“Beth’s office, how can I help you?”
“Beth?” The caller asked.
“No, this is Bridgette. She’s out to lunch at the moment. Can I help you?”
“Bridgette? As in, ‘I brought a cheesecake’, Bridgette?”
“Sean?” I asked.
“When you mentioned you two worked together, I didn’t know you were her assistant.”
“I’m not, I’m just answering her phone while she’s gone. So what did I miss after I left the party the other night?”
“Just more of my potential witty banter.” Sean teased.
“Any drunken singing?” I teased back.
“Nope just stuck with soda the rest of the night.”
“I would have thought you would have taken requests.”
“Oh….is that why you left.” Sean teased.
“No it’s not.” The phone call had gotten serious. “Well, Sean, I’ll tell her you called. Does she have your number?” I said changing the subject.
“No she doesn’t. I’ll give it to you right now. It’s (555) 555-1240. I’ll talk to you soon, Bridgette.”
“Yeah, sure. They say they’ll call but they never do.” I teased.
“Take care, Bridgette.” Sean said as he hung up.
As I sat there mulling over the conversation with Sean, Monica walked up to me with a disappointed look on her face.
“Bridgette, can we talk in my office?” Monica asked as I followed her into her office for more privacy.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Bridgette, sit down.” Monica said as she shut her office door.
“I’ve been offered a job in Chicago.”
“Chicago? What kind of job?”
“VP of Marketing for Maddison Hotels,” Monica explained.
“Wow, what did you say?”
“I told them yes. I’m leaving in a month.”
“Congrats, I’m happy for you.” My eyes started to tear up and my voice caught in my throat.
“Aww, Bridge don’t cry.” Monica hugged me.
“Sorry, it’s just…who am I going to cook my infamous Chicken Alfredo for and you know how much Kyle loves your boys.” I wept.
“If I had anything to say about this is you’re not losing a friend, you’re gaining a promotion. I’m going to talk to Vince about you this afternoon.”
“He still thinks I’m an assistant.” I shrugged. “I haven’t been an assistant for years.”
“He believes that every woman is an assistant.” Monica giggled. “But you know more than anyone out there including Vince. I’m going to do my best sales job.”
“Monica, you are unbelievable but what are the chances of that actually happening.” I blew my nose.
“What is meant to be, will be,” Monica said and hugged me again.
Near the end of the work day, I ran into Bridgette who hadn’t come to her cubicle since she left for lunch. She ran into the elevator carrying a stack of file folders.
“Hey, where have you been? You’ve been gone all afternoon.”
“Yeah, I know. Thanks for covering for me. I just got intercepted by Vince when I came back to the office. He wanted to talk about the client some of us are working on. We have another meeting at the end of the day. I am beat.”
“Sean called earlier. I left the message on your desk.”
“Yeah, I saw it when I stopped at my desk earlier for a second. I haven’t had the chance to call him back. Hey guess what? I have seats to tonight’s game. Do you want to come with me? I have two tickets.”
“Sorry I can’t. I have plans with Kyle.”
“Darn. Everyone I asked was busy. I was looking for a fun night out.” Beth said defeated.
“Why don’t you ask Sean?” I suggested.
“Sean? Oh, I haven’t asked him. He’s probably upset I haven’t called him back.”
“Well, you can make amends with the tickets.”
I ended up taking a late lunch due to covering for Beth while she had been in meetings off and on throughout the day. Fortunately, for me I was able to use the time to pick up Kyle since my babysitter was still out of town.
As I was packing up my stuff, getting ready to go home, Sean appeared behind me.
“Hey, cheesecake.”
“Oh, Sean. You scared me.”
“Sorry.” Sean laughed. “Does he work here?” Sean said nodding in Kyle’s direction.
“I’m only ten.” Kyle answered.
“That’s all?”
“Uh huh,” Kyle confirmed.
“That’s probably not old enough to work here. Would you guys happen to know where Beth is?”
“She’s in the conference room for a last minute meeting. They should be finished in a few minutes. Vince, our boss, rarely keeps there overtime unless notified ahead of time.”
“I see.” Sean said as he noticed Kyle drawing a shark. “Whoa, that’s kind of cool.”
“It’s Water Zone. Have you ever been there?”
“No. I’ve never gone.”
“I was supposed to go last year, but I got really sick,” Kyle said.
“Oh, that's a shame. You missed out on the pools and the huge water slides.”
“No way!”
“Way!” Sean joked with Kyle.
“Ever since last summer. He’s been obsessed with the place.” I said as I sat down next to Kyle.
“So, I take it Kyle is yours?” Sean asked.
“Yeah, lucky guess. He’s been mine for the past ten years. I think I’ll keep him.” I joked.
“Mom, I can hear you. She’s supposed to take me to Water Zone this year. Want to come?” Kyle asked Sean.
“Yeah, I’ll go with you. I’ve never been there. Thank you, man.” Sean said patting Kyle’s head.
“Mom, can I go play with the copy machine?”
“Hands only, buddy.”
“Alright…” Kyle walked away pouting.
“You may not want to bring it up, or he’ll be all over you. He never forgets.” I warned Sean.
“Neither do I.” Sean joked.
“I do believe someone owes me some drunken singing.”
“Be careful what you wish for.” Sean teased.
“Why do I always find you two together?” Beth walked up to us before she turned to Sean. “Ready for some basketball?”
“Definitely. Bye, Bridgette. I’ll see you later.”
“Have fun guys.” I said as Sean escorted Beth out of the office.
The next day, Beth, Monica and I congregated in the break room to hear Beth recount her date with Sean.
“It’s weird, it’s like Sean knows me, knows my soul.” Beth reminisced.
“Sounds like he’s a very sensitive guy.” Monica guessed.
“He seems to like me for what’s on the inside.”
“What’s on the outside, is what’s motivating him.” Monica joked.
“This one may be different, Monica,” Beth said as she jumped off the break room counter and took her coffee back to her cubicle.
“What about you? You haven’t mentioned internet guy lately.” Monica asked me.
“That’s because he’s stopped emailing.”
“Maybe he’s out of town or waiting for you to email him.” Monica guessed.
“Oh come on. Let’s face it, Monica. I’ve been having feelings for a guy I’ve never met, know nothing about and he could be anyone. I have a son to think about. I can’t bring strange men into his life.”
“That hasn’t exactly been a problem for you,” Monica said sarcastically.
“Whatever, I’m ending this right now.” I jumped off the counter and headed to my cubicle to stop all communication with her internet guy. I turned on my computer, opened up my email account and typed my ‘Dear John’ email:
SUBJECT: I’ve met someone
BODY: I’ve enjoyed getting to know you, but I’ve met someone and I think I need to move on. I’ve met someone real, someone, I like. He’s from the party I menti
oned the other day. I believe that it’s best if I focus on him right now and see where it goes. I hope you understand. All the best, B.
It didn’t take long for S to reply. His email read:
I totally understand, he sounds like a great guy. Good luck B.
As I read my Dear John email and his response over and over, Beth ran up to me excitedly.
“Sean just called. He sounded very happy. He said he wanted to take me camping next weekend. I’ve never been. What about you, what are you doing this weekend? Going to finally meet your secret admirer?” Beth teased.
“Hardly, I just dumped him.” I shrugged.
“Oh, that’s sad. Hey, I have a lot of guys I can fix you up with. Well, besides the ones from the party.”
“No. I’m not good on blind dates.” I declined.
“How do you expect to meet someone? The internet? I’ll tell you what, let’s go on a double date. Me and Sean with you and the guy I set you up with.”
“I guess.” I shrugged. I might as well, I was tired of having no one. I figured the more I tried to put myself out there, the more potential I had to meet someone decent. All of the great men couldn’t be taken already, could they?
“But before we go do this, you need to get some sort of makeover.” Beth said excitedly.
“Oh, no.” I resisted.
“Yes! Let’s go after work!” Beth squealed.
I showed up to work the next day in my new look. Beth and I spent the evening after work yesterday going to the salon and then hitting the shops to find some new attire. More dresses, Beth insisted.
Beth and I arrived at work at the same time, post-makeover. I looked like a totally different person and I was finally feeling sexy and beautiful. We walked into the lobby where Vince and Monica were standing.
“Vince, you remember Bridgette,” Beth said.
“Wow, what a great comeback!” Vince said wide eyed.
As Luke started to pass by, he didn’t recognize me at first. “Beth, are you going to introduce me to your friend?”
“Luke it’s me!” I smiled at the half-compliment.
“Bridgette? Wow! This is totally unbelievable.”
“Was that a compliment?” I asked Luke.
“Only if you want it to be,” Luke said suggestively.
“Bridgette, you are looking sexy!”
“Beth’s the makeover queen,” Bridgette said.
“No, she’s got it going on,” Beth said to Bridgette. “I guess that means, Operation: Bridgette is dating is on. What are you doing this weekend? I’m going to try and line up that double date I promised you.”
“Nothing, I guess.”
“Good. Keep it open. I’ll let you know the details.”
Chapter Eight
BY THE NEXT EVENING, Beth managed to set a blind date up for me and refused to tell me anything about it except when and where I should meet her. She didn’t even want to tell me the guy’s name.
“Mom, you look pretty. I’m glad you did a makeover.” Kyle said as he watched me put my makeup on in the vanity mirror.
“Thank you, honey. I’m starting to feel kind of beautiful.”
“Are you going to bring home a new dad?”
“I’m going to go on a date, honey, not a shopping spree.” I answered.
“That's a shame,” Kyle said dejectedly.
“Look, honey. I want you to understand something. One day you might have a new dad, but for now, all that matters is that I love you very much.”
“I know mom.”
“Be kind to your babysitter.” I instructed Kyle.
“I will.”
Thirty minutes later, I met Beth at the designated Italian restaurant and was introduced to my date for the first time. Not bad looking, I thought.
“Hi, Bridgette.”
“Hi, Beth.” I hugged her hello.
“Bridgette, this is Gabe. Gabe this is Bridgette.”
“Hi, nice to meet you.” I smiled.
Sean came running in several minutes later, “Sorry I’m late. Bridgette, you look beautiful.”
“Sean, this is Gabe. Bridgette’s date for the evening.” Beth said.
“Nice to meet you.” Sean said as the men shook hands.
After the waitress took our order and had brought it over, I noticed Sean was having an easier time eating the pasta noodles than I was. “As much as I love Italian food, I have never gotten the hang of twirling pasta. How do you do that?”
In a mock Italian accent, Sean began to show me how to twirl the pasta noodles. I try his technique and get it on the first try.
“Ah, perfect.” Sean said in his bad Italian accent.
“Gabe, Bridgette has the most adorable 10-year-old son named Kyle.”
“Oh yeah? What does he do for a living?” Gabe teased.
“In his mind, he’s a pro athlete. But realistically, he’s just learning to play ball. I’m not the greatest teacher.”
“Bridgette, I’d be up for teaching him,” Sean said suddenly.
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“It’s not a problem.” Sean shrugged.
“Are you kidding? I’m sure he’d love that.” I said astonished.
“It’s a date then.” Sean shrugged again and continued eating his pasta.
After dinner, Beth, Sean and I continued our double date and went for a walk to the local creamery to get some ice cream. Unfortunately, Gabe couldn’t join us as he had prior obligations in the morning.
“Tonight wasn’t so bad, was it?” Beth asked. “Would you like to see Gabe again?”
Before I could answer, Sean chimed in with an opinion of his own. “I’m not sure if Gabe is the right match for her.”
“It was the best I could do on short notice. You have to kiss a bunch of frogs before you find the prince. Right, Bridgette.”
“I wouldn’t say all of that.” I answered.
“Beth, I thought you believed in true love?” Sean asked.
“I believe in true luck, at least that’s how it always worked out for me.”
“But, you said you wanted believed in true love the other night.”
“No, you made the assumption about me. Besides, just because I want it, doesn’t mean I actually think it exists.”
“Guys, I think I’m going to just head on out.” I chimed in. I was starting to feel like the third wheel.
“Aww, Bridgette, don’t go. I thought you wanted to get some ice cream?”
“No it’s okay. I think I can do without the ice cream. You guys should go ahead and continue your date.”
“Are you sure?” Beth asked.
“Yeah, I think I’m good. Have fun you two.”
****
SEAN
I SPENT THE REST OF THE EVENING with Beth and we continued the heavy discussion about luck and love and it was awkward. I didn’t mean for it to turn so serious but I was surprised by the fact that she completely had a different take about love than what she had told me in the emails we had sent each other. I was also bothered by the fact that Beth set up Bridgette with a guy like Gabe.
He seemed like a nice guy overall but he told the most offensive jokes at dinner time and was so excessive about it, it was annoying and tested my patience and kindness. I wondered why Beth bothered to set Bridgette up with a guy like him, he definitely wasn’t her type. I knew her well enough to know that she deserved someone better. Someone that would challenge and match her intelligence and wit with their own.
I was so bothered last night that I texted Patrick the next morning and see if he wanted to shoot some hoops. I wanted to run everything by him and get his logical feedback. An objective opinion couldn’t hurt.
“So, she’s dating random guys…maybe, you should set me up with her.” Patrick joked while we played one-on-one basketball.
“I don’t think so, she’s a good girl. She’s nice, sweet and kind. She’s practically the perfect woman. She shouldn’t date cynical men like you.” I said before I shot th
e ball into the hoop but it bounced off the rim.
“Well, maybe she should be dating a guy more like you?” Patrick suggested.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“It means that it seems like you are very fond of a woman that you aren’t even dating.”
“I’m allowed to have a friend and a girlfriend. It’s called multitasking.”
“It’s called being weak. How’s Beth doing, by the way?” Patrick inquired.
“She’s very sexy, that’s how she is. Although, I think she may have a problem sharing personal details in person.”
“What happened now?” Patrick said as he rolled his eyes.
“Last night, she had a different take on true love than she did online. She’s confusing to me.”
“It’s one thing saying it online versus saying it in person,” Patrick said as he shot the ball into the hoop and missed the basket entirely. “So what’s next on your agenda with Beth?”
“I am taking her camping next week. She hasn’t ever been, which is surprising. In her emails, she seemed like the outdoorsy type.”
“Maybe she just said that because she wanted to impress you.” Patrick suggested.
“Maybe.”
****
BRIDGETTE
“SEAN AND I stayed up all night looking at the stars, which was fun for about an hour. Here’s a picture of him making a fire with sticks. We ended up toasting marshmallows, but I made him eat them. We even stopped at the outlet stores on the way back.” Beth said as she showed pictures of her camping trip with Sean. Beth’s phone started to ring and Beth the word ‘Sean’ to me.
“Kyle, keeps asking when Sean is coming over.” I said to Beth.
“Sean, did you hear that?” Beth relayed the message over to Sean. “He asked if you guys were available this weekend so he could teach him how to play catch and if there’s time, he wanted to teach him how to play baseball.
“Okay, Kyle’s going to be so happy.” I said.
Saturday morning, Sean suggested Kyle and I meet him at a local park so he could show Kyle how to throw and catch which he said was part of the fundamentals of baseball.
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