––––––––

WHEN I GOT TO WORK the next day, Reece was sitting on the couch in the waiting area across from my desk. He was reading a literary journal.

I lost my breath for more than a second. What was he doing here?

I quietly drifted over to my desk.

“There you are,” he said.

“I didn’t know you had another appointment.”

I put my handbag down in my chair.

I was suddenly very self-conscious and had a strange feeling that I had a piece of Lisa’s homemade corn muffins stuck in between my teeth. Quickly, I licked my teeth.

He stood and came toward me. “I don’t.”

I ran my fingers down the sides of my dress. Wow, could I be more obvious? Here I was trying to fix myself up in front of a complete stranger, who for some reason was making me very nervous. “Oh, well, why are you here?” I managed to spit out.

He winked at me. “To see you.”

Yep, I’m going to faint right here in front of him.

“Oh?”

“I came to ask you if you’ve changed your mind about having lunch with me.”

“I have a busy day today...I’m not sure I can take lunch.” I lied. Mr. Walker didn’t have a single appointment on his schedule. And on days when he had a clear schedule, he often came in late or took a longer than usual lunch.

“I know for a fact you can take lunch today. I called my uncle and asked him.”

“What?”

“Don’t take it the wrong way. I’m not stalking you or anything.”

“You called my boss about my schedule. Why would I think you’re stalking me? What you did is completely normal. Yep, totally normal.”

He crossed his arms. “Maybe it comes across a little weird.” Then he uncrossed his arms. “Look, I’m a good guy. All I’m asking is for you to let me take you to lunch. One hour, less, if you want, and then you can see for yourself whether or not I’m some crazy stalker, which I assure you, I’m not.”

I looked him up and down and gave in. “I’ll agree to coffee and if that goes well...”

He smiled. “Coffee it is.”

“Come back tomorrow morning,” I said, taking my handbag off my chair and placing it on my desk.

“What’s wrong with now?”

I sat down and pulled myself close to my desk. “I just got here.”

“Oh, come on, you’ll only be gone a few minutes.” He gave Mr. Walker’s door a glance. “My uncle isn’t even in yet.”

Sighing, I said, “Twenty minutes, and if I get fired over this...”

“You won’t get fired, I promise.”

Grabbing my purse, I stood. “Where shall we go?”

My stomach started aching. Had I known Reece was going to surprise me, I would have called in sick.

“There’s a place down the street just past the train tracks,” he said.

My heart melted and slid to my toes. We’d have to pass my father. “I’d rather not go to that one.”

“Why not?”

I cleared my throat. “I would rather we not go to that one. Is that okay?”

“There’s one across the street. You okay with going there?”

I nodded.

“We’re off to a good start,” he said.

“What makes you say that?”

“We haven’t even been on a date and I already know something about you.”

“And what is that?”

“You’re very particular about where you get your coffee from.”

I licked my lips. “Yeah, well, there is a hell of a lot you don’t know about me. Trust me.”

“I like you,” he said.

I darted toward the door. “You may change your mind, but hey, you insisted, so let’s go.”

***

THANKFULLY, THERE WASN’T a long line at the coffee shop when we got there so we were able to get our drinks quickly. The ache in my belly was getting worse and I really wanted this to be over so I could return to work and forget it happened.

We sat down at a small corner table with a view of the street. The breakfast food trucks were starting to close up and drive off. They’d return as lunch food trucks hours later. I was tempted to pull out my phone and log on to Twitter so I could see if my favorite Indian food truck would be there today. I decided against it because I didn’t want to be rude and, hell, if he took out his phone and started messing with it, I’d take offense.

“So, here we are,” I said.

He took a sip of his coffee. “You haven’t worked for my uncle long, have you? He’s never mentioned you.”

I ripped open a sugar packet. “A few weeks.”

He sniffled. “How do you like it?”

“It’s okay. He’s a good boss,” I dumped sugar into my coffee, “I’d rather not talk about my job.”

He sniffled again. “Okay, no worries. What do you want to talk about? Ask me anything you want.”

I stirred my coffee and then took a small sip. “One of my roommates is writing a novel. I have no idea what it’s about. I just found out about it. What’s your novel about?”

He leaned back in his chair and sighed. “It’s a post-apocalyptic story. It takes place in a small town.” He sneezed.

“Are you sick?”

“It’s allergies. Someone in here must be wearing some strong perfume or lotion.”

“I don’t smell anything, other than coffee,” I said.

He sneezed again. “I’m really sensitive.”

“Do you want to go?”

“No way. You’re not getting off that easy.”

A screaming little boy came through the door, his mother two feet behind him. The boy raced to the front of the line and yelled, “I want some chocolate milk!”

“I’m so sorry,” his mother said, picking him up.

The people waiting for their coffee laughed.

“He’s in this new phase where he takes off running without notice,” the boy’s mom said to the cashier.

“I have one of my own so don’t worry about it. We have chocolate milk,” the cashier, a woman, said.

“He’s had enough chocolate milk for today,” the boy’s mom said.

Off she went out the door carrying her wiggly, whiny toddler.

“He reminds me of my little brother,” Reece said.

“How old is your brother?”

“Three. There is a twenty-one year age difference between us. My mom was twenty-two when she had me. He drives her crazy. I don’t help things. I spoil him too much.”

“What’s his name?”

“Connor.”

I giggled before I could stop myself. “Wait, your name is Reece and your little brother’s name is Connor?”

He leaned back into his chair and smiled. “You’re asking because of the Terminator movies. My mom loves the Terminator. She’s watched it a million times. She named my brother after John Connor and me...”

“Ha. I love that movie. I’ve watched it a million times.”

“Are you serious?”

“Dead.”

“I’ll have to tell her.”

He was going to talk to his mom about me? For some reason, knowing he was going to talk to his mom about me made me even more jittery.

“Back to your novel.”

“Yeah, so it’s a post-apocalyptic story. Anyway, one morning everything goes to hell.”

“What happens?”

“The world goes dark and no one knows why.”

“Literally goes dark as in no more sun?”

“Yes. And then they start coming out.”

I downed the last sip of my coffee. “Who does?”

“Creatures of all kinds. Zombies, vampires, witches, and more. They descend upon the earth and take control of everything.”

“Makes perfect sense,” I said.

“Are you making fun of me?”

“Of course not. It really does make sense. That creatures would hide when the sun is out and wait for total darkness to come out. That’s when we humans are most vulnerable, so like I said, makes sense.”

He reached over the table and touched my hand.

I flinched.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to...”

“It’s okay, I’m naturally jumpy.”

“It’s just that well, you get it. When I told my friends they laughed.”

“I think I have a creepy mind,” I said.

He lifted his cup. “Here’s to creepy minds.”

I raised my empty cup. “Here’s to creepy minds.”

“What do you think?”

“About what?”

“About having lunch with me tomorrow?”

Damn it, there it is, heat on my cheeks. Yep, I’m completely blushing.

“Fine, yes, I’ll go to lunch with you.”

“Perfect. I’ll come by around noon to pick you up. Does that work?”

“Yes, okay.”

“Any restaurants that are off limits to you?”

“Let’s see, well, I don’t like Chinese food or Indian food or Italian or...hmm, what else?”

“Are you serious?”

“Nope. I’m messing with you. Anywhere we go will be fine, I’m sure. Now I really need to get back to work.”

He stood. “Yes, okay, we wouldn’t want to push it with my uncle.”

“Exactly.”

***

WHEN I GOT BACK TO my desk, I was greeted with a new computer. And sitting right next to it was a tablet. I immediately knocked on Mr. Walker’s office door.

“Come in,” he said.

“I wanted to say thank you for the new computer and tablet.”

“Ah yes, they both came in today. But, I’m warning you, your new toys are today’s office gossip.”

“Pardon?”

“Not everyone got a new computer, let alone a tablet. My colleagues’ assistants are, well, let’s just say they’re a tiny bit jealous.”

The All Write Literary Agency was comprised of four literary agents, including Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker was the boss, though. He started the agency fifteen years ago. Anyway, each agent had an assistant.

“Will they be getting new computers and tablets?” I hoped his answer was yes.

“Yes, but not for a while.”

I hadn’t really had much interaction with the other assistants, other than a casual good morning or good night. Any chance I had of getting to know them better flew out Mr. Walker’s window. I was now officially the teacher’s pet.

“Don’t worry about them. They’ll get over it,” he said, obviously noticing my frown.

“Okay, well, I just wanted to say thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“Is it okay if I take my lunch at noon tomorrow?”

“Yes. Should I be concerned? You’re not interviewing somewhere else, are you?”

Smiling, I said, “No, of course not. I’m very happy here. I just got here.”

“Good. Now then, I may need your help sorting out some manuscripts later today. My reading pile seems to be getting bigger and if you’re up for it, I’d love your help reading through some of them. You can tell me what you think of them.”

“Really? I would love to help.”

“Great. Come by after lunch and we’ll get started.”

“Sounds good,” I said and then walked out.

I was overjoyed. Mr. Walker trusted me enough to let me read manuscripts. I fell into my chair and let a huge smile take over my face. I wished I could share the news with someone, someone who cared about me, someone for whom I cared.

I looked around at my surroundings. I couldn’t believe where I was. It was too good to be true. I was sitting in a comfortable chair with a new computer and tablet in a clean office environment working for a big literary agent who saw something in me, who hired me to be his assistant despite having no publishing experience, despite only having gone to community college for two years.

My previous job had been as a nanny, and although the kids  were great, their father—and yes I admitted to the cliché—had pulled me close to him one night after I had put the kids to bed and his wife had announced that she was exhausted and turning in herself.

Sitting in his recliner in the family room, a glass of red wine on the table next to him, he didn’t hesitate to reach for my body when I handed him the TV clicker. Stupid clicker found a way to hide itself in the most random places, which almost always ended with me performing an exhaustive search of the family room. I was convinced the kids would hide it from me. Harmless pranks, nothing more. Except that on that particular night, I had grabbed the clicker and kept it with me. And so it was that Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome, Mr. Very Successful and Powerful asked me if I knew where the clicker was. And just like that, not a minute later, my life changed again. I brought it to him and he responded by putting his arm around my waist.

“Want to watch a movie with me?” he asked with a wink.

My back stiffened. “Thank you, no, I’m going to call it a night.” I yawned.

He removed his arm. “Perhaps tomorrow night, then?”

“Perhaps.”

The next morning, I was gone.

I stayed with my aunt Conchita, Mami’s sister, who was visiting from El Salvador. This was the second time she had come to the States. The first time was when Mami got sick. She only stayed a few days because Mami made her leave. She didn’t want her sister to watch her waste away.

For years, my aunt had saved nearly every penny she had made waitressing at a restaurant in one of El Salvador’s fanciest beach resorts and after Mami died, she promised me she would come back and stay for a few months. And she kept her promise.

The day I met her at the airport, she said, “I rented an apartment for three months. Come stay with me, if you want. We can tour the city together.”

I was ecstatic. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had family. But, even so, standing in the baggage claim area, as she kept her eyes on the conveyer belt, I declined her invitation because I had landed what I had thought was a perfect nanny job, one with good pay and room and board.

So when Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome put his arm around my waist and ruined my not-so- perfect-after-all job, I packed up my stuff and showed up on Aunt Conchita’s doorstep.

“There you are,” she had said, after opening her apartment door.

“Can I stay with you?” I held up my small suitcase.

“I’m leaving in three months. What will you do after that?”

“I have some money saved. I’ll find another job.”

“And if you can’t find a job?”

“I will. I don’t have a choice.”

“Good. Then come on in.”

And three months later, I was walking down the sidewalk, big smile on my face, on my way to the first day of my new life, on my way to the All Write Literary Agency. An office job, like Mami always wanted me to have. Not taking care of other people’s children, cleaning toilets, walking dogs, or waiting for my turn at the unemployment office. I had what she’d consider a respectable job, one that could lead to bigger and better things for me. After all, I had spent two years studying history at a community college and that qualified me for an office job.

You see me down here, Mami? I’m still giving it my all. I’m still here. I miss you. My poor Mami. Misguided, complicated, hurtful, yet beautiful; she never stopped trying to succeed...to escape her past...to instill in me a passion for life.

I picked up my cell phone and called my aunt Conchita in El Salvador.

“Hola,” she said.

“Tia Conchita?”

“Si, si, que pasa? What’s wrong?”

“It’s Jadie.”

“You never call me. Are you okay?”

A few times when I had been at my lowest and darkest points, I had almost dialed her phone number, but my shame had prevented me from going through with it. What was I going to tell her? That I had found my father and that he was homeless and I had run away from him?

“Jadie? Say something.”

“I’m having a good day today.”

“Bueno. That’s wonderful. Tell me about your day.”

I swallowed and held back tears. Hearing her voice reminded me that I still had family, that maybe I wasn’t alone in the world.

“My boss just gave me more work. I have more responsibility.”

“I see. That means you’re doing a good job.”

“I’m going to be reading manuscripts. He wants to know what I think about them.”

“What’s his name?”

“Mr. Walker.”

“Señor Walker sounds like a smart man. I’m proud of you.”

“Tia?”

“Si.”

“I miss you.”

If she had been standing in front of me, I would have thrown my arms around her and held on tight.

“I miss you, too,” she said.

“Tia?”

“Yes.”

“When will you visit again?”

She sighed. “Maybe soon, maybe not for a long time. I’m very busy at work. I don’t have enough money saved up for a visit.”

“Do you think you might be able to come in a month or two?” I didn’t care that she had just told me she didn’t have enough money. Hearing her voice made me want to cling to her.

“I’ll try. I’ll see what I can do,” she said.

“Really?” I wanted to jump through the phone.

“You’re my niece. You’re having a good day today. But, I sense you have more bad days than good.”

“I’m okay.”

“Being okay is not enough. I’ll call you when I know I’m coming.”

“I have a lot to tell you,” I said.

“We’ll talk over a café con leche, esta bien?”

“Yes, sounds perfect.”

“I’ll see you soon, then.”

“Okay, call me,” I said.

“I will.”

“Tia?”

“I’m still here.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re not alone. I may be far away, but you’re not alone,” she said.

“Tia?”

“Yes.”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“Tia?”

“Si.”

“I like lots of sugar in my café con leche.”

“I remember.”

“See you soon?”

“It’s a promise,” she said.

“Bye.”

“Adios.”

Peace overcame me. And even though I knew it was only temporary, I welcomed it. My aunt had told me what I wanted to hear, what I needed to hear, that she would come for a visit, but I understood she was only telling me that because she loved me.

“We thought we’d come over and say hi,” a voice said, jarring me from my thoughts.

Standing in front of me were two girls. I recognized them. They had passed me in the hall several times, but had never said a word to me.

“I’m Vicki, Ms. Jones’ assistant.

“And I’m Rose, Mr. Ace’s assistant.

I had never met Ms. Jones or Mr. Ace. The other agents in the office were a complete mystery to me.

“I’m Jadie.”

“We know,” Vicki said.

“Nice to meet you,” Rose said.

“We’ve passed each other in the hallway,” I said.

Vicki bit her lip. “We have?”

“Don’t be dumb,” Rose said.

I stood and put my hands on my hips. “Excuse me?”

“Not you,” Rose said. She then pointed to Vicki. “Her. She knows we’ve passed you in the hall. We’re embarrassed we never said hello.”

Vicki gave my new computer and tablet a stare down. “Do you and Mr. Walker know each other?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

Rose folded her arms. “She means just that. Do you know each other?”

“He’s my boss,” I said.

Vicki leaned in as if she were about to reveal a secret. “Did you know each other before you started working here?”

I backed up. “No.”

“I see,” Rose said.

“See what?” I asked.

“You and him,” Rose said.

I sat in my chair and crossed my legs. “Still not seeing. What are you implying?”

“We asked our bosses about you. They told us you have zero publishing experience. And only two years of college, community college.”

“So?” I said.

“I worked at two other agencies before coming here. I also have an English degree from Columbia University,” Vicki said.

“And I worked at three other agencies before coming here. I graduated from American University, yet here you are,” Rose said.

“Aha, now I see. You don’t think I belong here. You don’t think I deserve to be here. You think that Mr. Walker and I...”

“We didn’t say that,” Vicki said.

“You implied it,” I said.

“We think we should get to know each other better. Maybe we should all go out to lunch one day?” Rose said.

I sat back in my chair. “Maybe, but not likely.”

“Why not? Does Mr. Walker keep you too busy?” Rose asked.

“Actually, yeah, I’m very busy. Thanks for stopping by. I’m sure we’ll see each other in the hall again.”

“We’ll make sure to say hello,” Vicki said.

“Great,” I said.

“Good,” Rose said.

They didn’t move. Stood there staring at me. I stared back.

All of maybe five feet, pixie haircut, and too thin, Rose placed her hand on her hip, then at her side, then at her hip again.

Thick eyebrows, and thick dark, wavy hair, Vicki sighed, then looked over her shoulder as if she was expecting someone to pounce on her.

“I have lots of work to do, so if you both don’t mind...,” I said.

“See you around,” Rose said.

“Yeah, see you around,” Vicki said.

I hoped that was going to be the last interaction I was going to have with Vicki and Rose, but something told me they were going to keep an eye on me. Me getting new tech toys had obviously ticked them off. They had pretty much come out and accused me of sleeping with Mr. Walker.

As much as they had irritated me, I was not about to let them ruin my day. If they felt threatened, that was their problem, their issue to deal with. Mr. Walker had hired me because...because...because, I had to admit that Vicki and Rose had now made me wonder just exactly why Mr. Walker hired me. Their intimidation had worked. I was now questioning my abilities.

I had an urge to walk into Mr. Walker’s office and flat out ask him why he hired me. I forced myself to stay put in my chair. That part was easy. Getting rid of the doubts Vicki and Rose had so easily instilled me, yeah, that wasn’t so easy.

Still, I decided to ignore them. As long as I didn’t let doubts cripple me, I’d be okay. Moments earlier, Aunt Conchita had said being okay wasn’t good enough. Maybe she was right, but okay was all I could strive for right now.