“Good morning, Pauline,” Jonathan said as she came into his office with the morning cup of coffee.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Trying to ruin my morning?” he asked with a sarcastic grin.
“Sorry... Jonathan.”
“That’s better.”
“I think I can make your day even better.”
He looked up. “Oh?”
“My boyfriend will be coming up this weekend.”
He smiled. “You mean I get to meet Roger after all?”
She pursed her lips for an instant. “Um... not exactly.”
Jonathan folded his hands on the desktop and raised his eyebrows.
“Roger and I didn’t work out. He up and disappeared on me.”
Just like he’d never been there. Randy laughed as he watched the discussion unfold.
“Marvin is coming,” she continued.
“Marvin... It didn’t take you very long to find someone new.”
“W-we’ve been together a while. I just got the nerve up to ask him out for the weekend. I didn’t know how to tell you about Roger. You had your heart set on meeting him.”
“I didn’t want to meet Roger. I wanted to meet your boyfriend.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m glad you found out before it got too serious. I would have hated to represent you in a divorce.” He grinned.
She returned his smile. “That would have been awkward. Anyway, I’ve got most of the Havishaw account in order and will be ready for the weekend if something arises that requires your attention.”
“Good. I’m not expecting any issues, but best to be prepared.”
“He hasn’t decided on the parcel of land, yet.”
“And I wouldn’t expect him to find one this weekend. I think this gathering is only to solidify his investors and for us to make them feel comfortable with their representation.”
“That makes sense.”
“So where did you meet Marvin?”
He’s not letting her off the hook. Randy smiled. Which are you going to pick? Grocery or laundromat?
“Um... We sort of bumped into each other, but we had been going to the same laundromat.”
Randy laughed. Both... sort of.
Jonathan smiled. “A bit unconventional, but whatever works.”
“So far, so good.” She returned his smile with a smirk.
“Can you get the file on the Johnsons for me? I think there is something missing in their case. I may need you to do a little investigative work on this one.”
“Yes, s—Jonathan.”
He grinned. “Almost.”
She laughed. “One of these days.”
* * * *
Randy popped over to Marvin’s office to check on the other half. Rodney was in with Marvin. The two were standing next to a round table perusing over an aerial view of a section of town that was placed next to a map of what appeared to be the same location. They had outlined in red marker a large parcel of land Randy figured to be the lot they intended on pitching to Havishaw.
“The property is surrounded by three sizable residential developments,” Rodney said as he pointed them out on the map. “I’m surprised it is zoned for commercial in spite of that, but will permitting be difficult?”
“That’s a good point. Maybe we’d better research that before Tuesday’s meeting.”
“I’m on it,” Rodney replied.
“Are you sure you don’t want to be present during the meeting?”
Rodney smiled. “You’re the better salesman.”
Marvin rolled his eyes. “I don’t know about that.”
“Doesn’t matter. Your name is the only one on the appointment.”
Marvin sighed. “Okay. Let me know what you find out as soon as possible. I’ll bring the file with me this weekend.”
“I thought you were going to a retreat with a lady this weekend.”
“I wouldn’t call it a retreat. It’s more a working weekend for her, at least some of the time. I’ll review it while she’s in her meetings.”
“Just so you don’t take your attention off her when you’re together.”
Marvin shook his head. “I won’t, Dad.”
Rodney laughed. “Okay, okay. I’m just glad you’re getting back in the game.”
Marvin grinned. “I’ll never complain about spoiled milk again.”
Rodney twisted his eyebrows. “There has to be a good story behind that.”
“I bumped into her in the grocery store because my milk was sour.”
“So that’s why you’ve been sniffing it all this time.” Rodney laughed.
Marvin rolled his eyes. “Right. I waited for just the right moment to let my milk spoil, so I could bump into a beautiful woman while coming out from the baking aisle.”
“You forgot the part about your angel, who caused the whole thing.” Randy looked up and grinned. “Hey Miles, does he need to get his eyes fixed, too?”
“Can’t think of a better way to spice things up.” Rodney snickered.
Randy laughed. “That’s something I would say.”
Marvin smiled. “I set you up good on that one.”
* * * *
Pauline arrived at her mother’s house shortly after work. When she walked in, she was met by Tom, her mother’s boyfriend.
“Hi Pauline. You look nice today.”
“Thanks Tom. I haven’t been home to change yet.”
“Don’t make excuses,” Janice Prichard said as she descended the stairs. “You’re gonna have a great weekend. And your escort is the lucky one.”
“Oh Mom. Don’t get any ideas. Or is he your premonition?”
“It’s not a premonition. I just got the feeling that someone or something was watching you.”
“Is he here, now?” She grinned.
“It was only a feeling. I’m not clairvoyant. Anyway, you need to focus on your boyfriend.”
Pauline grimaced. “I just met him.”
Janice smiled. “I know, but you’ve been so regimented and proper. I’m glad to see you breaking away, if only for a spell.”
Pauline frowned. “I’m not regimented.” She saw her mother’s eyes grow wide, and it appeared she was trying to stifle a laugh. “Well, I’m not,” she added, almost whining.
“Do you think doing the same thing on schedule every day of the week is being flexible?”
Pauline didn’t reply.
Janice continued. “Honey, it’s my fault. I never should have been so strict with you. I didn’t let you be a kid.”
“I’m okay, Mom. I’ve got a good job and my own apartment.”
“Yes, but okay is just that... okay. I want you to be happy.”
She gave her mother a half-smile. “I’m happy.”
“I hope you can convince yourself better than your attempt to convince me.”
Pauline watched Janice stare her down with a biting smirk. She sighed. “Can we get off me, please?”
Janice smiled. “What brings you by?”
“My small jewelry box is still here. I thought my locket would be appropriate for the formal dinner.”
“Definitely, and I have just the pair of earrings to augment nicely. Let me get them.” Janice ran up the stairs.
Pauline climbed the steps and went into her room. She looked around. Everything was still in place, as though nothing had been touched since she moved out three years earlier. She walked over to the closet and slid the door open. The clothes she’d left behind were perfectly spaced inside. The two familiar boxes on the floor of the lower right side were there, one atop the other. She moved the top box off and opened the bottom one to reveal the encyclopedias. Memories flooded her head. She removed the volume she’d hollowed out and opened it. To her surprise, there was a granola bar inside. She removed it and stuck it in her pocket before returning the book and closing the box.
After placing the other box back on top, she closed the closet and walked over to the dresser. The small jewelry box sat in the middle, right in front of the mirror. She flipped up the top, exposing some costume jewelry and a ballerina, which started spinning slowly to Music Box Dancer. It made her pause to watch and listen to the music. She looked up at her reflection in the mirror as the music continued to play, bringing her back to her fourteen-year-old self.
Blinking away the memories, she pulled open the tiny drawer exposing the item she’d come for. She lifted out the heart-shaped silver locket etched in a paisley design hanging from a delicate box chain.
She opened it. The pictures of her mother and father were there, just as they had been when she received the gift on her tenth birthday. That day flashed into her head, and she smiled softly. Her father never changed much from the picture, even up to the time he got sick. She closed the locket and placed it in her purse.
Janice walked in. “My mother gave these to me. I think it’s about time I let them go to my daughter.” She held out her hand and opened her fingers to expose a petite velvet bag with leather drawstring. Its maroon color was rich and deep, like it had aged gracefully.
Pauline took the bag and loosened the strap. She carefully dumped its contents into the palm of her hand. The earrings were silver hearts that were not solid but had real diamonds in the center. The short chain each hung from was comprised of five tiny hearts connected together and a silver rose on top with the stud behind it.
“They’re beautiful!” Pauline exclaimed. “How come I’ve never seen them before?”
“I think the last time I wore them was... I can’t remember. It had to be before you were born. Try them on.”
Pauline hesitated, but indulged her mother, removing the gold balls she currently wore. She glanced in the mirror, then reached into her purse and removed the locket to put on.
“See? They’re perfect together.”
Pauline smiled. “Thank you, Mom.”