Nickels

by Karen Baney

  “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to see if I can free my hair from the coffee explosion.” Turning on her heel, she rushed towards the women’s restroom.

  Behind the safety of the women’s restroom door, Niki took a deep breath. Could this day have started any worse? She leaned closer to the mirror. Bits of black coffee dusted her face and neck and hair. She leaned over and shook out her hair. Most of the coffee grounds dislodged. Taking a slightly damp paper towel, she dabbed her neck and face, trying not to lose too much of her makeup in the process.

  When she fixed her appearance as much as possible, she returned to the blissfully empty break room. She slid a cup from the stack and poured a cup of coffee. After adding flavored creamer to it, she returned to her desk. Another cup of coffee sat on her desk holding down the corner of a yellow sticky note. “Hope your day gets better. K.”

  Heat rushed to her face. She carefully pulled the yellow sticky note from her desk and rubbed her thumb across the words. A smile curled her lips. She leaned down and put the note in her purse. For some reason, she wanted to hold onto it for awhile. Maybe she was losing her mind. Maybe coffee grounds when absorbed through the skin and hair made a person overly sentimental. Or maybe just mental.

  She sighed. This day had to get better.

  Then, she remembered what Marcy said on Wednesday night. She told Niki she could pray no matter where she was. It was kind of like talking to God in your head.

  God, um. Please let everything go good with the simulation. Thanks.

  Okay, so she still didn’t feel all that comfortable with this whole praying thing, but she’d keep trying.

  At a quarter ‘til nine, the meeting reminder for her daily status meeting popped up. She snapped the lid of her laptop shut and picked up the still warm coffee from Kyle, smile gracing her lips. She was the first one in the conference room. She sat in her usual spot. Todd was the next to enter. She smiled and greeted him. He ignored her. So that’s how it was going to be.

  The meeting went well. Doug finished loading their updates into the simulator prior to the meeting. Kyle was ready to start the simulator run at nine thirty. All was well. When Todd concluded the meeting, he stopped her before she left.

  “A word with you, Niki,” Todd said. He waited until the rest of the team left the room before shutting the door.

  “I have recommended that you be removed from this project,” he stated without preamble.

  “On what grounds?”

  “That you are personally involved with one of our staff members and it’s affecting your work.”

  “That’s insane!”

  “I tried to warn you that I wouldn’t tolerate your behavior. But you didn’t listen. Your boss is supposed to call me back by the end of the day. I imagine he’ll be giving me the news I want to hear, especially after I told him about this morning’s little incident.”

  Niki wanted to knock that smug look off Todd’s face. This really could not be happening. One innocent encounter mistaken for something more could land her out of her dream client. Worse yet, she had no reasonable argument against it.

  “In the meantime, don’t you have a simulation to attend?” Todd said, holding the door open for her.

  She hugged her laptop close and tossed the empty coffee cup in the trash. She hurried down to the simulator room, wishing she had time to call Brian and give him her story. But she didn’t.

  As she stepped into the simulator observation room, she heard Kyle’s voice over the intercom. “Is Niki there yet?”

  Doug pressed the speaker on. “Yeah. She’s here. Let’s get started.”

  Doug vacated her chair. She sat and opened her laptop. Kyle’s voice came over the speaker again as he started the simulated maneuvers. She held her breath with each maneuver, hoping they hadn’t missed anything.

  Throughout the entire simulation, her mind seesawed between reassurance and self doubt. By the end of the exercise, her nerves were stretched thin.

  Thankfully, everything went as planned. No issues were reported. All was well.

  When she got back to her desk, she checked her phone for messages. Three from Brian. That’s not good. She searched for an empty conference room. She would not call him back at her desk and chance anyone overhearing her half of the conversation.

  “Brian,” she greeted as he picked up the call.

  “Niki, I’ve been trying to reach you for hours.”

  “We were in the simulation room. I didn’t have my phone on me.”

  “Oh. How did it go?”

  “Perfectly.”

  “Listen,” he said, “I got a call from Todd this morning.”

  “I know.”

  “You know?”

  “He told me he wants me gone. Look—”

  “So, do you know what he’s accusing you of?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “He’s saying you are sleeping with Kyle and that your personal relationship is spilling over into the office, causing an uncomfortable environment. He said you aren’t focused on your job.”

  Her blood boiled. “How exactly would he know if I’m sleeping with Kyle or not?”

  “Are you?”

  “Brian! First off, I’m not. Second, it would be no one’s business if I were. But I’m not.”

  “Okay, okay. I didn’t think so. I know how good you are at keeping business, well business. Everyone knows you don’t date clients. I just had to ask.”

  For once, she was relieved to have her own words thrown back at her.

  “What about this incident in the break room this morning?”

  “This morning, I went to make some coffee. The packet exploded all over me just as Kyle happened to enter the break room. He was helping me clean up when Todd walked in and started making assumptions. Very incorrect assumptions.”

  The phone was silent for a minute.

  “Your story jives with Kyle’s, but then…” Brian’s voice trailed off.

  “I’m in a bit of pickle here. I’ve got Kyle and Alan singing your praises while Todd is always bringing up issues with your performance.”

  She sighed. She was going to get pulled off the project. She could feel it.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go to Global Axis Systems?” He was offering her an out, on her terms, sort of.

  But she didn’t want to jump ship today any more than she had last week or a month ago. She wanted this project. She wanted to make it succeed. This was her time to shine, not run and hide from the face of adversity.

  “I’m staying here—as long as you’ll let me stay. I’ve given a hundred and ten percent, and I’ll continue to do so. I don’t know what Todd has against me, but I’m kicking butt here and you know it. You said Kyle and Alan both agreed. So, you just tell Todd that he’s crazy or whatever. I’m staying.”

  Silence.

  Had she pushed too far? Was Brian going to take her off anyway, despite the good work she’d done?

  “You can stay,” he finally said. “I’ll smooth it over.”

  “Thanks, Bri—”

  “Don’t thank me yet. Niki, you’ve got to put some distance between you and Kyle. Make sure your professional relationship leaves no question in anyone’s mind about your dedication to this project.”

  “I understand.”

  “And, if anything else goes wrong, I’m out of bargaining chips. You’ll be out.”

  A hard pill to swallow, but she’d have to if it came to that. “Got it, boss.”

  The line went dead. He was really unhappy. She knew he was going out on a limb for her. She would not waste his efforts. That meant, at some point this weekend she needed to have a conversation with Kyle—one she didn’t want to have.

  Chapter 30

  Saturday evening and Niki still hadn’t bumped into Kyle. Nor had she called him. She was putting it off.

  What would she say, anyway? She thought as she folded her laundry.

  Speaking to her empty room, she rehearsed, “Um. Kyle,
I know we’re not really dating or anything, but could you not…”

  Not what? Look at her with those darling eyes in a meeting? Not be nice at work?

  She tossed the folded t-shirt on her bed. This was stupid. She had done nothing wrong at work. Neither had he. Even if they did decide to date, neither one of them were the type to let it interfere with work. But, for whatever reason, Todd was bent on getting her out of there—no matter how unjustified. Maybe she should just go to Global and make everyone happy.

  Everyone but herself.

  The tinny ding-dong of the doorbell invaded her thoughts.

  It was probably Kyle. Who else would show up unannounced at her house? She smiled when she opened the door and saw him standing there. He was dressed to the nines—fancy suit, crisp white shirt, stylish blue tie, polished black shoes.

  She leaned against the doorway, folding her arms over her chest. She crossed one leg over the other.

  “I’m sorry sir. The insurance salesmen interviews are down the street that way.”

  “Funny.”

  “I’m pretty sure you have a phone, right? Cause I’ve called it before.”

  “Can I come in, Niki?”

  “Maybe you should try calling first.” She waited a second to let him sweat in the unbearable heat. Then she got the key and let him in.

  “So, can you be ready in twenty minutes?” he asked.

  “For what.”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “I’m guessing I should change?” she asked, looking down at her “princess” shorts and ragged t-shirt.

  “You do own a nice dress, right?” He scrunched up his nose in mock worry.

  “Yes, sir.” Leaving him standing there, she walked back to her room, his teasing floating down the hall.

  “Twenty minutes, princess.”

  She was definitely throwing those shorts out.

  Eighteen minutes later, Niki emerged in a black knee length scoop neck sleeveless dress and black pumps. She refreshed her makeup and curled her hair.

  “Is this what you had in mind?”

  “Better,” Kyle said, leaning forward to kiss her on the cheek. “You look stunning.”

  He held the door open for her and led her out to his truck. Then he walked around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel.

  “Aren’t you lucky I wasn’t busy tonight?”

  “Okay, I get it. I should have called.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled sweetly.

  Kyle merged into traffic onto the 101 headed north, then onto the 202 westbound, to I-10 towards downtown.

  “Where exactly are we going?” she asked.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “What’s the occasion?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “Nice. I see why you have top secret clearance.” She was getting annoyed. She wasn’t very good flying blind and letting someone else take control. “Is this part of your lessons on fun? Just go with it?”

  “Something like that.”

  She watched the miles of freeway go by. Finally, Kyle turned off the freeway and zig zagged through downtown, going north on Central. The setting sun shimmered off of the tall glass covered buildings. When he pulled into an alley and parked behind a small building, Niki wasn’t sure what to expect.

  “Welcome to Durant’s,” he said as he led her through the kitchen to where the host stood.

  She had heard about this place, a very swanky upscale steakhouse—with an odd entrance through the kitchen. Legend had it that the Rat Pack used to dine here back in the 1950’s. Old black and white photos of famous people adorned the maroon walls. Niki looked around at the private high backed leather booths and elegantly set tables.

  Kyle gave his name to the host and they were promptly seated at one of the secluded booths.

  Her heart pounded out a heavy rhythm. What was he doing? This is not the type of place you just take a gal for fun. This is the kind of place where you go to propose or celebrate an anniversary. It wasn’t a “just because” kind of place.

  The host shook out the napkin in front of Niki then laid it across her lap before repeating the action for Kyle. Then he handed them each a large leather covered menu and an extensive wine list before quietly disappearing.

  Then their server—server seemed such an inadequate word for someone so elegantly dressed—came to take their drink orders. “Would you care for some wine?”

  Kyle started to suggest something and Niki interrupted, “I don’t drink.”

  “Two diet sodas, then.”

  Feeling nervous at her declaration, she explained, “It’s just that… My parents were killed by a drunk driver. I really don’t drink. I mean—”

  Kyle reached across the table and took her hand. “It’s okay, Niki. You don’t have to justify it.”

  She laughed nervously as the heat of his hand on hers warmed her heart. She thought he might release her hand, but he didn’t. Instead, he fingered her bracelet—the one from Jack.

  Tilting it towards the light, he read it. “Nickels?”

  She smiled.

  “Jack’s nickname for me,” she said, removing her hand from his. “I guess when I was a toddler, I went around claiming everything as my own. Nicole’s ball. Nicole’s toy. Nicole’s blanket. Only it sounded more like ‘Nickels’. The name sort of stuck—at least with Jack. I don’t ever remember my parents using it.”

  Kyle’s face lit up as he laughed softly. “Nickels. I like it.”

  “Don’t get any ideas.”

  He winked at her, as the server set the diet sodas in front of them.

  “Would you care for an appetizer?”

  This was the first time—ever—that she hadn’t looked at the menu and been prepared to order the second the server asked.

  Kyle ordered a shrimp appetizer for them. When the server left, he suggested the Delmonico steak for her. She decided to go with his suggestion—another first.

  “How’d you find out about this place?” she asked, hoping to get some hint about why he brought her here.

  “Mom suggested it.”

  “Your mother knows we’re here?”

  “Yup,” he said taking a swig of his soda. He shifted in his seat, some of his confidence fleeing.

  “And does your mother know why we’re here?”

  Kyle cleared his throat. “I… Um… I was wondering if you might bend your rule and let me date you.”

  And there it was. The words her heart wanted to hear, but her mind warned her to run from. Stalling, she took a sip of soda.

  “I know you don’t date clients. But, I really care for you—have for some time. And I think you care for me, too, or I wouldn’t even be saying anything.”

  She sighed. She did care for him. But, she needed to tell him what was going on at work. “I don’t know what to say. I mean I do. I do want to…”

  His smile faded, causing her heart to sink. “But?”

  She was totally making a mess of this. “You need to know that Todd is making trouble at work. He’s trying to get me off the project because he thinks you and I are… Well, let’s just say he’s imagined a lot and he’s voiced it to my boss.”

  “So, you don’t want to date me because Todd is being Todd?”

  When he put it that way it sounded so shallow.

  “I didn’t say that—”

  The server came with their main entrées. Niki pursed her lips. Once their food was before them, the server refilled their drinks and stepped away.

  “I just want to let you know the situation. I’m not saying no. Besides, I’ve been considering leaving Helitronics anyway. Maybe I just should.”

  Kyle looked confused. “So you’ll go out with me?”

  “Yes.”

  He grinned. “Should we pray?” he asked pointing at their still untouched meal. She nodded.

  “Lord, we ask that you bless this meal, hopefully the first of many shared together. Bless our conversation. Let us seek you in all we do. Am
en.”

  She sliced into the perfect medium rare Delmonico, not sure where to go with the conversation.

  “So, what did you mean about leaving Helitronics? You’ve been doing a great job there. Why would you leave?”

  “This stuff with Todd. And I have another client that is throwing extra money at my boss to get me there. It’s the place where Joe is assigned.”

  “Do you want to go?”

  “No. But, I keep feeling like I should, even though I’ve wanted to work at Helitronics for a long time.”

  “I don’t think you should leave,” he said, taking another bite of his steak.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Because Brian promised us his best. And his best is you, Niki. You are perfect for this project. You are extremely talented, both technically and in leadership. This project would not be anywhere close to successful without you.”

  Pink dusted her cheeks with his high praise. She never felt comfortable being recognized, so she concentrated on her meal.

  “Don’t let Todd run you out. Everyone else at Helitronics is very pleased with your work.”

  She was done talking about work, so she changed the subject. “So tell me something I don’t know about you.”

  He smiled and rubbed his hand across his chin. “Wouldn’t want to narrow it down a bit would you?”

  She giggled. “Okay. Tell me about your training then.”

  “Boring.”

  “Somehow I doubt that. I’m sure you were a regular Tom Cruise.”

  Kyle laughed. “Nothing of the sort. I actually sucked in the beginning. Weird when you dream of doing something forever, then you find out that you’re really gonna have to work hard to make that dream real.

  “When I first got there, I was behind. Most of the other pilots actually had logged hours before getting there. I had nothing. While I was at college, I spent a little too much time having fun. Almost got kicked out of ROTC. I didn’t put any time into flying. Then when I got to my technical training, I had to work twice as hard. A friend pulled me aside and asked me if I really wanted this. That’s when I realized that I wanted it more than anything.

  “So, he helped me work off hours to get additional practice in. We worked together well as a team—me and Brad. It wasn’t long before we could anticipate each other’s moves. We ended up graduating at the top of our class, but I never could have done that without Brad’s help.”