I was at work, digging through one of our sales spreadsheets when my phone intercom went off.
“Yes, Allison?”
“Brandon is here to see you,” she said.
I stood up and pressed the intercom. “Send him in.”
I hadn’t seen Brandon in almost a week, not since he came to the park with Gina and me.
He entered my office holding a bag of food.
“I’m starving,” I said. Brandon had called earlier that morning to suggest having a working lunch with me. He had Wednesdays off and offered to catch up. Since his return home, his schedule at work was all over the place, trying to catch up with what he missed. That was one part of a vacation I didn’t like. There was more chance of stress thinking about the piles of work to come back to.
I moved the magazines and Gina’s coloring books off of the coffee table in front of the couch. I sat down, and Brandon emptied the bag. We both tried to be healthy when we could, and I knew Brandon wanted to drop a few pounds. So, instead of burgers and fries, which we both loved, he went with two wraps and some coleslaw.
“Is this from Trip’s Deli?” I asked.
“Oh, yeah,” Brandon said, unwrapping the paper of his sandwich. “I splurged on you today. You should thank me.”
“Thank you,” I said. “Sorry I couldn’t meet you out. We’ve been so busy lately.”
“I hoped not too busy…” he said, biting into his wrap.
I gave him a look. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He opened the top of the container with the slaw and handed me a fork. I placed it down on the table. “Are things still going on with you and Jess?”
I smiled at my sandwich. “Yes.”
He shrugged. “That’s all I meant. I wanted to make sure you were putting time into her as much as you are work.”
Brandon had changed his mind about Jess and me after I informed him that Jess and I were serious and he and Amelia did not need to set me up anymore.
“She’s spent a few nights at my place,” I said.
“Nice,” Brandon said. “So, it’s serious?”
“As serious as I can give right now.”
“Have you talked to her about Wendy?” he asked.
“Only the surface details; why?”
He scoffed. “Then you’re not as serious as you think you are. Talking about Wendy would open up your past.”
I thought about that. There hadn’t been a moment to segue into that talk with her. And if I was honest with myself, I wasn’t sure I wanted to open that can of worms yet.
“I’m not saying you have to. I know this is all new for you. And a delicate situation to boot.”
“I’m not sure she wants to talk about it,” I said, thinking of last week when Gina brought Wendy up in front of Jess. “But you’re right. This is very new.”
Brandon had already finished more than half his wrap by that time, and I’d only had a bite. This diet would not last very long for him. “So, Amelia and I decided on an Alaskan cruise next year. There would be childcare on the boat if you and Gina wanted to come along.”
Next year Gina would be four, old enough to handle being on a boat and have the ability to have fun. Though I wasn’t sure where my business would be at that point. I always felt guilty when I thought of taking time off. Which was probably why I never did.
“I’ll consider it,” I said.
Brandon rolled his eyes. “I will get you to come with us someday.”