by Lass Small
Tyler walked along to a café for lunch. He was deliberately alone. With a group a man can’t offer to sit down with a single woman. He needed a woman. Actually, he needed Kayla. Even going alone this way, he wasn’t really interested in finding another woman to be permanent. He wanted to talk and be listened to.
He went through the lunch line not seeing anyone he knew. The place was Nick’s. The owner was named Bob. The place had been Nick’s for something like thirty years. Tyler greeted Bob, didn’t see Tim wave to him and went to a table with one woman.
No rings. Not bad looking. Slender. Reading a book. She needed company.
Tyler inquired with courtesy, “Vacant?” And he indicated the chair across from her.
She looked up from her book to look only at the chair. She said, “Nobody’s around. You can have it.” And she went back to her book.
She didn’t say one word to Tyler. She didn’t even look at him. He felt like a ghost. Women looked at Tyler. He was always careful to only smile and never wink. Winking can get a man in trouble.
His table partner went on reading. He tried to see what the book was. Not a clue. He asked, “What’s the book about?”
She briefly looked up and said, “Huh?” But she instantly went back to the book.
That’s a put-off. So Tyler didn’t try for dialogue.
It was diminishing to have a book be more interesting than being a man like he was. He asked for the salt.
Blindly, she handed it to him from the middle of the small table. She didn’t look up from the book.
He pretended to salt everything without salting anything. He didn’t tilt the shaker but he moved his hand up and down as if he was salting it all. She never looked up. Then he put the shaker in the middle of the table. He asked, “Why is the book so interesting?”
“I’m on my lunch hour.”
Tyler narrowed his eyes. That was another put-off. She was on her lunch hour therefore she didn’t need to discuss anything with a stranger.
She ate and read. Tyler sat silently and ate. He looked around somewhat. No one was staring at him with knowledgeable sneers. People went on with their lives not needing to know what Tyler Fuller was doing or how he was doing or if he was deliberately being ignored by another indifferent woman.
It’s diminishing to realize no one really cares about a recently divorced man.
He remembered the sci-fi motion picture of The Shrinking Man. Tyler’s clothes still fit. He could sit on a chair. He wasn’t actually shrinking.
That was something to be thankful about. He drew a breath that was rather sad. She didn’t look up. A man could sigh that sadly and that heartless woman didn’t even have the courtesy to ask what was the matter. What was the world coming to?
So Tyler took the long way back to the office. He told Jamie, “I met a woman at lunch.”
Jamie never glanced up. He replied. “I saw her.”
Tyler silently sat down at his desk. Jamie had seen the reading woman who’d never even once looked at Tyler.
Tyler picked up some papers and began to read them for errors. He went back and began again. He finally actually began to read.
Three
One assignment, for Tyler, was research for a company that was considering leasing space in a shopping center, there in San Antonio. For their client, Tyler was to examine the proposal for loopholes in the lease. He would study what it took to terminate the contract if that should be needed.
Tyler would find what remedies there were if the lessor didn’t keep the stated promises. He would see whether the lessor cleaned and repaired the rented areas. And he would find how the rental fees compared with what the other tenants in the center paid, and how the rents there compared to those at other shopping centers.
Not only rents were compared, but also the fees the lessor charged for advertising the shopping center and what advertising media he used. And Tyler was to check if the parking lot was also attractive, neat, cared for and repaired.
Tyler would not be the one to negotiate the contract. That would be done by other lawyers in the firm who had more business experience. But Tyler would sit in on those negotiations and learn how it was done.
He was still in the “gofer” category. Just about everything he was assigned to do was a...learning experience.
And for all such research, Tyler reported to his superior, Barbara Nelson, whom he tenaciously called Miss Nelson. He asked a whole lot of questions of his office buddy, Jamie Oliver. Jamie had been there longer.
And there were times when Jamie replied, “You’ll have to ask Barb.”
“How can you call her Barb so carelessly?”
And Jamie who rarely looked up from his papers replied, “She doesn’t see me.”
Thoughtfully, Tyler suggested, “It’s probably because she hasn’t the nerve to attack you. She yearns for you and dreams of you.”
“I wish.”
And with some compassion for the ignored office mate, Tyler said, “She probably tries to lure me just to get your attention.”
That made Jamie laugh. He even glanced up. His eyes were dancing with lights of amusement.
Tyler thought of Jamie and wondered why Miss Nelson didn’t see the man. Maybe it was because Jamie never looked up but was so engrossed in law that Miss Nelson thought Jamie didn’t see her.
Kindly, Tyler advised, “You ought to spend more time out at the water cooler.”
“The staff gets too friendly.”
Tyler blinked once. Then he replied, “You’re too selective.”
“Want a date with a friend of mine who admires you?” Jamie again glanced at Tyler!
Tyler sighed and shook his head as he went back to his own papers.
Jamie told Tyler, “See? You, too, are selective. Mattie would spread her knees for you by the water cooler, she’s so smitten.”
“Who is this...Mattie? I’ve never heard of her.”
“That’s how Barb is with me. She can’t see me.”
And kindly, Tyler told Jamie, “She’s too old for you.”
“Two years. I taught for four years before I went to law school.”
And Tyler gasped, “You’re over thirty?” His voice even squeaked up.
“Yep. I’ve crossed the Great Divide.”
“Holy Moses.”
And Jamie agreed. “It’s awesome.”
“Have you told Miss Nelson how old you are?”
“She probably likes her men young and fresh.”
“I’ve been married!”
Jamie grinned, closemouthed, and bit his lower lip. That was to stop himself from commenting. And he immediately went back to work. But he was still irritatingly amused because he gently coughed a couple of times to hide his snorts of laughter.
So Barbara called Tyler to her office. And he had no choice. He went like a cat going into dog territory. He was alert, intense and very formal.
He didn’t jump up onto the top of the bookcases. He didn’t even sit. He said, “Yes?” And he earned a folder and a pencil.
Tyler wore the fake eyeglasses he’d taken up just recently. He had perfect sight and the glasses were only regular glass. He thought they made him look more aloof, unapproachable and withdrawn.
He looked young.
Barbara smiled and said, “I’ll need the folder on the Bennett’s lease tomorrow. Are you finished with it?”
Tyler’s heart was in his mouth. She would ask him to stay after hours. She had a leather couch in her office. He was vulnerable. What would he say?
Barbara went on, “Molly can’t stay tonight, so you won’t have a typist available. As I recall, you have a computer at home? You can take the brief home and get it done there. I’ll come by between nine and ten and collect it then. Okay?”
She was going to come to his apartment! There was no out. Tyler very seriously nodded—once.
Barbara smiled and said, “See you then.” And she returned to the papers on her desk.
Tyler woodenly walked fro
m her office and went back down the hall to the one he shared with Jamie.
Having sat at his desk, Tyler turned to Jamie and said, “Jamie. Miss Nelson is coming to my place tonight to fetch a brief I will finish on my computer at home. Can you—”
And Jamie said, “It’s your problem. I have other plans for tonight.”
“It would be your big chance! You could go out and pull her spark plugs and her car wouldn’t work and you could take her home!”
“Sorry. And I really am. But I have another interview tonight.”
Cautiously, Tyler inquired, “Interview?”
And Jamie replied readily, “A smaller firm. I’ve learned all I can from this one.”
“Don’t leave me here alone!”
Jamie was reasonable. “Relax, Tyler, Kayla will save you. Call her.”
Tyler went instantly to his phone and called Kayla.
“Kayla Davie.”
“I’m in one hell of a bind—”
“Tyler?”
“Yeah. You’re the only one to save me. You have to be at our place by eight-thirty tonight. Of all the things I’ve—”
“I can’t possibly be there tonight. I have a class this evening.”
No date? And he said, “You do remember Barbara Nelson.” It wasn’t even a question. He immediately went on, “She’s coming to our place tonight between nine and ten to get a brief I’ve been working on.”
“You went over the deadline?”
“You know better. This is almost a month too soon.”
Kayla asked, “How much work do you still have to do on it?”
“Not much. And I can do a final on the computer at our place.”
“It is not ‘our’ place,” Kayla reminded her ex. “We’re divorced.”
Turning his back to Jamie, Tyler said to Kayla in a low, hushed voice, “I never sleep on your half of the bed.”
“You need to spread your wings and fly. You’re free.”
“No.” Then he cleared his suddenly clogged throat and begged, “Just tonight. Please.”
Kayla sighed with great impatience and made mouth noises of resistance.
Holding the phone to his ear, Tyler was silent.
She said, “I’ll try to be there by nine. Tyler, you’re a grown man. No woman can intimidate you. Barbara is a pushover. Just say no!”
“‘No!’ doesn’t always work.”
With some droll irony, Kayla commented, “I’m aware of that. I can’t believe any woman could rattle you. How come Barbara can? She’s harmless!”
Harmless! He urged in a low, very serious voice, “Be there. Please. Be sure to come. I really need you there. And for Pete’s sake, don’t delay until after nine.”
“What happens at nine?”
“I can only speculate with terror.”
The heartless Kayla laughed as she hung up.
Slowly, Tyler put his phone back in its cradle. He sat quietly, looking very serious.
Jamie soothed, “There’ll be no problem. You’ll manage. You’re a logical, arguing male, and you have that additional talent of being physically strong.”
“I cannot clip a woman on the jaw.”
“Oh.”
Tyler turned his chair so that he faced Jamie. “You have no problem with that?”
Jamie shrugged and turned his hands palm up. “No woman has ever attacked me. I look on you as a sun god whom women adore.”
Tyler said several words any really tough sailor would have envied.
“Where’d you learn those?” Jamie asked with respect.
And Tyler told Jamie where to go—how, in such colorful language, that Jamie was awed. He exclaimed, “Wait! Let me write that down! Wow.” And Jamie whistled softly in admiration.
Tyler sagged in his chair. He put a hand to his forehead just right and said, “See? Just see what Miss Nelson has done to a good young man? I haven’t said any of those words since I was seventeen and my daddy wrestled me down and made me lick a bar of soap.”
“Wow! He must’a been something to’ve wrestled you down.”
“My mother was there with a shotgun and told me if I touched one hair on him that she’d shoot me.”
“What all had you done, for Pete’s sake.” An unquestioning statement that encourages confidences.
In a deadly voice, Tyler told Jamie, “You’re too young to hear it all.”
“But you minded your fragile momma.”
“She had a gun.”
“She wouldn’t-a killed her precious son.”
“You need to know Momma better. She only looks like a lady.”
Jamie turned out his hand. “She acts like one.”
Tyler nodded. “You know her. You’ve met her. You’ve observed her. She seems to be a lady.” Tyler shook his head. “It’s facade. She’s a killer. She loves my daddy.” Tyler considered in a black, brooding way, before he said thoughtfully, “He probably deserves it.”
And Jamie laughed.
It was only then that Tyler realized, all that while, Jamie had had his chair turned and he was facing Tyler and watching him. It was a serious first. Tyler actually had all of Jamie’s attention.
Tyler asked an older, hopefully wiser man, “What’ll I do if Kayla can’t make it tonight?”
“Lie down, close your eyes and think of England?” Jamie had some English blood and he knew that was what mothers told virginal daughters for their wedding night.
But Tyler scoffed. “America has more problems than England.”
Jamie explained, “It was an old saying of solving something beyond you.”
“I’ll remember it. But I won’t be thinking of England.”
“No? What?”
Through his teeth, Tyler enunciated, “Revenge.”
“Wow!”
“‘The time has come,’ the Walrus said, ‘to speak of many things—’”
Jamie laughed. “So. What do you want to talk about?”
And Tyler said seriously, “You cotton to that Nelson terror. Why not consider an invasion.”
Then oddly, tellingly, Jamie cautioned, “Careful.”
The one word caused both men to be silent and very serious. Jamie was Miss Nelson’s protector. She didn’t yet realize it. She might never. But right then, Jamie was telling Tyler to watch his mouthiness. Interesting.
Finally, Tyler asked, “Are you sure you care for her that much?” And there was such doubt in Tyler’s soft words.
Jamie just jerked his head down once in a positive nod of commitment. His stern eyes never left Tyler’s.
Slowly, a twinkle began in Tyler’s eyes, and he began to smile. He said, “When she attacks me, I’ll tell her I’m your loyal friend, and you love her.”
“Behave.”
In irritation, Tyler complained, “Why don’t you tell her that?”
In a steely voice, Jamie said, “I’m counting on you to be a gentleman and behave yourself.”
Tyler dramatically threw up his arms and groused, “If I was a woman I could file a complaint, and Miss Nelson would be forced to back off.”
“You can file such a complaint, now, as a man—but I warn you that such a filing would harm Barb.” He paused and narrowed his eyes. In a soft, deadly voice Jamie told Tyler, “I wouldn’t like that.”
“Why don’t you just go up to her and say, ‘Leave Tyler alone. I’m willing.’ That would solve all of my problems except Kayla and I’m working on her.”
And Jamie had the gall to put in, “Why don’t you give up and leave Kayla alone?”
Tyler sighed with great drama and looked aside. “She loves me.”
Jamie snorted. “You need to confront reality. She accepted it that you divorced her. That ought to be some sort of clue for you, right there.”
“Quit being so negative.”
Jamie silently watched Tyler for a while, then he moved his body to guide his chair back to his desk. There, he was immediately involved with the papers on his desk.
Tyler thought what a go
od lawyer Jamie was. When he split from the firm, he would ask Jamie if he could go along with him.
Would Jamie agree? That would be interesting to know.
Back to his own papers, Tyler sighed deeply with some quiet drama. Kayla was a nuisance. He glanced at the window. It was fake. Their office was in the center of the building. No windows. To have windows, one had to have clout. Neither he nor Jamie had any clout.
No client was ever in the firm’s offices. Any interview was in one of the conference rooms at the table there.
Tyler and Jamie had pooled their money and bought the fake window. It had been a nine-day wonder. None of the other associates had had the nerve to buy their own pull-down, sheet window.
There were stick‘ems to put on the shade. Tiny people who were walking down the fake street One had to look closely to see them. The stick’ems Tyler and Jamie used were string covered bathing beauties walking barefooted on the city street.
Almost right away and standing, the two had listened to Miss Nelson’s lecture. The two did that silently but with total attention. Tyler tended to be argumentative, but Jamie stopped that with one deadly look as Tyler opened his mouth for his first intake of breath.
After Miss Nelson told them the string swimsuits were unsuitable for a law office in the middle of San Antonio, Tyler found stick’em clothed people who happened to be markedly female. Not one male.
With Miss Nelson’s distaste—jealousy?—of the strings covered, barefooted city walkers in the fake window, Jamie would have discarded the entire window. It was Tyler whose independence was challenged.
As Tyler sighed, Jamie suggested, “Maybe Kayla objected to your hard nosed, dictatorial manner?”
Tyler said, “No. She loves me.”
“So that’s why she left!”
“No.” Tyler picked up a pencil and examined it. But then he went on, “We stumbled on a gathering and went to see what was happening. It was a pit fight between dogs. I’d never seen such and wanted a look. While I was doing that, she bought four of the dogs, put them in my car and left. I walked home.”
“Were you angry?”
“By the time I got home, I was no longer ticked. She was asleep in our bed. The dogs were all around her. They just looked at me, very alert, with softly threatening throat growls. They didn’t want her wakened. I decided to sleep on the couch.”