by Robert Olsen
“Mom, I don’t think there are ergs and pixels in a diabetic pump. I promise it will do everything for you, that’s why it’s so neat!”
Mother and daughter seemed to talk forever, but all of a sudden, mom decided she wanted Kathryn to see how she rearranged the furniture in the living room.
“Believe it or not, I still had so many little reminders of your father hiding in every nook and cranny. I decided I should really thin that out. They’re in the attic now dear, in case someday you want some of that stuff.”
Later that day, after they had finished their lunch - at an adorable cafe with tables scattered on the sidewalk where they were entertained by people donning their latest fashion creations - mom wanted to take Kathryn over to the dress shop she had mentioned. She was certain Kathryn would find some splashy summer blouse like she was looking for.
“I really liked that restaurant mom. And I loved getting a table on the sidewalk. That was so nice. And, weren’t those dogs hysterical? Especially that big fat English bulldog. He was determined to take a drink from that water dish. Lots of those dogs were really cute, and well behaved, too. I just don’t think I could walk a dog onto a crowded street, even if on a leash. What would you do if he starts having a fight with another dog? Or what if he decides to poop? How embarrassing!”
“Speaking of cute, are you picking out a blouse for some new beau? I haven’t heard you talk about anyone, lately. You’re working way too hard at that job of yours. We aren’t getting any younger you know,” mom said dying to get into the subject.
“It’s really been crazy at the office mom. I’ve been extremely busy and there is very little time to go out looking for guys. It’s just not a good time.”
“It’s never a good time, honey. Maybe you’re not aware, but there’s a biological clock running here in the background. You don’t have forever to plan a family. Besides, didn’t anyone tell you that as you get older, single older men are about as rare as a coconut tree in Anchorage! Seriously, ask one of your married friends to rattle off the names of available single guys. Nope, can’t do. And let’s say you keep putting this off and now you’re in your forties, looking for an established, rich, successful guy in his 50’s? You might as well go park outside of the divorce attorney’s office or visit a local urologist. And, the longer you wait, the smaller the number gets. It’s terrible!”
“Mom! I think you are exaggerating a bit here. I’m not looking for someone in their seventies for gosh sakes. Who knows, by then maybe they’re all dead, but - 30’s, 40’s - I know they’re out there!”
“Yeah, at the sports bar watching ESPN all night, or on the hiking trails in the mountains if they’re the health nuts. Better scratch that last one. Come to think of it, I don’t know any hiking trails with cue lines or wait times. The men aren’t up there either.”
“Oh brother, this is hopeless!”
“What about the guys in the office? You have mentioned quite a few men. Aren’t any of those men single, available, bachelors?”
Kathryn hated this conversation. Every time she visited her mom, the subject came up. Of course, mom meant well. She felt concerned for her daughter, and had always hoped Kathryn would find someone. Being single herself, and having lost her husband, June knew what loneliness felt like. Kathryn, wasn’t getting any younger and if there was any chance of children, she better move quickly. She already was older than most women who planned a family.
“Oh my. We were having so much fun, I almost passed the shop. Here we are, this is the boutique I was referring to.”
Once inside, they looked around and found several blouses that appealed to Kathryn who proceeded to try on each of them. Naturally, she had to show mom and ask her opinion. Is this color ok? Does this make me look fat? Is it too daring, mom - I think I look like a slut? On and on it went for almost an hour. There were short sleeve blouses with boat necks, crew necks, cowl necks, turtle necks as well as sleeveless blouses galore, plus an array of tank tops in the summer collection. Each offered numerous bright colors to pick from.
Kathryn favored the light weight, and sometimes sheer, sleeveless tops, and narrowed her pick to three of them.
“Why don’t you just take all three, Kathryn? It’s on me. I want to buy them for you, please. You looked so sexy in these they are bound to attract that man we’re looking for!”
“You mean the man you’re looking for?”
They both laughed. Kathryn’s mom did insist on purchasing all three despite some resistance from her daughter. But, as a compromise, Kathryn insisted dinner was on her.
Dinner was wonderful and the two of them managed to get home at a decent hour. The next day, Sunday, mom suggested they take a lazy day and just lounge at the pool over at the clubhouse. Dad had joined the Cherry Valley Country Club for business purposes. He also loved golf, much more than June did, but regardless, when he passed away June continued membership. However, not caring about golf, she elected to downgrade to an Associate Member allowing only the facilities and dining. Golf was excluded.
“Going to the club sounds like a good idea to me. I even brought a bathing suit with me, just in case.”
When they settled down at the pool area, it didn’t take long for mom’s favorite topic to surface again.
“Ok mom, I’ll confess. Don’t get too excited yet, it’s just starting, I think, but there is someone I’m interested in.”
“What? Oh, please,” Kathryn continue. “I can’t wait to hear this.”
“Well, like I said mom, a relationship hasn’t even started yet. He’s a doctor.”
“Oh wow, that’s wonderful and very promising. I don’t think doctor’s hang out all night in the bars watching ESPN!”
“Just listen mom. I’m really telling you this because I don’t know what to do and I need some advice. He is a client, or I should say, has an ownership interest in a client of the company. I first saw him a while ago. Immediately, I felt an incredible attraction toward him. I haven’t a clue why, but it was a strong feeling. Kind of stopped me in my tracks. I never felt that way mom about anyone. Not even high school days when boys meant everything.”
“Well, I think that’s a good sign.”
“I hope so, because the feelings got worse. I found myself thinking about him and thinking of ways to see him.”
“Do you mean like see him on a date?”
“No, I mean like just physically see him or be in his presence. For all I knew, he didn’t know I exist.”
“What happened?”
Kathryn proceeded to tell her mother about the day at Physician Associates, when he threw her out of the office.
“Oh my. He threw you out of his office?”
“Well, not exactly, he just sent me back out into the lobby to see the office administrator,” Kathryn explained looking down with a certain sadness on her face. “I felt terrible and when I went back to my office I carried on, fretting about it more so. Finally, my girlfriend told me to just go after him, be assertive.”
“Did you?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
“It worked. We had a super conversation in his cafeteria.”
“That’s wonderful, sweetie. See, you had nothing to worry about.”
“But mom, I feel like I’m back at square one again not knowing what to do next. Do I just sit and wait for a call? Forget about it until he makes a move, if ever, or get aggressive and call him? I feel like an idiot not knowing what I’m supposed to do? I’m not some naive school girl. I’m a grown woman, intelligent, with great experience. Why is it so hard for me to talk with a doctor who I previously met?”
“Just be patient. You’ll see him again when the time is right. You said he was a client.”
“But, I never felt this way. In school I could easily talk to boys. Didn’t give it two thoughts! And work? Well, that was easy, too,” Kathryn sai
d sounding more excited and anxious than before.
“What’s his name, dear?”
“Richard. Dr. Richard Marks,” she said softly.
“That’s a nice name.” Mom said as Kathryn gave her a half-hearted smile, still looking somewhat sad and upset.
“When I’m with him, mom, there’s like this lump in my throat. My mind goes blank and I literally can’t think of anything to say.”
“That’s because you care and you just don’t want to say anything bad, or hurtful. Your brain wants him, but your brain also knows you can blow it, lose him or turn him off. I was the same way with your father. I wanted to make him happy.”
“You felt the way I do with daddy?”
“Yes, exactly like you do. I didn’t know what to say. We were in high school, and I thought he was the most handsome boy in the whole school, but he didn’t know I existed.”
“How did you approach daddy?”
“I didn’t. I didn’t have a clue what to say to him. Eventually, thank God, he approached me.”
“What did he say?”
“He asked me if I liked coffee ice cream.”
“What?”
“Yep. I told him I didn’t know. Never had it.”
“What happened?”
“He asked if I’d like to go with him to the Paradise and get some. I guess it was our first date. And it was wonderful!”
“Daddy was wonderful on the first date?”
“No, the coffee ice cream was! Oh, I guess your father was wonderful, too. Now that I think about it.”
“Mom, I just want a conversation, nothing more. No commitments, no coffee ice cream, just a conversation. We’re not even close enough for me to start thinking about how to make him happy. For gosh sakes, I dream about this man and he doesn’t even know me yet!” She said, beginning to get frustrated again over her dilemma.
“Oh sweetie, just trust your mother, patience is a virtue. If it’s meant to be, it will happen. And the next time, you’re at his office make absolutely sure you say something. Even if you tell him his lab coat is cool or his stethoscope looks just like the one Doc McStuffins has on the Disney channel, its ok. Anything to get his attention. If he looks at you strange, tell him you were only playing with him. Remind him that this time you had an employee with you when you stocked the shelves. You did what he wanted! He’ll appreciate that, and probably laugh, too.”
“Great line mom, definitely won’t get me in bed but, that’s ok too! Thanks. I love you, mom!
Chapter 9
This morning, Donald Gingrich awoke earlier than usual. He impatiently wanted to be in his office, to research certain information that until now, did not present an opportunity to do so. After showering and getting dressed, he immediately sat down in his kitchen, turned on the laptop, and checked his office email to make sure no unforeseen issues suddenly arose.
Ah ha, no emergencies today! This is great, I’ll have time for my research. Easy day!
“Mother, would you like a soft boiled egg and a piece of toast? Or, I can cook scrambled eggs and sausage, for you, if you’d like. Ok mom, scrambled it is.”
Donald had a small two bedroom apartment just outside of Little Italy - on Mulberry Street, just south of Canal. Because of her age, and medical situation, his mother recently had moved out of her home in Far Rockaway to stay in the apartment with her son. Every now and then, they would travel to the beach house and spend the weekend just taking it easy. Donald enjoyed spending time in Far Rockaway, especially this time of year when the weather was nice and he could walk on the ocean beach. The old house had been in the family over 100 years and Donald was not about to sell it now.
“I’m leaving mother,” he hollered into the other room, “I’ll try to get home a little early today.” Then, he locked the door, and was on his way to the office.
He walked to the East Side subway, which he took north to Midtown Manhattan, getting off at 57th, in midtown Manhattan. From the subway station, he took a leisurely walk to his office, stopping at a favorite deli to pick up a cup of coffee for the office. It was much better than the coffee the ladies made at work, so he thought.
“Good morning Sherry,” He said to one of the receptionists, as he entered the lobby of the Rockne Pharmaceutical Company.
He was walking down a long hallway on the way to office when he passed the copy room. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Barbara, Kathryn’s secretary at the copy machine. He turned around and slipped into the doorway.
“Good morning Barbara, you look wide eyed and bushy tailed this morning. What brings you in here so early? Kathryn hand you a big project?”
“Hi Donald. No, there’s no big project. Silly me, just completely forgot to do something yesterday that Kathryn needed first thing this morning. Didn’t even remember until after I got home. Now, I’m scrambling! And, I wasn’t even able to get Kathryn her coffee this morning, poor girl.”
“Can I help?”
“Oh no, Donald, I’ll be fine. But thanks for asking.”
“Well, you just take your time and make sure everything is just the way you want it.”
“Thanks Donald. Hope you have a nice day.”
“You as well Barbara, bye.”
Donald started heading toward his office again when he suddenly got an idea. He turned around and headed to the other side of the lobby where Kathryn’s office was located. He made a quick stop before appearing at her door. Kathryn was busy at her desk, working with her head down. She looked up just as he was entering her office.
“Good morning Kathryn. I brought you a present.”
“Donald, what are you doing here?”
“I noticed Barbara was frantically copying something for you and didn’t have time to even get your coffee. I thought I might be able to handle that task! I think you like your coffee with cream and sugar? Or is it you like your sugar with a little cream and coffee? I forgot.”
“Oh, don’t be so silly, but thanks so much for the coffee. You really didn’t have to bother with that.”
“Trust me Kathryn, it’s no bother at all. Have a nice day!”
When Donald finally arrived at his office, he settled in and checked his emails once again. He was trying to get as many of the smaller issues off his desk. He had been working approximately one hour when he spotted a note from one of the Vice Presidents.
Shit, I completely forgot about this. Maybe I can get someone on my staff to handle it.
Donald briefly left his office and walked down the hall.
“Hey, Michael, I need you to do something for me. Massy needs this by 2:00 o’clock today. I want you to get on it right away.”
“Come on Donald. I’m working on the RMMS program. I can’t do that right now. We have a hard stop on the system this week.”
“Michael, I don’t need to hear a bunch of excuses. I’m a busy man, and you need to learn how to delegate. Why don’t you get Cynthia off her lazy ass and get her to do it. Just get it to me by 2:00. Am I making myself clear?”
“Yes sir.”
Donald turned and immediately headed back to his office. Because of Donald’s technology position with the company, he had access to most of the company computer systems. Once back at his desk, he signed on to the network to access the Human Resource System and queried the personnel files of Dr. Anton Andreyushkin. He then pulled a file from his lower desk draw and studied it for quite some time, before picking up the phone and dialing.
“Good afternoon, could I please speak with someone in personnel?”
“Certainly, one moment please.”
“Hello, my Name is Randolph Brennan, with the Department of Intelligence, Washington, DC. We are considering one of your former employees for a position, and wondering if I may verify his employment with your company?”
“Of course, sir. Did you say your name was B
rennan?”
“Yes, that is correct, Randolph Brennan.”
“And, could I please have the name of the applicant, Mr. Brennan?”
“It’s Doctor Anton, Andreyushkin. Allow me to spell that for you,” Donald said, proceeding to spell out the name for the woman.
“I don’t see anyone by that name sir.”
“Would it help if I gave you his social security number?”
“Yes, that could help,” the woman said as Donald proceeded to read her the number. “Ah, here it is. Wow, it’s been quite some time ago Mr. Brennan, I show that Mr. Andreyushkin only worked here from Aug 2006 to Dec 2006.”
“Did you say from August 2006? Four months?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“That’s odd, I show that he was employed from December 2001 to December 2006 and that he worked in some kind of security position.”
“It says here he was hired in our Information Architecture Department.”
“I’m not familiar with that department.”
“Well, it’s sort of security. It deals with all the system security for our medical devices.”
“Oh, I see. By any chance can you see where he worked before he came to you folks?”
“I’m afraid not. The screen I’m viewing doesn’t indicate any additional information other than the direct employment and dates. Oh wait a minute. I could check the background report for you. That would show the former employer.”
“The...what kind of report?”
“Our company requires background checks, and that report would indicate the former employer. Hold on for one minute while I bring up the report.”
Donald patiently waited until the woman came back on the line.
“Oh dear, Mr. Brennan. This is strange. He was involuntarily terminated December 2001 because we could not obtain a background check.”
“Oh, I see. So you can’t tell where he came from?”
“Yes, I can see that. He was from out of the country. He came here in July 2006 from Moscow.”