The moment was coming. She could tell by the subtle changes in Harriet's body language. Elton was listening, his body language shifting more comfortably as he leaned against the nearest cubicle wall.
Harriet was turning away. She was crossing the room towards Em, her body rigid and her face down until she got closer. When she lifted her face, Em saw a beaming, bright smile.
"He said yes."
Her voice was almost a squeal. Vic was getting it all on film, Em realized — and this probably wouldn't be edited out for the condensed version of events. Several members of the office staff were glancing Harriet's way, quizzically, while Em's hands were practically numb in Harriet's exultant grip of celebration for the question's answer.
Chapter Seven
Colin shook out his napkin and folded it in his lap. "Can you see them?" he asked.
"They're still ordering," Em replied, looking over his shoulder. "The waiter's blocking part of my view, but I can see Elton's face. He's smiling, at least."
"Are they laughing? Talking?" Colin persisted.
"I can't see. Besides, I'm trying to be discreet." Em was holding her own menu open, trying to look interested in the coffee and sandwich prices.
"Can you see Harriet now? The waiter's moved on."
"Switch seats," said Em.
"What?"
"Switch seats. Sit in this chair on my right. Then you'll be able to see them."
"But it won't look natural," answered Colin. "If we're having lunch together, I would logically sit across from you."
"Then let's pretend we're waiting for a third person," Em answered. At least the likely third person, Vic, wouldn't be joining them — he was filming from another table, from an angle where only Elton's back would appear on camera.
With a sigh, Colin shifted his place to the one adjoining Em's own. Two tables away, Harriet and Elton were having a lively conversation, in Em's estimate. She heard the sound of Harriet's giggle after something her coworker said.
"So far so good," said Em. Her voice must have betrayed her surprise, because Colin raised an eyebrow.
"Don't tell me you had doubts about this scenario?" he said. "Miss I'm-Quite-Sure-It-Will-All-Work-Out?"
"All right. Guilty," Em answered. "I thought there was a slim possibility that this guy would say 'no,' after the way you described his photo. After all, while Harriet is a sweet, attractive girl ..."
"...she's hardly in the same league with him," supplied Colin. "That's what I surmised from his photo, yes. But it appears I might be wrong."
"Then perhaps there's more to him than beauty. Brains, even," said Em.
"Clever people are even worse about this sort of thing than merely attractive, vain ones," Colin answered. "They know how to hurt the ones they consider unworthy of themselves. How to say the right words in such a way to cut them deeply."
Em glanced at him. "Then it's a good sign that Elton is nice?"
"There's always the opposite type," said Colin. "The ones who prefer to have a crowd of admirers, regardless of their so-called 'worthiness.' They wait as long as possible to give unwanted romantic partners the discouraging hint — milking them, so to speak, for admiration and compliments, until someone better comes along."
Ugh. His profile of the masculine mindset was getting gloomier by the second.
Em sighed. "Shall we order?"
"Why not? We're in a restaurant. It's lunchtime. And I suppose we can't leave until Harriet Smith's landmark step forward is complete."
Harriet and Elton stayed for the full lunch hour. They seemed to have plenty to talk about, Em observed. Harriet laughed often, although with more enthusiasm than Em thought was necessary. Don't try too hard, Harriet, she thought. She half-expected to see Elton cringing away in response, although he showed no signs of noticing it.
"Oh, Doctor Emma, it was amazing." Harriet's voice was reverent over the phone. "He was so, so sweet. And he totally understands. He knows about the ... well, the online videos. He said I was really funny and cute. And the sessions with you, and all that. I had to explain who you were, since he saw you at the office today...so we talked about all that stuff."
"That's great," said Em. "Did you talk about anything else?"
"He's just really understanding. I mean, I think he finally really notices me. Not just as the girl who brings him a cup of coffee from the office lounge, or helps him sort the paperwork during inventory..."
"Did the two of you talk about hobbies? Families?" Em hinted.
"No. Just this project with you, and work. But we're having a drink together tomorrow night!"
"You are?"
"Yes! He said we should spend more time together! We're meeting at O' Malley's at seven-thirty. You'll be there, right?"
"Of course I will," said Em. "I wouldn't miss it for the world." Neither would Vic, she supposed.
"Good. He knows about you now, so you won't have to hide, you guys and the cameraman and stuff." She paused. "We won't have to wear mics, will we? I mean, Vic won't be filming what we say when we're alone. Will he?" She was thinking about the previous film sessions, the sound bites Vic left intact between the video voice-over. No doubt she was imagining the same rules applied to her date.
"Relax, no one will be listening to you and Elton but yourselves," said Em.
*****
"They're here." This time, Colin was the one seated with the advantageous viewpoint from their corner table in the bar. It was dimly-lit and slightly smoky, forcing Em to crane her neck as she peered towards the bright square of light representing the bar's opening door and outside entrance light. Elton closed it behind himself and Harriet, who was pulling off her coat. Beneath it, the dress she had worn to her first meeting with Em and Colin.
"She's waving at us," said Colin. The cameraman Vic was moving in closer in response, gesturing for them to do the same. He had brought a boom mic operator with him this time.
"She wants us to meet him," said Em. "Apparently, he doesn't have a problem with all this. He thinks it's cute."
"What a lucky break," said Colin, dryly.
The couple was seated side by side at the bar, Harriet still waving enthusiastically. Elton rose from his seat and smiled.
"Hi," he said. "Elton Richards. Nice to meet you." He shook hands with them both, his eye meeting Em's for a long second, revealing a bright green iris rimmed by hazel.
He was good-looking in person. Not romance novel cover material, but a person who knew their best features and how to make good use of them. She caught a whiff of spices — his aftershave — clinging lightly to the collar of his jacket and button-down shirt.
"Well, this is an unconventional meeting, to say the least," observed Colin.
"Harriet told me about this project, so I couldn't pretend not to know the reasons you're here," said Elton. "But it sounds like you're really helping Harriet, so I couldn't say no, either."
Beside him, Harriet was beaming. She wasn't clinging to his arm, but Em noticed the girl's body was poised as close to him as possible, as if waiting for an excuse to brush against his arm.
"So, tell us about yourself, Elton," said Em.
"There's not much to tell. I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a business degree from Northwestern. I've worked at Lunden about a year. Actually, I'm in line for a promotion in the next year or so — to sales and product development. No surprise, I've got fingers crossed that it comes through this time." He smiled, as if thinking of a private joke.
He glanced at Emma. "I've heard a lot about you, Doctor Emma," he said. "I've heard your show several times. In person, you're different from what I expected. I guess I thought that somebody who was that caring and mature would be ... well, more mature than you." He gave an embarrassed grin with this statement.
"No need to apologize, it happens all the time," answered Em.
"Still, it's hardly fair, is it? Unless somebody sees your billboard, they have no idea what you're actually like. Except you'll be on television in a few days, right?
Harriet says you're going to debate theories about love with somebody."
"Me, actually." Colin cleared his throat. "Tell us about you and Harriet," he said.
Elton considered this question. "We've been friends for about — two years?" he glanced at Harriet.
"Yeah. Almost exactly," she answered. "That's when I started spending time with you guys."
"And she's great, of course," said Elton. "She really deserved a chance. It was great that you guys saw that and gave her a helping hand." He glanced from Colin to Emma with these words.
His smile looked genuine, although it wasn't one Em particularly liked. Different tastes, she supposed. "We should be going, and let the two of you have your evening out," she said.
"But you'll be watching," said Elton, with a smile. The cameraman and mic operator retreated, along with Em and Colin.
"Can you hear what they're saying from here?" Colin asked. They were at their corner table again, Harriet and Elton still chatting at the bar.
"No. Same as last time you asked, twenty minutes ago."
"It's getting late," he said, checking his watch. "I really do need to go."
"Do you turn into a pumpkin at ten o' clock?" asked Em, amused.
"No," he answered. "I have an appointment in the morning with my agent. I also have a faculty meeting at the psychology department tomorrow."
"Oh," said Em, slightly mollified. "Well, you can go, if you like. I'll stick around and see Harriet through."
"I don't want to leave you here alone," said Colin.
"I promise, I can hail my own cab," said Em. "I don't consider it ungentlemanly of you to go when I tell you to go."
At this moment, Harriet and Elton seemed to be wrapping up their drink. Elton helped her on with her jacket, then walked her towards the door.
"And the curtain lowers on act two," said Colin. "I'll hail a cab for you."
"I drove," she informed him, with a smile. "Would you like a ride? I was staying for a quick drink, but it can wait for another time." She was curious to see where he lived — was it an apartment with a perfectly-planted window box and no pets?
"That's quite all right," he said. "I live in the opposite direction from you. And I wouldn't want to rush you for the sake of something that only wastes your time and fuel." He slipped on his coat. "I'll hail a cab for myself and see you in two days."
The debate, thought Em. She shrank from the thought of it looming in her future. "Then I guess I'll say goodnight."
"Goodnight. Emma." With that, he was gone.
Now that she was alone, Em shifted from the dark corner table to the bar. "One Coke with cherries, please," she ordered. After all, she was driving after this. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she debated calling Frank to see if he'd like to join her. By now, he would be done agonizing after chapter seven, surely. He would be calling her in another hour to help untangle some knot in his textual flow...
"Hi again." Elton was seated beside her. His sudden appearance startled her.
"I thought you'd gone," she said, her brow wrinkling with confusion.
"I got Harriet a taxi," he said. "But I wanted to come back in and say thank you for doing this for her."
"Please, Elton, there's no reason to keep saying it," said Em.
"But I wanted to." He motioned the bartender for a second drink. "I'll have what the lady has," he said. Em started to tell him there was no alcohol in hers, but never got the chance.
"I really admire what you do for the people who call in to your show. You can hear what a difference it makes to them."
"Thank you," said Em. She was beginning to grow a little tired of this phrase being uttered in response to Elton's compliments. "My work is a pleasure. Well, most of it, anyway. Not this upcoming debate with Doctor Ferris, perhaps."
"I'll bet you'll be amazing," he said. "I think you'll be great on television. Maybe they'll give you your own show after you win that debate."
"It's not really about winning the debate," said Em. "It's more about the best way of reaching people who want help in forming a healthy, meaningful romantic relationship." That, or it's about free P.R. for my show and Colin's book, as her brain snarkily suggested.
"I'm sure you help plenty of people," said Elton. "Harriet, for instance. Poor girl. She really needed a night out with a guy. It's obvious, really, why you're helping her like this. It's good of you to do it." His hand brushed against Em's. She withdrew hers, swiftly.
"Are you not ... attracted to Harriet?" A touch of indignation crept into her voice.
"What? Me? No." Elton sounded incredulous. "No, I just said yes because of the whole webcam thing. You were there, you saw her stumbling around, talking to strangers. It was sad. She's a nice enough girl, and I felt sorry for her."
"You realize that she had no idea this is a pity date," said Em. "You're her friend and she — she really admires you. She would like to get to know you better."
"She has a little crush, I guess. But it's not mutual, I assure you," said Elton, sounding slightly disgusted. "So, what does it matter? She's not my type, because I prefer a different kind of girl."
He was looking pointedly at Em. Who was beginning to understand just why he said yes to all this the other morning in Harriet's office.
"Harriet doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. Don't you realize that?" Em said. "Isn't she your friend?"
"She is. But she's just a girl from the office," he answered. "Harriet's nice enough, all right? But I would never date a girl like her. Period. So if you're concerned that I'm stringing her along, then don't be. I'll let her be miserable alone, if that's what you want. I just thought I'd try to help you out." He muttered this last part under his breath.
"I think we can do without your help," Em answered. With that reply, she rose from her seat and left without another word.
Chapter Eight
Had Elton been drunk, he might have followed Em outside the bar and shouted insults at her as she drove away. He wasn't drunk enough to do it, or had too strong a sense of dignity, because he stayed inside. No doubt nursing his ego, she thought, bitterly, as she pulled away from the curb.
Harriet was crying over the phone the next evening. "He told everyone," she sniffled. "The whole office. They all watched the videos on the web, and they're laughing at me. It's so humiliating."
"I'm so, so sorry, Harriet," Em soothed. "We had no idea he would use you like that. I know you trusted him and this hurts."
"Everybody thinks I'm a loser," said Harriet. "I'm so alone now..." Her voice disappeared, the sound of sobs over the phone taking its place.
"This whole project is a disaster, Frank." Em was crying a little herself during this conversation. "Shallow and stupid and utterly pointless, beginning to end. All we've done is expose Harriet to ridicule. Those web videos — they've had to cut the comment section off. I was glad someone with the project had the decency to do that much, at least."
"Come on, Em," said Frank, gently. "It's not your fault. If you want to blame someone, blame your mannequin of a therapy partner. He was the one who agreed first. You were just ... carried along by the project."
"But it's partly my fault," said Em. She blew her nose and attempted to suppress the sound of angry tears in her voice. "I talked her into this. His instincts about her friend Elton were dead on. But I believed her when she said he was nice ..."
"And there you go. You put your trust in people, who are sometimes mistaken, and he put his trust in his instincts, which probably recognized this guy as a twin. One jerk to another."
"He does seem like a jerk," admitted Em. "But not quite the same as this sleazy charmer who's now laughing at Harriet. Oh, I have to fix this, Frank. I have to help her. I know there's a way, regardless of Col — Doctor Ferris's doubts. I will make this right somehow." Her tone was firmer with this statement.
"That's the spirit, Em. Show him that he's not the end-all-be-all on relationship psychology," said Frank. "Use this debate to teach him a lesson in humility."
"Yes," said Em. "Although, I can't be dishonest. He wasn't entirely wrong ... just a big spoilsport about every aspect of it —"
"This, from the very person who's to blame for you both getting involved in the first place," reasoned Frank.
"If he had just kept his mouth politely closed during my show, none of this would have happened," said Em. "So, in a way, I can't say anything too rude, can I?"
"That's the spirit."
It wasn't. Em was convinced of this when she hung up, then convinced again that Frank was right when she glanced at the cover of Doctor Ferris's book. He really was pompous, wasn't he? Wasn't he?
In the green room at WMZ's studio, she chewed her nail as she gazed at the reflection of herself, the only color her dark hair and bright lipstick — Izzy had insisted on the shade from the billboard — and the two-piece dress and half-sleeve jacket in a shade which her producer had referred to as 'port wine on ice.' Everything else was pale and colorless, thanks to the nerves chewing the insides of her stomach.
Someone knocked on the door. "Ten minutes, Doctor Emma." The stage manager poked his head inside briefly.
She nodded. Be yourself. Be natural. Be the voice for Harriet and all the others who aren't ready and aren't sure how to approach traditional therapy.
Maybe Colin was as nervous as she was. But when she phoned him about Harriet's misery, her call had gone to voicemail. Twice. She wondered if he felt as guilty as herself for what happened — or if he thought it was all her fault for letting Harriet take this step too soon. Maybe he had forgotten whose fault it was that any of this happened in the first place —
"Welcome to Thursday's edition of In the Moment. I'm your host, Janet Fairfax, and tonight marks the first in a series of debates that we hope will be sometimes controversial, and always informative."
Janet Fairfax was surprisingly young and attractive — surprising only because Em remembered her from a blurry black-and-white photo in the local PBS guide. Her chestnut hair was pinned sedately back from her face, her business suit modest, neutral, and impeccably tailored. She was seated in the moderator's chair, flanked on either side by her guests, the show's daily debate opponents. In this case, Em and Colin.
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