
“I think there’s a problem with her presentation. When she was in the kitchen eating yesterday I brought some clean laundry into her room. She had all of these financial reports spread out everywhere. Statistics and historical news and other stuff about the U.S. dollar and gold…and farming.” Meredith looked especially bewildered when she said farming.
“You think Alex wants to become a farmer?” Samuel asked in a most serious tone. “Now, that’s trouble! I’ll put a stop to that this instant!” He said sarcastically as he threw down a hand towel he was using and began to march over to Alex’s room.
“Get back here!” Meredith smiled knowing Samuel was only joking about getting Alex in trouble for farming.
“There will be no farmers in this house! Drug dealers are okay. But farmers?…No way!” he smiled sarcastically as he returned to Meredith who was already pulling his arm to keep him from getting very far.
“Silly, handsome husband,” Meredith smiled and hugged him close to her. “It’s not farming that’s the problem.”
“I know. It’s the drug dealers,” he shrugged. “They need to be put in jail. Every last one of them!” he smiled but he could see Meredith wanted him to become even more serious for a minute.
“Samuel…” she pleaded.
“Obviously it’s not farming that’s the problem.” He agreed seriously. “Two days without socializing with anyone at home is definitely an indicator something is wrong.” He was truly serious. He hugged and then kissed her before returning to the kitchen counter where he was slicing an apple.
“What could be wrong with her presentation? Linda looked over it before Alex gave it.” He was worried but he tried to stay positive.
“Well, what if Linda made a recommendation that Alex didn’t follow?”
“Or what if Alex didn’t tell Linda everything? Or what if Alex changed the presentation after discussing it with Linda?”
“Contrary to what Linda advised?”
“Maybe.”
Meredith sneaked back over to look in Alex’s bedroom. “Oh…I don’t know.” Alex was still sleeping so Meredith tip-toed back over to Samuel. “What if…”
“What?” Samuel asked worried.
“Do you think she …”
“What? What? Don’t leave me hanging! Spit it out! Just say it! What?” Samuel pushed anxiously just before taking a bite of apple.
“I just have this feeling that she discovered something that she’s afraid to tell us about. Or afraid to tell…someone.” Meredith folded her arms across her chest and felt a sudden chill. “I don’t know. I just sense fear.”
“I’ve got it! I’ve got it!” Alex said loudly as she ran over to Meredith and Samuel in the kitchen. “Aunt Meredith? Can you drop me off at Leena’s for an emergency Triple-C meeting?” Alex requested eagerly as she quickly put on a jacket over her shirt. “Please? Please?”
“Ummm…okay,” Meredith replied hesitantly.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Alex sounded out of breath as she ran back into her bedroom and grabbed her black-n-white checkered back pack and a few other things.
“Find out what’s up.” Samuel whispered to Meredith in a way that encouraged her to be both gentle and discreet. He then picked up his cell phone and dialed a number as he headed to the kitchen table.