The Units

by Jamie Mackay

Chapter 8

  Sunday morning was sometimes a day off from her regular exercise routine and Tatum made sure this was one of those Sundays. She knew the floor crew had been planning on putting in a longer day today, and she expected them around ten.

  Instead of her typical run and shower routine, she skipped her run, showered, and allowed herself significantly more time for taking care with her appearance. She didn't want to appear overdressed, so she was careful to choose jeans and a pink t-shirt appropriate for Sunday work around home, but that still complemented her every curve and accented her rosy complexion. In contrast to the day before, she applied a light layer of makeup and curled some tendrils to frame her pony tail.

  She felt good, good enough to take the stairs two at a time on her way down for coffee with Milligan.

  "Just in time," exclaimed Milligan. "It's a brand-spanking-new fresh pot".

  "Mmmm," said Tatum as she took her first sip from her steaming hot cup. Milligan's had definitely become her favorite coffee spot.

  "So, where were we?" Milligan queried trying to re-kindle the conversation from yesterday. "I believe you were telling me about your boyfriend," he said with a smirk. Milligan knew full well they had not discussed any such topic the day before.

  "A boyfriend?" teased Tatum, as if she knew of no such thing.

  "Come on now," he pulled, "A pretty girl like you and not one single boy?"

  "Okay okay," she said jokingly, as if it was a huge inconvenience to share the information. "His name is Niko. We met during our undergrads; he's an engineer now, on the path to becoming a big shot."

  "Niko," said Milligan, more to himself, "Sounds Latino?"

  "Yeah, Niko Rodrigues. Basically everything a girl could want in a man. Handsome, fit, smart, and successful."

  "So, if he's all that, why are you here?" asked Milligan.

  "Success doesn't come without cost," said Tatum. "Lots of nights waiting for him to come home and wondering what was more important, me or his job. I'd been in the same place with the same man for so long. I wanted to try something new, alone; see if what I had was really what I wanted."

  "I see," said Milligan wisely, inviting her to go on.

  "Now I don't know. He sent me a text a few days ago. Haven't had the guts to read it."

  "Want me to read it for you?" Milligan kidded.

  Tatum just made a face, curling up her lips as if to say, "As if," and then continued, "If and when I read it, you'll be the first to know."

  .

  They sat for a moment in silence and then Tatum bravely blurted out, "And you, any special ladies in your life?"

  "Well, there is that cute cashier who works at the lottery ticket booth in the mall," Milligan replied.

  Tatum wasn't sure whether he was joking.

  "Your wife passed away, right?" another brave question.

  "My wife, Jennie, was a special lady."

  Tatum noticed the inflection in his voice change and his eye gaze shift to the distance.

  "She was an artist, a beautiful artist. But, like many artists she struggled with her own demons. Hers was depression. From childhood, she fought her demons, and then when our youngest got sick, her demons became too much for her."

  Tatum wondered why he never mentioned the youngest boy's name, but she knew better than to ask, now or ever. She was certain Milligan would someday offer the information willingly.

  "She went into the hospital shortly after him and then her depression got the better of her and one day she ended her own suffering. Me and the kids went on. I raised the other two and the three of us became our own family."

  Tatum felt at a loss for words. Finally, she clumsily mumbled "I'm sorry."