by Susan Cairns
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. I’m sure the nurses can get me a pillow and blanket,” she says as the nurse appears in the doorway.
“We can,” she says.
“Go, get some sleep. We’ll see you in the morning.” Mom gives me a hug.
After I step away, she pulls Jordan into her arms. We follow Mom out the door and watch as she disappears into the surgical wing before we head back to the parking garage. The ride back to Jordan’s is quiet, neither of us making any noise except for the occasional yawn. Once we’re in his apartment, we say good night, and Jordan heads to his room as I’m off to the guest bedroom. Without changing, I crawl across the bed and crash as soon as my head hits the pillow. The only dream I have is one where I go back to Buffalo and get the woman who’s captured my world.
Chapter Sixteen
Taylor
“Knock, knock,” I say, tapping lightly on Miranda’s doorjamb.
“Taylor, good morning! Just the person I wanted to see. Come on in,” she says, lifting her face from the big pile of papers in front of her. “Shut the door too, please.”
“What’s going on?” I ask, not really understanding why she wants to see me.
“I went looking for you on Friday. Did you end up leaving early?”
“Um, yeah, I did, just by a couple of minutes though. Is that a problem?”
“No, not at all. You come in early every day, I’m not worried about you cutting out early on a Friday, especially when you’re not feeling well. I wanted to catch you before you left, but it’s not a big deal that I didn’t. It was nothing that couldn’t wait for today.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, because it’s not like her to seem discombobulated.
“Everything’s fine, or at least it will be. I’m sure Reid told you already, but he’s going to be out of the office this week.”
“Actually, I haven’t talked to him since before I left on Friday.”
“Oh, I just assumed he’d called you.” She studies my face for a minute. “Anyway, his father had a heart attack and he’s in Chicago for the week, so I’m going to need you to check in with his clients and oversee his team for the week.”
“Oh, okay.” My response probably seems out of character, given what she just told me, but I can’t let my emotions come out or I’ll lose my nerve. And right now I need everything I’ve got in me.
“The call center project can wait. We have plenty of time to get that in—”
“That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.” I pause, hesitating to go on.
“All right, what’s going on?”
“I don’t know how to say this, but I’ve never kept from you the fact that I’m always looking for new opportunities. I told you from the beginning that I would. And well, I was offered a position I can’t refuse. I’m handing in my resignation this morning.” I pull from my folio the letter I printed earlier and hand it to Miranda.
She reads it with a raised brow. “You’re starting next Monday, but this is dated for today?”
“I know. I met with them on Saturday and accepted their offer.”
“Is this saved on your computer here?”
“Yeah…” I say, dragging out the word.
“Good, go back to your desk and change the date to last Monday. This way if things don’t work out, I’ll be able to hire you back.”
“Are you serious?”
“As long as it stays between you, me, and these walls, then yes, I’m dead serious.”
“Miranda, I… you don’t need to do this.”
“You’re right, I don’t, but clearly this is something you need to do, so I’m offering you an out. Change the date and bring it back.” She hands me the paper and motions for me to leave, so I start to turn. “Oh, and put it on my calendar as a meeting, that way no one will sneak in here before you come back.” Miranda gives me a wink.
“I will,” I acknowledge her request then head out the door.
In a daze, I make my way back to my desk, my folio tucked under my arm, with my head down. As I round the corner to my cube, I find Casey sitting in my chair, and if looks could kill, I’d be six feet under. She’s pissed and she’s not going to let me get away like I did over the weekend.
“I guess I’m lucky there’s no door for you to hide behind today, huh?” she asks sounding snotty and maybe a little hurt.
“I left you a note,” I say, shrugging then leaning my butt against the bare part of my desk.
Picking up my Post-its, she says through gritted teeth, “You stuck a fucking note on your door telling me you’d explain later.”
“I know, I’m sorry. I should have let you in, but I didn’t know where my head was.”
“Pretty sure it was on top of your fucking neck, kind of like it is now.” She shakes her head, her mouth turned up in an exaggerated smirk.
“Listen, Case—”
“No, you listen, Taylor. You don’t get to do this shit. I’m your best friend! You don’t chase me away when something’s wrong. You come to me, you tell me, we try to figure it out, and then we get drunk. Same thing you expect from me, or don’t you remember the last time I tried to hide from you?”
“I remember.”
“I’m sure you do. Your knuckles are probably still bleeding from knocking on my door. So what gives? What the hell happened?”
“I’ll tell you, but I have to get something done for Miranda first. How about we make a Starbucks run when I’m done?”
“Fine, I’ll let you have it this time because it’s work and I know how seriously you take it. But number one, you’re buying and number two, you’re getting the okay from Miranda for me.”
“Done and done,” I agree as Casey stands from my chair.
She steps by me but turns to look back when she reaches the door. “Oh, and you’re spilling everything. Highlights first, then filling in the blanks over drinks later, got it?”
“I got it,” I agree again because I don’t want to be on Casey’s shit list. It’s not a good place to be.
“You’re buying dinner too.”
“I guess I owe you that,” I concede.
“You’re fucking right you do. I’ve been worried sick all weekend.” She gives me a sad smile and I see a tear in her eye, so I pull her into my arms, giving her a tight hug.
“I’m okay, and I promise I’ll tell you everything,” I say, pulling away but leaving my hands on her shoulders.
“Good, now get your ass to work. I need coffee,” she demands and I roll my eyes.
“Yes, boss.” I huff out a laugh and turn Casey with my hands, giving her a little shove out the door.
Once Casey is out of sight, I sit behind my computer and bring it to life. I wrote the letter this morning when I came in, so it’s still open and ready for me to “correct.” But first, I need to schedule a time with Miranda through Outlook. All I have to say is thank god that woman shared her calendar with me; she always seems to be in a meeting or on her way to one. Although this morning looks pretty clear, so I block off the next half hour, change my date, then hit Print. Just in case, I grab my folio and tuck the letter inside on my way back to Miranda’s office.
“Miranda?” I ask tentatively even though I blocked the time for myself.
Sitting in the same position, Miranda lifts her head and gives me a sad smile. “Come on in.”
“Here you go,” I say, slipping the letter from my folio then handing it to her across the desk.
“So now that that’s done, are you going to tell me what’s really up?”
“I’m not really sure I know what you mean?”
“I think you do,” she deadpans. “I’m not blind, and neither is anyone else. Although I do have to commend you for trying to keep it out of the office.”
“Now I’m really confused.” I try to keep a straight face, but who am I kidding. I know exactly what she’s talking about.
“Keep playing dumb, I’ll spell it out for you. Three weeks ago, something in you changed. Yo
u tried to hide it that first week, but I saw it. The way you looked at him, right from the beginning, gave you away.” She looks straight into my eyes, but I hold my composure. “It’s deeper than just an office fling, isn’t it?”
“Miranda, I think you saw something you really didn’t.”
“No, I didn’t, because after you finally realized what was there, you started to smile more. You were happy-go-lucky, completely different. Now you’re resigning, so I have to know, is it because things ended?”
Looking at the ceiling, I take a deep breath then blow it out. “It’s over, but that’s not the reason I’m resigning. I really did get an offer I can’t refuse.”
“Okay, so tell me about it?” Miranda waves her hands, encouraging me to open up.
“About what, the offer?”
“Everything. What happened?”
“I don’t think that’s very professional.”
“Cut the shit, Taylor.” She slams her hands on a pile of paper in front of her. “You just quit and I let you backdate your letter of resignation, so I think we’re past professional at this point.”
“Ugh, fine, but please, I don’t want anyone to know.”
“What’s said in this office stays in this office. And that goes both ways.” She eyes me, waiting for my agreement, so I nod and Miranda relaxes back into her chair.
“Well, you’re right. There’s definitely something between Reid and me, and I can’t even begin to describe what it is. I did fight it at the beginning, but being around him every day, all day, I just couldn’t push past it, so I finally gave in. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted; he’s smart, talented, gorgeous, and an all around great guy. The best part is, he can turn my day around with one smile. I’ve never felt the way he makes me feel.”
“So what happened?”
I feel my face fall. “He’s with someone else. I’m the other woman, and that’s something I vowed I’d never be.”
“Jesus, wow, I didn’t see that coming. I honestly thought the same thing you did, minus the whole tingly part.” She waves her hand around and gives me a small smile.
“Yeah, well, story of my life,” I say with a shrug. “Just when I think I’ve found what I’ve been looking for, it turns to shit.”
“And you’re sure this isn’t why you’re leaving?” Miranda asks giving me a pointed look, with her head tipped to the side.
“I’m positive. But… he and I did talk when this all started, about not working together anymore if our relationship, if you can call it that, went anywhere. So, I started submitting resumes. A couple of places called me, but I wasn’t going to bite if they didn’t give me exactly what I wanted.”
“This company did?”
“Yeah, they’re giving me more than I asked for. I just hope I can live up to their expectations,” I answer, lowering my head trying to hide the nervousness written across my face.
“I’m sure you can. Do you mind telling me about it?”
I raise my head and I look Miranda directly in the eyes, trying to conjure up the confidence I know is inside of me. “It’s a lead project management position. I’ll be directing a team, making the final decisions, and ensuring things go as planned. Basically what I do here, just on a larger scale.”
“What type of business?”
“It’s health insurance, which,” I say throwing my left hand out to the side, “I have no experience in whatsoever, but they need help restructuring and implementing new workflows.”
“Taylor,” Miranda dips her head, looking at me with wide eyes, through her lashes. “That’s right up your alley.”
“I know,” I respond with a furrowed brow. “But it’s completely different than getting a small business out of the toilet and I’m a little nervous.”
“Don’t be,” Miranda reaches across the desk toward me. “And remember I was your mentor before I was your boss. Don’t be afraid to call me if you need an opinion.”
“You don’t need to make promises like that, Miranda.”
“You’re right, I don’t, but I’m going to anyway,” she adds, leaning back in her chair and folding her hands across her middle. “You know, you should have stayed on for the call center project. It would have given you more confidence.”
“I don’t doubt that for a minute, but if I had turned them down this time, I don’t know if they would have made the same offer next time.”
“True, and I think you’ll be fine, more than fine. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you are going to be a powerhouse in this business. This experience will only help that.”
I smile. “You don’t even know what it means to me to hear you say that.”
“Probably the same thing it meant when my mentor said it to me, and look where I am now! Just think, in a few years you could branch off and start your own company, especially if you steal some of my employees.”
“Casey?” I ask raising my brow.
“Yeah, I’m sure she’ll be following you soon.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” I shake my head. “I think she wants to finish up her degree before she makes any career moves.”
“We’ll see. Have you told her yet?”
“No, and she’s probably ready to break down your door to get to me. Which reminds me, do you mind if we take a morning break and head over to Starbucks? Maybe an hour? We’ll both make it up.”
“No, go ahead, but bring me back a venti nonfat latte. And don’t tell Casey I gave in this easy. We both know she’ll use it to her advantage in the future.”
“True, but like you said, what’s said in this office, stays in this office,” I remind her with a little giggle.
“Come here,” Miranda says, standing from her chair and stepping around the side of her desk.
I mimic her movement, going a step further into her extended arms. I feel Miranda take a deep breath and blow it out with a sigh. When I do the same, she squeezes a little tighter.
“No tears, not yet. We’ll save them for Friday.” She pulls back until she’s looking into my eyes and her hands are resting on my shoulders, which she squeezes before letting go. “Are you going to tell him?” Miranda steps back to her chair.
“I don’t know. Probably not, but I’m sure he’ll find out soon enough,” I respond, backing up to the door.
“Do you want me to?”
“Will you?”
“Of course, but I won’t do it without giving him some shit about it,” she says with a wink.
“Just don’t tell him where I’m going. He’s been calling me, trying to get me to talk to him. and I wouldn’t put it past him to show up there.”
“You got it. Now go get your coffee so Casey will get back to work.”
“Ha! I will. Thank you, Miranda,” I say, softening my face and my voice, then I pull the door open.
“Anytime, kid,” she replies to my back, and I smile.
Just like earlier, I find Casey in my chair, only this time she’s spinning in circles while looking at her shoes. I stop and watch her for a minute, not wanting to disturb this weird thing she has going on. Also, I want to remember these moments, the ones I won’t have when I’m not working here anymore. And now I’m tearing up, damn it!
“What are you doing?” I ask, finally breaking Casey’s trance.
She stomps her feet on the floor, stopping the chair. “Waiting for you. Everything okay with boss lady?” I can tell she’s worried and confused.
“It is. I’ll tell you all about it over coffee, but it’s going to have to be the shortened version.”
“I’ll take what I can get for now,” she promises.
“All right, let’s go,” I say, stepping into my cube to grab my purse from my credenza.
Both of us are quiet until we break free from the reception doors.
“So spill,” Casey demands. “We have a limited amount of time and you have some splainin’ to do!”
“Reid has a girlfriend,” I spit without warning as we cross the parking
lot, side by side.
“Holy shit!” Casey yells, stopping in her tracks. “Just put it right out there, why don’t you.”
“Like you said, we don’t have much time.” I take a couple of steps back to where she is and grab her arm to pull her along with me.
Casey shakes her head as if she’s looking for the right thing to say. “How did you find out? And why are you so calm about it?”
“Last Friday, I was dropping some things in the UPS drop box and she brought him a cake for his birthday. And I’m calm because I took all weekend to stew over it.”
“Wait, she just came out and told you it was for her boyfriend’s birthday?” She stops again, this time at the main road to wait for a clearing to cross.
“No, but I heard her say it to Brian.”
“Oh shit! Did you tell her?”
“No, I couldn’t. She seemed so oblivious. I didn’t want to be the one to destroy her,” I say, throwing my arms out to my sides.
“Taylor! He’s a cheater,” Casey replies, dramatically shaking her hands in front of her. “You should have exposed him for the fucking douchebag he is.”
“I know, and trust me, I thought about it all weekend. This poor woman thinks she’s in love with a great guy and he’s nothing but a sleazeball.”
“Sleazeball? It’s more like a steaming pile of dog shit.”
“Nice imagery.” I drag her across the street when there’s a break in the traffic.
“You know I like to call them how I see them.”
“This is true, but you’re also the one who told me to go for it,” I say and immediately regret it. Casey didn’t know he was seeing someone either. I shouldn’t be trying to put this on her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. You didn’t know.”
“I didn’t, but I’m usually better at reading people. He didn’t give me a vibe that he was with someone.”
I blow out a big sigh, instead of saying anything.
“He gave you the vibe, didn’t he?”
“He did, when he wouldn’t stay over. But I didn’t bother questioning him because I’ve never felt this way. I really thought he was the one I’ve been waiting for.”