“All right. So tell me what’s been going on between you and Mark John.”
“He’s not at all like the boss you know from the office. He’s sweet and kind and funny. And of course it doesn’t hurt that he’s so good-looking, too,” she said with a slight blush.
“Okay, sounds good so far,” Daisy said, encouraging Jude to continue.
“He can cook and clean, too.”
“I would hope so. He’s a grown man living on his own.”
“He and I like the same things. Classical music, books, rom-coms. He even likes cuddling. Most men don’t.” Daisy winced. She was learning more about her boss than she really wanted to.
“It always amazes me that people who are talking about a serious relationship mention music and movies. Those aren’t the really important things, as far as I’m concerned. I think the things to know are whether he wants kids, whether he’s a saver or a spender, and where he likes to go on vacation. If you don’t like the same music, you can always use headphones. If you don’t like the same movies, you don’t have to watch them together. But if one person wants children and the other one doesn’t, that can create serious problems. Ditto with spending habits and the things you each like to do during your downtime. Are you two alike in those ways?”
“Well, I think I’d like children, but I’m not sure yet. Mark John doesn’t, I know that. I bet I can change his mind, though, if I decide kids are in my future. I’m well aware that it will have to be sooner rather than later because I’m getting older every day. And we are both pretty conservative spenders except when it comes to clothes. And we both like to vacation at the beach. So I guess we like the same important things.”
“That’s a good sign,” Daisy said. Except the I-bet-I-can-change-his-mind part.
“I just don’t know if I’m ready for the next step.”
“Which is?”
“Marriage. He’s talking about it and I just don’t know if I’m ready.”
Daisy was dumbstruck. Marriage? Fiona was barely cold in her grave. Daisy didn’t know what to say. She thought for a moment before responding.
“This is kind of soon, isn’t it?”
“But you think we’re compatible?” Jude asked, answering Daisy’s question with one of her own.
Daisy wanted to say You were practically made for each other, but she decided on a more diplomatic response. “I think you’re compatible based on everything you’ve told me and from what I know of both of you. But it’s not just compatibility. Do you love him?”
“I think so.”
“Then there’s your answer: when you can definitively say ‘yes,’ then it’s time to think about the next step. Until you know for sure whether you love him or not, maybe it’s best to keep dating. Eventually you’ll know the answer. And don’t be afraid to slow things down,” she cautioned. She couldn’t believe Jude was even considering this step.
“But what do I tell him if he asks?” Jude seemed determined to ignore Daisy’s warning.
“He hasn’t actually asked you yet?”
“No. But he keeps talking about it.”
“I would say if he asks and you’re not ready to make a decision, tell him that. If he understands you and loves you, he’ll wait until you’re ready to decide. If he doesn’t understand or refuses to wait, maybe he’s not the one for you.”
Jude nodded, twirling the stem of her wine glass, which was empty. “I need another glass. Want another soda?”
“Sure. Thanks.”
Jude left to order the drinks and Daisy sat back in her chair, looking around the room. There was no accounting for the speed with which the relationship between Jude and Mark John was moving. Furthermore, she couldn’t picture the Mark John Jude had described. He seemed like the dry documentary-type, not the rom-com-type. And as for being a cuddler, Daisy shuddered. She didn’t even want to think about that. She glanced toward the bar where Jude was still waiting for their drinks. Was it possible Jude really didn’t have any other friends? Daisy could imagine Jude being the type of person who had trouble making friends. She could be standoffish, but was that really a mask for shyness? She seemed judgmental, but was that possibly because Jude didn’t know how to talk to people? Maybe Daisy didn’t know Jude as well as she thought she did. Maybe getting to know the senior editor wouldn’t be such a bad idea.
Jude returned with the beverages and sank into her chair. “Here’s one thing that bothers me. Remember when I was sick? Mark John wanted to spend as much time as he could at work, except for when he was sick, of courses. He wasn’t much of a nurse.”
Daisy waved her hand dismissively. “Men are like that. They don’t have that nurturing instinct that women have. I’ll bet he just wanted to stay away from you so he wouldn’t get sick.”
“He said as much. Didn’t work, though.”
“I wouldn’t read too much into that,” Daisy said, smiling. “It’s not unusual. In fact, it’s probably the norm. How was he when he got sick?”
Jude rolled her eyes. “Like he was dying. He couldn’t do anything for himself.”
Daisy let out a laugh. “Also, not unusual. I knew someone like that once. Men are babies when it comes right down to it.” She thought back to the last time Dean was sick. He had been in bed for three days, unable to get dressed, take a shower, or even work on his laptop. And as Daisy recalled, it had been nothing more than the common cold.
Talk turned to work assignments for a while, then the women left Tom Collins. They stood on the sidewalk out front of the bar, talking for a bit longer, before going their separate ways. Daisy made her way home along streets that were beginning to come alive with young people in the waning daylight. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jude because the poor woman was so obviously torn over what to do about Mark John. And though Daisy now had a little more information than she needed about their relationship, she felt she had learned more about Jude in a couple hours than she had in the entire time she had worked at Global Human Rights Journal.
Daisy wondered how lonely Jude must have been before Mark John came along. She had probably been a workaholic.
That sounded familiar.
But she wasn’t like Jude, Daisy thought with a little shake of her head. She had friends- good friends- and they did things together on the weekends and in the evenings sometimes. She wasn’t avoiding people by hiding behind her work.
Was she?
When she got home Daisy thought about digging into the dime novel Brian had given her, but she was too tired to focus on the book. Instead she turned on the television and watched some mindless show for an hour before going to bed.
When she got to work the next day, Mark John was in a snit, barking out orders to everyone in the office. Daisy finally was able to learn from a whispered conversation with the receptionist that he had inadvertently missed a deadline at the printer and he was blaming anyone he could think of, including Daisy and Jude.
“Mark John, stop it,” she overheard Jude saying to their boss. “You’re acting like a child. Just man up, admit you made a mistake, and get on with your day. And let the rest of us get on with our days, too.” Daisy smiled. She was glad to know that Jude wasn’t going to let Mark John push people around and get away with acting like a spoiled brat.
But there are always consequences when the boss makes a mistake, and the incident with Mark John was no exception. He spent the rest of the day coming up with research and writing assignments for both Daisy and Jude, along with tight deadlines and big expectations. Daisy and Jude both knew that the next couple weeks would be a flurry of late nights, early mornings, and take-out meals.
It was later that same week when, after a long day of staff meetings and phone interviews with potential sources, that Daisy and Jude met in the conference room to share an order of sandwiches Daisy had picked up on a walk around the block. Mark John had left the office for a dinner meeting.
“I’m sorry Mark John has been such a jerk lately,” Jude said, helping herself to one of the sandwiches.
“Why should you be sorry? It’s Mark John who’s been the difficult one,” Daisy answered.
“I know, but I feel like I ought to be able to rein him in a bit.”
“Because you’re dating?”
“Yes. I should be able to talk to him, calm him down, get him off this dictator kick he’s been on.”
“Jude, Mark John is a grown man. He’s also the editor-in-chief and he makes the decisions around here. The journal is his responsibility and he has to run it the way he sees fit. His attitude has nothing to do with you, so don’t feel bad about it.”
Jude didn’t answer, but bit into her sandwich with a pensive look on her face.
“Tell me this,” Daisy said. “Are things still good between you outside of work?”
“Yes.”
“Then don’t worry about it. This is the job that people in this office signed up for. There’s no such thing as a job that doesn’t have some difficult days. It’s not your fault,” Daisy repeated.
Jude’s next words took Daisy by surprise.
“I don’t think they’re ever going to catch the person who killed Fiona.”
“What makes you think that?” Daisy asked, her brow furrowing.
Jude shook her head. “It just grows colder and colder every day. Sometimes I wonder if Mark John will be able to get past it. What if they never find out who did it and he never moves on? I mean, I told you he’s talked about getting married, but what if he’s never really ready?”
“It’s hard to imagine how he must feel,” Daisy said. “When Dean died, I thought I would never get past it. But I did. That doesn’t mean I don’t think about him a lot, but I think about the happy stuff. I try not to think of how he died and what happened afterward. That’s different from Mark John’s situation because in this case someone really did kill Fiona, but I’m not sure it’s that much different in terms of him being able to move on.”
“Do you think he still loves her?” Jude blurted.
It was a question that required a careful answer. “I’m sure he holds a special place in his heart for her, but he also realizes that he needs to move on. There’s nothing that says a widower can’t find a second soul mate.”
Jude seemed satisfied with the answer. “I just don’t want to worry that he’s always thinking of Fiona or wishing I were her.”
Daisy scoffed at the idea. “Of course not. If Mark John weren’t ready to date again, he wouldn’t date. It’s that simple.”
“You make everything sound so neat and tidy. I wish I had your confidence,” Jude said.
Confidence? That word wasn’t what came to Daisy’s mind when she thought of her own love life.
“I’m a pro when it comes to other people’s relationships,” Daisy said with a grin.