I sat down and watched as she organized a few papers on her desk — finishing up whatever she had to do for the day. Waiting to know why I was there was killing me.
She looked up at me, smiled again, and started to open her mouth.
“I’m sorry for being in a haze today.” The words burst from my mouth, cutting off whatever my boss was going to say. “It won’t happen again. Really!”
Ann tilted her head to the side, making her black chin-length bob swing slightly. She looked thoughtful for a moment but then smiled brightly.
“Honestly, Hayley, I didn’t even notice that you were in a haze, as you say. All I saw today was efficient and focused work.”
“Oh. Thank you, I think?”
She laughed just a little, it made me relax some. “Actually, that was why I called you in here. I just wanted to tell you I think you are doing a great job,” Ms. Howell said, taking me completely off guard.
“Oh, th-thanks,” I repeated. “Um. Is there anything you would like me to work on? My father always used to say that one could always improve on good.”
She thought about that for a second, while tapping a pen on her desk in a fast rhythm. “There is one thing…”
My heart sank, but I waited. I had asked for this.
“You’re so quiet,” Ann continued. “That’s usually a good thing in a worker, but here at Howell and Howell, we try to be more like family — honestly, most of us are.” She laughed. “I think you might be more comfortable if you opened up a little. Make friends with your coworkers. Okay?”
I nodded. I wasn’t sure what to say back. That wasn’t really what I was expecting at all.
Ann tilted her head to the side again, giving me a quizzical look. “Do you think you could try that? I really think it would help you.”
There was something about her words that echoed what Liam had said the day before. I wasn’t quite sure what it all meant, but I would think about it. At least I knew that my job wasn’t in question.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, Hayley.”
I left her office feeling both elated and shocked at the same time. I also felt a bit of guilt, having judged everyone so harshly. Maybe Ms. Howell was fine and had seemed a bit brusque because she was busy and didn’t have much time for pleasantries That didn’t quite explain the other girls in the office but I wasn’t exactly a social butterfly, and it was more than possible that I didn’t really come off as being approachable.
I decided then to try and be more social. I hadn’t met most of the people in the office, not really, and was in no position to be judging them. They could be absolutely lovely, or just trying to be professional, which I also understood and respected.
I was going to do something nice for the people at the office. At first, I thought of bringing donuts, but that seemed a bit too impersonal. Then I had the idea of baking cookies. I had always liked baking and was really good at it, having so much practice.
I would often get up early and bake a batch of cookies and take them out to the treehouse in our yard for the other kids in our neighborhood or to school, depending on if it was a weekday. My family, and particularly my twin brother, had always loved what I baked. I bet my coworkers would too.
Happy to have a plan, I got my purse from the desk and went to the elevators, with a particular spring in my step that I could feel whether or not it actually showed. On par with the surprise of Ms. Howell telling me that I was doing a good job was the vision of Mr. Adams coming in through the lobby.
I was sure he must have been there to see someone else, but he was coming right toward me. Perhaps this was the right moment to practice being more social? I took a deep breath, looked up at him, and smiled.
Chapter Seven
Liam
I wasn’t sure about asking Hayley out again, but nothing ventured nothing gained. I didn’t have her phone number and figured the best way to see her again was to turn up at her work around quitting time — despite how stalkerish this might have seemed, particularly to one of a more suspicious disposition.
However, when I got in the doors to the lobby of Howell and Howell, saw her get out of the elevator, and walked towards her, Hayley looked at me and smiled. It was warm and inviting. So very different than the frozen girl the day before.
“Hi,” I started.
“Hi,” she replied, seeming surprised but receptive.
I loved the way her smile made her roundish face brighter. There was just a little pink on her cheekbones — from emotion, not blush — and that was charming. She really did have the innocence of an angel.