Charlotte: Of course not, Reed. What kind of a nutjob do you think I am?
Reed: Touché.
Charlotte: Anyway, about those questions . . .
Reed interrupted with another message as I typed.
Reed: So now it’s “questions,” not “question”?
I ignored him.
Charlotte: How did your audition go last night?
Reed: I was starting to worry about you. It’s been almost twenty-four hours, and you hadn’t asked yet.
Charlotte: Aww . . . that’s sweet. You worry about me. So how did it go? Did you make it to the next round?
Reed: I went. But I didn’t try out.
Charlotte: What? Why?
Reed: To be honest, I’m not good enough. I listened to some of the auditions and realized that it would take hard work to get myself to the point where I would have a legitimate chance of making it.
I was disappointed. But it sounded like he’d at least done some soul-searching by going.
Charlotte: There’s always next year. Start on some lessons!
Reed: Maybe I’ll do that. And thank you, Charlotte. As much as you annoyed the crap out of me over this, I actually did enjoy going to watch the auditions.
Charlotte: You’re welcome. Glad I could put my annoying-as-crap skills to good use and be of some service.
Reed: It’s late. Why don’t you go home?
I didn’t think he was asking a question that he wanted an actual answer to, yet I answered out loud talking to my computer. “Because I have nothing to rush home to.”
Charlotte: Can I ask you one more question?
Reed: Why of course. I love personal questions at seven at night that interrupt me while I’m working.
Charlotte: I’m going to guess you meant that sarcastically, but I’ll ask it anyway. Where were you planning to go on your honeymoon?
Reed didn’t respond. After a few minutes, the green light turned red, indicating that he’d signed off the company email. I’d clearly overstepped our invisible boundaries again. So I finished shutting down my computer and packed up my desk. I was surprised when Reed appeared at my door, although at least I didn’t fall over this time.
He had his jacket over his arm and his leather bag slung over his shoulder. “Hawaii,” he said. “We were going to honeymoon in Hawaii.”
I must’ve made a face without realizing it.
He arched a brow. “You don’t approve?”
“I’m sure it’s beautiful. I just . . . I figured you for something a little more unique. Hawaii doesn’t seem to suit you.”
Reed scratched at the five o’clock shadow on his chin. “What does suit me?”
I gave it some real thought before answering. “Africa. Maybe a safari.”
He smiled. “That’s actually where I wanted to go on our honeymoon.”
“I take it Allison didn’t?”
“No. Allison’s idea of a great vacation consists of a five-star spa with daily massages and tanning on the beach while drinking fruity drinks with umbrellas out of a coconut.”
“So you did what she wanted to do?”
“I compromised. Her initial choice was worse. At least in Hawaii, I could rock climb while she sunned herself on the beach.”
“You rock climb?”
“I used to.”
“Why did you stop?”
Reed shook his head. “Good night, Charlotte.”I loved working with Iris. Not only did I learn new facets of the business every time she involved me in a project but also I felt a real woman-to-woman connection with her. When she asked how things were going, I believed she really wanted to hear the answer, unlike most people.
We’d just finished compiling quarterly financial numbers to send over to the accountant when she asked, “How are things at work, Charlotte? Are you happy here so far?”
That was probably one of the only questions that I didn’t have to ponder the answer to. “I love it here. I’m really happy, Iris. I’ve been meaning to tell you that. I know you took a big risk by hiring me, and to be honest, I probably didn’t take the job for the right reasons initially, except for that I knew you were a woman I wanted to be around. But I’m learning a lot, and this job feels right for me. I want to learn more. I want to learn everything!”
Iris chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that, dear. We all feel your enthusiasm. You’ve really invigorated the office. How about your art? Are you still working at it?”
“I am. And I think I finally found its place in my life. I always thought my dream job would be to work with clay all day. But I’m finding that I enjoy it much more when I use it to relax and escape.”
“That’s wonderful. And my grandsons? How are things going with them?”
“Well, things with Max are great. He’s really sweet.”
She lowered her reading glasses to the tip of her nose and looked at me over them. “And my other grandson?”
I shrugged. “Well, yesterday he knocked me over, and I chatted with his ex-fiancée about their honeymoon, so I probably should answer that things aren’t going that well.”